ever doubted ur abilities

[masterintraining]

okay this happened, to me today me, my cousin and my mom, were dropping of some clothes in are local charety clothing drop of.( i wanted to go in the day but because of christmas eve being tomorrow we thought we might not have enough time. i are already sorta felt like jugging from where we were that someone was going to come ( call me psychic) and sure enough somone came out of the other side of the parkin lot. i see him from a distance, so i immidatly started trying to throw the two bags in the in the shoot ASAP ( but as luck would have it they were to hevy bags ) but by the grace of God he just kept walking past us threough a back ally short cut, are car was right there with the moteor still running and my mom and cousin still in it, but i felt unconfortable bcus i was at a disadvantage, even though i had every1 right there, i still was holding this to hevy bags if cums at me it will take me atleast a second or to, 2 drop them down, and a second or 2 might B 2 late, he was not directly next to me 30-40 feet away we he came by, but it still made me uneasy,

... and then a thought came through my mind, even though i know martial arts i was still a lil scared, specialy since people r crazy round this year. i guess i was even scared that my martial arts might not come through.

maybe that was a sign i need to train more, ever since i stop going to the gym when summer ended i only exercise 3xs a week at practice, and if i spend that day doing only grappling then i dont really get a swet in at all. during summer i exercised 6xs a week. i cant go back exaclty as soon as i fel like it because i depend own my mom 2 sighn me up and she has to pay for both of us. but i dont really practice atall at home anymore for basicly no reason, and i do want to open up a dojo 1day, so i guess i got practice as much as possible to get there ( and black sash test is next year.) am i over reacting to this situation, can any1 shed some lot,own this please, am i right in my sumptions or jus over reacting.

[daizyblackbelt]

i think that most everyone has doubted their abilities at one point or another.

in a way, it's important to do so.

overconfidence is never a good thing, especially when dealing with self-defense situations. That being said, knowing the basics is the most important thing. a simple block and punch, or a preemptive strike can end a situation very quickly. and much of the time, the best option is to run, forgoing the combat completely.

Personally, my doubts lie in my ability to be aware of my surroundings. i know that no matter how vigilant i am, i cannot notice everything. something can blindside me at anytime. so i practice my BASIC martial skills (blocks, kicks, strikes, simple takedowns/submissions) and hope that that doesn't ever happen.

[cross]

The problem i find is that the majority of martial arts schools these days teach you to be good at that specific martial art only, you wont be taught what to do if someone comes up and starts verbally abusing you, what to do when someone is in your face, someone starts pushing you, someone hits you when your not expecting it, and most of the time you wont be learning realistic self defence. You will be taught, in most cases, some techniques to use in a one on one situation when the violence has already started. Rarely will the training address the before and after stages.

You also wont learn how to not be scared when a completely innocent person going about their day walks past you at some distance. You have every reason to doubt your training, because if its like the majority of traditional martial arts training these days it probably doesnt address some very important issues and situations. (like the ones mentioned above)

[cross]

overconfidence is never a good thing, especially when dealing with self-defense situations. That being said, knowing the basics is the most important thing. a simple block and punch, or a preemptive strike can end a situation very quickly. and much of the time, the best option is to run, forgoing the combat completely.

I agree with you on most of this.

Regarding the basics, if things become physical you want to hope that all the training you have done has taken your flinch reflex and improved upon it, not forced you to forget your natural reactons and re-learn how to perform techniques.

[P.A.L]

you also gain more confidence when you get use to being hit, if you do some kind of full contact and get knocke down or knocked out ,it will help you greatly.

[jaymac]

It's always good to be a little scared. I remember how scared I was when I was in an elevator with a couple of men who were huge, scary looking, and intoxicated. I just tried to not show that I was scared and was imagining what I would do if they decided to attack. I also stuck my largest size key in between by knuckles, just in case. Luckily, I got off the elevator fine and I was glad that I did get scared, because it made me more aware and I know my adrenaline was crazy rushing.

[bushido_man96]

Many people go through this. It is easy to say to yourself that you would do this and that in a confrontation. However, when it does come to pass, it ends up being very different.

As cross mentioned, being able to deal with both pre- and post-fight scenarios is very important as well.

[cross]

... and then a thought came through my mind, even though i know martial arts i was still a lil scared, specialy since people r crazy round this year. i guess i was even scared that my martial arts might not come through.

The best way to deal with this fear is to have a gameplan. Dont just expect that if your attacked your martial arts will come through and you will be able to defend yourself without any pre planning.

Its impossible to train for everything, so you have to think about the things that will most likely happen and workout a gameplan that can save you the majority of the time. Be active in your plan, not reactive. Then once youve got your basic plan, train hard to make it work by replicating what your going to do has close has possible. From there depending on how far you want to take it, you can start working on the "what-ifs", the things that might happen if your initial plan doesnt work.

Talk to your instructor about helping you work out a gameplan, if they cant help, find someone who can. You cant prepare for everything, but KNOWING what you plan to do is a good start.

This can relate to all things in life, look at the most successful sports people and bussiness people. Do you think they go into a game or a meeting and hope that what they know will get them through? I doubt it, they all have a very specific, well practiced gameplan that makes them successful.

[Shotokan-kez]

I don't think you would be 'normal' if you didnt get scared every now and again....now me...i am scared of everything all the time lol.

I'm sure that if you were in a situation or position where you had to defend yourself or your loved one's then instinct will kick in and you will succeed in protecting yourself.

[cross]

I'm sure that if you were in a situation or position where you had to defend yourself or your loved one's then instinct will kick in and you will succeed in protecting yourself.

If that were the case then there would never be stories of people getting seriously injured or killed because there were attacked by someone.