One of the essential mindsets in self-defense is that there’s no right and wrong—per se—there’s just works and doesn’t work.
Yes, we train to improve technique, expand awareness, and build better instinctual reactions.
But what’s so important to remember when training is that if a “mistake” is made in a real self-defense scenario—as in the student did something different than what was taught—there’s no do-overs. And if you ask your training partner to stop, rewind, and do the simulated attack again—that’s what makes the self-defense wrong.
Of course there’s a time and a place for slow, smooth, rewind-able practice… but, generally speaking, when it comes to self-defense—we want to always be in the mindset of making it work. Which means if your training partner throws a simulated attack and you react “incorrectly”—you don’t stop and ask for a rewind… you get back on track asap… in whatever way you’re able to with the training and instincts you have.
Because while, yes, technique makes a difference—mindset makes an even bigger one. And mindset needs to be trained just as much, if not more, than technique.
…And so it is with life, eh?
When life throws a hook punch your way and knocks you off balance… do you curse the hit or figure out a way to quickly rebalance and refocus? When you make a mistake at work, do you obsessively ask for a do-over or do you take responsibility and figure out how to get back on track stat?
Don’t get in the habit of trying to rewind time… get in the habit of making things work in real time.