So you're dead... KEEP FIGHTING!

[MasterPain]

When training knife defense and such, I never let someone stop just because they know I have made a fatal series of strokes and thrusts. I feel that stopping due to what would be a serious injury goes against the mentality of self preservation. Instead, I think they should up the intensity and look for a finish quickly. Someone, maybe Musashi, said that if a Samurai should be decapitated, their will should be such that they kill their enemy before their body hit the ground.

Any thoughts?

[pittbullJudoka]

I will agree with on this. In training if you get into the mind of oops I messed up and stop that's what you will do when it comes down to it. It's just the same with sparring you have got to have that never say die attitude. If you're training yourself to stop after a mistake, or a point is scored you're training for failure.

[tallgeese]

Agreed.

In addition to ma's, it's the prevalent attitude in law enforcement training these days as well. Very rarely do you run into a group training that stops the actions of an officer due to their being struck by sims rounds. The standard has become fighting on to build that mentality. The only time one of our guys goes down is if an instructor or commander puts them down so everyone else has to deal with the element of an officer down.

Grossman, an individual who's books I think everyone who carries a gun for a living should read, talks about the amount of time studies have shown an individual can live AFTER sustaining injuries that will prove fatal. It's often longer than one would think. His point in this is two fold but goes directly to your point MP.

1) Medical science is better than it's ever been, and in fact is a controlling factor in how few deaths we have from violence despite the record number of violent acts being committed. Because of this, you have to train to take on the responsibility of training to get to self, or buddy, aid despite wounds. This could save your life compared to laying down to die.

2) If there's no saving you, you've dedicated your life to living a certain way, how do you want to be remembered for your last few seconds on earth? Bleeding out on the ground or taking it to the bad guy that just ended you and seeing that he doesn't do the same to your partners or others.

So yeah, training to never stop is important. Moving through mistakes rather than resetting is a key component in developing that mindset.

[darksoul]

Agreed here as well. The adrenaline in the body and will to survive can overcome some pretty nasty injuries, at least until you can find medical attention. You're dead? Fight harder than if you were alive. It might actually save your life in the end.

[YouRminE]

Even the physical side seems to be getting weak if the mentality looks strong and good still an individual could survive and comeback strongly. So we have to think positive about this matter. “Sugar Ray Robinson” is the prime example for what I said.

[Dobbersky]

My ethos, If I gonna die, I'm taking you with me!!!

[bushido_man96]

I agree. I think its important to foster a mentality of finishing the fight that way. If all someone does in class is "die" and doesn't learn to finish, then it will be tough to develop confidence when the student needs to fight through something, be it pain or whatever. You aren't out of the fight until you are dead! And even then, fall so you can trip someone...

[Groinstrike]

You aren't out of the fight until you are dead! And even then, fall so you can trip someone...

This may be my new signature!!!

[Harkon72]

The Samurai Code asked them to look for a good death, indeed to seek it. The Vikings also tried to have a death holding a sword in their hand. Dying with your boots on was a goal in some cowboy films too. I concur, it's better to go out kicking than to fade away.

[bushido_man96]

You aren't out of the fight until you are dead! And even then, fall so you can trip someone...

This may be my new signature!!!

Go for it! I'm glad you like it. It must be my general stubbornness and tendency to be spiteful that brings these things out at times.