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The position held by many instructors within the martial arts community is that through repetition, the execution of a particular technique and/or movement will become instinctive thus enabling the practitioner to successfully defend himself during a life-or-death situation. When applied within the framework of a structured environment, these automatic responses can be highly effective. However, my contention is that such a limited approach, which lacks an emphasis on adaptability, will not enable the practitioner to effectively execute a series of learned techniques in an efficient manner.
The circumstances that arise from one moment to the next are virtually never within one's direct control. The environment is in a state of flux, constantly changing, requiring the martial artist to change with it by making spontaneous adaptations. Unless the practitioner acquires a genuine understanding regarding the WHENs and WHYs associated with various techniques and/or movements, it's highly unlikely that he will possess the decision-making skills required to exercise good judgment during situations that stray from the norm.
My experience in dealing with individuals who have difficulty with applying basic self-defense techniques has led myself to conclude that the source of the problem doesn't necessarily lie in a lack of physical ability. Rather, it often lies in a serious lack of awareness of the events transpiring around them. In order for basic self-defense principles to be effectively applied in a spontaneous manner, it requires a shift in paradigm. The practitioner must dramatically alter the way he views himself and how he interrelates with his surroundings.
The key to effectively applying any technique, regardless from which martial arts style it is derived, lies in the capacity of the practitioner to direct his focus outward to such an extent that behavioral patterns can be detected within the body language of the adversary or adversaries while the practitioner still maintains full awareness of his own body position and movements. Reading the opponent's body language provides valuable insight into what adjustments would be most effective for a particular situation. A high degree of efficiency will be acquired when the aspiring martial artist allows his awareness to dictate his actions rather than engaging in futile efforts to brute force himself onto situations.
Reading drills, awareness exercises, and visualization exercises are all excellent means by which a person can learn to enhance his focus to varying degrees. Participation in these drills/exercises will heighten the practitioner's sensitivity to his environment and will dramatically enhance his understanding regarding the intrinsic relationship between his own body position and movements and those of an adversary's.
One of the most effective ways of learning to extend a person's focus outward is by participating in training drills in which the participants are subjected to random self-defense situations while blindfolded. The feedback is immediate and the experience is invaluable. This training exercise can be a highly effective means of redirecting the practitioner's focus toward making fundamentally-sound decisions and will reinforce his understanding that the effectiveness of any technique is highly dependent upon the circumstances that comprise a given situation.
The primary reason why many martial art practitioners have difficulty with either acquiring the ability to direct their focus outward or with maintaining an outward-directed focus is that they become too emotionally involved during a confrontation. A relaxed state of mind and body is absolutely essential. Uncontrolled emotion blocks the reading process and serves only to cloud one's ability to exercise good judgment.
Clearing the mind of all extraneous matters makes it possible for the practitioner to keep his composure during an altercation. Any thought causing his focus to wander from the moment serves no constructive purpose and must be eliminated. Likewise, ego must be abandoned, as it only offers a better cage. Dwelling on the past or allowing oneself to become preoccupied with the uncertainties associated with the future is pointless. All preconceived notions, inhibitions, and shades of self-doubt must be eliminated from one's thinking. Adopting such a completely focused mindset allows the aspiring martial artist to detach himself from what would otherwise be characterized as a violent situation and enables the practitioner to spontaneously "flow with" whatever is presented as one moment unfolds into the next, even in the most extreme of situations.
Dean Alan Clerc (1st Degree Black Belt - Kenpo Karate)
Author of "The Mindset of a Martial Artist"
www.martialarts1.com
