Look for a Better Way

We often find something that works or seems to work and we go with it regardless of a possible better way to get the job done. Once we find something that works - no matter how horribly it works - we don't look for a better way. If we happen to encounter a better way we might use it, but we seldom look for one. 

In karate we tend to rely heavily on what is first taught to us. If it happens to work even badly in say dojo kumite (remember dojo kumite is not defense or fighting) then we tend to remain steadfast with that. When it fails to work for defense, etc. we still try again and again to make it work (sound familiar) and in karate or a fight that is a fight ender with you on the losing end receiving damage. 

It is then a reasonable assumption that an intricate part of learning a martial art, budo or self-defense, etc. to learn the fundamentals and then explore, experiment and find what actually works for the individual. This means allowing yourself to seek out a better way than what you are taught. It means looking and seeing a better way then train the better way. 

It is not rocket science yet it is about overcoming the human tendency to find the first thing that works and then rely on it almost exclusively for something so important as defense, protection or combat. 

It is also important that this be discovered in training and practice rather than out in some violent situation when it may be a bit too late. Muddling through budo  may work sometimes, it tends to be inefficient and error-prone. You don't just want to feel smart about applications you want to be smart.