what is the most important

What do you consider to be the most important factors when learning or teaching a form of self defence/protection program.

Thanks for your time.

Pete,

Sorry for the tardy reply mate...

The 3 things I've written about before are tactics, techniques and mindset. Most programs and short courses I've seen address techniques only and don't talk at all about the other two. That's like going to an arson seminar and talking about ignition without discussing fuel and oxygen. They're all important as one another.

Nick

Right on Nick.

Most people seem to concern themselves with technique. Then once they have the technique down they concentrate on increasing speed and power.

Mindset doesn’t often rate as a high consideration, but obviously should.

Some of the better scrappers I’ve seen have been effective mainly because they are just nasty pieces of work. Have seen ‘nasty’ and quick to react dominate ‘skilled’ on quite a few occasions.

What sort of drills etc do you teach or recommend for getting the mindset right Nick??

Practising awareness. Reading the newspapers and being aware of local crime trends. Developing aggression. Teaching students it's alright to tap into the beast that lives within when it's necessary. Too many of them have had years of conditioning that you're supposed to keep said "dark side" supressed to the point where they don't know how to access it any more.

Not allowing them to take breaks when they're tired or drinks when they're thirsty...to train with (slight) injuries and to train on despite being accidentally kicked or hit during training.

...and so on.

Nick

thanks nick for the reply. i will pm you something to see what you think.