Confidence, Especially Self-confidence

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A trait we all strive to develop to its fullest potential. Not many consider that confidence is a double edged sword. We may consider a positive self-confidence and we may consider a negative self-confidence but seldom do we question the validity of one's positive side of self-confidence. That which is derived from attaining a level of self-confidence that is based on false information, training, practices and experiences. 

Self-confidence must be connected to appropriate, valid and well ingrained sensory experiences encoded into our three brains or minds, i.e., the lizard; the monkey; the human logical minds. If we feel and perceive our self-confidence as being appropriate when in reality, in situations of conflict and violence especially, we may act on that self-confidence to our detriment. 

For instance, if we train in the dojo to perform disarms, such as with a knife or gun wielder, then train and practice in an inappropriate way to the reality of violent attacks with either weapon then we may trigger actions that are NOT appropriate to the safety and security of ourselves, the attacker and to those who may be in the vicinity. 

Consider that we train in self-protection for self-defense in ways that we strive to make appropriate and effective regardless of any particular situation and events. This is the chaos of that model and to achieve a level of self-confidence that will handle such things that training, practice and experience must be derived from experiences, etc., that speak to that reality. In short, our beliefs in our training and practice must meet or exceed those situations and events and effects, stress those effects, of a reality that exposes us to that which is real and deadly. Training often can't do that but it can come close - IF ...

You have to have confidence in yourself; you have to have confidence in your teachers; you have to have confidence in your dojo-mates or training partners; you have to have confidence in those methodologies and you have to have confidence in a variety of concepts, principles and methods that will get the job done. Do you, your dojo and your methods and methodologies meet or exceed those criteria? 

In short, if you train with a drill/technique that works so well in the dojo and is not reality based then you build a positive confidence in that drill/technique that in reality is a negative confidence because when you try to implement it in the heat of an attack it will fail and you will suffer the consequences - hopefully not being dead. 

Something to think about, let your mind meander on that for a spell then take a look at what you do in the dojo with particular attention on that which is labeled, “Self-protection for self-defense.” Self-confidence is a critical trait to develop and it is critical to ensure that the confidence is well-founded on reality, proficiency and effectiveness because if it ain’t - watch out. 

I know a few folks from a time walking ville-patrol handling military personal who go a bit to far on a night out on the town and when action was required a few folks found that their techniques failed. They were lucky because when that happened the three-man team, teamed up and took the others down - safely. 

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