One technique - one defense

I can't count the amount of times I'm asked to provide the one technique that can solve a physical confrontation. Everything from a semi-innocent wrist grab to some insane ninja attack. Not looking at the probability of the attack it's nearly 100% that every person that has asked me that question wanted one single answer. And looking at at many schools/dojos and such many of them try and provide at single answer.

It's not that I'm not a fan of simplicity, it's more the focus on it. It tends to forget the opposite of the answer.... the what if what you did didn't work or isn't working. How do you get back into "the game".

What if you are mentally and physically out of balance (hit and maybe hit hard), how do you get back? Since we can't pratice being hit hard ie. the head, how do you really know how to get back in "the game". If you've never been "out there", how are you sure your learning how to do it?

The only way is to practice the "it didn't" work scenario; allowing yourself to be pushed hard in areas you don't want to be. Most people will in advance, since they know the scenario, already before the they start have mentally and physically prepared themselves to "do it right".

Knowing that what you do works is good, but remember that isn't the real mindset the day the bells ring. So your really not working the scenario and getting better. Your setting yourself up for a bigger surprise than expected.

I believe that when somebody asks for one technique for one attack it's always at least two things you have to practice  the wanted response and "a failed one" were you have to work to get into place. So when somebody asks for the one technique, tell them you have to at least practice 2......