Muscle memory can be a great thing when the tactics, techniques and procedures that you're muscles are memorizing are good and effective ones. But it works both ways, meaning that, for example, if you handle certain things in training in a relaxed "administrative" fashion, then you can bet your ass you will handle those things in combat the same way.
Just want to be clear on this, are you saying if you just go through the motions, you will probably be lackadaisical in training, and this would carry over to a stressful combat situation where you will make mistakes because you did not take it serious enough?
The reason I ask this about twenty years ago I was coaching baseball and during pre warmups our center fielder let one by him and he did not go after it. I had always trained them that if they missed it, they had to go after the ball like it was a game like situation because it could and will happen, and how you react, could be the difference of the runner getting to third or home. I benched him for it.
This is just not a baseball question but a life question. Anyone care to help me see this more clearly? I would like to refer to this story to support the way I teach, coach, etc. Thank you.