If you look at most martial arts and self-defense programs, you can easily come to the belief that all you have to do is learn a few moves or techniques, train until you can execute them well, and...well, that's it. You're a master or self-defense expert.
However, there is one aspect that's generally missing from most self defense training. And that is the addition of your body's emotions as tools for defense.
In the past few years, systems and programs have been developed that focus on what's known as "adrenal response training." These programs, however, tend to concentrate on only one of these emotional states, or modes.
There are actually four of these modes that we can find ourselves in when confronted with danger. Each state is a natural response to several factors including things like your:
- 1. Perception of danger or level of threat
- 2. Personality type
- 3. Rules and restrictions that you're aware of as a part of your job
- 2. Personality type
And others
Each of these modes is more than a mood, state, or condition which we might find ourselves in. They also control, in many ways, how we process information, and even work to free or hinder certain types of body movement.
The Four Emotion-based Defensive Modes Are:
- Stable/Confident
- Adaptable/Defensive
- Direct/Aggressive
- Slippery/Evasive
As I said, each of these modes is both a reaction to the current situation, and a strategy for handling a situation in a very specific way. As a general outline, I'll quickly explain each mode from both a responsive and a controlling perspective.
Please note that the following modes are in no particular order of importance, nor is one better than any of the others. But you may find that a particular mode or two feel more comfortable or "natural" for you, each should be seen as an option that can be pressed into service in a self-defense situation. And, as I've said time and again, the more options you have in any given situation, the greater your chances of getting the results you want.
Stable/Confident "Earth" Mode.
This defense mode is marked by a general sense of relaxed calm. You really don't perceive a threat and you are in firm control of the encounter. Notice that I didn't say that you were stubborn and forced a sense of command. In what I call the "earth-mode," you use superior positioning and relaxed strength to stop his attacks and direct your strong points against his weak ones, using leverage and crushing pressure to put an end to his plan to hurt you.
Adaptive/Defensive "Water" Mode.
Just like the water, you adapt to his movements. You use long-range, defensive angling to pull away from his attacks and then crash back in with powerful strikes and kicks to his vulnerable weak points. This mode is often present when you feel intimidated by his size, strength, or other factors. You instinctivelly want to create time and distance between you and your opponent so that he has to work harder to get at you.
Direct/Aggressive "Fire" Mode.
Either out of fear, anger, or a need to react first, you move in and direct the fight to the bad guy. In this "fire" mode, you are almost pulled in by a sense of urgency and a need to get things over with quickly. When I say "aggressive," I do not necessarily mean destructive, but rather a direct, committed, "go-for-it" attitude which sends you directly in to meet the assailant before he can really get started. Again, this mode could be triggered by anger just as easily as it could be initiated out of a feeling of being cornered and needing to take action right away.
Slippery/Evasive "Wind" Mode.
This mode is marked by a very carefree, open movement with a sense of last-second timing to slip, avoid, and wrap up your opponent with his own attacks. The body position associated with this mode is very open and looks very different when compared against the conventional martial arts and self-defense stances that you usually see. This mode could be caused by a complete desire to avoid the situation altogether. It could also be used in a playful, confusing manner as you effortlessly evade your attacker's punches, kicks, and grabs only to catch him with your own attacks from unseen and confusing directions.
Like I said, there is no one best mode. Each is a natural response that is hardwired inside us and a part of our overall natural human self-protection mechanisms.
While each of us has steered toward one or another of these modes as we've moved through our lives, and perceive our chosen one as the "only natural" for us. The truth is that, with proper training, each mode can be developed, enhanced, and added back into our arsenal as a very powerful strategic option for dealing with a real-world self-defense situation with a very real-world attacker.
Are you a private individual, law enforcement or security professional, member of the military, or corporate manager looking for real-world self-defense training that works?
Get the information you need to survive a real world self-defense situation.
Get 3 self-defense bonus reports when you get the Complete Self-Defense Training Library
Jeffrey Miller is an internationally recognized self-defense expert. He is the creator of the unique EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training System and teaches individuals, security professionals, companies, and organizations how to survive danger in Today's often unsafe world. Go to his web site at => www.warrior-concepts-online.com
No comments:
Post a Comment