One of the main problems martial artists have in a fight is adrenaline control. The more adrenaline charged situations you are in, the easier it is to control that rush.

As with anything, the more you do it, the less of a thrill it becomes and you build up a tolerance to it. So it stands to reason that the more ring fights you get into, the more clearheaded you will be in a self defense situation.

It took me about 4 fights before I could even hear my corner, then about another 3 before I started to listen. I also truly believe the less ego you have the easier it is to compete, as well as learn. You must understand that two people are entering the ring. Draws not being commonplace, chances are one of you is going to lose.

I don't think God cares who wins. He probably doesn't approve of us fighting. Besides, I've definitly lost to folks less pious than myself. And what if you both pray? Who does God pick to win? So lets say God is on both of your sides, you each have equal technique standing up, striking and on the ground grappling. The person who can out think the adrenaline will usually win in my opinion. The best way to do that is to become immune to it. So compete in everything... all the time.

Now take street self defense (a catch phrase most Sensei's use) or they say, "When you're out on the street." Like they know! Chances are their last fight was in 5th grade. Never in the history of my imagination can I think of any other subject being taught by people who don't do.

Can you imagine learning how to fly a plane from a non-pilot? Or how to perform open heart surgery from a carpenter? How about learning to skydive from someone teaching you theories? The only other place you see this is in our Universities.

The point I'm trying to make is that probably close to 100% of martial arts instructors teach in theory only! Never using what they know because it is "too deadly." Yeah, right. The sky in my world is blue.

How about the line, "When I was a kid I had to fight my way to school and back." Seems everybody grew up in the ghetto.

It is unthinkable for a kid to train Golden Gloves and never compete. Or a kid to take wrestling and never wrestle. They live and breathe what they use. They are not theorists. Most Martial Artists still are. Thank God for MMA to shock us all, making the whole of us realize we need to change, and the other lot to hide behind their certificate of other worldly successes of benevolent achievements.

Win, lose or draw... train hard. -Eric