I've never had to use my martial arts training and am very grateful for it. I've known many military personell in the past who felt the same way. Like any preparedness, it is nice to be able to have confidence in yourself and know that if something did happen, you wouldn't just be a helpless victim.

I still remember my first time that I had to do some sparring. I was in my mid 20s and had only been training a few months. My instructor put me in the ring with a 15 year old girl who was a purple belt. She proceeded to kick me up one side and down the other. I just stood there in shock not really knowing what to do. It was a real eye opener and I've often wondered if I would have just stood there and become a victim had it been a real situation. That was the last and only time that happened. For every 15 minutes we sparred we spent probably 6 or more hours training just in movement and form. It was really a beautiful thing sometimes even amidst the violence as you learned to control your movement and reactions. As your body relaxed and began to flow with precision. Eventually, your body and mind became more in harmony. What was forced became a natural reflex. A punch thrown at you was blocked and countered in a sparring session without thought, as if it was as natural as breathing. It almost took on a spiritual dimension at times as all distractions were purged from your mind and you listened to the sounds of your own breathing. The Rambo types that want to use their skills never last long because they don't have the patience or the discipline.