Physical Conditioning and Raw Aggressiveness

Marc MacYoung used these two terms at the end of an article that got me to thinking of how many males tend to assume that physical conditioning and aggressive intent are all you need to succeed in a physical crises - fight or attack. I felt that this was a strong part of fighting and self-defense. I spent many hours in the gym and dojo pushing my physical conditioning to the limits. I did weights. I did machines in a circuit training manner. I ran and ran and ran, mini-marathons and much more.

I used both my conditioning and an aggressive intent to literally flood over an opponent like a tidal wave over the Okinawan rocky shoreline. It  worked a lot. It was one of those things that one day I kept on trying to do when my opponent kept slamming me, dumping me, hitting me hard and harder. I got stuck. I allowed my monkey brain to keep me in that loop because it was successful in the past and I wasn't in danger of being killed - just hurt, minor damage.

I discovered then what I now understand as fundamental principles of martial systems. I was brutally shown in the dojo just how ineffective my conditioning and aggressive intent was for fighting. The guy demonstrating was a new friend who was smaller, lighter, and not nearly as strong as I was - strength ill-applied is shit.

I then discovered that all those bulging muscles did nothing but create a body that looked good in a bathing suit. True physical conditioning is not body building musculature. I am not saying it does not have its benefits and purpose - it does not mean power. I learned a lot that year.

Marc MacYoung and Rory Miller both will tell you from real life experiences that big strong conditioned and aggressive guys don't win if they go against anyone who knows how to fight - real fighting.

Aggressive intent is a benefit when controlled. Raw aggressive intent for the sole sake of rolling over someone may work for a time. It will fail if you encounter a person who knows. Physical conditioning may project perceived toughness. It will also fail if you encounter a person who knows.

It took me almost twenty years to encounter one and I was very, very lucky it was in the circumstances posted here and not a person who knows - in a real fight or attack or both.

p.s. once again a re-read of an article added more to my knowledge - cool.