Closure: Collapse the Possibilities, Go All In

Keeping your options open is an attractive concept and feels like freedom. It permits room for debate, changes of opinion and forgiveness. In most circumstances, I believe that the gentleman and the rational person avoids taking sides until the most information is analyzed. I believe in science.

I wanted to get that messiness out of the way before we dive into today's definite topic: Make a Choice!

Closure

The Point of Inquiry Podcast is a production of the Centre for Inquiry (CFI) that promotes science and critical thinking. The episode of 20 August interviewed Arie Kruglanski, a Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland College Park, and has been a pioneer in the study of closed-mindedness-or, the "need for closure".

He proposes that making a decision or taking a side is inherently rewarding because not making a choice is stressful.

Reality Happens

Many educated people argue that the universe is made out of quantum fluctuations, and that particles exist in an indeterminate state until they are measured or interact. The problem is that everything at our scale is solid because it is constantly interacting. The quantum indeterminacy does not apply to human affairs because your eyes see light that has bounced off objects, and those objects are made of colliding and vibrating molecules.

I just wanted to set that argument aside for those who have watched "What the Bleep Do We Know"

What I'm saying is: your mind can admit to many possibilities, but there is only one reality. The only questions that remain are:

• How accurately do you perceive it?
• How well can you predict it?

Personal Safety

Let's bring this diatribe back to Bartitsu and the things we study at Academie Duelllo.

You are confronted by a ruffian. Your brain is working in overdrive to assess the present situation and decide on the next action that will result in the best outcome for you.

Questions of Fact:

• Are they armed? Are they concealing weapons?
• How many are there? Is there anyone behind you? Are there any accomplices hiding?
• Are you armed? What is your most effective and available weapon?
• What is the best escape route? The way you came, or an avenue ahead?

Questions of Prediction:

• If you hand over your wallet, will they walk away happy?
• If you fight back, will you need to get to a hospital quickly?
• If you get away, will you be in danger later?
• Will you have regrets regarding justice in any of these outcomes?

Your choice of action will depend on your immediate answers to these questions because your assailant will not give you extra time to mull it over while the theme from Jeopardy! plays softly.

Trust yourself. Take a side: Your side.

Pacifism Is an Option

Before we transition into how these ideas manifest in a combat situation, I must take a moment to definitely and strongly state: Fighting is NOT the only solution.

If you choose the path of non-resistance, that is a definite choice and you'll feel better for deciding on the calm higher path. These few desperate people who are confronting you can perhaps go on their way living a life of fear while you bravely walk to find a constable.

Closing the Gap

On the other hand, if you decide that violence is the way out of this situation, one of your main concerns is the distance between you and the ruffian.

• It is good to be attacking (reacting requires more mental processing and physical accuracy).
• It is good to be moving forward (keeping balance and seeing obstacles is difficult on retreat).
• It is good to be armed with a superior weapon.
• It is bad to turn your back.

If your assailant is armed but you are not, you have two options, but don't spend time thinking about it, the choice will be obvious:

1. Get a weapon - preferably one that is equal or greater than his
2. Control and/or disarm their weapon.

Armed or not, equal or not, you must move forward. You will not prevail by standing your ground. Surprise him.

You will get to jujitsu range, and you will overthrow him.

This is Your Life

On matters of prediction, you will be wrong many times. But the human mind is a prediction machine. We thrive on anticipating results, planning for the future, and investing now for a better life tomorrow.

Why train in martial arts when it's painful, sometimes humiliating and often tiring? Because you believe it will pay off in the future, possibly to save your life.

On matters of fact, get evidence and figure out what the truth is. When danger is involved, assume the worst, then make your definite choice. Act on it.

Most aspects of your life admit to many possibilities, and they depend as much on facts as predictions. Collapse the possibilities so you can take action.

Go all in.