Violence of Mind

1. Define Your Mission: The Cornerstone of Violence Preparedness

You cannot effectively train, purchase gear, or prepare in any way without first and foremost clearly defining what your overall mission is.

Purpose-driven preparation. A clearly defined mission is the foundation for effective training, gear selection, and overall preparedness. Without a mission, your efforts lack direction and focus, leading to wasted time and resources. For most civilians, the mission is simple: to make it home safely, every night, with their family, for the rest of their lives.

Avoiding the Sheepdog Trap. The "sheepdog" mentality, which encourages civilians to protect the public, can be dangerous and contradictory to your primary mission. Engaging in other people's fights can lead to unnecessary risks, legal complications, and failure to protect your loved ones. Prioritize your mission and avoid unnecessary confrontations.

Objectives Change with Circumstances. While your mission remains constant, your objectives will change depending on the situation. The three primary objectives are avoidance, escape, and winning the fight. Each objective requires different skills, tactics, and mindset.

2. Internal Boundaries: Self-Control and the Parameters of Your Mission

What are you willing to kill or die for?

Attachments Define Parameters. Your attachments to loved ones and your own well-being set the parameters of your mission. These internal boundaries dictate how far you are willing to go to protect what matters most. Without clearly defined parameters, you risk making rash decisions that jeopardize your mission.

The Perils of Ego and Pride. The Rite Aid shooting and the Wisconsin fishing stabbing are stark reminders of the dangers of ego and pride. Both incidents escalated from minor disagreements to deadly violence because the individuals involved lacked self-control and a clear understanding of their mission parameters.

Cultivating Self-Control. Self-control is essential for staying within the parameters of your mission. It requires identifying your attachments, understanding your limitations, and resisting the urge to act impulsively. Remember, you do not control other people, and their actions should not dictate your response.

3. External Boundaries: Understanding and Adhering to the Law

As civilians, you cannot typically pursue someone who is fleeing.

The Rule of Law. As civilians, law enforcement officers, or soldiers, you are bound by strict rules of engagement. Violating these rules can lead to imprisonment and the failure of your mission. Saying "I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6" is lazy, misinformed, and arrogant.

Prison is a Living Death. Prison is a living death, where you are separated from your loved ones, controlled by predators, and subjected to constant mental anguish. It is a place where your anger issues will not serve you well, and your soul can be shattered beyond repair.

Social Media and Self-Defense. Be mindful of what you post on social media, as it can be used against you in court. Avoid making statements that suggest a predetermined intent to kill, as this can undermine your claim of self-defense. Remember, winning means going home to your family, not spending your life in prison.

4. Risk Assessment: Situational Awareness and Threat Response

Stop looking for things and start looking at things.

Situational Awareness is Key. Situational awareness is the ability to be aware of your surroundings and the situation you are in. It involves developing a wide-band awareness, recognizing abnormalities, and avoiding the "sheepdog" mentality.

Developing Wide-Band Awareness. Avoid mistaking high intensity for wide-band situational awareness. Instead, cultivate a relaxed-ready condition that allows you to see a wider field and hear more of what is going on. This will enable you to detect abnormalities and respond appropriately.

Abnormalities as Cues. Pay attention to abnormalities in your environment, as they can be early warning signs of danger. These cues can be visible or audible, and they can range from sketchy behavior to recognizable sounds like gunshots or screams.

5. Training Fundamentals: Skills, Techniques, Procedures, and Tactics

Everything you do must be efficient and minimize your time out of the fight.

The Training Hierarchy. Effective training follows a specific hierarchy: skills, techniques, procedures, and tactics. Each level builds upon the previous one, and mastering the fundamentals is essential for success at higher levels.

Principles-Based Training. Base your training on fundamental principles like efficiency, time, strength, stability, and mobility. This approach allows you to adapt to changing circumstances and develop your own unique fighting style.

Advanced Training Defined. Advanced training is not about "cool" gear or complex tactics. It's about mastering the fundamentals to the point where you can perform them on demand without conscious processing, freeing up your mental resources to make critical decisions.

6. Conditioning: Building the Physical and Mental Foundation

Weapons and fighting skills only make up 20% of a fighter’s capability. The other 80% is determined by what takes place in the mind.

Physical and Mental Conditioning. Conditioning is the foundation of a fighter's capabilities. It includes both physical conditioning to perform skills with strength, speed, and endurance, and mental conditioning to maintain self-control and make sound decisions under pressure.

Skills Training for Conditioning. Skills training should be approached with the goal of conditioning, not just rehearsal. This means focusing on repetitive practice, positive feedback, and pushing your limits to develop automaticity and adaptability.

The Importance of Footwork. Footwork is the foundation of the fighter, providing stability, mobility, and the ability to generate force. Neglecting footwork in training is a serious mistake that can leave you vulnerable in a real fight.

7. Orientation: The Foundation of Mindset in Violence Preparedness

Orientation is the foundation of mindset.

Understanding Your Orientation. Your orientation is the collection of values, beliefs, and experiences that shape your mindset. It includes your cultural background, personal values, attachments, mission parameters, experience level, and confidence.

The Components of Orientation. Culture, values, attachments, parameters, experience, and confidence all act as filters that influence your decisions during a violent encounter. Understanding these filters is crucial for developing a strong and reliable mindset.

The Criminal Mindset. To prepare for violence, you must understand the mindset of your enemy. Violent criminals often lack the moral and ethical constraints that you possess, and they may have more experience with violence.

8. Concealment: Mastering the Art of Deception and Advantage

Orientation is the foundation of mindset.

Beyond Hiding a Gun. Concealment is more than just hiding a weapon. It's about concealing your intentions, capabilities, and vulnerabilities. Mastering the art of concealment gives you a significant advantage in a violent encounter.

Full Concealment is Key. Full concealment involves concealing your weapons, intentions, and capabilities. It allows you to blend in, avoid drawing attention, and maintain the element of surprise.

Deterrent Behavior: Do's and Don'ts. Avoid looking like a scared victim, but also avoid appearing overly aggressive or challenging. The goal is to project confidence and capability without inciting violence.

Last updated: February 28, 2025