While it has already been said, . . . the concept of "You will do in the real world, what you learned in the training world" cannot be overstated.
As an example, . . . aboard my first ship, in my first attempt, I timed out at something like 7 or 8 minutes stripping down an electrical transmission board so it was ready to be fed by an emergency generator that was 20% the size of the regular generator.
After some practice, I got it down to less than 15 seconds. A shipmate of mine never did get it right, . . . he of course was the one on watch when it was needed, . . . and our 393 foot long, US Navy ship went literally dead stick in the middle of the South China Sea, . . . with the commodore aboard, with a brand new skipper, as we led the squadron out of Subic Bay.
Moral? Understanding? You need to train as realistically as possible for that which may come upon you. As a 63 year old who recently had open heart surgery, . . . I do not train in close quarter fisticuff training. I do practice visualization techniques of scenarios where I could very well become involved.
Visualization and justification (justify each step by questioning it to see if it was the best step, . . . a step done correctly, . . . were there other options?) and work slowly through it.
As an example, . . . holster up your carry weapon after you have determined three separate time it is UNLOADED. Go out in your garage, . . . and walk through a scenario where you start the car, open the garage door, and you see a bg come running in and try to get into the kitchen while carrying a large butcher knife.
Is your kitchen door locked? It should be!
Are your car doors locked? They should be!
Can you get on your cell and call 911? Your cell should be in an outside pocket and quickly accessible without taking your eyes off the perp!
He picks a 4 pound hammer off your work bench and seeing movement in the car, . . . comes to the driver's door and starts on the window. Is your seat belt off by now? It should have been when you first saw him!
Can you access your weapon from the driver's seat? You should be able to!
This goes on until you have exhausted all possible ways this could go. By very closely questioning each move, . . . you will develop a different and much better plan than just trying to wing it every time. The plan can also be used for different scenarios.
Visualization and justification are training techniques the military has used since George Himself held the pre-raid briefing before crossing the Delaware over 200 years ago, . . . and they still work. There is better training, . . . but if it is all you got, . . . make the most of it.
May God bless,
Dwight