In my previous article I introduced the concept of a ‘Tactical Approach’ to defensive tactics training by reference to the training Robert Redenbach and I gave to police and military personnel in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics. That training was based on the training Robert had given to the South African security services over the previous 5 years – an approach that emphasized attributes other than technique (in the martial art sense).

The success of this in South Africa raised questions in my mind, as a martial artist, as to how an approach that de-emphasized technique which is central to martial arts training could be successful. It seemed to go against the grain of the way we as martial artists’ conduct our training. A major clue lay in the Principle of Specificity.

As stated in the previous article the Tactical Approach has three frameworks and the first of these was discussed. The second of these governs the methods of training and part of that training framework comprises four key principles from sports science [1], namely:
1. The Principle of Specificity.
2. The Principle of Overload.
3. The Principle of Progression.
4. The Principle of Individuality.

The key one is the Principle of Specificity which states that the training effect (change in performance level) on an individual as a result of performing any particular exercise or drill is very specific to the action practiced. The training effect can be expected to be different if the same action is practiced at a different speed, level of intensity, body position or under different environmental or psychological conditions.

“If transfer of learning from the practice session to the game or competitive situations is to be maximized, the demands of the practice session should mimic as closely as possible the demands of the sport itself (not only in terms of the movement execution requirements but also in terms of the perceptual and decision-making aspects of the performance). In general, motor skills are highly specific and transfer of learning between different motor skills is quite small.” [2]

The implications for self defence training are very clear. There must be much less emphasis on practicing technique after technique in the artificial environment of the training hall as though dealing with a confrontation is only a problem in body mechanics. Conversely there must be more emphasis on the tactics, psychology and the physical demands of confrontations that are invariably chaotic, confusing and stressful. Training must incorporate drills and simulations that build a capacity to deal with these circumstances.

Gerald Lafon, a USA Judo Master Coach in his article “Are You Training Efficiently?” [3] makes several points on the Principle of Specificity in regard Judo training for competition:

Sports with strong training traditions such as the martial arts show strong reluctance to change training habits that are, in the light of current scientific knowledge, inefficient and counterproductive.
Classical training drills and forms whose movement patterns are different from those in actual application should be questioned.
Training must be at competition speed. Slow motion movements beyond the initial stages of learning are counterproductive.
The biomechanics (body positioning) in training of techniques must be the same as that in competition. Instructors continue to train students one way but expect them to perform in another.

So the answer to my questions about why Robert’s approach, with a completely different emphasis to that in mainstream martial arts training, was successful were clear. The Principle of Specificity indicated to me that traditional training was not fully compliant with the principle – more realism and relevance to the street environment were required in what is practiced. Secondly, working backwards, the demands of the street environment require attributes and an approach that are not covered in mainstream curricula.

Others have come to the same conclusions – hence the genesis of the reality based self defence movement. The Tactical Approach however goes further and puts all of this into a more structured framework, and makes strategy and tactics central to all our actions on the street. I’ll elaborate further in the next article.

REFERENCES
[1] Bompa Tudor (1990). “Theory and Methodology of Training”, Kendall/Hunt, Dubuque.
[2] Abernethy, B. (1991). “Acquisition of motor skills”. In F. S. Pyke (Ed.), Better Coaching (pp. 69-98), Canberra, Australia: Australian Coaching Council.
[3] Lafon, Gerald, “Are You Training Efficiently?” Available at www.judoamerica.com.