This is something that most people in the world of martial arts and combat don't focus on. But how to not get in a fight is a very important concept that everyone should grasp in order to survive in the real world. We emphasize so much on what to do during fights that we naturally just skip over how to avoid fights in general. Though being skilled in combat is exceptionally important, it isn't always the best option. For example if you are out having dinner with your spouse and children and someone starts something, you probably shouldn't throw a punch at them.
So what do you do, how do you handle situations like this without a fight? You have to know when a fight actually starts. A fight doesn't start when people square up with each other or when an attack his thrown. This is when a fight ends. When a fight starts is very specific to each unique situation, but what generally happens first is some exchange between two or more people. Whether it's a discussion about politics or fans rooting for a team. There is always some exchange and all of them have a potential to escalate into something more intense. This happens all the time in normal arguments, one person will suddenly get defensive and lash out at the other person, who then acts the same way. And this escalates until they realize it just isn't important anymore or a third party intervenes. But this isn't necessary.
Once you are aware that any situation has the potential to escalate to a fight you have the ability to diffuse that situation. The first step in diffusing a situation is to first control yourself and your emotions. This honestly just takes practice, there aren't any shortcuts you can take to emotionally distance yourself from topics or situations that encourage you to respond through emotions. Once you aren't emotionally attached to the argument you can think rationally and logically and have the clear mindedness you need to diffuse that situation. Things you can do to calm the other person down is use open body language, don't cross your arms and try to look tough and strong, instead keep your arms out and your hands open so the other person doesn't feel threatened. Don't use aggressive or sarcastic tones, doing this only instigates people and makes situations worse. Listen carefully to find the message the other person is trying to communicate and address it. If someone is yelling because you joked about something that they take seriously, the proper response is to apologize and say something like "You know what I'm sorry, I had no idea you felt so strongly about that." This is much better than getting defensive and yelling back at them without really understanding why in the first place.
People for the most part only start fights when they feel threatened. Whether a guy is checking out another guys girl friend or someone makes fun of you or a friend. Some one or some thing is always being threatened. All you have to do in order to diffuse a situation is make that person feel like that person or thing is no longer being threatened. You always want to make sure that the other person still has a sense of pride coming out of the situation. You can say things like "Hey I really don't want to fight you." This puts them in the drivers seat. They know how you stand and what happens next is up them. Most people will choose to not fight as long as there's a way out, and you can create that for them by saying that. Now, this is also useful against the people who have made up their minds and there's nothing you can say to change the fact that they want a fight. This lets them think that they are in control and they'll underestimate you. Unfortunately for them we don't say "I don't want to fight" because we are scared, trained martial artists say it because they don't want to hurt you.
So you have to be aware that a situation could escalate to something you don't want - this gives you the ability to emotionally distance yourself so you don't get wrapped up in what's going on and you can stay level headed. From here you can listen and cut through the emotion and get to the message and address is quickly and efficiently while using open body language and non-aggressive diction to steady their nerves. Doing this can dramatically reduce how many fights you get in and will also make daily conversation easier and more successful.
--Zach
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Situational Awareness
Situational awareness is one of the most essential elements to combat and martial arts. This was actually the first thing I learned about 8 years ago. In fact, at the time I wasn't even interested in martial arts, it was just a skill my friends showed me through walking around the city and being safe. We did things like walk around at night and have hypothetical conversations and scenarios to make ourselves aware of dangers. I learned that anything can be a weapon and to always be attentive to where people are. This went on for approximately 4 years before ever throwing a punch. This mindfulness is also the first step into other areas of martial arts such a meditation, like when you are focusing on a certain part of your body or being aware of sensations and emotions. Awareness is something that's important in all aspects of life, fighter or not.
So what does it mean to be "situationally aware?" Put simply, it means being aware of your surroundings. Since that's fairly vague I'm going to break those two words down, aware and surroundings. Your surroundings are just where you are, whether you're in a professional or street setting. Even those can be broken down into more specific instances. Such how a MMA octagon is different from a TKD tournament ring, and being in a bar is different than being in a field or a parking lot. An aware fighter is one that acknowledges these differences and makes use of it. The most immediate and obvious difference, one that doesn't require any training whatsoever to understand, is the total absence of rules and referees outside of the ring. This changes the type of techniques you use and the escalation of force - aka weapons and intent. Many people carry knives, some carry guns, and anyone can hit you over the head with a bottle, so being aware that those options are available to your hypothetical attackers (and to youself) is critical for survival in real life scenarios.
How do you become "situationally aware?" Practice and knowledge. Just reading this post opens your mind to the differences. I'm sure most martial artists are already aware that context of where you fight matters and that this awareness will change how you fight, but this is a mental change more than it is a physical one. Your mind has to adapt to the different possibilities that are available when you are fighting someone in places such as a forest or in a bar. Do you think the traditional karate sport fighter or BJJ practitioner is going to think to pick up a rock or stick and beat someone with it? Probably not. Not unless they've been made aware of those options. When training martial arts your mind is purposefully molded to think and perform in a certain way and this is accomplished through practice. But only the techniques that are practiced sufficiently are translated into muscle memory or reflex and happen automatically during a fight. So if someone doesn't train their mind in being situationally aware they probably won't pick up the rock because it isn't a possibility that their mind is accustomed to. This is a common theme that I will discuss later, which is how you are trained determines the type of fighter you are -- TKD gyms typically train people for competition, so they will be adequate at sport fighting, but not necessarily any other kind, because their training is designed to make them good at competing -- not survival.
The other aspect of being situationally aware is knowing what techniques to do depending on the context of your fight. This is when knowing multiple martial arts is crucial. If you are walking to your car and 3 or 4 guys approach you and instigate a fight and all you know is BJJ then your chances of survival are slim to none. Sure you might break that first guys' arm, but rest assured as you are on the ground executing that arm-bar that his friends will be attacking you as well. But if you know BJJ, Western Boxing, and a few solid disarm techniques, you will probably be just fine because you are well-rounded and aren't relying on just one thing. It all depends on the specific situation though, if only one guy comes after you and you only know BJJ, you will almost certainly be fine because that's a situation where BJJ excels, which is why it's almost necessary in the UFC. Some things only work in the ring, and some things only work in the streets, you have to be open and aware of both to fully take advantage during a fight.
One of the most useful things that I learned from situational awareness was how to avoid encounters. We will go more in depth on how to not get into a fight in a future post, but the skills learned from being able to do that are also relevant here. This involves watching the people around you, whether your walking down the street and looking several blocks away to see the body language of everyone, or being in a bar and paying attention to how much someone is drinking and how it is affecting him/her. But all of this requires being situationally aware and knowing of these real world variables. Things like being attentive to a persons tone on a certain topic or body language will tell you all sorts of information about them. You can tell by the way a person stands, walks, and carries their self in a conversation whether or not they are likely to fight you or what kind of training they have had, if any. You have to be aware of what state you are in and what city within because everyone has a different culture and way of handling things. Something that could be normal in D.C. might be seen as disrespectful somewhere else. You also have to be aware especially when you are in a different country. How does that country view Americans, if you're American, or forigners in general? Their laws and customs are almost guaranteed to be very different to what you are used to, and that is something you would be wise to keep in mind.
All of these things MUST be taken into account at all times, because it is the first step in every altercation. Where you are, who you are, who you are with, how many opponents, the time of day, and much more, is always a part of combat. This matters more than just in the street though. Professional fighters and trainers are fully aware of this. That's why if a fighter is training in Miami and has a fight in Denver, they will most likely leave a few weeks before the fight so the fighter can get acclimated. Part of training a fighter psychologically is making him/her comfortable and able to perform in a huge stadium on national TV with thousands watching.
Your surroundings determine everything about the fight, and it is a critical aspect that everyone needs to be aware of all the time. These differences can be devastating in the ring and can be the difference between life and death in the street. Being situationally aware is the first step in being a great fighter. Like Darwin said: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."
--Zach
So what does it mean to be "situationally aware?" Put simply, it means being aware of your surroundings. Since that's fairly vague I'm going to break those two words down, aware and surroundings. Your surroundings are just where you are, whether you're in a professional or street setting. Even those can be broken down into more specific instances. Such how a MMA octagon is different from a TKD tournament ring, and being in a bar is different than being in a field or a parking lot. An aware fighter is one that acknowledges these differences and makes use of it. The most immediate and obvious difference, one that doesn't require any training whatsoever to understand, is the total absence of rules and referees outside of the ring. This changes the type of techniques you use and the escalation of force - aka weapons and intent. Many people carry knives, some carry guns, and anyone can hit you over the head with a bottle, so being aware that those options are available to your hypothetical attackers (and to youself) is critical for survival in real life scenarios.
How do you become "situationally aware?" Practice and knowledge. Just reading this post opens your mind to the differences. I'm sure most martial artists are already aware that context of where you fight matters and that this awareness will change how you fight, but this is a mental change more than it is a physical one. Your mind has to adapt to the different possibilities that are available when you are fighting someone in places such as a forest or in a bar. Do you think the traditional karate sport fighter or BJJ practitioner is going to think to pick up a rock or stick and beat someone with it? Probably not. Not unless they've been made aware of those options. When training martial arts your mind is purposefully molded to think and perform in a certain way and this is accomplished through practice. But only the techniques that are practiced sufficiently are translated into muscle memory or reflex and happen automatically during a fight. So if someone doesn't train their mind in being situationally aware they probably won't pick up the rock because it isn't a possibility that their mind is accustomed to. This is a common theme that I will discuss later, which is how you are trained determines the type of fighter you are -- TKD gyms typically train people for competition, so they will be adequate at sport fighting, but not necessarily any other kind, because their training is designed to make them good at competing -- not survival.
The other aspect of being situationally aware is knowing what techniques to do depending on the context of your fight. This is when knowing multiple martial arts is crucial. If you are walking to your car and 3 or 4 guys approach you and instigate a fight and all you know is BJJ then your chances of survival are slim to none. Sure you might break that first guys' arm, but rest assured as you are on the ground executing that arm-bar that his friends will be attacking you as well. But if you know BJJ, Western Boxing, and a few solid disarm techniques, you will probably be just fine because you are well-rounded and aren't relying on just one thing. It all depends on the specific situation though, if only one guy comes after you and you only know BJJ, you will almost certainly be fine because that's a situation where BJJ excels, which is why it's almost necessary in the UFC. Some things only work in the ring, and some things only work in the streets, you have to be open and aware of both to fully take advantage during a fight.
One of the most useful things that I learned from situational awareness was how to avoid encounters. We will go more in depth on how to not get into a fight in a future post, but the skills learned from being able to do that are also relevant here. This involves watching the people around you, whether your walking down the street and looking several blocks away to see the body language of everyone, or being in a bar and paying attention to how much someone is drinking and how it is affecting him/her. But all of this requires being situationally aware and knowing of these real world variables. Things like being attentive to a persons tone on a certain topic or body language will tell you all sorts of information about them. You can tell by the way a person stands, walks, and carries their self in a conversation whether or not they are likely to fight you or what kind of training they have had, if any. You have to be aware of what state you are in and what city within because everyone has a different culture and way of handling things. Something that could be normal in D.C. might be seen as disrespectful somewhere else. You also have to be aware especially when you are in a different country. How does that country view Americans, if you're American, or forigners in general? Their laws and customs are almost guaranteed to be very different to what you are used to, and that is something you would be wise to keep in mind.
All of these things MUST be taken into account at all times, because it is the first step in every altercation. Where you are, who you are, who you are with, how many opponents, the time of day, and much more, is always a part of combat. This matters more than just in the street though. Professional fighters and trainers are fully aware of this. That's why if a fighter is training in Miami and has a fight in Denver, they will most likely leave a few weeks before the fight so the fighter can get acclimated. Part of training a fighter psychologically is making him/her comfortable and able to perform in a huge stadium on national TV with thousands watching.
Your surroundings determine everything about the fight, and it is a critical aspect that everyone needs to be aware of all the time. These differences can be devastating in the ring and can be the difference between life and death in the street. Being situationally aware is the first step in being a great fighter. Like Darwin said: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."
--Zach
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Our Philosophy, Part 1
The synopsis at the top of the page says that we here at 10k Hours and Counting have a shared interest in Martial Arts; truth be told, it is much more than that. “Interest” doesn’t begin to cover it. Take me, for example. This year I’ll be 31 and I’ve studied multiple, diverse styles of MA and related skills, formally and informally, continuously since I was 16. That’s not interest, that’s a lifestyle. And yet you might be surprised to learn that I hold no black belt in any of them. Not one. It was never the belt I was after. It was the knowledge.
If you talk to enough MA practitioners you are guaranteed to run across someone who is blindly in love with their style; that person who believes to the core of their very self that their chosen art is the be-all and end-all, the singularly superior style. In fact, if you spent enough time searching, I bet that you could find a practitioner of ANY style who is eager to make the very same claim. I tell you that these people are mistaken. It is not the style that is superior, it is the fighter. A technique may have the potential to be superior, given the right time and place, but it is up to the fighter to know when and where to employ it. Beyond that, every fighter is different -- different in how their bodies are different from each other, different in their strengths and limitation, different in their interests and how that will direct their training, different in their personalities, in their experiences, in their desires. No two fighters are alike, and as such no one style will fit two fighters the same. What might be the perfect style for one person will be a terrible match for someone else.
Which brings me to another point: How do you know what style is best for you? The truest answer may very well be that there isn’t one. I have a sister. She is much younger than me. Aside from that her body type is as different from my own as can be. Where I have size and strength, she is petite and impressively flexible. That which works best for me as a fighter (both in technique and strategy) will be nearly useless to her. In the same vein, her natural abilities in certain areas will outpace mine even after years of dedicated training. A style which fits us both equally simply doesn’t exist. Does that mean it is impossible for me to teach her? No, of course not.
To be able to teach someone you do not need to have the same abilities as them. Look at sports coaches. Is there a single NFL, NHL or MLS coach out there who could even earn a spot on their own starting lineup? I doubt it. Nonetheless, these are the people who make legends out of their players. Now don’t get me wrong, sports training is very different than MA training – or at least it should be. Far too often I see physical conditioning being used as an integral part of MA training. I see instructors having their students run laps, do pushups, sit-ups, sprints, and so on. But is this MA training? No. MA training is in technique, strategy, focus, analysis and, believe it or not, history. You should never accept physical conditioning as a substitute for actual instruction. Conditioning you can do on your own time; classes should be spent on everything you can't do on your own. Don’t worry; we’ll cover all of that in far greater detail in the future.
I wrote at the start of this article about knowledge and I want to revisit that topic again briefly here. The interesting thing about knowledge is that everyone has some. Each and every person you meet has something they can teach you and something they can learn from you; probably multiple things. Be this a mote of wisdom or a single, specific technique, everyone has something of value to share. And that is where we differ most noticeably from most other martial artists. It’s not that we believe that we have knowledge and you do not, or that we have trained in “the greatest system ever!” Rather, we know what we know, and we will teach it to you if you are interested, but more than anything else we want to learn what you have to teach us. Sharing is caring, right? That is the path to a better world. That is the core of our philosophy.
-- Hans
Monday, April 22, 2013
Our Outlook
Okay so this blog is essentially going to be an accumulation of ideas that we have discovered through various forms of martial arts. Some martial arts we have studied and that we like are:
We don't necessarily believe that any one style is "the best", there are situations wherein one style may have an advantage over another though. For example a BJJ practitioner has an advantage in a 1 on 1 fight against someone in a secluded area, or in the ring, but not when that other guy has three friends around the corner. This doesn't mean that BJJ doesn't have techniques and practices to offer, it just means that other martial arts are required in order to fully defend yourself in a real life scenario.
Comment and let us know some of the styles you have practiced or you think are interesting and want to talk about!
- Western Boxing
- Tae Kwon Do
- Muay Thai
- Brazilian Jujitsu
- Kenpo
- Wing Chun
- Aikido
- Qigong
- 52 blocks
We don't necessarily believe that any one style is "the best", there are situations wherein one style may have an advantage over another though. For example a BJJ practitioner has an advantage in a 1 on 1 fight against someone in a secluded area, or in the ring, but not when that other guy has three friends around the corner. This doesn't mean that BJJ doesn't have techniques and practices to offer, it just means that other martial arts are required in order to fully defend yourself in a real life scenario.
Comment and let us know some of the styles you have practiced or you think are interesting and want to talk about!
--Zach
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