Instructors With No Fighting Experience

Can you learn how to fight from an instructor who's never fought? Yes and no. Yes, you can learn techniques and skills. No, you can't learn the mindset and the emotional side of combat from someone who has no fighting experience. Now when I say fighting experience, I am talking about someone who has fought in a full contact type of combat sport. Now I didn't say a person who has a lot of street fighting experience. Why? Because the real violent street fighters aren't the guys who open up martial arts schools. Secondly, they may lack in technique, but definitely have the mentality for violence. Back to my scenario. Combat sports teach you to control emotions and act under presure. These things are what you need to help you defend yourself.