Panic Reaction

[tommarker]

Something that is interesting... I spar quite a few folks who are taller than me, and I usually don't have any problems. I'm about 5'10", but lately our club has been importing some giant newbies. The height average of the last 5 students has been about 6'3".

 

Now obviously, as a black belt, I should be able to outspar them even though they are bigger than me. I work to negate their biggest advantage, the kicks. I've also got a lead leg side kick that comes out really quick. No problem there. I merely take refuge in the eye of the storm so to speak. I move in past their comfort zone, and finish the exercise.

 

Only one of them makes me truly apprehensive, and despite the fact that he's only an 8th gup, I know that his upper body is *considerably* stronger than mine.

 

In other words, I still have a moment of panic when sparring someone bigger than me. I can feel my brain actively resisting the urge to tangle with someone who I know, without the context of rules, would most likely beat the hell out of me. In his case, even without considering his extensive military experience, he would probably beat me on sheer strength.

 

There's another guy in the club, who while not much taller than me, played football, boxed a bit, and has a superior jab. It is almost completely unavoidable. Also, playing quarterback and having large men trying to rip his head off on every down has given him the perfect composure, and despite the fact that I may be better than him, he is very difficult to shake. He recently tested for 1st Dan, and I'm fairly certain he could also tear my head off in a fight

 

I think to a large extent, the thought process of "hey Tom, this dude is bigger than you; are you quite certain you want to tangle with him?" is a natural self-preservation reflex. The key question is, do I use it as a catalyst in my training or does it inhibit my ability to grow as a martial artist?

 

For me, it has done both. I have in the past been intentionally apprehensive about fighting people I thought could beat me out of (honestly) a fear of getting hurt in the process. Call me a pussy if you like, but that's the honest truth. I was doing myself a disservice, by beating myself before the fight even began.

 

After realizing that, I've tried much harder to seek out people I think may be better than me, and work with them in that safe environment. Will I get beat? From time to time, sure. Will I get hurt? It's almost certainly unavoidable. Will I learn something? Yes.

 

As the highest ranked student in the club, I sometimes feel like I have to cover my nut, and appear to be the best fighter in the club at all times. How DARE a green belt get a kick on me? Or, maybe I should avoid that new guy with the E Dan in TKD. He might show me up in front of everyone. It's what the Koreans call ah jip or Ego.

 

If I don't seek out these opportunities to improve, I will stagnate, and everyone else will eventually surpass me, even though we're all (on the surface anyways) training just as hard.

[Treebranch]

I think women can use that to their advantage, to bait a sloppy attack. When someone sees that scared look in his mind he's already won. I think if this is a deep rooted instinct it can have advantages.

[YoungGrasshopper]

O..when I spar, I'm a little scared at first, or you can say super cautious. But then when they hit me, I get like berserk . And go Freakin crazy, still using martial arts tho, it's not like I'm swinging my arms and legs all over the place. Haha I donno why, I just get freakin pissed and my freidns say I get this sick emotion on my face like as if I'm ganna kill them. Yup, and what they say about how anger-blinds is true, but you sure do kick ass when it happens.

[Treebranch]

YoungGrasshopper be careful with that temper, a more experience fighter will use it against you. When your angry you might over commit to a attack and someone with experience can set you up for a world of hurt. Don't get angry, get even.

[DokterVet]

tommarker,

 

Good post. There's no one especially massive around for me to spar with, although there are some tall ones. The strongest people I know are my friends with whom I fight all the time, so I think that helps me to deal with knowing I'm outmatched in terms of size or strength.

 

young grasshopper,

 

As long as you maintain your judgement and your skills work well for you, all the power to you in berzerk mode. Although you don't want to hurt your friends/sparring partners.