Visualization training in addition to physical training

Freetacos · October 25, 2006, 04:50 PM

Many professional athletes visualize hitting a homerun, running the fastest time, or making an elusive goal. Of course when self defense situations occur they usually happen in the most unpredictable fashion and all we can go on is our previous training. However, do you think that visualizing oneself as safe before walking down an alleyway, or visualizing oneself as being the ultimate winner should a life threatening encounter occur would give one a predetermined edge.

I remember hearing a story about a Vietnam POW who during his years of imprisonment visualized himself playing golf daily to keep from losing his mind. Eventually when he got out he played an actual game of golf and he did quite well despite having rarely ever played in his life.

It appears that supplementing actual physical training with visualization exercises is an effective method to increase one's chances of reaching a positive outcome.

spacemanspiff · October 25, 2006, 05:05 PM

Right now I'm visualizing a ribeye steak and mashed potatos and gravy.
But thats only going to become a reality if i cook it or if i pay someone else to.

Freetacos · October 25, 2006, 05:25 PM

Space, did you happen to graduate from Harvard?

Dog Confetti · October 26, 2006, 11:59 PM

Supposedly it does help, but not nearly as much as doing...I know if I concentrate on visualizing something too much I can't drive worth a darn...

DesertShooter · October 27, 2006, 09:38 AM

Perhaps I'm wrong, but what you're saying isn't a true "visual" situation, it is more like "dreaming" or "day-dreaming". In reality, everyone has "dreams", along with hopes and fears.

If I realize that I'm about to enter a dark alley, my "situational awareness" seems to increase. I don't "visualize" bad guys coming out of the shadows, nor do I "visualize" that nothing will happen if I continue toward that dark alley.

I did a LOT of training on the "FATS" system, which is programmable. It was somewhat realistic, and a great training tool, but limited in that it was a simulation that was projected on a screen, with various "incidents" that could be displayed. It was good for practising observational skills and "situational awareness". As the TRAINER, while operating the "FATS" system for others, it was obvious that the majority EXPECTED something to happen. If a scenario was played out totally "safe", many of the students thought that they had missed something!

I spent 13 months in combat and 31 years as a police officer. While all of the training that I went through was invaluable, there were times that I had "hunches", or "feelings" that something was about to happen. I think most people can "sense" certain things, just like animals....except that humans are limited by their sense of smell, night vision and "learned" behavior. Animals can "learn" certain things, but their "instinctive" senses are much greater.

Hard Ball · October 27, 2006, 10:41 AM

It is a valuable technique used in many martial arts.

AmesJainchill · October 27, 2006, 11:03 AM

When you're training, that's the time for visualization. Out in the real world, you need to be paying attention to things, not visualizing anything.

Lurper · October 27, 2006, 01:28 PM

Tacos,
Your concept is correct but your application is not. Visualization is one of the most important techniques you can use. Read world champion Lanny Basha's book. He did very little live fire, but dry fired and visualized everyday. You visualize because your mind does not know the difference between visualization and reality. You picture perfect draws, perfect shots, everything perfect and you picture it as an accomplished fact. Visualization is more than just closing your eyes for a couple of seconds. You need to be in a certain mental state for it to have full benefit. Usually, it is sitting reclined in a comfortable chair and involves breathing and in effect self-hypnosis. So, trying to do it just before you enter a dark alley would probably have no effect. To apply it effectively in your scenario would be to relax at home, visualize walking down a dark alley. See it in great detail, the sights, sounds, the smells the feelings, everything. Feel yourself in a hightened state of awareness and focused concentration. Picture the events leading up to the confrontation and through it. Make every move perfect, perfect draw, sight picture, trigger pull, everything perfect - just like you are making your own movie and you are the star and hero. Picture it as an already accomplished fact. Like you are reliving it in your mind after the event. Feel the feelings you have before, during and after the encounter. Remember, it is your movie, you can make it any way you want. If you practice this with purpose and religiously, it can have perhaps the greatest impact on your survival. Yes,
it is possible to become a remarkably skilled shooter with very little live fire and lots of visualization. Don't believe those who say otherwise, they have not done it. Talk to someone who has or read Lanny's book.

paknheat · October 28, 2006, 06:23 AM

I vizualize me not being anywhere i have to walk down a dark alley.However, when i was wrestling in highschool , we did have a quiet time to practice this. I did find it helpful. I don't belive that trying this as you enter a potential combat/s.d. arena would be useful.

October 25, 2006, 04:50 PM	#1
Freetacos Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2006 Location: California Posts: 441	Visualization training in addition to physical training Many professional athletes visualize hitting a homerun, running the fastest time, or making an elusive goal. Of course when self defense situations occur they usually happen in the most unpredictable fashion and all we can go on is our previous training. However, do you think that visualizing oneself as safe before walking down an alleyway, or visualizing oneself as being the ultimate winner should a life threatening encounter occur would give one a predetermined edge. I remember hearing a story about a Vietnam POW who during his years of imprisonment visualized himself playing golf daily to keep from losing his mind. Eventually when he got out he played an actual game of golf and he did quite well despite having rarely ever played in his life. It appears that supplementing actual physical training with visualization exercises is an effective method to increase one's chances of reaching a positive outcome.

October 25, 2006, 05:05 PM	#2
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	Right now I'm visualizing a ribeye steak and mashed potatos and gravy. But thats only going to become a reality if i cook it or if i pay someone else to. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

October 27, 2006, 10:41 AM	#6
Hard Ball Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 1999 Location: California Posts: 3,925	It is a valuable technique used in many martial arts. __________________ "I swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemeis domestic or foreign WHOMSOEVER."

October 25, 2006, 05:25 PM	#3
Freetacos Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2006 Location: California Posts: 441	Space, did you happen to graduate from Harvard?

October 26, 2006, 11:59 PM	#4
Dog Confetti Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 212	Supposedly it does help, but not nearly as much as doing...I know if I concentrate on visualizing something too much I can't drive worth a darn...

October 27, 2006, 09:38 AM	#5
DesertShooter Member Join Date: September 19, 2006 Posts: 67	Perhaps I'm wrong, but what you're saying isn't a true "visual" situation, it is more like "dreaming" or "day-dreaming". In reality, everyone has "dreams", along with hopes and fears. If I realize that I'm about to enter a dark alley, my "situational awareness" seems to increase. I don't "visualize" bad guys coming out of the shadows, nor do I "visualize" that nothing will happen if I continue toward that dark alley. I did a LOT of training on the "FATS" system, which is programmable. It was somewhat realistic, and a great training tool, but limited in that it was a simulation that was projected on a screen, with various "incidents" that could be displayed. It was good for practising observational skills and "situational awareness". As the TRAINER, while operating the "FATS" system for others, it was obvious that the majority EXPECTED something to happen. If a scenario was played out totally "safe", many of the students thought that they had missed something! I spent 13 months in combat and 31 years as a police officer. While all of the training that I went through was invaluable, there were times that I had "hunches", or "feelings" that something was about to happen. I think most people can "sense" certain things, just like animals....except that humans are limited by their sense of smell, night vision and "learned" behavior. Animals can "learn" certain things, but their "instinctive" senses are much greater.

October 27, 2006, 11:03 AM	#7
AmesJainchill Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2006 Posts: 278	When you're training, that's the time for visualization. Out in the real world, you need to be paying attention to things, not visualizing anything.

October 27, 2006, 01:28 PM	#8
Lurper Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Posts: 943	Tacos, Your concept is correct but your application is not. Visualization is one of the most important techniques you can use. Read world champion Lanny Basha's book. He did very little live fire, but dry fired and visualized everyday. You visualize because your mind does not know the difference between visualization and reality. You picture perfect draws, perfect shots, everything perfect and you picture it as an accomplished fact. Visualization is more than just closing your eyes for a couple of seconds. You need to be in a certain mental state for it to have full benefit. Usually, it is sitting reclined in a comfortable chair and involves breathing and in effect self-hypnosis. So, trying to do it just before you enter a dark alley would probably have no effect. To apply it effectively in your scenario would be to relax at home, visualize walking down a dark alley. See it in great detail, the sights, sounds, the smells the feelings, everything. Feel yourself in a hightened state of awareness and focused concentration. Picture the events leading up to the confrontation and through it. Make every move perfect, perfect draw, sight picture, trigger pull, everything perfect - just like you are making your own movie and you are the star and hero. Picture it as an already accomplished fact. Like you are reliving it in your mind after the event. Feel the feelings you have before, during and after the encounter. Remember, it is your movie, you can make it any way you want. If you practice this with purpose and religiously, it can have perhaps the greatest impact on your survival. Yes, it is possible to become a remarkably skilled shooter with very little live fire and lots of visualization. Don't believe those who say otherwise, they have not done it. Talk to someone who has or read Lanny's book.

October 28, 2006, 06:23 AM	#9
paknheat Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2006 Location: East Texas Posts: 334	I vizualize me not being anywhere i have to walk down a dark alley.However, when i was wrestling in highschool , we did have a quiet time to practice this. I did find it helpful. I don't belive that trying this as you enter a potential combat/s.d. arena would be useful.