I TOTALLY understand the busy schedule thing. If anyone has a busy schedule, I DO!
Americans tend to work too much and the end result is not much time for other things. I spent over 8 years of my life working a minimum of 70 hours per week. Another three years I worked 84 hours a week, remodeled my home, tried to be a father, husband, and find time to myself for the things I enjoy.Our focus is what WE CHOOSE for it to be on. Family is definitely #1 in my book.
And if you don't regularly practice even the most BASIC techniques, you'll forget them.
That is probably true for just about anything. However, once you achieve a certain level of skill, it takes less time to maintain that skill level. Not that you shouldn't continue to improve your skills.
Here is the issue, you cannot count on taking the attacker immediately out of the fight with your handgun. If you (this applies to everyone reading) are one of those people who believes that you WILL take the attacker out, and you shoot them and they don't just fall down and die right then, and they are coming at you and you are out of bullets, what is your plan NOW?
Your life depends upon the amount of skills that you possess. The more you possess, the better chance of survival you will have. My unarmed skills go with me EVERYWHERE I GO, whereas I cannot carry everywhere I go because of stupid gun laws and metal detectors, etc. So, for those of you who choose not to make the time, what are you going to do? How are you going to defend your children, spouse, etc. if you are not carrying? Is the price of $60.00 per month and let's say you go to class one day a week because of your busy schedule, and class is 2 hours long. You are receiving 8 hours a month which is more than you would be by not doing it at all. It is personal training time that makes the difference more so than the "dojo" time. If I don't throw "x" amount of punches and kicks, etc. on my own time, then my dojo time is not going to be as good as it could or should. Regardless of how much we work, or whatever, we ALL have 15 minutes a day to punch, kick, draw and dry fire, etc.
Back to the price.
What is the $$$ amount on your life, your kids lives, your spouses life? What if something happens and you loose one of them because you weren't carrying and didn't have unarmed skills? Would you now take the time to learn unarmed skills regardless of the cost or time schedule you have? Would it NOW be worth the sacrifice of time and money? I would say that we should all take this into consideration BEFORE something happens and we regret the decision not to be proactive!
Beside the "lazy" factor, the majority of Americans also have the mindset of "It won't happen to me."
WE MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR WELL BEING AND FOR THOSE WE LOVE WHO DO NOT SEE THE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DEFEND THEMSELVES!
As with anything, movement is key in your survival. If you have good tactics (movement) and know how to apply some of the most basic techniques, or how to strike effectively, then your chances of survival are pretty good in my opinion. A lot of the techniques taught are just "icing on the cake" so to speak. They are just more options. However, the BASICS are most important. I never said that you need to become a black belt or whatever. Not that it wouldn't hurt!
But just develop some solid fundamentals so that you have more options.
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Brian K. LaMaster - President
Innovative Tactical Concepts, LLC
Modern Warrior Talk