Killer Instinct

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So, according to Mr. Durbin, a person with a killer instinct may kill when it is unnecessary, while a person without a killer instinct is able to kill when necessary. According Mr. Durbin, a person with a killer instinct cannot stop killing, but a person without a killer instinct is able to kill, as long as the person possesses the superior mental abilities brought about by the intense study of Oriental philosophies and religions. Bullshin!

Mr. Durbin presents the opinion that the human “killer instinct” is an inappropriate behavior, is unneeded for self-defense, and should be expunged from a martial artist’s personality. If a killer instinct is inappropriate, why do humans and other animals possess it? We possess it for survival. Humans, as with lions, dogs, birds, etc., possess a killer instinct to protect themselves from attack and to kill food. Humans are carnivores, as evidenced by our sharp, canine teeth; we do not have the flat teeth of a grazer. We kill other animals for food. As with all other animals with a killer instinct, humans must control it. Lions do not walk the plains killing everything they see; they only kill for food and protection, unless the lion is rouge. Likewise, normal humans only kill when it is necessary, and, in the animal world, humans are not especially violent or efficient killers.

When humans fight each other, we instinctively try to keep from actually injuring one another. If you have seen bar fights, untrained fighters use mostly shoving and overhand blows to the bony structures of the upper body that do little serious damage. Trained fighters have learned to overcome this instinctive behavior and use focused strikes to soft tissue. Since humans do not want to harm other humans, the military must expend an enormous amount of time and training on recruits to get them to obey orders and identify with the group so they will not freeze in combat and will kill when necessary.