Hey, Instructors, tell me if any of these questions sound familiar...

"What would you do if a guy had a gun?"

Or,

"What do I do if my attacker is bigger and stronger than me?"

Or,

"Yeah, but what if he's a southpaw?"

And other like questions.

Such queries are common coming from novices and these folks new to the game I'm not knocking.

But...

If we're still asking such questions after a considerable period of time I'm going to suggest that you may be spending too much time thinking in the world of the tactical rather than learning how to think in strategic terms.

Let's knock some definitions out of the way first to keep us all on the same page.

Tactics: Short-term gambits or responses to address immediate threats.

Strategies: Over-arching plans or mission guidelines, i.e. general methods of approach.

In a nutshell, tactics are short-term responses dealing with each situation as it arises: covering/blocking against an overhand right would be a tactic, as would be a sprawl versus a low double leg takedown, as would be an eye-whip versus a particular angle of knife/cudgel attack.

Strategy is the intellectual hierarchy or whole that encompasses tactics. Strategy will dictate what tactics you drill and choose as well as what tactics you will eschew and disdain.

Strategy is invisible to the observer and can only be revealed via observation of a group of tactics in sequence. Tactics reveal strategy but seldom vice versa.

Let's use two wildly different combat approaches to bring into stark relief how tactics reveal strategy.

Versus that aforementioned overhand right a boxer may use the tactic of blocking or a slight pull-back to evade altogether as he is using a strategy of in-the-pocket efficient defense that will allow him to load his punching counter immediately out of his defensive response.

Versus that very same overhand, a capoeira enthusiast may use a sudden drop to the hands to evade, followed up by a kick to the face (dubious choice in my opinion, but I'm strategically biased).

In these two extreme scenarios we see tactics reveal at least some small portion of strategy. Knowledge of the overall strategy doesn't make each tactic necessarily predictable, but it does inform what we are likely to encounter. We would be surprised to see the boxer moving off of his boxing base into capoeira tactics in round two and vice versa.

Tactics receive the lion's share of the novice's attention because it is often the dramatically observable fun stuff. Hell, we all love good tactics-we are adulating tactics when we say...

"Did you see that elbow inside the clinch? Damn!"

"My God, how are you going to stop that double-leg!?"

"He shook those hooks off like they were nothing; a hot knife through butter, am I right?"

Strategy, although the true dictator of what tactical choices we see is seldom opined with the same enthusiasm. You just don't hear...

"He cuts off the cage with that slide step like a mad man!"

"That guy fades versus the power-side like nobody's business. I could watch him not get hit all day long."

"Holy Crap! Did you see her adjust levels!?"

See? We usually just don't hear such conversations although in reality it is more often than not these ephemeral strategy choices that inform the tactics that we do cheer for.  

Let's take a brief break here for a pedantic interlude. The following quote is from Epictetus' discourse "Of Tranquility."

"For this reason it absurd to call upon me for specific advice. How should I know what to advise you? Ask me rather to teach you to accommodate yourself to whatever may happen. The former is just as if an illiterate person should say, 'Tell me how to write down some name that is proposed to me'; and I show him how to write the name of Dion; and then another comes and asks him to write the name, not of Dion, but of Theon. What will be the consequence? What will he write? Whereas, if you have practiced writing, you are ready prepared for whatever word may be dictated."

Tight stuff, huh? Epictetus nailed the difference between strategy and tactics in a nutshell. Here, the comprehensive skill of writing is the strategy whereas the ability to write the names Dion and Theon are two different tactics within the strategy schema.

So, which is superior: A piecemeal teach me what to do against this or that punch? This or that submission? This or that weapon attack approach?

Or, inculcating an overall strategic framework out of which we build our tactical structure?

Yeah, you know which one I think the correct answer is.

MUD, GUTS, & GLORY: Tips & Training for Extreme Obstacle Racing (168 pages/250+ photos)

This book serves as a Triple Purpose Manual.

Purpose One: To provide the inside info needed to survive the oh, so fun phenomena of obstacle course racing.   

Purpose Two: It is a conditioning manual for those who want to hit the courses in peak condition. It provides the scientific skinny on our stream-lined high-intensity approach, then details all of the unique exercises we use that are course specific, and then progresses you through 66 non-repeating workouts to get and keep you primed.  

Purpose Three: It is a comprehensive manual on Flight/Evasion Skills for Real-World Combative trainers & trainees.

Among the contents include: The differences between Mud, Adventure, & Obstacle Racing, Competitive & Cooperative Mind-Sets, Military Function & Course Correlates. The extensive Techniques, Tactics, & Strategies section covers Stride Work, How to Approach Hills, How to Leap from Height and minimize Landing Load, How to Approach Electrical Hazards & Running the Gauntlet, The most Efficient ways to Climb Ropes (vertical, horizontal, and wall ropes), Tips on Climbing (everything from cargo nets to vertical walls to bouldering walls), Improving Low Crawl Efficiency, Balance Work, Hand-Over Hand Tips, and Tips for Bearing Loads for Distance.

We close with the Logistics Section which will provide tips on Clothing , Gear, Registration, and Clean-Up to make your race experience as streamlined as possible.

To snag an autographed copy for  $12.95 (S&H Included) or $22.95 International hit the button.

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