There are a lot of things that man imagines, due to a false self-assessment or a not so stable ego. Especially men tend to overestimate themselves and it is often difficult to admit this. Women often underestimate themselves.
Such misjudgments can quickly become a problem during a crisis, whether you want to stay at home or leave the house and survive outside for a longer period of time. In the dumbest case misjudgment ends fatally.
It is very important to think about survival myths. With high probability you are also inferior to such a myth. Please do not get it wrong: we do not want to kick anyone here.
Of course we also did a lot wrong in the beginning. And many things still determine today. But everyone has to reflect and cast off their own ego and really question themselves and their ways of acting and thinking.
Survival myth #01:
"I have a Bug-Out-Bag and that guarantees my life."
Of course, it is good if you have a curse backpack and this has also fitted useful. This means that you are already ahead of the majority of people in a crisis situation because most people do not have such an aid. But:
A curse backpack is not a guarantee of survival. There is a lot more to survival. You have to have a lot of experience, you have to recognize dangers, avoid dangers, etc., etc. Successful survival involves dozens, if not hundreds of aspects. And a curse backpack is quite high up in the pyramid. There are much more fundamental aspects!
But if you have a covert backpack, have it properly equipped and can handle the content, then the backpack is a valuable tool and help!
Survival myth #02:
"I have read quite a few survival books!"
Very good. Congratulations! Reading educates! Mostly. But reading alone is not enough. You can read or write a hundred Suvival books, but that's not nearly enough. It is very good to get knowledge about literature. The importance of this is beyond doubt! But:
You also have to apply and deepen this knowledge in practice. Internalize. You have to read how you burn and kindle a fire, but you also have to apply this theory. Get a feel for it. After you have understood the principle theoretically. you know the materials, etc., you have to do it practically and practice! Only then can you develop a feeling for it. And you will fail in many things at first: but that's why it matters. To assume that you can use once read theory in an emergency and under stress, is a bad joke.
Survival myth #03:
"With my clothing I remain undetected!"
This statement is not correct. Due to its irregular contours, camouflage clothing is intended to optically break up the silhoutte of the human body and to color it into the environment. Furthermore, the pattern is often intended to reproduce natural objects, contours or textures. There are hundreds of different camouflage patterns in use or used. Depending on the scenario, different patterns have been created and constantly adapted. Meanwhile, the infra-red via infrared plays an increasingly important role. A circumstance that is already taken into account by some producers. And here is the first point:
You need the right camouflage pattern for the corresponding scenario. And that is far from enough. You need to know how to move properly, how to use the terrain, how to build your camouflage, need knowledge of your surroundings, etc. Your complete behavior will affect your privacy. Only camouflage clothing will not protect you.
Survival myth #04:
"Surviving with own equipment is almost like camping!"
Whenever I hear this, I have to laugh. At the same time, practical inexperience is revealed to me.
When you are out with the equipment, the weather is crazy, the resources are limited, things are unforeseen, you have to be hunted or otherwise hurry, you have lost an item of equipment, you have injured yourself or are not ideal with energy or sleep provided. And so on. Then it is often a grueling affair even for professionals.
There are enough circumstances that make survival (outdoors) difficult. Not to mention the psychological circumstances! You may not know the extent of the crisis, the probable duration, the consequences and variables, how other people you love fellow human beings, which you could not take or leave behind, when the looters come, etc., etc.
Surviving in a crisis, even with your own equipment and under "good circumstances" is certainly not like camping and not a trip to the adventure park!
Survival myth #05:
"I do not need a hiding place because I can go anywhere!"
Can you see how you want. My opinion is different. With a hiding place I have a clear advantage and a clear added value outside. Because there you can have made preparations and feel reasonably safe in a crisis. Because the surrounding area is advantageous, you know it well or even had the opportunity to store certain provisions there.
It's always better to have an escape hideout. Ideally, you even have several that you can use depending on the scenario. For sure.
Survival myth #06:
"I am or was a soldier and can survive in nature!"
Of course I can not speak or judge any military training program worldwide. But I would be careful with this statement. Many armies or units do not train survival issues as you might expect.
Some armies or units are known to have very poor survival skills compared to other armed forces. This should not be a statement about other training areas, but should lead to questioning the personal training standards. And especially for military personnel, it can be difficult to critically question the well-educated ego.
Survival myth #07:
"I can do martial arts and can defend myself!"
Now I'm definitely stepping on the feet of others ... That's not my intention. But what must be said: It does not necessarily mean that if you have the black belt in a martial art, then you can defend yourself super.
Fighting as art and fighting as a sport are in many cases not ideal for self-defense anyway. In many cases, of course, there are good and useful elements, but I would recommend learning a practical self-defense system for close range. A modern system that takes into account the various components. For example, disarmament, ground combat, fighting in the state, in difficult terrain. And that is exactly what most martial arts do not take into account, because only sterile training is given in the hall. Regulated by sports rules and defused by fairness. In reality, and especially in times of crisis, you will not find these things.
An art or sport learned under controlled circumstances is not pragmatic in reality. It is very good to do berit fighting as art or sport. This already has important elements and also a good foundation. Really important, however, are to be able to react to the elements that are practically happening on the street or elsewhere.
Survival myth #08:
"I am a sport shoother and can defend myself with my weapon!"
Now it's back to the ego... really bad. I'm sorry, but you can not say that. You have to recognize the big difference.
Let's start at the beginning: there is sport shooting, combat shooting and there is defensive shooting. Anyone who has been to the army or has attended a defense shooting course knows that it is not so easy to shoot at moving targets. Especially not under mental stress, physically stressed. Real stress under perceived danger to life? The chances are good that the sports shooter makes stupidity over stupidity. At some point it was the last one. Under stress many sports shooters would even fail at the correct weapon operation. Of course, a sportsman is not a saddled fighter.
The two-dimensional, clean, calm and measured world of the shooter is completely different, as to find in reality and in a crisis. Both have almost nothing to do with each other. These are not sayings. These are empirical values. I claim that the vast majority of sport shooters would not behave properly, when there is the bump in the night at your door. And especially not in a crisis.
If you think about it, you will certainly see that too. There are certainly also sports shooters who can hit well on moving targets and shoot well under stress. As an example, here are the ISCP people called, which are also less called here. But the classic shooter from the shooting club, who always shoots only static and does not get involved in the issues of reality, will probably fail in the practice of the crisis.
Again, great that you may be a marksman, but I definitely recommend a practice-oriented defense shooting course. Best regular and consecutive courses.
Survival myth #09:
"I already know everything!"
Uncountable, how often this sentence is heard. Of course it's great to have a healthy self-esteem. But overconfidence can lead to serious problems or even fatal ones.
Life is a constant learning process. And survival in particular is a constant learning process. Me and everyone can learn new things every day and every year. I do not think there is anyone who knows everything.
Survival is not just about knowledge. But of skills that can be skillfully applied under problematic circumstances. This has nothing to do with knowledge. But with training in practice and the ability to adapt to new things and circumstances. New things. Learn and train! But that's just what you have to accept.
Survival myth #10:
"I can learn everything with videos on YouTube!"
No. Many users who produce YouTube videos - and there are really really good people - certainly do that very well. But: a video can only give you a very limited experience with a matter. When you buy a product in an online store, you can easily understand how bad it is to get to the product through the screen and participate.
So how do you expect the screen on YouTube to provide better access to a much deeper world? Videos on YouTube are just like a table of contents in a book. What matters is the practical experience of your body, mind and soul. Everything else is video games and fantasies.
Survival myth #11:
"El Comandante Cómico will save and protect everything"
A few people still believe, that El Comandante Cómico will save the world. But: think about twice! I have really deep insider informations and i think, he don't get it...
As always: bunkered and upgraded i greet,
El Comandante Cómico