My perception is that Uechi-Ryu, called a half hard & half soft style, is often taught 90% hard and 10% soft.
I see this type of training as a two-fold negative. First off because really hard, power against power training doesn't work for women (and won't work for smaller men either.) Secondly because:
a. the circular techniques in Uechi are some of the most effective
b. you can't be strong forever
c. HALF soft - means half.
But what does SOFT in Uechi-Ryu mean?
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Moderator: Available
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Dana:
I think those of us priviliged to study Uechi, can still discover the 1/2 soft Chinese treasures buried within the harder Okinawan theme that has grown since Kanbun's death, and the brilliant transitional katas and exercises developed by Kanei that added to the Okinawan flavor, who wisely did so so that the modern ma could better make the bold shifts through the 3 major katas.
And other Okinawan traditions diluted the Chinese flavor and softer, more internal techniques, though it can be argued that there was so much technique trade between the two countries that who knows which is really which. (But, it was called China Hand at first, right - not empty hand)
What are some of the Chinese, softer aspects?:
* Circular blocks, parry blocks, grabbling strategies to pull your uke into your strike and amplify and combine your force with his. Again, a useful tool for a female ma with less upper body strength or smaller males.
Working to get outside the strike, rather than powering up the center.
* Use of the tools in your hand strikes other than the shoken. Palm heel, ridge hand, parry blocks, etc. The softer focus believes that fist and knuckles are too fragile to take extensive strike abuse in many cases.
* When blocking and capturing various kicks there develops a sensitivity that absorbs rather than meeting it with a hard block. Almost like catching an egg without breaking it. This is the soft 1/2 of Uechi you refer to that is lost in so many ways and must be rooted out by the serious artist and should be more suited to the female artist.
* Participating in "sticky hands" training to develop a refined sense of balance, your center, the flow of ki through the dan tien or hara and a hypersensitivity to the flux and shift of energy between you and your uke in a clinch. This can maximize the moment for a foot sweep, throw or other ma technique. This is similiar to Wing Chun chi sao and Tai Chi push hands. Its developing a capacity to not over or under committ and to read the instant your opponent does.
* Understanding more fully the benefit of breathing, ki and qigong. Spending time in seisa and meditation. Visually aspects of kata and the ma.
* Training in "empty gi" work by working with a stronger uke who grabs and attempts to man handle you. You instead, with your softer Uechi mind, anticipate and move with his force, reaching the point first, not against it and can then pull or push him off balance as he now has overcommitted to that direction and is off balance.
* Fish tail blocks with the snapping of the wrists using the wrist to strike, block, then grab, etc.
Gotta run, its getting too late
JohC
I think those of us priviliged to study Uechi, can still discover the 1/2 soft Chinese treasures buried within the harder Okinawan theme that has grown since Kanbun's death, and the brilliant transitional katas and exercises developed by Kanei that added to the Okinawan flavor, who wisely did so so that the modern ma could better make the bold shifts through the 3 major katas.
And other Okinawan traditions diluted the Chinese flavor and softer, more internal techniques, though it can be argued that there was so much technique trade between the two countries that who knows which is really which. (But, it was called China Hand at first, right - not empty hand)
What are some of the Chinese, softer aspects?:
* Circular blocks, parry blocks, grabbling strategies to pull your uke into your strike and amplify and combine your force with his. Again, a useful tool for a female ma with less upper body strength or smaller males.
Working to get outside the strike, rather than powering up the center.
* Use of the tools in your hand strikes other than the shoken. Palm heel, ridge hand, parry blocks, etc. The softer focus believes that fist and knuckles are too fragile to take extensive strike abuse in many cases.
* When blocking and capturing various kicks there develops a sensitivity that absorbs rather than meeting it with a hard block. Almost like catching an egg without breaking it. This is the soft 1/2 of Uechi you refer to that is lost in so many ways and must be rooted out by the serious artist and should be more suited to the female artist.
* Participating in "sticky hands" training to develop a refined sense of balance, your center, the flow of ki through the dan tien or hara and a hypersensitivity to the flux and shift of energy between you and your uke in a clinch. This can maximize the moment for a foot sweep, throw or other ma technique. This is similiar to Wing Chun chi sao and Tai Chi push hands. Its developing a capacity to not over or under committ and to read the instant your opponent does.
* Understanding more fully the benefit of breathing, ki and qigong. Spending time in seisa and meditation. Visually aspects of kata and the ma.
* Training in "empty gi" work by working with a stronger uke who grabs and attempts to man handle you. You instead, with your softer Uechi mind, anticipate and move with his force, reaching the point first, not against it and can then pull or push him off balance as he now has overcommitted to that direction and is off balance.
* Fish tail blocks with the snapping of the wrists using the wrist to strike, block, then grab, etc.
Gotta run, its getting too late
JohC
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maxwell ainley
- Posts: 1690
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2001 6:01 am
- Location: england
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Hi Dana,
As most concepts in uechi can some how evade our clutches ,the soft-hard concept can always be on the horizon .
One specific reason I have retained the initial three year Sanchin concept ,amongst other reasons was the total focus to just this very concept,as you know its not always easy to explain in words what the Sanchin concept transmits to the focussed practioner .
Understanding how hard-soft soft-hard works is a central feature that is always present ,because the student as no other material distraction to break up that focus all can be applied to a absorption of the principle and practical use of soft-hard involved within the overall learning the Sanchin concept .
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max ainley
As most concepts in uechi can some how evade our clutches ,the soft-hard concept can always be on the horizon .
One specific reason I have retained the initial three year Sanchin concept ,amongst other reasons was the total focus to just this very concept,as you know its not always easy to explain in words what the Sanchin concept transmits to the focussed practioner .
Understanding how hard-soft soft-hard works is a central feature that is always present ,because the student as no other material distraction to break up that focus all can be applied to a absorption of the principle and practical use of soft-hard involved within the overall learning the Sanchin concept .
------------------
max ainley
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Jackie Olsen
- Posts: 619
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 1998 6:01 am
- Contact:
Half Soft - what does it mean?
I'm fortunate to train in a dojo that has always mixed hard/soft training ... but then again, it is not a commercial dojo, which I suspect teach/train the harder style because that is what people come to expect out of karate.
Any practitioner that has been in the style for a long time should come to observe that to train 90% hard eventually can cause damage to the muscles and tendons - a build up of too much Yang. To heal/adjust the Qi, one needs to train with more Yin (soft) movements.
The same is true (reversed) in soft styles such as Tai Chi/Aikido. I've friends who are now incorporating some hard, focused movements within their soft flow.
As I understand it, the hard training can change our physical body fromm weak to strong, while the soft training nourishes the Qi (muscles, organs, brain). In this manner, the body is balanced and healthy.
Soft in Uechi-Ryu is being relaxed, only using the hard focus when you need it ... the end of a punch, block, kick, etc. If you maintain the hardness while trying to execute a move, speed suffers.
Jackie
Any practitioner that has been in the style for a long time should come to observe that to train 90% hard eventually can cause damage to the muscles and tendons - a build up of too much Yang. To heal/adjust the Qi, one needs to train with more Yin (soft) movements.
The same is true (reversed) in soft styles such as Tai Chi/Aikido. I've friends who are now incorporating some hard, focused movements within their soft flow.
As I understand it, the hard training can change our physical body fromm weak to strong, while the soft training nourishes the Qi (muscles, organs, brain). In this manner, the body is balanced and healthy.
Soft in Uechi-Ryu is being relaxed, only using the hard focus when you need it ... the end of a punch, block, kick, etc. If you maintain the hardness while trying to execute a move, speed suffers.
Jackie
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Dana Sheets
- Posts: 2715
- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2002 6:01 am
Half Soft - what does it mean?
John, Max and Jackie,
Really excellent thoughts - thank you.
I still wonder though - if folks understand that the half soft is real, belongs in the training, and will be used in a fight.
Alan Lowell can jump in on this one if he'd like. But during his FAST adrenal stress training against multiple attackers you were just DEAD if you stood still. You needed to be able to move and in an instant root and fire and in the next instant move.
Movement and softness seem to go hand in hand. Stillness and hardness seem to be another pair.
Dana
Really excellent thoughts - thank you.
I still wonder though - if folks understand that the half soft is real, belongs in the training, and will be used in a fight.
Alan Lowell can jump in on this one if he'd like. But during his FAST adrenal stress training against multiple attackers you were just DEAD if you stood still. You needed to be able to move and in an instant root and fire and in the next instant move.
Movement and softness seem to go hand in hand. Stillness and hardness seem to be another pair.
Dana
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Another thought:
If soft means relaxed, then it also means fast. Hard means slow. That's the challenge to balance soft and hard. Fast and relaxed/soft until the moment of impact, then a flash of hard, packed, rooted, dense power. Like whipping a wet towel with a hammer at the end.
Soft/relaxed also paces the MA and increases stamina throughout the fight. Staying loose and relaxed through most of the sparring when not engaged is a hard discipline to master.
Watch mediocre fighters spar like hard wood, while most great MA fighters spar like, well like a soft, wet towel with an iron hammer at the end.
The 3 conflicts always in play - keeping the right balance of body, mind and spirit.
JohnC
If soft means relaxed, then it also means fast. Hard means slow. That's the challenge to balance soft and hard. Fast and relaxed/soft until the moment of impact, then a flash of hard, packed, rooted, dense power. Like whipping a wet towel with a hammer at the end.
Soft/relaxed also paces the MA and increases stamina throughout the fight. Staying loose and relaxed through most of the sparring when not engaged is a hard discipline to master.
Watch mediocre fighters spar like hard wood, while most great MA fighters spar like, well like a soft, wet towel with an iron hammer at the end.
The 3 conflicts always in play - keeping the right balance of body, mind and spirit.
JohnC
Half Soft - what does it mean?
I think I've experienced the half soft/half hard concept in training.
One of our more advanced senior students was a BIG and very tough guy. He was as hard as an oak tree.
If you hit him it would probably hurt you more than him. But when he blocked your punches it felt like a frustrating pillow fight.
Somehow you just never got in. There was no pain, no jarring deflection in the blocks, and he never seemed to move very fast...but you never got in.
So his soft half was outside, and his hard half was inside: if you ever got there of course!
This corresponds to the "force continuum" concept where an attacker experiences the least injurious techniques at the perimeter.
The farther "in" he/she gets the harder the techniques/defenses become.
It's a very discouraging scenario from an attacker's point of view.(The point!?)NM
One of our more advanced senior students was a BIG and very tough guy. He was as hard as an oak tree.
If you hit him it would probably hurt you more than him. But when he blocked your punches it felt like a frustrating pillow fight.
Somehow you just never got in. There was no pain, no jarring deflection in the blocks, and he never seemed to move very fast...but you never got in.
So his soft half was outside, and his hard half was inside: if you ever got there of course!
This corresponds to the "force continuum" concept where an attacker experiences the least injurious techniques at the perimeter.
The farther "in" he/she gets the harder the techniques/defenses become.
It's a very discouraging scenario from an attacker's point of view.(The point!?)NM
Half Soft - what does it mean?
When we have these discussions about relaxed power, we must keep certain things in perspective, especially when we think of the concept used in a defensive situation as opposed to a sporting/sparring event.
The question we should always ask is: what will our body/mind allow us to do when hard wired responses rear up under the sudden stress of a fight/survival situation?
Unfortunately a lot of the stuff we do, we practice, gets tossed by the wayside by your primal instincts taking over.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Imagine the posture of a horse shying at a flapping plastic bag, pulling back and fighting at the end of a lead, or fearfully approaching a trailer. His head will automatically shoot up.
Raising the head isn't just arbitrary motion. It acts as a switch that signals the horse's adrenal glands and entire nervous system to shift into high gear in readiness for fight or flight.
His breathing quickens, his sides heave, and his nostrils flare. As long as the horse's head is held high, the switch is in the "on" position.
His muscles remain tense, adrenaline continues to pump into his bloodstream, and he is on a chemical countdown for explosion.
The flight-or-fight reflex- __ that primitive survival mechanism that triggers an adrenaline surge and makes our muscles tense and our heart race when we face a stressful situation.
Your body undergoes profound physiological changes whenever you attempt to escape from, or fight with anything. These changes have been called the "fight or flight" response, the "stress reaction,” or the "defensive reflex.”
These are normal reactions that help us deal with a threatening situation, such as being attacked by a wild animal. They involve the emotions of fear (associated with escape), and anger (associated with fighting).
Both of these emotions lead to a flood of different brain chemicals, along with hormonal, blood vessel, and muscular changes.
For example, when people get angry or fearful, they usually get tight in the chest, their stomach knots up, their muscle tension increases, and their head gets warmer as blood flows away from the extremities and toward the head.
The increase in muscle tension alone can cause some very unpleasant side effects, particularly when the tension is centered in the head, neck, back, or buttocks.
Extreme Tension in the neck and back occurs as the amygdala activates brain-stem circuits designed to produce protective postures.
The body automatically tenses up as the nervous system mobilizes for action as in, e.g., a. when we hear a rattlesnake, or b. when we hear the boss call out our name.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
We talk about controlling our blinking eyes. Read on:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote
E-Commentary: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"Today on NBC's Today Show Matt Lauer talked about how Madonna had lied to him about her announced pregnancy just the other day. He showed the video and her response, but he missed something to ponder about.
She did what I call the eyelash flutter (different, under high speed camera, from the eye-blink: we can see that it does not close completely and the speed is amazing) when asked, 'Are you pregnant?' I first observed this eyelid behavior in 1985, and find that people who are troubled by a question or an event do this, especially if they have to answer and are about to lie.
I tell attorneys to look for the eyelash flutter when they have people on the stand; it means they really do not like the question at all.
I even had a case where the individual picked out the route of escape for me when I went through several routes with him; I just waited for the flutter to pick out the way." --Joe Navarro, Special Agent, FBI (3/21/00 7:02:26 PM Pacific Standard Time, and subsequent]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
------------------
Van Canna
[This message has been edited by Van Canna (edited September 03, 2002).]
The question we should always ask is: what will our body/mind allow us to do when hard wired responses rear up under the sudden stress of a fight/survival situation?
Unfortunately a lot of the stuff we do, we practice, gets tossed by the wayside by your primal instincts taking over.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Imagine the posture of a horse shying at a flapping plastic bag, pulling back and fighting at the end of a lead, or fearfully approaching a trailer. His head will automatically shoot up.
Raising the head isn't just arbitrary motion. It acts as a switch that signals the horse's adrenal glands and entire nervous system to shift into high gear in readiness for fight or flight.
His breathing quickens, his sides heave, and his nostrils flare. As long as the horse's head is held high, the switch is in the "on" position.
His muscles remain tense, adrenaline continues to pump into his bloodstream, and he is on a chemical countdown for explosion.
The flight-or-fight reflex- __ that primitive survival mechanism that triggers an adrenaline surge and makes our muscles tense and our heart race when we face a stressful situation.
Your body undergoes profound physiological changes whenever you attempt to escape from, or fight with anything. These changes have been called the "fight or flight" response, the "stress reaction,” or the "defensive reflex.”
These are normal reactions that help us deal with a threatening situation, such as being attacked by a wild animal. They involve the emotions of fear (associated with escape), and anger (associated with fighting).
Both of these emotions lead to a flood of different brain chemicals, along with hormonal, blood vessel, and muscular changes.
For example, when people get angry or fearful, they usually get tight in the chest, their stomach knots up, their muscle tension increases, and their head gets warmer as blood flows away from the extremities and toward the head.
The increase in muscle tension alone can cause some very unpleasant side effects, particularly when the tension is centered in the head, neck, back, or buttocks.
Extreme Tension in the neck and back occurs as the amygdala activates brain-stem circuits designed to produce protective postures.
The body automatically tenses up as the nervous system mobilizes for action as in, e.g., a. when we hear a rattlesnake, or b. when we hear the boss call out our name.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
We talk about controlling our blinking eyes. Read on:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote
Our blink rate reflects psychological arousal in the manner of a polygraph test. The normal, resting blink rate of a human is 20 closures per minute, with the average blink lasting one quarter of a second (Karson 1992). Significantly faster rates may reflect emotional stress, as aroused, e.g., in the fight-or-flight response.
E-Commentary: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"Today on NBC's Today Show Matt Lauer talked about how Madonna had lied to him about her announced pregnancy just the other day. He showed the video and her response, but he missed something to ponder about.
She did what I call the eyelash flutter (different, under high speed camera, from the eye-blink: we can see that it does not close completely and the speed is amazing) when asked, 'Are you pregnant?' I first observed this eyelid behavior in 1985, and find that people who are troubled by a question or an event do this, especially if they have to answer and are about to lie.
I tell attorneys to look for the eyelash flutter when they have people on the stand; it means they really do not like the question at all.
I even had a case where the individual picked out the route of escape for me when I went through several routes with him; I just waited for the flutter to pick out the way." --Joe Navarro, Special Agent, FBI (3/21/00 7:02:26 PM Pacific Standard Time, and subsequent]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
------------------
Van Canna
[This message has been edited by Van Canna (edited September 03, 2002).]
-
Norm Abrahamson
- Posts: 283
- Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 6:01 am
- Location: Mansfield, MA USA
- Contact:
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Dana,
Great topic. I think we see more of the "hard" in Uechi, because that's the easy half. We can see results immediately. The softer aspects require more thought and practice. Since I began studying Ju Jitsu, I have begun to appreciate the softer aspects of using the circle to off balance and take advantage of an opponent.
Van Sensei made some interesting points about how an animal reacts under stress. I think one of the major underlying factors in how an animal reacts is whether it is a predator or prey. Although humans are at the top of the food chain, many of us seem to learn to be prey and other predators. How much is hard wired and how much is learned behavior. After all, the bad guy attacker we discuss reacts as a predator and not prey.
Sincerely,
Norm Abrahamson
Great topic. I think we see more of the "hard" in Uechi, because that's the easy half. We can see results immediately. The softer aspects require more thought and practice. Since I began studying Ju Jitsu, I have begun to appreciate the softer aspects of using the circle to off balance and take advantage of an opponent.
Van Sensei made some interesting points about how an animal reacts under stress. I think one of the major underlying factors in how an animal reacts is whether it is a predator or prey. Although humans are at the top of the food chain, many of us seem to learn to be prey and other predators. How much is hard wired and how much is learned behavior. After all, the bad guy attacker we discuss reacts as a predator and not prey.
Sincerely,
Norm Abrahamson
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Dana Sheets
- Posts: 2715
- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2002 6:01 am
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Norm,
This is the ultimate difference in mindset. The bad guy gets off the first hit - he's already jazzed by adrenaline. You get your dump - and it's not just fight or flight - it's just what you said - predator or prey.
We've seen this example used humorously in comedies. The really small guy gets hit by the big guy. The expected response is for the small guy to fight from a place of fear.
Then you get the classic "you shouldn't have done that" moment - then the small guy takes the big buy to pieces.
Those of you with adreanline experience - can you catalog a difference between the dumps you received when you were worried about losing vs. the dumps you received when you were confident you could win?
The predator mindset is very relaxed -- event during the rush of the conflict. This is why the tiger is successful - because he will also be the hunter and not the hunted.
Are you willing to find within yourself your natural predator? To fight from your killing machine place so that you can fight relaxed and take advantage of your training?
Dana
This is the ultimate difference in mindset. The bad guy gets off the first hit - he's already jazzed by adrenaline. You get your dump - and it's not just fight or flight - it's just what you said - predator or prey.
We've seen this example used humorously in comedies. The really small guy gets hit by the big guy. The expected response is for the small guy to fight from a place of fear.
Then you get the classic "you shouldn't have done that" moment - then the small guy takes the big buy to pieces.
Those of you with adreanline experience - can you catalog a difference between the dumps you received when you were worried about losing vs. the dumps you received when you were confident you could win?
The predator mindset is very relaxed -- event during the rush of the conflict. This is why the tiger is successful - because he will also be the hunter and not the hunted.
Are you willing to find within yourself your natural predator? To fight from your killing machine place so that you can fight relaxed and take advantage of your training?
Dana
-
Dana Sheets
- Posts: 2715
- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2002 6:01 am
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Van - or anyone else for that matter,
Is there any knowledge out there about the difference between "fight" or "flight" in the "fight or flight" response?
Do people freeze in part because they're trying to override a basic instinct that has already made a decision?
Soft to me means that you are relaxed AT THE RIGHT TIME in the fight. It does not mean a loss of muscle control - it is a perfectly timed combination of the body and the intent.
Soft in Uechi is the cirle - not meeting hard with hard AND soft can be the mindset of a predator.
Together this makes for a very effective machine that can "strike hard and retreat quickly." But you have to get down out of your "talking & thinking" frontal lobes and down into the reptilian brain to make this kind of stuff happen.
Is there any knowledge out there about the difference between "fight" or "flight" in the "fight or flight" response?
Do people freeze in part because they're trying to override a basic instinct that has already made a decision?
Soft to me means that you are relaxed AT THE RIGHT TIME in the fight. It does not mean a loss of muscle control - it is a perfectly timed combination of the body and the intent.
Soft in Uechi is the cirle - not meeting hard with hard AND soft can be the mindset of a predator.
Together this makes for a very effective machine that can "strike hard and retreat quickly." But you have to get down out of your "talking & thinking" frontal lobes and down into the reptilian brain to make this kind of stuff happen.
Half Soft - what does it mean?
Good question. I could provide an answer but I would rather Tony Blauer address this because of his in depth studies.
I have written to him asking to respond.
I have written to him asking to respond.
Half Soft - what does it mean?
This is of interest: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> Fight, Flight or Freeze
Doctor Peter A. Levine indicates that people and other mammals have three instinctive and biological responses to danger: fight, flight and freeze. When we sense danger, our nervous system begins a four-stage process of arousal. In the first stage, our muscles tense, and we begin the orienting response by looking for the source of danger.
We enter the second stage when we locate the source of danger. We mobilize, our bodies begin to produce adrenaline and cortisol, the two primary chemicals responsible for the fight or flight response.
In the third stage, we discharge this energy by fighting or running away. The fourth and final stage is when the nervous system returns to a state of balance.
If when facing a dangerous threat, we become overwhelmed and are unable to fight or flee, we instinctively fall into immobility or the 'freeze' response.
Dr. Levine explains that, "This defensive maneuver serves two purposes. First, it may fool the attacker into losing interest, allowing us a chance to escape. Second, we will not suffer any pain if we are injured or killed while in this state, because in immobility, consciousness seems to leave the body (psychologists call this phenomenon 'dissociation').
But even though we are immobilized, our nervous system is highly aroused. We have not been able to discharge any of the fight-or-flight energy our body has mobilized -- leaving us in a state somewhat like that of a car whose accelerator and brakes are being floored at the same time. It is impossible to complete the arousal cycle when you can not move."
Animals who are programmed to the freeze response when attacked can biologically discharge all of the arousal energy. The excess energy is discharged by shaking and trembling, which results in spontaneous deep breathing. This instinctive response restores the balance to the nervous system.
We, as human beings, have a much harder time completing this instinctive cycle. One of the reasons is our highly evolved neocortex -- specifically the prefrontal lobes, just behind the forehead.
This part of the brain is capable of controlling feelings in order to assess situations and deal with them more effectively.
But because the neocortex functions at a different level than the arousal energy, it can interfere in with what Levine calls "the subtle restorative instinctual responses generated by the reptilian core."
When the neocortex interrupts the completion of this instinctual discharge, the nervous system remains in a state of arousal and we become traumatized. And this state of arousal will continue even after the original source of threat has disappeared.
There are two main reasons for this, one is that we become scared of the intensity of the survival energy and the other is that we are also afraid of letting go of our conscious control to involuntary sensations such as shaking and trembling.
For example, when a child is subjugated by an adult rapist, the child's instinctive survival energies are totally controlled. This child will search and seize any viable way to manage the intense, overwhelming energy initiated by the response to this dangerous threat.
Whatever ways this child has attempted to manage his or her overwhelming arousal energy become the symptoms of trauma.
Dr. Levine tells us that in "post-traumatic anxiety, immobility is maintained from within. The impulse towards intense aggression is so frightening that the traumatized person often turns it inward on themselves rather than allow it external expression. They remain in a vicious cycle of terror, rage and immobility."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Scary stuff.Just imagine victims of rape/sexual molestations as children. Doomed forever unless countered by heavy therapy?
Doctor Peter A. Levine indicates that people and other mammals have three instinctive and biological responses to danger: fight, flight and freeze. When we sense danger, our nervous system begins a four-stage process of arousal. In the first stage, our muscles tense, and we begin the orienting response by looking for the source of danger.
We enter the second stage when we locate the source of danger. We mobilize, our bodies begin to produce adrenaline and cortisol, the two primary chemicals responsible for the fight or flight response.
In the third stage, we discharge this energy by fighting or running away. The fourth and final stage is when the nervous system returns to a state of balance.
If when facing a dangerous threat, we become overwhelmed and are unable to fight or flee, we instinctively fall into immobility or the 'freeze' response.
Dr. Levine explains that, "This defensive maneuver serves two purposes. First, it may fool the attacker into losing interest, allowing us a chance to escape. Second, we will not suffer any pain if we are injured or killed while in this state, because in immobility, consciousness seems to leave the body (psychologists call this phenomenon 'dissociation').
But even though we are immobilized, our nervous system is highly aroused. We have not been able to discharge any of the fight-or-flight energy our body has mobilized -- leaving us in a state somewhat like that of a car whose accelerator and brakes are being floored at the same time. It is impossible to complete the arousal cycle when you can not move."
Animals who are programmed to the freeze response when attacked can biologically discharge all of the arousal energy. The excess energy is discharged by shaking and trembling, which results in spontaneous deep breathing. This instinctive response restores the balance to the nervous system.
We, as human beings, have a much harder time completing this instinctive cycle. One of the reasons is our highly evolved neocortex -- specifically the prefrontal lobes, just behind the forehead.
This part of the brain is capable of controlling feelings in order to assess situations and deal with them more effectively.
But because the neocortex functions at a different level than the arousal energy, it can interfere in with what Levine calls "the subtle restorative instinctual responses generated by the reptilian core."
When the neocortex interrupts the completion of this instinctual discharge, the nervous system remains in a state of arousal and we become traumatized. And this state of arousal will continue even after the original source of threat has disappeared.
There are two main reasons for this, one is that we become scared of the intensity of the survival energy and the other is that we are also afraid of letting go of our conscious control to involuntary sensations such as shaking and trembling.
For example, when a child is subjugated by an adult rapist, the child's instinctive survival energies are totally controlled. This child will search and seize any viable way to manage the intense, overwhelming energy initiated by the response to this dangerous threat.
Whatever ways this child has attempted to manage his or her overwhelming arousal energy become the symptoms of trauma.
Dr. Levine tells us that in "post-traumatic anxiety, immobility is maintained from within. The impulse towards intense aggression is so frightening that the traumatized person often turns it inward on themselves rather than allow it external expression. They remain in a vicious cycle of terror, rage and immobility."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Scary stuff.Just imagine victims of rape/sexual molestations as children. Doomed forever unless countered by heavy therapy?
Half Soft - what does it mean?
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The point is, although most people-overly macho men in particular-think that having a huge Fight response is a really, really good thing, the fact remains that it can often been a very, very misserving character trait, and one that winds up being the demise of the individual that possesses it. There is a time and place for all three of these tools. Sometimes it is better to Fight…sometimes it is smarter to engage in Flight and sometimes it is smartest to do nothing at all and simply Freeze. Each one has its benefits and each one is extremely powerful. It is only the misuse of them and not pairing them up with what the situation at hand best calls for that winds up being a detriment to the individual.
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Norm Abrahamson
- Posts: 283
- Joined: Tue May 22, 2001 6:01 am
- Location: Mansfield, MA USA
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Half Soft - what does it mean?
Dana,
Your analogy to hard/soft to a mind set or attitude as opposed to a physical reaction is very interesting. If a practioner icorporates his art into who he is, then the changes are in a mental and philosophical level along with the physical. Certainly food for thought.
I read the material quoted by Van Sensei, but I’m not entirely sure what it means. It seems to me to say that sometimes the answer is: “run away and live to fight another day.” Sometimes the answer is that “a coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man but one.” But what is learned and what is hard wired? Do we trust instinct to tell us when to fight and when to run? Certainly soldiers, police officers and firemen must all unlearn, or at least overcome the flight reflex so they can follow orders and act in dangerous situations in ways antithetical to self preservation. We have the capacity to grow beyond blind instinctive reaction in a stressful situation through training and intellect. How do we use martial arts to supplement and aid our instincts rather than replace our instincts? That is a lofty goal, but surely within our reach.
Sincerely,
Norm Abrahamson
Your analogy to hard/soft to a mind set or attitude as opposed to a physical reaction is very interesting. If a practioner icorporates his art into who he is, then the changes are in a mental and philosophical level along with the physical. Certainly food for thought.
I read the material quoted by Van Sensei, but I’m not entirely sure what it means. It seems to me to say that sometimes the answer is: “run away and live to fight another day.” Sometimes the answer is that “a coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man but one.” But what is learned and what is hard wired? Do we trust instinct to tell us when to fight and when to run? Certainly soldiers, police officers and firemen must all unlearn, or at least overcome the flight reflex so they can follow orders and act in dangerous situations in ways antithetical to self preservation. We have the capacity to grow beyond blind instinctive reaction in a stressful situation through training and intellect. How do we use martial arts to supplement and aid our instincts rather than replace our instincts? That is a lofty goal, but surely within our reach.
Sincerely,
Norm Abrahamson
