RonRagusa

My interpretation of patterned response is the same response to a situation with the same initial conditions. When you speak of patterned response you are referring to the mode of execution of a specific technique (tactics) and I quite agree with your interpretation. I am thinking more of one's overall response to the situation (strategy). On the strategic level predictability of response is tantamount to death. You are right when you say that to free the mind of the necessity of mulling over the execution of technique enables one to develop a strategic response to the situation. The tactics (techniques) used to implement the strategy should arise naturally and be executed without thinking. So I try to impress upon my students the necessity of remaining spontaneous with regard to the selection of technique in a given situation while at the same time drilling them on the fundamentals of correct execution of technique.