| When discussing self-defense training, we really need | | | | human beings operate by the formula: |
| to be discussing more than just learning some tricks | | | | Feel - Think - Do |
| and techniques for dodging punches or escaping locks | | | | This means that in a life-threatening situation we will: |
| and holds. Why then, are most instructors content | | | | * Have an emotional reaction - to the type of attack, |
| with stopping at, and most students satisfied with | | | | the assailant, the environment, rules and regulations |
| learning, self-defense in a vaccuum? | | | | that we are bound by, and a hundred other factors. |
| Well, I have my own beliefs, mostly involving the | | | | * Access memories, beliefs, and mental functions - |
| fact that most have never been in a real-world | | | | and then, based on what we think about the |
| self-preservation situation with an assailant out to do | | | | situation and what we know... |
| maximum damage with any technique or weapon | | | | * We go into action - and do the best we can with |
| they choose. Basically... | | | | what we know. |
| ... they don't know any better. | | | | To say that the formulas are different, is more than |
| In this issue, I want to look at a foundational idea | | | | an understatement. |
| that the rest of our training philosophies should take | | | | What are we to do with this information? How can it |
| into account if we are to prepare ourselves in the | | | | help us to better train to be prepared for a |
| most efficient and effective way possible. | | | | life-saving situation? |
| First, we need to consider the learning curve of the | | | | Quite simply - we can make sure that we are |
| average human being. When we think about how we | | | | producing and working under a particular emotional |
| learn best, aside from the methods that we might | | | | mode when training for self defense. This will require |
| have been exposed to along the way, it becomes | | | | a training atmosphere akin to that used by |
| obvious that the "natural" way to learn can be seen | | | | actors-in-training than what we are typically used to |
| in the following pattern: | | | | seeing in a martial arts academy. |
| Do - Think - Feel | | | | The Four Base Emotions |
| That is, the most effecient and effective learning | | | | The human being enters the world with four base |
| model for most of us is to: | | | | emotional triggers that, based on future stimuli and |
| * Do the 'thing' in a hands-on fashion. | | | | the addition of the higher mental functions, combine |
| * Think about the 'thing' - work at understanding | | | | to produce the many emotions themselves. But, |
| what makes it 'tick' and how it can be used - it's | | | | from a primative, self-preservation perspective, it is |
| impact and use for us. | | | | these 4 base impulses that we will concern ourself. |
| * Have an emotional response - we either like-it, | | | | The four base emotional responses to stress are: |
| don't like-it, or it doesn't matter. | | | | * Confident, stability - we're basically unmoved by |
| So, what's the problem you might ask. That's the | | | | the threat, because there is no perceived threat. |
| way martial artists train in just about every dojo or | | | | * Defensive repulsion - we are overwhelmed by the |
| training center around. | | | | source of the impulse and instinctively cover our |
| The problem is that... | | | | targets or pull away to a safer distance. |
| ... the above formula is only half the equation! | | | | * Aggressiveness - we quickly move in to take |
| The problem is that, we may learn best this way but, | | | | control of the situation. |
| we operate very differently when under stress. I | | | | * Evasiveness, avoiding - we sidestep or evade the |
| don't mean just danger, but any time stress factors | | | | problem, seeking primarily to completely avoid having |
| play on us. Whether we're talking about fear, | | | | to deal with the problem at all. |
| sadness, happiness, or whatever, we simply operate | | | | While there have been countless martial arts and |
| in a different way than we learn. And, this must be | | | | self-defense systems that have been designed |
| accounted for in the learning curve or we will simply | | | | around a particular emotional response mode, no one |
| be unprepared for a real-life encounter with an | | | | mode is right or wrong in and of itself. Each one is an |
| attacker. | | | | option to be channelled and used as a tool, if only we |
| The difference that I'm speaking of is really an exact | | | | knew how. |
| opposite of the learning formula. When under stress, | | | | |