Fatigue Makes Cowards Of Us All

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(Edited)

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The iconic quote in the title is attributed to General George S. Patton or Vince Lombardi, take your pick. Either way, it’s a favorite for larger than life leaders. The quotes popularity is appropriate for the timeless truth it holds. Any one who’s played a team sport or has fought competitively knows the feeling of “sucking wind.”

Yes, fatigue makes cowards of us all.

Bro culture encourages packing on weight…Suns out guns out Bro…

In the concrete jungle though, cardio is king. Gettin swole does have a place in self-defense. Mainly in pure intimidation. For example, the presence of big bouncers can create a safe atmosphere in a night club. However, when things get started, don’t underestimate small guys with below average body fat.

A big man has a small window in which to stop a fight. If he misses that window and his name isn’t Michael Phelps, he’s in trouble. General George S. Patton knew this fact very well. When his troops got tired, they died. When they had endurance, and could outmaneuver the enemy, they lived.

Combat sports and battle are two different animals. You can watch a giant man go many rounds in a fight and think his cardio is good enough for a real battle. This isn’t always the case. It’s true, a professional fighter must have good cardio. But they are also trained to use their energy according to their fight strategy. You don’t have a choice in how you ration energy in a life and death struggle.

I’ve had a gun pulled on me in another life. All the competitive fights I had been in did not compare to the adrenaline rush of that moment. In the moment of impending doom there’s no time for strategy. There’s no time at all. You’re either prepared or you’re not. You will detach from your body and it will do whatever it is going to do. "You" will not be in control. This is why drilling techniques until they’re second nature is so important. The moment of truth is not when you write the algorithm.

If you’re serious about self-defense, invest in a good pair of running shoes. The best thing you can do besides you martial arts training is cardio. Do HIIT, jog, jump rope, engage in long sparring sessions that sap your energy, and get into a jiu-jitsu class where have to roll with bigger, stronger people. These types of things build endurance and create mental calluses.

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I can’t stress the importance of building mental calluses. Mental calluses are formed when you routinely push yourself to physical exhaustion. Last year when I was training for a half-marathon I got to the point where I no longer feared the pain of my shin splints and achy knees.

When you’re not afraid of the pain of an intense workout, you have a mental callus. Peter Consterdine, one of the UK's premier self-defense experts was probably one of the earliest martial artists to write about this in his book Fit to Fight. There's an element to this where it's no longer about physical fitness, but mental toughness. Training to exhaustion will eventually lead to injuries, so it's best to give yourself plenty of time for recovery.



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