Respire or expire in an actions on under assault at the hands of a formidable foe. It equates to a terminal error if you hold your breath as a result of not employing controlled combative required respiration, combined with proven tactics and skills, to enhance combative capabilities.

Holding your breath in the execution of committed skills employments under threat is a negative that will most likely result in the reduction or elimination of serious threat neutralisation capabilities.

I am not referring to physical fatigue like factors, as threat neutralisation by foul means and mil CQC actions on duration is usually over in seconds and not minutes.

The negative effects of holding your breath under assault/in the employment of threat neutralisation skills increases risks through diminished capabilities and will only increase the likelihood of defeat.

This file predominantly is in relation to battlefield CQC actions on, urban operators close combat/self-defence and criminal violence self-defence.

The negative realities of holding ones breath under duress both psychologically and in turn physically include:

• The onset of a panic attack under threat
• Hyperventilation through breath holding then gasping in rapid breathing recovery attempts
• Rapid demise of physical fitness capabilities
• Rapid loss of threat specifics recognition capabilities
• Rapid loss of capabilities to assess, decide and threat neutralise by best means
• Rapid loss of situational awareness
• Rapid loss of spatial awareness
• Rapid reduction in environmental hazards identification
• Diminished expedient actions capabilities
• Diminished resistance and physical strength capabilities
• Reduced problem solving capabilities
• Adversely effected stability
• Increased uncontrolled lashing out over controlled deliberate aggressive actions
• Reduced likelihood of a factual recollection of the actions on facts
• Protective, reactionary, self-preservation to assault helplessness over responsive, counter actions, threat neutralisation
• Not being able to employ primary skills makes contingency required options under assault unlikely to be decided and employed
• Increased chances of statically freezing and giving up/giving in, and the list goes on.

The major factors that can cause the previous negative reactions and panic responses are allowing life threatening perceptions of being injured wounded or killed to render you incapable of taking control and neutralising the faced threat by the best of proven and safest means. Not having the mental toughness and will to self-protect and the inner-resolve and self-confidence in your capabilities to neutralise the threat can leave you all but beaten and at the mercy of your assaulter.

When you consider deadly/foul over-kill battlefield actions-on are predominantly ended rapidly. The issues of close quarters combat fatigue or physical fitness and strength related capabilities depletion in seconds for a battle fit combatant are not a major reasoning for defeat over achieving threat neutralisation.

Similarly in street fighting and criminal violence with no rules and in hard, risky environments, fights can end or be ended in seconds.

However for peeps that cannot overcome fears and stressors under threat/assault their mental and physical capabilities can be depleted immediately.

While there are a range of required major and minor components to reduce or eliminate negative effects of fear and the need for mental toughness/bravery, the first and most important major component is CQC controlled respiration.

This is required to not only cope with fears and stressors but also to effectively empower physical CQC/MSD (close quarters combat and military self-defence) skills employments.

Adding to the dangers; weapons, multiple assaulters and there being no age, weight or gender equalities/considerations and safe environments in battlefield and street/urban violence.                        The psychological effects of faced threats can be overwhelming to those that are not mentally and combatively tough ready and prepared.

The important thing to remember is that threat-related perception, of an overwhelming type, and the psychological effects of fear and related stressors, if not controlled, can cause pre-actions-on panic, diminished mental toughness, and lowered to depleted intestinal fortitude. This defeatist mentality and attitude can also deplete physical output capability even before actions-on has kicked off.  If the target is not mentally tough and threat neutralisation capable there is minimal likelihood of defeating a violent assaulter.

It is not only the visual and reputation related thinking in regard to the enemy/assaulter being life/limb threatening,  it is the underlying lack of confidence and the targets low to no level of intestinal fortitude and threat neutralisation capabilities confidence that can weaken them to giving in and giving up even before the actions on kicks off.

IF ONLY THEY HAD ENHANCED THEIR MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND UP SKILLED WITH FIT FOR PURPOSE TACTICS/SKILLS BEFORE FINDING THEMSELVES UNDER THREAT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEGUN WITH CQC CONTROLLED RESPIRATION.

Combined fear, panic and stop/forced ceased respiration by holding ones breath can lead to combative performance deterioration in seconds causing helplessness and hopelessness.

Then through the realities of actions on/assault the target is further self-affecting by depleting their physical capabilities by forced, panicked, hard respiration recovery attempts.

While holding ones breath to prevent inhaling dust or swallowing water is a mechanism of self-protection/self-preservation, holding ones breath under assault in an actions on is a means of increasing risk and the likelihood of defeat by depleting battle fitness and mental toughness capabilities.

I have trained extremely physically fit and strong peeps in CQC that are in peak performance condition and have high level physical fitness and strength capabilities, that under actions on threat situations like in the face of some one that wants to do them serious bodily harm, they just like those that are considerably lesser physically capable but similarly not battle tough and ready are adversely affected by the fear and stressors of an actions on/assault. The psychological effects of fear can deplete even a highly physically fit and strong individual’s will and capabilities in seconds.

Life threatening fears and situational faced stressors can deplete not only physical capabilities but as such, render skills capabilities useless, simply because such weakened peeps cannot overcome their fears and threat neutralise. They simply do not have the intestinal fortitude to control their fears and do what must be done to save themselves from being defeated.

Mental toughness, intestinal fortitude, inner-resolve and being skilled in how to reduce/eliminate the adverse effects of violent threats actions on/assault and go combative in a controlled, aggressive, deliberate manner, combined with best of battle proven threat neutralisation tactics and skills employments, is what makes the difference between being able to effectively threat neutralise and not being able to.

All the training in the world without mental toughness, controlled, aggressive intent is worthless. Just like a weapon in the hand of a target of violence that does not have the intent to use it, it makes the weapon more of a danger than an effective tool, as it could be used against them.

The weapon is an inanimate object until it is in the hands of a combatant that is willing and prepared to use it, however in the hands of a peep not prepared to use it, it is a danger to the holder.

Controlled cycled low intensity respiration is a must to reduce/eliminate the effects of fear and stress to enable factual, real time, threat assessment, effective decision making, and the controlled, confident, aggressive execution of best means and methods of threat neutralisation.

Controlled, cycled respiration synchronised with the initiation and employment of combat and counter actions skills is a must to ensure high level controlled aggressive output is achieved and can be maintained.

Combined mil close combat/mil self-defence mental toughness enhancement major and minor components (Brain to Boot) employed in a correct order of execution of tactics and skills is essential to overcome the effects of actions-on threat/assault and enable  the controlled, aggressive output capabilities required to stop formidable foes in their tracks.

There is a considerable difference between ‘physical culture type’ physical fitness capabilities and attributes and mil close combat/self-defence specific combined mental toughness and battle hardened fitness which is required for life threatening threat neutralisation purposes.

Running type physical fitness requires you to have to be running fit in regards to speed, distance, endurance, overcoming gradient, and other factors.

CQC battle fitness demands controlled, aggressive battle fitness combined with military CQC/MSD mental toughness capabilities to make you capable of combating or countering formidable foes by employing best of foul means of threat neutralisation.

Dirty deadly tactics and skills combined with mil close combat mental toughness enhancement reduce physical strength/ fitness and endurance high levels requirements.

You don’t/can’t synchronise your breathing with every running step taken but in a life or death CQC actions on you must synchronise your CQC low intensity, controlled, respiration with every executed action.

There are those that can demonstrate/perform with high level competency in training in a safe, comfortable, familiar environment, but as result of their weak mental make ups and lack of confidence in their skills capabilities in the face of a potential loss of life/limb assault threat, all their skills prowess are close to if not useless to them. Those that do not have what it takes and can’t get past the fear barrier/factors are all but done before any assault kicks off.

It takes intent to initiate a combat or counter action and it requires correct synchronised respiration and other major and minor skills employment components to maximise threat neutralisation objective achievement.

THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO DEAL WITH STRESSORS AND FEARS IS CONTROLLED RESPIRATION.

Those that do not employ control measures simply defeat themselves by letting their fears and lack of intestinal fortitude make them an easy target for those that are willing and prepared to do what has to be done.

If only such peeps could get past their threat facing defeatist attitudes in the face of danger and under assault and conduct them-selves with controlled, confident aggression in a deliberate calculated threat neutralisation manner, but there are those that simply can’t.

You can’t make peeps braver that simply don’t possess/want to be combative capable and armed with the capabilities that would enable them to overcome their fears and weaknesses.

 I continue to reiterate the most important primary first up required practice is controlled combative respiration not only in the face of danger but throughout threat neutralisation.

Under a pre-actions-on threat or actions-on assault, to hold ones breath is taking away or at minimum adversely effecting primary assessment decision making and threat neutralisation employment capabilities. The adverse effects will be immediate and the overcoming of such effects if not prevented or reduced immediately will be diminished physical capabilities, and through a defeatist/victim mentality, can make recovery of capabilities required to neutralise a formidable foe simply overwhelming and unlikely. Those that are practical realists and honest with themselves when it comes to not only their mental toughness but also their threat neutralisation capabilities, as in possessed skills capabilities to neutralise threats and importantly their willingness to employ them under assault, need to be prepared to commit to mental toughness enhancement training and best of primary threat neutralisation upskilling.

It comes down to the fact of the matter of either being brave enough to overcome fears and stressors or not.

We have measured combatants striking power who hold their breath when punching and after the first such punch the following punches lose power by considerable. They struggle in an attempt to recovery breath while still employing skills by deep rapid respiration means that rapidly diminishes their capabilities.

I have seen physically fit peeps holding their breath with their cheeks resembling a knotted balloon ready to brain fart and explode. Some breathe in, hard pucker their lips tightly together sucking their cheeks in.

Some initially hard breath in and back compressing their lips closed air tight together, then still holding their breath maintaining an airtight lips seal, force the inhaled air forward, expanding by inflation their cheeks.

Most do not even realise they are doing this, but with the stressors and fears of losing or getting injured, combined with being a static non-respiring easy target, they are increasing the likelihood of getting a beating.

For those that fight in combat sports that are high intensity, heavy contact codes, where you can be knocked out or where constant action is a must, through the nature of such codes training and competition they are considerably less likely to hold their breath. Probably because they would have found out the hard way, in training or competition, the effects and outcomes of competing without maintaining breathing.

There are many reasons why peeps can give up under threat but this file is focused predominantly on incorrect respiration or force stopped respiration.

Holding ones breath under threat can be brought on by facing something they are not accustomed to that causes them increased fear to the point of self-doubt.

Head contact if not accustomed to dealing with it, as in being inoculated against the effects of head contact as part of actions-on threat neutralisation, can cause inner resolve/ mental toughness weakening rapidly.

The realities are very different in kill or die close combat when a combatant’s personal safety or loss of life or limb is at stake and there are no out options.

These brutal realities can weaken peeps resolve in an instant and deplete their capabilities by considerable, simply because of the faced realities threat of deadly violence or finding themselves under a deadly assault.

There is no place for giving up or giving in if you want to protect what must be the most important thing to you your life.

Those that are not mentally tough and resilient and do not have the capabilities to overcome their fears and the stressors in an actions-on situation are going to find themselves in a bad place. The fact of the matter is that combatants in a kill or die, actions-on situation, to effectively defeat enemies that are committed to taking them out or doing them grievous bodily harm, need to be mentally tough, practical realists, highly combatively skilled, and prepared to deal with the realities of hard, heavy and hostile close quarters combat actions-on assaults period.

If just the thought of the threat or sight of the enemy evokes a sense of defeat and helplessness they have defeated themselves. Being able to reduce or overcome the situational stressors/adverse reactions of an actions-on threat by control measures that begin with CQC RESPIRATION, and other important control measures tactics and skills, combined with an uncompromising combative mentality in a close quarters combat actions-on, maximises the combatants chances of victory over defeat.

Controlled CQC respiration must be turned on immediately in a danger zone, even before the enemy is identified, to reduce/eliminate the effects of fear and situational stressors before such autonomic reactions are overwhelming.

Over the past 97 years we have trained and tested thousands of exponents and candidates respectively and have seen some self-eliminate by defeating themselves through a lack of intestinal fortitude and inner resolve, even before being defeated by their enemy party/assaulters.

Not everyone can switch on in an instant the controlled, aggressive, brutality needed to stop an aggressor in their tracks on the battlefield and under urban violent assault.

When it gets up close and personal and you are face to face with an aggressor with no out options, unless you are mentally tough and armed with the capabilities to stop them in their tracks you are at high risk of losing, injury or worse.

Many look at an aggressors perceived strengths over exploiting their weaknesses, faults and errors.

Some cannot control their emotions, fears and overcome the stressors of facing imminent violence.

Some have fears of not only being injured, wounded or worse but are unable to inflict such realities on their enemy.

Under CQC testing some do not have the confidence/competency to demonstrate objective achievement under testing SOPs and protocols.

They usually self-eliminate prior to testing by withdrawing.

Sometimes this is because they are afraid they will get injured or fail to achieve objectives.

Some candidates may not believe they can safely, under the testing regime, achieve the objective of threat neutralisation out of fears/concerns they could injure the enemy party; this is a mentality of excuse making.

They are over thinking things or could be looking for reasons to withdraw their volunteering for testing status. To test they must have completed mandatory skills training hours volunteer for testing and be accepted for testing. This indicates they possess the skills capabilities for testing, so their issues are more mental weakness/mental blocks than skills lacks of competency.

If they had employed their Brain to Boot mental toughness tactics and skills beginning with low intensity cycled respiration they would have taken control of the situation and not let their negative perception of the situation and situational affected capabilities take over and determine their fate.

I reiterate, you cannot make some one that is not brave, brave if they cannot or will not overcome their fears and weaknesses. Mental toughness enhancement is possible but it requires commitment and that means exposure and inoculation against what those with weakened mental toughness makeups are most fearful and afraid of.

Those that will accept they are not as mentally tough or skills competency capable as they need to be, that commit to facing their fears and enhancing their mental toughness and threat neutralisation capabilities, can get past their prior fears and the stressors under threat. They can enhance their ability to switch on their threat neutralisation tactics and skills through enhanced mental toughness and increased threat neutralisation capabilities. Having mental and physical tactics and skills that increase their safety and chances of defeating their aggressor that require them to switch on positive practices and maintain a ready status, can reduce or even eliminate the negative effects of facing threats of violence.

They are occupying their mind, human senses and body, and bodily extremities with proactive. positive. hard target threat neutralisation capabilities, shutting out negative factors.

Proactive initiation of control measures and the setting and constant maintaining of a ready status can remove the time availability for self-doubt or other negative factors through focusing only on positive proactive threat neutralisation musts.

The first and most important act of mental toughness enhancement under threat and the employment and maintaining of required battle fitness is close combat specific respiration.

Not everyone can be ruthless in a controlled, calculated, deliberate manner when it comes to overcoming their fears of being injured or injuring others and doing what needs to be done.

Under testing even though there are safe guards, protocols, and SOPs, candidates can experience similar fears/stressors to real life actions-on. Having to achieve threat neutralisation objectives without causing serious injuries is another stressor that can weaken candidates resolve.

Being mentally tough and confident with high level skills competency enables combatants to conduct themselves with controlled aggressive output and with attention to detail, including safety.

Those that are mentally tough and highly skilled can take control of the situation and conduct themselves with controlled aggression inside objective achievement parameters, just like they could in battlefield close combat with in rules of engagement or in self-defence inside the laws of self-defence.

The difference between the coward and the hero is that the coward cannot overcome their fears and as such defeat themselves before their assaulter does. The hero, through mental toughness and training confidence, can overcome their fears and take control of determining the outcome and their fate.

Actions-on competency is a combination of mental toughness and the best of battle proven skills employments – the correct and best tools to get the job done.

With a compromised mental makeup when it comes to real life violent threats neutralisation, even when properly trained, such individual’s chances of defeating motivated assaulters are extremely reduced.

Without mental toughness skills are of little to no use up against an assaulter with bad intentions.

To be best prepared and ready for real life, true, anything goes actions-on, the need for an uncompromising mental makeup combined with high level training in combined CQC mental toughness enhancement and best of battle proven skills employments capabilities, is what is required when facing a formidable violent assaulter.

While mental toughness levels can be enhanced the reality is there are many peeps that simply do not have the strength of mind to overcome their weaknesses and fears to effectively combatively threat neutralise an assaulter in an actions-on, and never will be able to.

If they will not admit to their inadequacies and be prepared to undergo mental and skills enhancement training and prove themselves under testing, they will always be unable, in the face of danger, to switch on the actions-on go switch.

Combative capabilities are determined by an individual combatant’s mental make-up and willingness to enhance their level of mental toughness and this comes down to battle proven mental toughness enhancement training that begins with correct close combat respiration.

CQC is about as close and personal as it gets, and if an armed combatant does not possess the mental toughness and unarmed or non-ballistic/improvised weapon capabilities to neutralise a deadly enemy assaulter, then with their primary/back up weapons capabilities taken away they are in the face of a deadly terminal fate.

Only a fool would not train and prepare for loss of their weapons close combat, as it equates to loss of their life.

You cannot and should not judge a book by its cover and it can be the most unassuming, least tough nut looking peeps that are capable of taking control under threat and deciding on and employing the best/safest means of threat neutralisation beginning with CONTROLLED LOW INTENSITY CYCLED RESPIRATION COMBINED WITH FOUL MAN STOPPING MEANS.