ever doubted ur abilities

[y2_sub]

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

Couldn't agree more , hek , it wasn't before I got my black belt that they started to show me some techniques used outside a kyokushin ring .

[patusai]

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.

I agree

[lordtariel]

I think having doubts yourself is normal. The trick of it is to not listen to them. Will I be able to defend myself on the street? Maybe... but the time may come where I don't have any other choice so I might as well not worry about how well I'm going to do and focus on doing my best.

[MisterRadley]

I think that having doubts are normal and should be considered to some extent. Obviously you shouldn't spend most of your time worrying, but I think that if you're having doubts, you need to decide if they're valid or not.

[patusai]

As you get older and your bones, joints and other parts of your body have their pain related problems you think to your self "If someone trys something with my limited mobility I may not be able..." Then there is the doubt that you are older and that the younger person has an advantage with the lack of age. Don't worry about questioning what matters is when your MA training goes into autopilot you have trained enough to survive. Of course, putting yourself into places and situations that may increase your chances of getting into a fight is also best to avoid. That's also where walking away starts to be a real good idea...of course sometimes younger people find that harder to do, I know that it was that way for me.

I suppose that my point is, train for as many situations as you can. Of course you can't completely do it. There is always the chance of something developing that you have no control over. All you can do is all you can do. Good luck to us all

[vietdao]

I think that no matter how long an individual trains there is always going to be some fear there. I think, personally, that some fear is often good. It keeps us alert and aware. I think that the problem lies in the point where we let our fear cripple our thinking and our ability to react when we are faced with a situation where we must use our martial arts training. That takes time and training to overcome.

[baronbvp]

When the adrenaline is pumping for real, a key is to stay within yourself and actively calm yourself down while you think clearly. Many people turn wild with their motions or let their voice crack or act erratic - so don't. Develop your gameplan, look to deescalate the situation, and watch for the right opportunity to execute it if you are going to need it. Don't lose sight of your exit strategy. If someone drives the situation to a fight and it comes time to "tho down," you will likely get only one chance to do it right. When it comes time, act decisively and fiercely and leave as soon as you can safely do so.