What I learned from college Calculus class and how it relates to self defense.

[Dallas Williams]

So for my college major which was in Biology I was required to take a semester of Calculus. As most of the other students I at the time saw no practical use for this class beyond filler and just another class required to make my life even more of a hell bent headache than it already was. However, I soon realized that there is much that we can learn from advanced math classes that can be applied to everyday life, even if are not planning to be an engineer, physicist, astronaut, or some other similar career. Math can teach one a lot about problem solving and thinking about and planning things in a logical way and figuring out the best and most simple solution to complex problems, not just those in math but in all other areas of life as well.
One thing I learned from calculus that is applicable to everyday life and most importantly what I’m talking about now in self defense…when there are multiple ways to go about accomplishing a task or solving a problem by all means please use the most simple and the one with the least number of and least complex steps to follow. Many times algebra, calculus, physics problems will have a variety or at least more than one way you can solve a problem with some methods requiring way more work, thinking, and steps to follow to arrive at the solution. As long as you arrive at x=whatever, then why the fuck does it matter how you get there and why not make it a hell of a lot easier on yourself and choose the path that is easier with least amount of opportunity to screw up? It’s no different with self defense as the SDTS teaches us, for example if you can simply knock an attacker out cold using a simple easy to master edge of hand strike to the neck or throat instead of having to train months to learn how to throw a proper punch that could still fuck your hand up in the street if you’re not wearing gloves even if it does work or even worse having to train and practice even longer to learn how to do some complicated aikido joint lock to “subdue” your attacker that you still most likely won’t be able to perform or make work in the heat of actual battle. You see when training for simple self defense we can learn and use tactics that can be mastered in a matter of days and require only a minimal amount of periodic training to maintain instead of multi step specific defense for specific offense techniques that must be trained for a long period of time for mastery and be retrained frequently for a person to be even be able to recall the techniques. What makes the most sense? As for me and my household we will go with the SDTS !
Another important point I learned from Calculus as well as any other math class I’ve taken is you’ve got to work problems and practice yourself before you will be able to know and be able to work similar problems that will appear on an exam and pass the test. Simply watching the professor work problems for you on a dry erase board or power point will not be sufficient in allowing you to learn how to perform the work yourself when no one is there to walk you through it. It’s no different with self defense! Even though SDTS tactics are simple and very easy to learn and perform under stress, a certain amount of training and work on your part is still required to be able to sufficiently master the material and be able to perform at the best of your ability and pass an all important “test” when being able to use these tactics to protect yourself or your loved ones from harm can mean the difference between life and death. We can’t simply watch Damian performing tactics for us on video in each of the modules and expect to automatically be able to pull them off in the street should it be required of us. In some areas in life there may be room for mediocrity or even failure. Hell even if you fail a math class what is the worst that can happen to you? You fail and it may fuck up your GPA or you may have to repeat the course to still be able to attain the degree you want but other than that life will still go on…you still will be alive the next day after you get that F. However, in self defense there is no room for failure for failure could very well mean death or at the very least a life altering injury or disability or loss of a loved one that will plague you or your family for the rest of your days. If you haven’t or usually don’t get serious about any other aspects of your life then at least get serious about the vital skill of self defense and learn and train in something that is simple, easy to learn, yet still effective and pick up or sign up for the SDTS and get to work today so if the ultimate test is ever put in front of you…you will be able to pass and most importantly survive

[Damian (Instructor)]

Nice article [Dallas Williams]! I’m going to have to get you blogging!

[Young Wang]

Agreed. I think the whole thing goes back to “follow the money.” By complicating education in any subject, you are able to create more jobs and work for educators that otherwise wouldn’t. The value of a mandated well rounded liberal/general education is the equivalent of an individual training in muai thai to learn striking, bjj for ground, and fma for weapons.

[James Goolsby]

Dallas,

Nice job. I found the same thing when it comes to learning the law, at the academy, on the job, and with my prep for law school. There is a lot of “gray” area and the important thing is to be able to figure out multiple ways for a solution. As you point out, this is the same with SDTS. Of course, Damian’s system is infinitely less complicated that calculus or the law, but the principles hold nonetheless. What I like best is how Damian gives us multiple solutions to a problem and, although each is simple, he still leaves room for us to find the solution that works best for us.

Well done, brother.

[Author]

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