Intent

Author: Odhinn Kohout

There is a very old saying attributed to ancient feudal Japan which states:

“Wounds heal but regret lasts a lifetime…”

 

 

I believe that this sums up the Warrior ethos quite nicely. Fear, if the outcome of death could be removed from the equation offers an existential perspective to view the sum of all that we have learned up to that point and to see how we measure against its effects. To quote one of the main points of Zoroastrianism it allows a long stare into the abyss with the hope that the abyss does not stare back.

Unfortunately in the Police and Military world the esoteric nature of fear is a luxury that is not often afforded. Fear can inhibit decisive actions and cloud judgment. It can take away abilities that were taken for granted the second before and replace it with ineptitude.

As a trainer I often hear this common response from students; “I would do this (insert phrase) if confronted with that (variable). The problem lies in HOW they have come to believe in this outcome? Short of divine intervention, the assumption that correct reaction is a preordained response is not rooted in any form of scientific truths.

Intent is a powerful motivator to see a task through to its completion. Intent is something that bad people do not have to take courses or training to develop as it is always at the ready. The Officer who drops his guard with a criminal and allows themselves to slip into repetitious and familiar patterns are usually oblivious to the signs that are pre-cursors to an imminent attack. An improper patdown or search can fail to find the hidden weapon until you are forced to confront it and the ramifications which accompany it.

Consistent training that not only targets the known aspects of the job but encompasses the unknown and “what ifs?” and helps create neural pathways that the cognitive process can draw upon as a possible solution in a critical incident. I tell my own students that it is extremely difficult to just improvise when a blade is produced and being thrust at you. Your Attacker is using violence as a delivery system for their intent and your ability is counter it lies not only in the cerebral (offensive mindset) but in your prior training OR lack thereof.

Breaking your training into separate components for your classes in order to validate their effectiveness and making comprehension much more testable will assist them greatly should they be faced with real violent intent in the field. As an example I have seen many classes in which an arrest/control position is taught but usually from a position advantageous to the Officer. One way to kick start your training is to show “one” arrest/control technique from 5 different positions. The students are not learning 5 different tactics which must be memorized but given a chance to get high repetitions in from a variety of angles. 

If at the end of your class your students can walk away knowing 3 new things with proficiency (that directly impacts Officer safety) you have done your job as an Instructor. Intent in the context of this article is NOT “good intentions” but a solid framework (training) carefully constructed which provides resources that can be drawn upon offering up practical solutions.

Train smart Guys!