As we get closer and closer to the elections, many are becoming more concerned for their personal safety. Crime is on the rise. Illegal immigrants are pouring through our borders. Civil liberties and constitutional rights are being challenged. In these trying times, self-defense, marksmanship and concealed carry training are popular, with home defense training gaining traction. Training is great for anyone and everyone. Good training will empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and loved ones from attacks. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that knowing how to defend oneself can make a significant difference in the outcome of a personal attack. Training in the form of formalized instruction is important, but only one piece to the puzzle. Routine practice is essential not only for maintaining skill but for refining the necessary skills. Understanding the difference between the two is important and in this article, we will take a closer look at these differences.
Early in my Naval career I was all about training. I went to as many schools as they would allow. Many times the intention was not only going to improve my own skills but to bring the skills back and share them with my teammates. It was one thing to be responsible for myself, but to teach these skills back to the team was a whole other story. This is where I started to recognize the difference between training and practice. It’s also where I started to understand the importance of asking questions and comprehending the material. I would need to teach it back at some point and needed to know the material inside and out. When I’d return from a school, I started practicing what I’d learned before teaching my teammates. Of course, I didn’t want to look bad in front of them, but it was important I do a good job since many of these skills were mission essential to our job. Flash forward years later and I still do the same thing, albeit I’m not teaching my teammates as much these days.
On the flip side, I practiced a lot on my own to stay sharp. It’s funny, but it never dawned on me I could be practicing wrong, embedding countless bad repetitions I would eventually have to unlearn. Good, formalized instruction has the benefit of building a solid foundation. There is something to be said about starting off on the right foot. Investing in quality instruction is a major benefit as it sets up the opportunity for success. I’ve been so fortunate to have many students select our training programs for their first experience. I’m constantly humbled by this gesture. Hands down their responses as they evolve as students was how valuable it was to correctly learn the basics the first time. What a difference it made as they took on new skills to have such a solid foundation. It makes a difference in so many ways. Together training and practice are mutually beneficial, but alone they are potentially problems in the making.
One of the most immediate benefits of self-defense training is the boost in confidence it provides. Gaining the knowledge provides answers to problems; this knowledge then equates to better abilities to solve problems. Developing each skill reinforces the behavior, thereby improving the effectiveness and outcomes. Having the ability to protect oneself in various situations makes one more assertive and less likely to be seen as an easy target. Criminals typically look for vulnerable individuals or easy targets, and confidence is a key deterrent. Confidence, not cockiness…there is a difference. Moreover, self-defense training increases situational awareness. There is a natural tendency to pay attention more and be distracted less. Learning to identify potentially dangerous environments and behaviors in advances provides the opportunity to avoid the conflict before it even starts. Awareness is often the first line of defense, helping individuals stay out of harm’s way by recognizing threats early.
Self-defense training isn’t just about physical combat. It involves learning techniques that are practical, effective and adaptable to real-world situations. To me, practical means being able to solve problems with the learned skills. We cannot completely replicate a physical attack. We can come close, but it is pretend and not real. Safety is a major reason training can take us only so far. Working with firearms is dangerous and the training needs to be safe, but still allows room for growth. If the training is too safe, it might actually be counterproductive by creating a false sense of security. It would also be impossible to try and train for every specific situation because it leaves you vulnerable to the million other ways an attack could occur. This moves us closer to the generalist mindset—someone who has a range of knowledge and skills. They are good at a lot of things instead of being great at only a few. Having multiple skill sets allows the situation to dictate the response, but it is important to recognize it will not be a perfect fit. In other words, the practical learned skills help bridge the gaps of reality. This bridging allows for greater adaptability for an unknown and unforeseen event.
When we attend training classes or courses, the goal is to obtain knowledge. The mistake many make is thinking they will gain mastery. The duration of these classes varies, but none can be expected to achieve true mastery— maybe proficiency. Even leaving a course proficient is asking a lot. Instead, the goal is to absorb as much information as possible. This requires an open mind or growth mindset. Seek out knowledge at every opportunity. Knowing we don’t know everything is true knowledge (I read that on a shirt somewhere). To gain the most from the training requires a little preparation. Have all your gear checked and doublechecked. Get plenty of rest and arrive early. When possible, take notes, but do so without interrupting the flow of the class and other students’ experience. Ask questions, be curious and experiment with the curriculum. They say once you leave the training class the retention of the information begins to fade and that is why practice is so important.
While attending training classes is important, simply taking a course is not enough. Routine practice is key to retaining and sharpening your skills. Many times the intensity or schedule of the training class doesn’t allow a complete picture to develop. Reflecting back on the experience and reviewing the notes will be the first step in retaining knowledge. Prioritizing the most important skill to practice will be based off assessing the weaknesses or areas that need improvement. It is easy to practice the good and ignore the bad. Avoiding this temptation will prove invaluable for the growth mindset mentioned earlier. The goal is to improve muscle memory and instinct so they take over in high-pressure situations in an effort to avoid freezing or forgetting what to do.
Consistent practice ensures techniques become second nature, allowing quick and effective reactions in dangerous situations. It also conditions and readies the body to handle physical stress. Much like learning a musical instrument or a language, repetition is vital for long-term mastery and quick recall. Additionally, regular training allows you to adapt to evolving threats. As self-defense techniques advance, staying up-to-date ensures the best preparation for new types of attacks or scenarios. Most nationally recognized trainers offer advanced courses that build on the basic and intermediate skills. It is one of the best ways to stay current, but also excellent at avoiding stagnation. Moving outside the comfort zone keeps the growth mindset alive by constantly challenging the status quo.
I’ve noticed a byproduct of consistent training and practice is the recognition of physical fitness. Regular training takes effort and at some point, fitness is recognized as either helping or hurting. There’s a plateau many reach with their skill development that the only way to overcome is by improving fitness, either through improving strength, endurance, flexibility or resiliency. The benefits to improving fitness span to overall health. The more fit, the better. Physical combat is just that—physical—and the hard work pays off. There’s something to be said about the fitness journey that benefits the training and practice. In a word, it’s discipline. Those who put the work in to be more fit develop certain traits such as commitment, perseverance and dedication. These train the mind that in turns helps build the body. The impact transcends all aspects of our lives, from work to family and self-defense.
Self-defense training is an essential skill in today’s unpredictable world. Things will get worse before they get better. It offers a range of benefits, from boosting confidence and awareness to providing practical techniques for handling dangerous situations. These benefits transcend every area of our lives. However, the importance of routine practice cannot be overstated. Regular training ensures that skills remain sharp, reactions quick and the body is prepared for any challenge. There are no shortcuts, just hard work. And the hard work pays off in the end. By investing in both regular training and consistent practice, there is a long-term commitment to personal safety and well-being.
