It’s truly amazing how the human brain applies what it has learned. When confronted with a new situation or problem, our minds attempt to adapt previously learned behaviors responses to solve this new, unfamiliar scenario. These learned behavior responses are a culmination of our past experiences and are often referred to as “Map Sheets”.
It would be completely unreasonable to expect that we would be born with a pre-programmed response to every possible scenario that life on this planet could present to us. “Map Sheets” are an integral part of our “fight or flight” response and we rely on them for our survival. For each new life experience that we are presented with (…and survive), we build a template of the behavioral responses that allowed us to successfully negotiate that scenario. These templates become our “Map Sheets” to solve completely new situations or problems that may arise in the future.
Often, when confronted with a completely new scenario or problem, we momentarily freeze. This temporary inaction is most often associated with situations that take us by surprise. It is during this “freeze” that our brains are rapidly searching through our past experiences to find a “Map Sheet” that most closely resembles the current scenario or problem that we are faced with. If an applicable “Map Sheet” is found, it is applied. If no applicable “Map Sheet” is found, and the situation allows, we flee. Many times, multiple possible “Map Sheets” are found during this period of inaction. In these cases our brains instantly modify one or more of our existing “Map Sheets” in an attempt to best fit the given scenario. If we wish to shorten this period of inaction (the “freeze”), and thereby increase our success rate (the survival probability) of negotiating a given scenario, we must continually develop additional relevant “Map Sheets” to draw upon when the need arises. Therefore, the more experiences we have, the more relevant “Map Sheets” we develop. As the number of our relevant “Map Sheets” increase, our period of inaction (the “freeze”) decreases. When our period of inaction decreases, our success rate (the survival probability) of negotiating a given scenario increases. Simply put, the more “Map Sheets” you have, the higher your survival probability will be.
Right about now you may (….or rather you should) be asking yourself “How can I develop more of these ‘Map Sheets’?” The answer is simple……realistic training. Realistic training allows us to safely develop the “Map Sheets” we may need for future scenarios. At Elite Training Center, all our training programs are based on realistic scenarios and presented to the students in a safe, structured environment that increases the students learning and therefore success in developing the necessary “Map Sheets”. During each of our classes students are presented with realistic techniques and then provided the opportunity to “drill” these techniques so that they become new “Map Sheets” for the student to draw upon should the need ever arise. Regardless if you are training in Self Defense (Krav Maga), BJJ, Muay Thai, Kali/Silat, Mix Martial Arts, Firearms or Survival Skills, your experiences at Elite Training Center will better prepare you to successfully face life’s unexpected challenges.
So….how many “Map Sheets” do you have?
Instructor William Green
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway
Elite Training Center
Redondo Beach, CA
www.elitetrainingcenter.net
