Awareness training

[mal103]

I had a go at teaching awareness training tonight, I consider myself streetwise and can avoid trouble in most situations - 10 years Armed Forces and foriegn countries helped!

Part of MA is defending yourself so good MA training should maybe include awareness, I also picked up on other comments made recently. My Sensei has included this sort of thing a few times so I thought I should include it in my classes.

To start off with I had another student and myself "harrass" a 3rd student, we acted agressively and pushed them a bit but nothing too heavy, I then fell back a bit and allowed the focus to be drawn to the other attacking student. In most cases the 3rd student ended up turning their back on me enough for me to slip behind them un-noticed and tap them on the shoulder.

The morale of the story is that you need to keep an eye on all people nearby as someone will always try to sneak behind you for an easy attack. Escape if possible or move into the best position without being cornered.

It took 4 people taking it in turns as the 3rd student before the majority realised what was happenning. I also mentioned the best option was to run like hell!

I have some other ideas to work on but does anyone regularly train this sort of thing at their MA club/school?

[Harkon72]

A similar situation happens at our club when my Sensei challenges me to Kumite. It's like a Welsh Rugby player receiving the Maori Haka. Cold and dark; he's looking for a clam response, controlled aggression and the meeting of Warriors with honor and respect. He calls it "Testing your Heart".

[mal103]

Now that would have been hilarious if the Welsh team did Tekki Shodan as a response....

The Haka seems just like a Kata, also no good unless you have heart and feeling within it.

[bushido_man96]

I've heard it said that self-defense is what you have to use when self-protection doesn't work. Practicing good self-awareness drills is great for this. Nice idea, I may use it sometime.