A question I get alot - How do you validate a technique?
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:55 pm
A question I get a few times a week in my travels.
And a question that raises many eyebrows and provokes thought and even in some cases frustration and anger.
How do you validate your techniques: Well first lets talk about what this means;
The definition of validation alone's means to certify, and or confirm a specific act or confirmation of;...usually by a authorizing body.
This definition greatly raises questions because everyone is on a different rating or measuring scale to do this. In order to validate something there are a few things you need;
Complete knowledge of technique being taught and then being applied
Experience in the topic or technique
Have you used this before and did it work because it worked or it worked because you did something (which in most cases we find this to be the answer).
Is it field proven...
OPEN MIND
Just to name a few
A technique executed one time by a person and results in working for them, only means this was a one time occurrence; This is why a technique is studied and researched for a year or two, then examined for application success, exploring the what if's or Oh NO's, methods of instruction...before we bring a technique into our programs just as an example.
We have found that MANY techniques look great on paper or when one performs them without resistance, on videos, and WOW wonderful on power point. All because you can control the variables.
If we were fixing a car, then we would have books of the engine's blue prints, engine designs, measuring tools and other devices are made to help us, basically a set of instructions and directions.
When a technique is developed we DO NOT HAVE THESE. What we get are:
A person is choking you with both hands - what do you do?
A person is attacking you with a knife - what do you do?
A person is pointing a gun at you and robbing you - what do you do?
After we get the problem - BEFORE a response can be provided we need to know a few other things such as;
All of which we have talked about before.....
Height/Weight of attacker
Are we standing or on the ground
Open or narrow place
Number of attackers
Climate (usually because if dictate clothing worn)
Again to name a few
So how exactly does one go and get a technique validated? Usually through time and the execution by others; once the technique if learned and then completed under various circumstances all resulting in winning, both positive survival outcomes.
As professionals we try to use:
High Level Simulations; This can only be done through replicating the all of the known variables we mentioned before and not telling the student ANYTHING other then you are:
Being choked by a person using both hands - what do you do?
A person is attacking you with a knife - what do you do?
A person is pointing a gun at you and robbing you - what do you do?
Then through a positive and professional debriefing can this validation take place, and is different for many. This has taken us many years to learn and complete.
What are some of your own thoughts?
And a question that raises many eyebrows and provokes thought and even in some cases frustration and anger.
How do you validate your techniques: Well first lets talk about what this means;
The definition of validation alone's means to certify, and or confirm a specific act or confirmation of;...usually by a authorizing body.
This definition greatly raises questions because everyone is on a different rating or measuring scale to do this. In order to validate something there are a few things you need;
Complete knowledge of technique being taught and then being applied
Experience in the topic or technique
Have you used this before and did it work because it worked or it worked because you did something (which in most cases we find this to be the answer).
Is it field proven...
OPEN MIND
Just to name a few
A technique executed one time by a person and results in working for them, only means this was a one time occurrence; This is why a technique is studied and researched for a year or two, then examined for application success, exploring the what if's or Oh NO's, methods of instruction...before we bring a technique into our programs just as an example.
We have found that MANY techniques look great on paper or when one performs them without resistance, on videos, and WOW wonderful on power point. All because you can control the variables.
If we were fixing a car, then we would have books of the engine's blue prints, engine designs, measuring tools and other devices are made to help us, basically a set of instructions and directions.
When a technique is developed we DO NOT HAVE THESE. What we get are:
A person is choking you with both hands - what do you do?
A person is attacking you with a knife - what do you do?
A person is pointing a gun at you and robbing you - what do you do?
After we get the problem - BEFORE a response can be provided we need to know a few other things such as;
All of which we have talked about before.....
Height/Weight of attacker
Are we standing or on the ground
Open or narrow place
Number of attackers
Climate (usually because if dictate clothing worn)
Again to name a few
So how exactly does one go and get a technique validated? Usually through time and the execution by others; once the technique if learned and then completed under various circumstances all resulting in winning, both positive survival outcomes.
As professionals we try to use:
High Level Simulations; This can only be done through replicating the all of the known variables we mentioned before and not telling the student ANYTHING other then you are:
Being choked by a person using both hands - what do you do?
A person is attacking you with a knife - what do you do?
A person is pointing a gun at you and robbing you - what do you do?
Then through a positive and professional debriefing can this validation take place, and is different for many. This has taken us many years to learn and complete.
What are some of your own thoughts?