It’s Your Life

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

The following quote was written in response to comments on questioning your instructor, specifically in this case your firearms instructor. When I read it I felt that it also would apply to all self-defense teachings. After all, if not your life then your freedom are involved along with all the repercussions of participating in conflict and violence (for details read “In the Name of Self-Defense by Marc MacYoung). The following quote:

“An instructor is asking you to stake your life on the quality of the information he/she is providing. As such, the instructor does not have the privilege to tell you to shut up and not question the limits and -- at the same time - applications of the information he/she is providing. After all you're paying him AND it's your life if something goes wrong in application.” - Marc MacYoung

Even in and especially in martial arts communities who profess to teach you self-defense. When someone takes up a system to learn self-defense they are putting their entire lives on the line if they ever have to use those teachings in real life. If you read Mr. MacYoung’s book along with others he wrote as well as the books and materials published by Mr. Rory Miller, as well as others they also recommend, you will begin to see just how much you need to not only know but truly and completely understand in order to apply SD while remaining in the SD Square (Mr. MacYoung’s phrase found in his book).

Granted, most questioning can often wait till after the instruction period. After all, that instruction period is set to cover a certain amount of material but follow up questions should never be disallowed, put off or ignored. If the teacher does this find another teacher, it is your life and your families life after all. 

This is why I precede an instruction period with the quote that goes something like this, “Please refrain from questions until the instruction is completed. I will provide adequate time to have questions and answers after the instruction ends. There will be not restrictions to questions at that time. This gives you time to hear all the instructions where some questions may be answered.” I do this to control the time set aside to cover materials and to remove interruptions that would result in overtime along with a disruption of the flow, rhythm and cadence of instruction, etc. I also then show them how one piece of instruction that results in questions is often answered as the class continues. It teaches students who have a tendency to formulate questions and comments before a complete thought and teaching is presented, i.e., it teaches them to actively listen before allowing the brain to jump ahead because forthcoming information changes that question as the completeness of the instruction is - completed. 

I also don’t tolerate “What if Monkey Antics.” What if’s are delays and unnecessary. If a what if question is proper it is answered appropriately at teh Q&A period after the class ends. Self-defense is about your life and liberty so questions are critical in a students understanding of what is being presented. Students need to understand that each lesson or period of instruction may depend on other lessons and periods of instruction to achieve proficiency and full understanding. They need to know when that happens and should be encouraged to document questions to ensure the hear the answers later and if they don’t they should bring them up again. 

Extra information makes it complete and understandable. It is important that it be addressed and if not in that Q&A period then acknowledged as to when it will be answered even if it means research, if you don’t know the answer, and addresses at the earliest convenient time in the dojo, etc.

I would also recommend that instructors keep providing that in martial arts and especially in self-defense there are no “Absolutes.” As Marc MacYoung stated on this subject, there are no absolutes in a field of massive variables!” Again, read his and Mr. Miller’s books to understand what variables are involved. 

I tend to question everything and I mean everything. I didn’t always do this and even today I find myself sometimes accepting things as is but my pension to question and validate even from professionals who have experiences way beyond even my wildest imagination should be questioned if for no other reason then if you do and find validation from other sources you then can use that toward your own references of source information - that seems good to me don’t you think?

Even today I tend to aggravate some very experienced martial artists who lead the way in today’s martial arts communities who due to their status tend to sometimes assume their knowledge, experiences and understandings are absolute and irrefutable but in reality I have discovered they can make mistakes cause like me, they are just as human and fallible as anyone. I try to remember to formulate things without making it “Personal” and I try to not take such things when they come my way as “Personal.” Making it personal just triggers the monkey brain and that never truly leads to anything productive in this arena. 

There are a lot of ways to test things out for validation and Mr. MacYoung and Mr. Miller, along with a variety of others as can be seen in my bibliography that follows, provide those tests in their works. I strongly suggest reading them, studying them and then if possible participating in their seminars, etc. to learn and most importantly “Understand” the principles and concepts they teach, promote and believe it wholeheartedly. 

In my book your questions are valid and should be answered at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way, anything else should prompt you to seen out instruction elsewhere. 

Note: Go to Mr. MacYoung’s FB Wall and read the share on “What if you disagree with your defensive shooting instructor … “ dtd 11-3-2015 and read his comment that follows the article posting. 

If nothing else, remember that it is your life, your liberty and your families, what you do effects a lot of things and more importantly a lot of people who are a part of your personal community/tribe - take care. 

Bibliography (Click the link)