What is YOUR mindset?

[Brian LaMaster]

Mindset… we hear about it all the time. However, how important is it REALLY and what does it entail? Well, I once heard that “Attitude” is everything and mindset is just that. What is your attitude towards self-preservation? How much do you value your life and your loved ones? Let’s face it, people are robbed, assaulted, raped, and murdered every day. These things are happening to SOMEONE! Behind the numbers are REAL PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME!!!

Realizing there is a need for you to be concerned about your well being is a start. There are a number of skills that you should possess if you are truly serious about self-preservation. The most important skill that everyone should possess whether or not they ever take a self-defense course or firearms course is awareness. I firmly believe that 90% or better of situations can be avoided through proper awareness. Truth of the matter is that most people live in condition white. If you have no idea what I am talking about, then you need to do a search on the internet for the late Jeff Cooper’s color code awareness system. It amazes me that most people are not willing to do the one thing that does not cost them any money and any more time than what they are already spending to be aware!!! Yet people insist on being lazy and possess the attitude of “oh well, it probably won’t happen to me”. What a mindset! It bothers me that my wife is one of these people especially after what all she has been through in life.

People tend to call me “paranoid” because I am always looking around even when I am talking to someone face to face. I like to know what is going on around me. It doesn’t take any more “effort” to be aware really. You make the “effort” to not be aware… just turn that “effort” around and make it so that you are aware!

Personally, I believe that skill is an important part of mindset. If you don’t get training (firearm or hand-to-hand) then how do you expect to have tactics? I believe that tactics is a bi-product of having the skill. If you don’t have the skill or tactics then how do you expect to survive a confrontation?!!! Proper mindset means that you are always training! I love using the line from the movie the Recruit, “Everything is training”… I have never heard a truer statement from a movie. For those of you who are serious about self-preservation, you should be constantly training in whatever you are doing. When you enter a building are you looking for an escape route? Have you identified true cover should a crazed gunman start letting rounds fly? What types of weapons are available to you other than your firearm? Do you drive 360 degrees around you and see a car approaching from behind that is about to rear end you? Do you see the suspicious character walking down the street scoping out a potential victim?

There are basically three types of mindset.
1. Those that don’t see the need to obtain self-preservation skills.

2. Those that realize the need and get training and continue to train on a regular basis.

3. The wannabe’s. Those people who watch videos, read articles, but rarely (or if ever) train. We call them keyboard commandos or arm chair commandos. Now, if you have hundreds of posts and you haven’t been a member very long on any forum or you belong to several forums and have hundreds of posts, you may want to take a serious look at yourself and what your TRUE mindset is! I try to monitor several forums but I limit myself because it is easy to get caught up and spend too much time online and not enough time training. So, I am not saying that if you do have hundreds (or more) posts on a forum or forums that your mindset IS that of a wannabe, but rather I am saying that you need to check yourself!

Now, if you are a keyboard commando, please do not offer anyone advice if you have not TRAINED on the topic! We don’t need bad information floating around on this valuable resource from someone who doesn’t really have a clue as to what they are talking about!

Another thing that I want to say about mindset is that people tend to think that because they have a gun available to them is that they should handle the situation differently than if they didn’t have a gun. I cannot tell you how much this bothers me!!! It is VERY important that you realize that you are in a FIGHT for your life!!! Using your gun is a last resort and you have to stay alive long enough in the fight to POSSIBLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEMPT TO DRAW YOUR GUN. Did you hear what I just said?!

A true warrior has the proper mindset. Do you consider yourself to be a “warrior”? If you carry a gun then you are either a warrior or a wannabe warrior. You had better have the skills to use that weapon if you are going to carry it.

In short, proper mindset means being aware and being prepared. Being prepared means that you have ALL of the necessary skills to maximize your chances of survival.

One last thing about mindset is that, can you REALLY take the life of another human being in order to save yourself and/or others? If you cannot take the life of another human being then there is NO REASON for you to carry a gun because if you hesitate in drawing your gun and firing, the gun can be taken away from you and used against you and those you love. Your right to defend yourself is a God-given right and don’t let ANYONE tell you differently!

____________________________
Brian K. LaMaster
President
Innovative Tactical Concepts, LLC
"High Impact Training"
www.innovativetacticalconcepts.com
www.modernwarriortalk.com

I completely agree with you, Brian. Awareness is the most important self-defence and survival skill there is. I'm not saying that shooting and unarmed combat skills are unimportant, I am just expressing the amazing usefullness of awareness skills. I admit that my awareness skills are not what they should be, and i catch myself occasionally suddenly realizing that i havn't been paying attention for awhile. how can we increase our awareness and maintain that state of being aware? and in what ways can we train to improve in this department?

Chet

[Brian LaMaster]

Chet,

In order to increase your awareness you must make it a habit just like you make not being aware your habit. People CHOOSE to be, or not to be aware!

Have you ever seen the movie "The Recruit"? In that movie Al Pacino said, "Everything is training". I try to live by this statement because it is SO true!!! In everything you do, you should be aware of what you are doing and what is going on around you. You should be like a radar picking up as many things happening around you as you can. A good drill is to close your eyes and listen to all of the different sounds in the room you are in, and those that are coming from other rooms. You must practice awareness at all times! Knowing what is around you so you don’t trip over it is one of the things that I started with in developing my awareness skills.

I hope this helps.


____________________
Brian K. LaMaster
Innovative Tactical Concepts
"High Impact Training"
www.innovativetacticalconcepts.com
www.modernwarriortalk.com

[ptbeast]

You are correct. Mindset is the key factor not only to surviving a violent incident, but more importantly, avoiding one.

When I was in the military, one of my first duty stations was in a place where there was a great deal of terrorism, largely focused on the U.S. military community. We were trained in tactical awareness techniques, and I have not stopped practicing them to this day.

Later, after spending some time in law enforcement, I saw the need for civilians to have the same type of training. I developed a course based around the concept of tactical awareness. What shocked me most is how few people were interested in taking the course. Sad.

The only place that I will take issue with what you said is that without firearms or hand to hand training, you would have little chance of surviving a confrontation. Don't get me wrong, I am not discounting those skills, in fact, I train in both regularly. What I am saying is that making that strong a statement discounts the importance of awareness, the major topic of your post.

With a proper attitude of awareness, the vast majority of encounters can be avoided all together. Not only because the person can avoid dangerous situations, but because they no longer look like prey. The bad guys are much more likely to go find easier victims.

If people don't have the proper mindset (I.E. would not be psychologically able to kill) and/or training, I would rather not see them carry a weapon (be it firearm, kife, etc.) at all. That does not mean that they don't need the proper tactical awareness.

I guess that I would say that there is a fourth category of people: those that know that it is a dangerous world, learn to be aware of those threats, and to avoid them.

These people are not warriors, but neither are they sheep. The are far ahead of the common "man on the street."

Anyway, I am new here and not trying to make waves. I appreciate your point of view and just thought I would share mine.

Have a great day!

Dave

[Brian LaMaster]

Dave,

Welcome to MWT! We value everyone's input as long as they have a valid point! Thanks for your input!

[Mad Duck]

Yeah, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death I will fear no evil, for I'm the meanest son of a b*t#h in the valley!

[StevenPoff]

I have been lurking......

In the mindset area , I believe that your views and determination is molded during your school years.
Having said that I feel the first step in winning any battle is to develop the proper mindset. We all agree here ......Right?

I like the "outside of the box" concept. Also I understand the need to profit to stay in business. We are losing the war on our Individual rights whether they be gun , privacy or freedom of speech. This is a mindset problem, our children are being lulled into contentment by Playstation 2, ESPN, ****s and peer pressure. Compounded by the teachings in schools that someone will be there to help them....Instead of learning to deal with problems one on one they are taught to "Dial 911".
This mindset then carries over into their adult life and then the sheep are born.

My point is ........I liked the idea of you teaching a course at various hosting locations. I would like for you to develop a course catering to children 10 years and older involving basic gun safety and use, mindset and self defense ..They are our future.

I have a 8,000 Sq ft shop , I am willing to host sessions as long as it takes......This just a brainstorm on my part we both have the tools necessary to educate our children and turn this tide. Parents who allow their children to engage in a course of this type, then I feel they are on the fence and can become a customer .....Instead of trying to reach the children thru parents , lets reach the parents thru children...This works, Nintendo and the schools have proven it...............What is lost if we try......What is lost if we don't try.

[Brian LaMaster]

Steven,

I will pass this on to my staff and see what we can come up with. Yes, our children need to be educated! And, wouldn't it be great if our children educated our parents on the fact that guns are not bad, just people who use them in a bad manner.