Alright, so I remember reading in Stephen LaBerge's "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" that lucid dreams can be used to train for real life, and that makes sense to me. Muscle memory, repetition, etc. are all parts of the learning experience. And lucid dreams are just as "real" as "real life," so as far as you know, you are pretty much performing the action the same as you would while awake. So someone who needs time to practice a certain skill has the perfect opportunity to practice in the most favorable environment they can conceive.

But the problem I foresee is the dreamer's... schema's, are they called? Your brain's long list of expectations and causes and effects?

Anyways, I'll give you the example I came up with: I want to get in firefights with DC's (Dream Cops, maybe ;D) because I want to be prepared to survive a firefight if need be, and I doubt I will have the means to practice in RL. I will be practicing taking appropriate cover against the weapons used, acquiring sight pictures with MY weapons, and improving accuracy and combat effectiveness, we can say.

But will I only improve my skills if I have actual knowledge of firearms ballistics and the real mechanics behind a firefight?

Say I'm behind cover, against a wall, and bullets are smacking against the surface next to me. Now if I was some kid who's only knowledge of firearm ballistics is from Call of Duty, then I would think I'm fine, and considering it's a lucid dream, I probably WOULD be fine according to that thinking. But I KNOW that if those bullets really were striking that wall next to me and I had no significant protection, that I should be VERY concerned with ricochets and high-velocity bullet fragments, as those can cause just as fatal damage to me and my freakin' face.

Another example: I'm hiding behind the middle of my car because the SWAT team just shot my tires out and are opening fire on my position. You would think I would be significantly protected because I'm hiding behind a muthafuckin' car. And if it was your dream, and you did, then you WOULD be protected. But I know for a fact that those pigs in armor don't stick to their sidearms, they have standard-issue long-rifles, most likely chambered for a high-velocity 5.56mm round; a round very more than likely to penetrate two measly car doors. Now if I was hiding behind the engine block and was wearing a pair of combat boots, it would be a different story. But you see what I'm getting at.

My point is that I think "training" for the real world CAN work if you do proper research and have a completely un-baised mindset when it comes to your environment. If I'm getting shot at and I'm thinking: "Ah, they'll never hit me, I'm fucking invincible," and you "know" it, then you more than likely will not be struck. On the other hand, we could screw ourselves over like we sometimes do in our nightmares. "Holy shit, I REALLY hope that stalker isn't around this corner"... what do you think is gonna happen...

Just a thought I had. What do you guys think?

I only bring this up because I hope to improve certain skills in dreams that I don't get a chance to practice in RL. Hand-to-hand combat, for example. Now I've never been in a legit fight before. Do you think I'd be able to practice and refine with the knowledge I have of combat as of now? Considering I could be hit, I could miss, I need to connect correctly, etc...