=== From The Editor===
When people train in the martial arts and in combatives, they naturally put a LOT of faith in their fighting skills… which is human nature.
Something like meditation may seem fake or like “using the Force” … but according to famed martial arts expert Loren Christensen, it’s anything but.
Done correctly, warrior meditation has some very real benefits.
Loren was happy to explain to us how it can make you a better fighter…
Why True “Warriors” Add Meditation
To Their Tactical Training Tool Box
In a small town named Hillsboro near Portland, Oregon, a couple of the police officers there got into a shooting.
They returned fire and quickly turned the tables on the armed suspect.
Business as usual, right?
What’s most interesting about this story is that in the follow up comments from the department, it was the officers’ special training that was credited with empowering them with the calm demeanor needed to survive such an extremely adrenalized life-or-death scenario.
So what WAS this “special tactical training” that helped save their lives?
Was it a new “shoot house”? A new gizmo for their guns? An expensive tactical course on the tax-payers’ dime?
Nope… it was the “meditation practice” the entire department had begun experimenting with – and you can achieve the same tactical calmness to survive any kind of crisis or attack…
Meditation – It’s Not Just For Gurus Anymore…
Ok, I get it… an “awesome meditation session” isn’t exactly the first thing guys are bragging about down at the local gun range.
And that’s too bad because, when you strip it all down, surviving any kind of attack is as much a “mental game” as it is about techniques and tactics.
I mean think about it…
Attacks are fast, brutal, and will send your adrenaline through the roof, right?
But if you’re able to respond with a calm mind, you’re better able to think clearly… react quickly… make better decisions… and shoot accurately.
In other words, you fight better and increase your chances for survival when you learn how to master a calm mind.
“How Quickly Will I See Tactical Results From Meditation?”
One of the misconceptions about meditation is that it takes a long time to start noticing the benefits.
Makes sense, right? I mean who wants to wait for weeks, months (or years!) before seeing some serious gains in your empty-hand fighting skills, working with firearms, taking down felons or terrorists, or facing down an opponent in the ring?
The good news is that you’re very likely to see immediate results once you get started.
Even better… the longer you continue your meditation practice, the more results you see and the deeper the benefits you’ll notice.
In other words, the quick results are encouraging… but those results get better with time and with practice.
This makes meditation a “self-reinforcing activity” that you’ll be motivated to continue.
“Ok, So How Do I Start A Tactical Meditation Practice?”
Ok Grasshopper… it really doesn’t have to be difficult to start a simple meditation practice.
A simple example is “combat breathing” that officers are taught in order to slow the heartbeat and reverse the effects of adrenaline.
- Breathe in counting 1, 2, 3, 4
- Stop and hold your breath counting 1, 2, 3, 4
- Exhale counting 1, 2, 3, 4
- Repeat 3-5 times
Use this whenever you’re feeling stressed about something just to test it out – but doing it consciously each day will make a believer out of you that it’s effective even when you’re not in the middle of a crisis.
There are more simple-yet-effective meditation methods you can use anywhere (even down at the range right before shooting) and will give you amazing results, but I’ll save that for another time.
