Many beginners, upon entering the trading market, their first reaction is to frantically learn various technical indicators. Candlestick patterns, death crosses and golden crosses, volume-price relationships, chip distribution... They think that mastering these "secret weapons" will lead to profits. But what’s the result? The more indicators they learn, the more they lose.

I have also taken this wrong turn. I spent a lot of time studying various technical tools, only to find that they are like playing a numbers game—no matter how sophisticated the indicator, it cannot save a trader without a trading system. Only later did I realize that technical indicators are not as sacred as they seem. They are useful, but definitely not decisive.

Trading is a systematic project; technical analysis is just one part of it. The real factor that determines whether you can survive in the market is someone else entirely.

**Risk control is the foundation of trading**

If trading is a building, then risk control is its foundation. No matter how good the technicals are or how precise the analysis, without risk management, a single huge loss can knock you out. Many people don’t understand this until they are painfully educated by the market.

The core of risk control is stop-loss. These two words sound simple, but for most beginners, implementing them is a nightmare.

The biggest common problem among beginners is refusing to set stop-losses. When they lose, they want to hold on, hoping the market will "show mercy," and that prices will turn around and rise again. Sometimes, there is indeed a rebound, which makes people even more convinced that "holding on stubbornly works." But in reality, stubborn holding often leads to ruin halfway through. Once a liquidation is triggered or the price breaks through a psychological threshold, regret comes too late.

The meaning of a stop-loss is like wearing a bulletproof vest. It might hurt when hit, but at least you survive. In the trading market, survival is the top priority. Only by surviving can you tell the story later.

**Take profit is equally important**

After solving the stop-loss issue, you still face the challenge of taking profits. Many people get the direction right and choose good entry points, but when a trend develops, they end up not making any money. What’s the problem? They take profits too early.

Market movements often follow a pattern of three waves and step-backs. When prices rise, beginners see floating profits and rush to close their positions. Little do they know, these fluctuations are normal adjustments within a larger trend. Acting this way, they are likely to miss the real big moves.

Without a large profitable position to support, small gains won’t accumulate into significant returns. The key is to hold onto your positions and allow profits to fully develop.

**What is a reasonable stop-loss and take-profit?**

There is no standard answer to this question. Different risk tolerances, trading cycles, and capital scales mean that suitable stop-loss and take-profit ranges vary. But one thing is certain: any reckless decision is more dangerous than a well-paced, thoughtful one.

Trading requires not luck for a moment, but a long-term system and discipline. Technical indicators are just auxiliary tools; true competitiveness comes from your trading system—whether it can effectively control risk and help you survive longer amid uncertainty.