Are we born fighters ?!

Spartacus Maximus · Black Belt

The point of training is to develop and ingrain certain actions and responses which would not otherwise be possible. The results of training depends almost entirely on the methods and purpose. With proper supervision, diligence and adequate repetition, trained actions become instinctive.

The fact that born "fighters" do not exist or that a person lacks a certain character trait is completely irrelevant to that person's ability to deal with physical threats.

Self defense and dealing with violence goes far beyond physical techniques. The subject involves many other social and psychological aspects not usually discussed and often ignored.

Safroot · Pre-Black Belt

LLLEARNER · Brown Belt

I see this as a nature vs nurture problem.

Generally, I find every person is capable of being a fighter. To what degree is the dictates of their nature (genetics/natural physicality), and their nurture (what they are taught/teach themselves).

Of course, people vary in their physical ability as a result of what they are born with. This is augmented by environmental conditions that can range from what others taught them to what they taught themselves either formally or informally.

This all gets stirred into our minds and results in the effectiveness of our responses to stimuli.

Some will never have the physical ability due to their genetics to play linebacker. Some will never be able to respond effectively to an attack due to lack of mental conditioning.

For most people, most of the time proper training and practice will condition their minds and bodies to respond effectively to most encounters.
_________________
"Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know." ~ Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching

"Walk a single path, becoming neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat, without forgetting caution when all is quiet or becoming frightened when danger threatens." ~ Jigaro Kano

Safroot · Pre-Black Belt

DWx · Black Belt

What this comes down to is whether we have an innate Fight or Flight (or Freeze) response.

With training all you are doing is teaching the person to recognise stimulus and to react in a certain way. "Fight" is the body's response when it believes the perceived threat can be nullified. "Flight" is when the body thinks that its best chance of survival is to get the hell out of there.

The trick is to stay in control. And you teach people to do this by endlessly drilling every stressful scenario until you develop an instinctual response. Ideally you want to build in "good" instinctual responses.
_________________
"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius

sensei8 · KF Sensei

No!! I do not subscribe to the born fighter mindset because everyone has to LEARN how to do whatever it is that they do. Impressions are just that...impressions, and impressions fueled by ones assumption can quickly fade for one reason or another.

_________________
**Proof is on the floor!!!

Spartacus Maximus · Black Belt

Humans have instincts and natural behaviours just like all animals. The key difference is that unlike other animals, people can exploit their own natural instincts and even control them by training. Training is what determines the way a person will behave in a given situation.

Two different people with radically opposing characters and personalities will both fail if they are not prepared to deal with what they are facing. Someone who trains effectively and regularly for self-defense will most likely succeed at defending themselves. To be effective, training and practice must have a clear goal.

Whisky147 · Yellow Belt

Safroot · Pre-Black Belt

	KarateForums.com Forum Index -> General Martial Arts Discussion	All times are GMT - 6 Hours Goto page Previous 1, 2
Page 2 of 2