The Commonsense Guide to Self Improvement and Motivation

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 by: Tom Fredrick

Many of us senior students spent a few hours with Sensei last night. We, his senior students of 20 yrs+ stature, had our customary "open class"...alright! Sensei allows us to do anything we want, while he moves around to us either individually or in pairs (if doing drills). This is definitely "closed door", always fun and is only reserved for us "old timers".

About an hour into our training, Sensei clapped loudly, stopping everything. He announced that we would be, having a "sit down" in the middle of the dojo, and then given a "Q & A" period. Of course, for anyone who has read my material, this is where the rubber meets the road.

Truths are discovered and myths uncovered....via live scenarios and acting out imaginary situations. We started discussing some of our real life encounters that ended in violent solutions. Someone asked Sensei, "how come I can remember every second of every fight or confrontation that I have ever been in, and in minute detail? How come when you're embroiled in a self defense situation, or 'a fight', that everything seems to be moving in 'slow motion' even though it's a lightning fast event, rarely lasting more than a few seconds"? Others reported the same experience.

Sensei shared with us that after many years of training, our brain's "fight or flight" response becomes altered, inexplicably, and we no longer feel the overwhelming adrenaline rush, and subsequent events retain their clarity as seamlessly as recalling a great play at a sports event or the minute details of a movie we watched. We become relaxed and revert to our trained responses and don't fall prey to mindless activity, as "untrained" people do, when in the throes of an adrenaline rush brought on by a dangerous situation. Like the bar-room fight we've all seen - two guys go at it, flailing madly at their opponent. In the end, no one is really hurt, and it generally ends up in a few minor scratches and "post fight" threats and screaming.   (continued...)

In The Eye Of The Storm
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About The Author Tom Fredrick is an accomplished martial arts practitioner with over 30 yrs. of active training and teaching Okinawan Karate, Yang Tai Chi Chuan, and Escrima. He served in the USMC, and has also worked in law enforcement, undercover airport security, and as a personal bodyguard. He is a partner in Full Circle Martial Arts and Safety Enforcement http://www.safetyenforcement.com. ronin1@gmail.com