Tune in and Turn On
So much of what we focus on when we take a self defense course or learn martial arts is about physical movement. Indeed, it is the actual strikes and kicks that deliver a blow to your attacker. Indeed, there is no self defense without physical movement.
But there is so much more to effective self defense than what you may grasp if you only focus on the movements. I want to remind you of some of the most valuable assets of self defense training. This is true regardless of the type of training you go through. You can study combat self defense and hand to hand combat techniques; or you can study Jiu-Jitsu or Kenpo or Krav Maga; it won’t change.
Cues are something that you need to learn to tune in to on a regular basis. It is through tactile, auditory and visual cues that you can determine what to do in the face of danger. It is through these cues that you can determine if you are in any danger in the first place.
I’ve warned before about the differences between the training environment and a real life situation. When facing a real fight, your entire body feels heavy, your breathing changes, and your heart begins to race. In a real and dangerous situation, your body will want to instinctively do certain things.
This aspect of physiology makes the type of training you seek highly important. If you receive training that goes against what your body will naturally want to do in the face of danger, you can quickly go into panic mode when your body won’t cooperate.
You can practice tuning in any time, any place. Tuning in means that you become more aware of what is going on around you (a key component of personal safety). During practice, find a place to sit and focus first on what you see. Make mental notes of people who may pass by too closely, or shadows crossing your field of vision. Anything visual, make a mental note.
You have built in personal radar that gives you a “bad feeling” about a person or a situation. Tune in and turn on and stay safe!
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