Most people have trouble harnessing resources available at an instant. This goes from things like cash, endurance, strength, time available, ability to maintain status quo relative to outside. This is just a reality of the human body and life.
Given that “Resources” are our number 2 golden rule for self-defense, it is important to take this one further step than just recognizing its importance:
- Accumulation of resources within yourself – all the physical and mental training that you are doing is part of this resource accumlation drive. This goes from physical training like endurance, power, speed, strength to knowledge, skill, “set plays”, adaptation, having a high-level master plan, etc. A lot of people focus in on the accumulation but lagging in terms of the ability to deploy effectively.
- Realize what you have in relationship to your adversary’s resource pool and then set strategy/tactics accordingly. Furthermore, it is important to make your resources relevant. There is nothing more frustrating than having “a super advantage” that never got used. Therefore strategies like depleting your adversary’s resource (e.g. like tiring him/her out if lack of endurance is his weak point, slow down the pace if time is against your opponent), fight in limited space will suffocate fighters that have great mobility or has a reach advantage and many more.
- Leverage off resources external to oneself – you do not have to own all the resources. All big businesses build themselves up by leveraging off other people’s money. For us, external entities like friends, people in power like police, teacher, the environment as simple as lighted streets or hold a craigslist transaction in a bank or transit where you know they have security camera and sometimes even guards. Random things that you carry (e.g. keys, umbrella, jacket, belt, etc) or available close-by (e.g. people, chair, broom / stick, boxes, etc). You are not in a sport competition, the other person is the bad guy, you don’t have to fight fair.
- Make resources available at an instant – this is not just about hitting faster. This is about full commitment and delivery at anytime of the day regardless of whether you are warmed up or not. This is about being able to deliver fully without requiring full extension of muscles and joints (and therefore risking a pulled muscle). This is also about not being wishy-washy mentally.
- Extend what is given to human to its max – we are born with 2 hands and 2 legs. Furthermore, each of us has different physical dimensions that we cannot change. You need to explore how to use your body to its max potential.
Exercise
We have talked about resources quite a few times. Hopefully this digs a little bit further than the last time.
1) List and explore how to extend the human body to its max
2) How do you develop “instant complete commitment”?
3) What are your current strengths as well as the area of development that you think will give you the best return on your effort?