It’s not about us, it’s about them!

What it really means, to be a good instructor…

By Jon Kleineman and Albert Timen

Imagine how you would feel if someone you trained was brutally raped or murdered because you did not prepare them to the best of your ability for real life violence.

Imagine you were to teach someone that would knowingly go off and face a life or death confrontation that would affect them, their families, and their loved ones for the rest of their lives. Think about the humiliation, the violation of trust, the fear, and the sense of helplessness that they carry with them after not having been able to defend themselves.

Suddenly, it wouldn’t matter what level of instructorship you were. It wouldn’t matter that what you learned came from the Special Forces. It wouldn’t matter how hard you punched or kicked. It wouldn’t matter how tough you were, or how many competitions, or street fights you won. Nothing else would matter, but the fact that you did not do the right thing to guide that student out of a violent confrontation.

Unfortunately this is so often forgotten by us as self defense instructors. We train, We hone our bodies to high levels of pain and endurance. We get certificates, belts, and titles. We pat ourselves on the back and our students admire us.

The grim reality is that no amounts of our own personal accolades are going to help our students to survive in the street or the battlefield. It doesn’t matter how fast we are, how many “moves” we know, or how many boards we can break. It doesn’t matter what we can do, ourselves, if they are the ones attacked. It’s about what they can do.

“Don’t show them what you can do. Show them what they can do.”
~ Tony Blauer

We as instructors have an incredible responsibility to teach people how to defend themselves and survive a confrontation…..even if they are not as fast, strong, or as tough as us. It is a HUGE responsibility, and one that you should take very seriously. We are dealing with the safety of other people’s lives.

We need to think about this the next time we pat ourselves on the back for having a 1,000 students training in a huge facility. We can never be complacent and always be continuously learning HOW TO TEACH.

We need to study the behavioral and psychological aspects of a confrontation. We need to study human anatomy, physiology, and motor learning as it applies to combat. We need to be able to say that we have worked hard to make students understand the mentality of survival, and make it apart of their lives.

If you are willing to do these things you may be on the path to being a good Instructor. Never lose sight of the fact that it’s not about us, it’s about them!

MENTAL CONDITIONING

Mental conditioning may be just what you need to enhance your performance. Consider the benefits — improved concentration and focus, controlled emotions, confidence in the face of challenge.

Mental conditioning is often based on four core techniques: relaxation, imagery, goal setting and positive thinking.

Relaxation:

Simple relaxation techniques can help you relieve anxiety and tension to improve concentration and focus. Take a few deep breaths before your performance to prepare for what you're about to do. Slow down. Stay calm. Focus on what's happening now, rather than possible upsets or mistakes.

Imagery:

Imagery can be a powerful tool for increasing confidence. Picture yourself doing your activity — dressed as you would be, hearing what you might hear and smelling what you might smell. Feel your muscles. Sense your emotions. Imagine yourself playing with confidence and skill. Let distracting thoughts or feelings float away. If you see yourself doing something incorrectly, switch gears. Replay the image in your mind exactly as you hope it would happen.

The confidence you gain from these mental practices or rehearsals can help you stay on top of your game when it really counts.

Goal setting:

Setting goals can increase your motivation, provide you with a sense of challenge and help you determine what you can and can't control — leading to greater confidence. Combine long-term and short-term goals related to your personal best or the actions you must take to meet your objectives. Keep the goals realistic and manageable.

Positive thinking:

Negative thoughts can get in the way of concentration and confidence. Mantras such as "Don't miss this shot" or "Don't strike out" may only cause you to do the exact thing you were trying to avoid. Instead, remind yourself that you can do it. Repeat positive phrases to yourself as you play. If you make an error, consider it a simple reminder that your focus is off. Concentrate on what you're doing right and the changes you can make to improve your performance.

KAPAP ACADEMY LLC. Elite Israeli Self Defense and CQB