CurtainTwitcher,
Funny you bring up John Boyd, as his other big contribution beside the OODA loop, is Energy Management Theory. To this day you will still find a hardcopy of his book in most fighter squadrons, and it is considered as a mandatory read item for any fighter pilot who wants to become an ace (who wouldn’t) and be able to master his jet in a dynamic environment.
Highlights from his EM theory are as follows: Potential energy, Kinetic energy, Losing or gaining energy, where is the jet going and where is the jet in relation to other objects (the opponent).
IMHO OODA loop and EM is something that is very useful in all kinds of aviation.
Capn Bloggs,
So right you are. Training training training and practice practice practice is what makes you cope when the **** hits the fan. Sure, you might get startled, but having your muscle memory react in response to a bad situation will free up brain bits to handle the rest of the situation in a safe manner.
There is no replacement for proper and repeated training of basic skills.