YOUR WARRIOR MINDSET: The Mental Side of Staying Safe.

• Author: Canavan, Pete J.
• Position: LIFE IN AMERICA

MANY MARTIAL ARTS schools and self-defense classes focus primarily on the physical nature of self-defense and on specific techniques. While this is absolutely necessary, training to protect yourself and your loved ones involves much more than just knowing how to escape a hold or throw a punch. It begins with knowing what your risks are and bringing awareness to them. Denial is not an option, yet it is what many people choose to do. They think that "it" cannot happen to them, and so do nothing to prepare.

Preparation is imperative when it comes to staying safe. Identify any risks to your personal safety that you can think of, including the places you go, people you interact with, and transportation you use.

Every aspect deserves your attention so that you can begin to define where problems may occur. Situations such as walking to your car in the parking garage after work at night, depositing the cash sales from a business at an ATM after hours, or traveling alone on public transportation are but a few examples of potential risks you may face. Take a look at your habits and examine where you go, with who, and when. There are many things you can do in order to increase your personal safety but, until you identify them, you will continue along as you always have, and habits breed complacency.

Instructors and schools tend to neglect the mental aspect of personal protection. To be fair, it typically is not their fault; they probably never were trained themselves. If they have not been shown how to identify risks, they will be unable to prepare their students adequately. Training involves learning how to develop mental tenacity, and how to focus emotions under duress.

You can learn effective self-defense techniques from books, videos, and qualified instructors, yet you may have a difficult time executing those moves if you do not have the mental fortitude to follow through when the time comes to act without hesitation.

Mentally preparing yourself for what you may need to do when faced with a possibly moral and ethical dilemma requires you to ask yourself tough questions beforehand. It is important to think about what you may have to do one day to someone who is intent on inflicting serious bodily injury, committing sexual assault, or attempting to kill you. You must tell yourself "When that happens, I will !" and use specifics. Don't say, "If that happens, I will !" Deal in absolutes so that you can begin to program your subconscious mind. Getting...