| In the world of self defense and martial arts | | | | 1) How we think |
| programs, there are certain common ideas that | | | | 2) What we focus on, and... |
| are more or less universal. But, there are also | | | | 3) How our body moves most easily. |
| certain missing elements - especially when looking | | | | Knowing this, and making sure that it is a viable |
| at them from the perspective of learning | | | | part of our overall learning process, gives us not |
| effective street self defense. And, some of these | | | | only an advantage over students who do not, but |
| missing elements, if not replaced before you need | | | | also makes the training more realistic, and |
| them - could make all of the time, effort, and | | | | therefor "complete." |
| money spent on your training... | | | | If you are to get the most out of your training, |
| ...a complete waste! | | | | you must engage all of your senses. In effect, |
| When we read a book, watch a video, or actively | | | | you must make the training as real as possible - |
| engage in martial arts or self defense training, we | | | | you must make it an "experience," and not just |
| expect to encounter... | | | | an activity. |
| - Mechanical, step-by-step techniques | | | | By understanding that there are generally four |
| - Physical skills like striking, kicking, joint locks, etc. | | | | emotional states which you could find yourself in |
| - Strategic positioning, like stances, etc. And even... | | | | when under attack, you can then marry up |
| - Psychological strategies for controlling the | | | | appropriate defense techniques that match these |
| attackers options. | | | | states and which will work best when you are |
| But, what we rarely see, if ever, is the integration | | | | under the influence of that state. |
| of the emotions as a part of the overall dynamic | | | | I know how strange this sounds. In the world of |
| of the situation. And yet, your emotions are the | | | | martial arts and self defense, practitioners tend to |
| primary driving force behind just about everything | | | | be more physically and even mentally-oriented, |
| you do, think, and experience - they are your | | | | personality-wise. The idea of "emotional-states," |
| primary defense "early warning system!" | | | | stressors, and drives is often very difficult to |
| And, while there are systems out there that do | | | | comprehend - the assumption being that we will |
| address this "adrenal response," all too often they | | | | just do what we were trained to do, and "take |
| are limited to the aggressive, animalistic | | | | him out!" |
| "caveman" approach to self defense. A response | | | | But, the emotions are powerful things. As alluded |
| which, in the legalized, lawsuit-prevalent culture of | | | | to above, there are roughly four base emotional |
| the 21st century - may just have you getting out | | | | states that we could find ourselves in when being |
| of a dangerous attack... | | | | attacked by a hostile assailant. They are: |
| ...and right into the defendant's seat in a court | | | | - Stable; unmoved. In this state, we are firm, |
| room! | | | | confident, and in-control. |
| Contrary to the overly simplified fight-or-flight idea | | | | - Defensive; overwhelmed. Here, we feel his force |
| of these limited systems, there are systems like | | | | and presence and respond by covering and |
| the EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training | | | | creating more distance between ourselves and |
| Program, which explores a wider range of | | | | the attacker. |
| emotional responses to danger and stress. In this | | | | - Aggressive; committed. We move in, taking the |
| program, "EDR" stands for "Emotion-based | | | | fight to the opponent with little to no concern |
| Defensive Response." | | | | about our own safety. |
| Bringing the emotions into training is very difficult, | | | | - Evasive; care-free. Under this emotional |
| unless the program and instructor presenting the | | | | influence, we seem to "play" with our attacker - |
| material understands this natural "human | | | | employing last-second, "tricky" timing, to expose |
| response" to danger in the first place. Programs | | | | his weaknesses and attack him from confusing |
| without the emotional element leave the defender | | | | angles. |
| to his own devices in a dangerous situation | | | | It's important to note that none of these |
| because he or she has not been trained to | | | | responses are better or worse than any of the |
| operate while under the emotional stress. | | | | others. If you find yourself being drawn to one or |
| Therefore, the defender may not be able to use | | | | two of these responses, it's usually because they |
| what they learned. | | | | represent a habitual response on your part to |
| However, without the right teaching tools to | | | | gravitate toward them - instead of relying on any |
| teach you how to create the proper experience | | | | of the others. |
| in the classroom, you may still find yourself "lost in | | | | Unfortunately though, in a self defense situation |
| the moment", just like the student who didn't | | | | where the attacker is dictating the encounter, we |
| learn how to use the emotions in the first place. | | | | don't have the luxury of having favorites. We |
| It's important to understand that, since the | | | | must adapt to the assailant's intentions and have |
| emotions will be present and leading in a self | | | | more than one option at our disposal, if we are to |
| defense situation. And, our emotional state plays a | | | | win. |
| huge part in... | | | | |