Understanding the Importance of Initiative in Modern Self-Defence
If there’s a keyword to highlight from the recent Hard2Hurt video titled “The Importance of Initiative | Hard Sparring at RKM,” it’s initiative. The notion of being first in self-defence is a message reinforced throughout the entirety of the video, creating a new perspective on pre-conceived notions of defence. While training, a common phrase echoed by coaches is the command to “go first” or “be first”. Initiative, as emphasised in this video, is not just about being physically ahead, landing the first strike, or scoring points before the opponent does. On a deeper level, taking initiative encompasses choosing both the time and location, deciding the mode of the spar—whether kick, punch, or a combination—and anticipating the opponent’s moves. Understanding the context of ‘being first’ thus reframes it as doing a thing first. For numerous beginners in a fight, the focus often dwells on landing the first hit. But the video stresses the importance of thinking beyond that. Sometimes, being first could mean side-stepping to avoid an incoming jab or strategizing plays to exhaust the opponent. In practical terms, ‘being first’ is a holistic approach to self-defence that deters pre-emptive assumptions and enriches every disciple’s understanding. Some might question if taking the initiative suggests being reckless. But it doesn’t. Recklessness and taking initiative pivot from fundamentally different arches. The former implies irrationality, while the latter encapsulates strategy, discernment, and forethought, thereby making rapid decisions that orchestrate the course of a spar. Real-life training scenarios exhibit an excellent fusion of techniques, strategies, and initiative-taking. Taking, for example, the stage where the trainee is pitted against three fresh opponents successively. In the training scenario, each opponent projects a different tempo and style, demanding unique initiatives in response. The varied strategies to ‘be first’, as highlighted in the video, pivot around the game’s dynamic nature. Players leverage strength, constitution, dexterity, intelligence, and even charisma as tools to seize the initiative. To this end, ‘being first’ is far from being a one-size-fits-all approach. It varies from person to person, situation to situation, and technique to technique, providing an expansive canvas for disciples to experiment, learn, and most importantly, take initiative. The video concludes with the mantra to go when you’re ready. Tracing back to the real essence of ‘being first’, the immediate action needs to be taken. Forever waiting for signs of readiness could mean an eternity of inaction. In essence, initiative in self-defence circles back to the idea of governing the battlefield – dictating moves and manipulating the opponent’s tactics to your advantage. Self-defence is not just about reactions; it’s a playground of actions and counteractions. Taking the initiative, being the ‘first’ – that’s where the real art lies. Remember, in self-defence, waiting for things to transpire is not an option. Like Icy Mike rightly concludes – “Do you know when the second best time to do something is? Yeah, right now. It’s still right now”.Blablabla
Hard2Hurt is a YouTube channel run by Icy Mike, an experienced self-defense trainer. The channel is dedicated to practical fighting techniques, training methods, and fitness. Icy Mike, a former police officer and investigative professional, presents a realistic, no-nonsense approach to self-protection, ensuring that his viewers are well-equipped with defensive strategies.
Self-Defence Block
this is so Musashi!!!
Except for dudes wearing tights in Muay Thai, pretty good work.
The D&D analogies were amazing!
Your coaching, its honest…its non ego driven…..and i think its great! We need more coaches like you! God bless brother.
Looks fun
Can I roll 1 D 12 for my initiative?
man I'd love to train here seems like such a good group
“If you step over this red line, you a bitch.”
Been training 4 months never sparred looks fun! Unfortunately i work during open mat and sparring days.
Mike over the years of doing content creation, you have gotten better and better as a martial arts teacher. You may not know me, but you will always have my respect for that.
One of your best videos coach!
Got me jacked up for Krav class later
Thanks
This guy is a major narcissist, attention whore, disrespectful, arrogant, abuses his students as well.
thanks for breaking this down into RPG terms so my tardbrain can understand 😁
This is the type of place I enjoy training at with my old ass!
If you want to use any of your modifiers for initiative, you might want to look at pathfinder, rather than DnD. Good video
I hope I manage to find mma gym ( moving soon to countryside ) where they construct the sessions like I see here. (not just in this one vid).
7:08 that pulled head kick from the giant was crazy
My karate teachers always used to repeat that the guy who attacks first, attacks twice, and also the third time, and if he is good enough, the fourth one
Great video
…..that kick was crazy
Why can’t my gym spar like this, this isn’t even light sparing at my gym unfortunately. This looks like a great environment to learn @hard2hurt
BE FIRST BE FIRST BE FIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRSSSSSSSTTT
I absolutely love the complex sparring drills. genius
such cool vibes man, wish I could train there someday haha
This looks like so much fun,
When you shouted "as one", you looked like you were the centurion
I like how Clif shows up in the video out of nowhere near the end and it's just him unloading on Tyler with a massive combination.
I usually come for the self defense and the shenanigans so this was a nice surprise
The spirit everyone showed is inspiring 👊🏼
I LOVE your teaching technique! Wish I lived near your gym.
I'm so disappointed this comment section isn't 100% just people screaming, "FIRST!" Cause you don't necessarily have to be first, to be first. Missed opportunity.
So many studios gloss over the initiative concept. This is the first time I've seen a video give more than just lip service to the concept. Kudos.
Wish I could be there too 😄 Good vibes yet relentless!
you explain things totally off … that wasn't keep first – that was simply not stopping. You began correctly showing initiative and then kept calling everything else after it by the same term …
we also don't see you letting white belts teaching whitebelts – you are at the center of the class teaching the lesson. But in another video you called people who do what you are doing in this video all kinds of names. You cannot describe what is in front of you accurately past 2 minutes …
remember people will pay for anything these days … some of those death touch people had more students than you
This is the best explanation of be first I've ever heard
16:00 hahahahh the face of the girl sitting there after a hard sparring session. Very relatable. Sometimes you just gotta sit there and zone out
STUPID! But you got to make some money.
FML, the heart on her!
Just great Mike! Love the channel!!!!
I think it'd be less confusing if you said "take control" and "keep control", as in "make a move that forces the opponent to do what you want"…
"Be first" is exactly what you said you didn't want it to mean.
"Doesn't mean attack first, but instead make your move, and control the situation".
I’m wrestler of 12 years 19 years old and extremely interested in the art of fighting My boii im training wit ya one day
Wait, Icey Mike knows D&D?!