To Cheat or Not to Cheat - That is the Question

Think "survival." Think "avoid damage." If you cannot avoid the entire situation and you find yourself stuck in a physical altercation then you should give yourself permission to "cheat" to gain your goal - survive, avoid damage and find a safe zone.

Maybe "cheating" is a bit confusing as a choice to describe what you may need to do. It comes down to asking some very real and important questions long before you encounter a situation where you may need to apply your expertise be it boxing, wrestling or any martial system. If you can answer all those questions, allow yourself to be comfortable with your answers and then give yourself permission to "cheat or do what ever it takes" to "survive, avoid damage and find a safe zone," then do so - tell yourself every time you do the realty-world context rich training or practice, "I will be ok with doing what ever it takes to survive, avoid damage and find a safe zone." Then "do it!"

Another point to my concern with the use of the term "cheat" is that it may be unconsciously understood that it is some sort of game out there. Don't fall for this, make sure you fully and completely understand the "context" in which you use this term or any other term or group of words to describe to "yourself" what it is you have to do or not do. I believe this is important.

Bibliography:
Cheating is always Allowed. - Iain Abernethy Sensei Seminar as quoted by Samurai Girl Blog post dtd. Thursday, October 13, 2011 titled, "Abernethy Seminar Review"