Fight Paradigms

Webster’s Dictionary defines a Paradigm as- 1- A philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated. 2- A philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind. 3- An outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.

So what does this mean for those of us concerned with preparing our minds and bodies for the realities of fighting? At the Institute of Modern Combative Sciences, we define a Fighting Paradigm as Where, Who and How we are going to be fighting. Everyone’s fighting paradigm is a little bit different. A police officer will have a different paradigm than an airline pilot. A prison guard’s paradigm will be radically dissimilar to a security contractor operating in a war zone, and of course a cage fighter or mixed martial artist will exist in a completely different fighting paradigm than a housewife with children and groceries in tow.
The US Military uses a simple acronym METT-T for planning all of its combat missions. METT-T is easily adapted to help anyone train for the specific combative situations they will encounter in a day to day routine.

METT-T - Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and equipment available and Time available.

Mission: What do you do? Work, Home, travel? Do you spend a lot of time in a car? On a motorcycle? Behind a counter? Interacting with potential criminals? Or are you a teacher who must protect children in schools? One must be very analytical when defining ones fighting paradigm. It’s the little things that matter.

Enemy: Who is the threat? Prisoners, criminals, terrorists, kidnappers, street thugs, enemy combatants? Learn your enemy’s tactics by studying case reports, watching the news and listening to those who have been there and done that. Note the weapon types, modus operandi or way of operating, signals, clothing, symbols and language of your enemy.

Terrain and weather: In the past, entire martial arts systems were defined by the terrain or geographical region of its practitioners. Techniques were developed to step, punch and kick correctly in high grass, on hill sides or while wading through marsh land. The Terrain will determine the footwork necessary. Routes and means of evasion Cover and concealment, ambush points and obstacles are all issues to be addressed. Training on wet ground, pavement, mud, gravel and carpet will serve to enlighten you to the dangers the terrain can pose. Training exclusively on mats is a serious mistake for practitioners of combatives. Remember… Train in the sun and train when it snows. Train when it rains and train when it blows!

Get used to the cuts, bangs and bruises of training in a real world environment. It will be worse on the street.

Troops and equipment: A full inventory of biological assets and mechanical tools that you have available is essential. Be honest with yourself about your physical and mental capabilities and then tailor your tactics and strategy to fit and capitalize on those limitations.

The types of weapons that you can legally carry or are required to carry due to your job description must be integrated into the fighting style and body type of the individual. When this mental inventory and integration of tools is accomplished, one must train simple situational specific protocols for the use of these assets in a combative situation. Train in the clothing and gear you carry every day. Don’t take your shoes and jacket off to do ground fight training. Wear your gun belt and duty clothing when practicing on the heavy bag. Practice knife defense techniques and weapon disarms while wearing a coat. Always analyze your tactics, techniques and procedures against your local laws and or rules of engagement.

Time available: Most street fights last 3-7 seconds. Yet some situations last for much longer times. Individual police officers and prison guards without back up have been known to grapple with detainees for 30 minutes or longer. A rape may last for hours. Soldiers and security contractors can stay in gunfights for hours if not days. It is essential to deliver decisive techniques that deal with the situation quickly. Many in the “reality martial arts arena” seem to think that this means that conditioning is irrelevant in a street fight. WRONG! The effects of adrenaline cause one to hyperventilate and have an enormously increased heart rate. The arms and legs become numb and dexterity with the hands goes out the window. Physical conditioning will limit the effects of adrenaline on the body.

One must also learn how to relax when in a fight. An individual with excellent cardio conditioning will have no advantage if they hold their breath due to being afraid. However, an individual who is relaxed loose and breathing will succeed. Wild predators do not tense when in a fight they are loose and flowing and they breathe. Practice doing strenuous physical exercises like push ups or wind sprints and then immediately stand up and spar with a partner or practice drawing and utilizing a weapon.

A fully prepared fighter must deal with the situation quickly and decisively yet still be physically prepared to fight for as long as necessary. Decisiveness, relaxation, mental conditioning, physical conditioning and the will to keep fighting are the keys to success.
Bryan M. Seaver