How well do you respond to pressure?

Hello everyone,

I have recently seen a couple of sparring demonstrations. They seemed fluid in their movements, as if they had reasonable mastery of them. BUT, we all know that pressure creates a much different reality. We can all drive a car easily on an empty street, but when the cars are honking, and people are zipping in and out of traffic, it makes the experience a lot more intense. The demos seemed to happen in a rhythm, jab, jab, cross, jab, jab, roundhouse. It seemed so contrived to me. Not to say that the demo was bad per so, not to say that it was two wannabes fighting. But I don't think that the performance was in any way indicative of how a fight really is.

I have had to explain to many people, many times the difference between a demonstration and a fight. Even more time explaining the difference between a fight and a self defense situation. I hate to do it again, but I will because it is important.

A fight is largely agreed upon. It could likely be avoided if people would just act like adults. I often starts with a disagreement that could be diffused if people would just set their ego aside. But when that does not happen words and tempers often flair up, and eventually violence begins.

A self defense situation is what you would do to respond to a criminal assault. It is when YOU specifically are the intended VICTIM of someone else's violent behavior. It is not about winning a fight, it is about surviving the encounter and any and all means of self preservation are available, and should be used. This is an important facet that most civilized people have trouble acknowledging and/ or accepting. MOST schools do very little to address the reality of a self defense situation, choosing instead to focus on sports fighting techniques.

I would recommend that you always try to add an element of surprise to your training. Recently, I added a little bit of pressure to some beginner students, and the results surprised them. I put on a body harness, and attacked them in a helter-skelter, unusual fashion. Ya know what? Gone was the footwork, and double jabs we had worked so much on. They did what scared folks do: stood still and punched. I was not surprised by their change in actions. They were. I told them not to be ashamed, and that what they did what happens to those with limited training.

Point is that with a little distraction, your skills can fail you. Try to implement some random distractions into your workout. You will thank me!