Frame of Reference

In order for the mind/brain to do something it has to have some sort of frame of reference. It does not have to be exact but something that will allow the brain to piece together some response for the mind-body to take or not take. Training is supposed to provide a frame of reference for the karate-ka to achieve some proficiency.

Sometimes we find ourselves rejecting something because we don't have or cannot create some reference point that corresponds to what we already know or have learned in other settings, we refuse to allow a reference to achieve its goal because our brain's monkey mind tells us that does not compute even if it does and would work.

Basics, fundamentals, kata, kumite, and so forth are tools that build on our references and if done correctly will not be rigid to one but allow the brain to do what it does best, take the many options and form a action or response that has a frame of reference to that training and if realistic and done well enough overcomes the monkey mind and acts.

In order to understand those experiences most karate-ka have never experienced cannot truly understand fully what that particular experience will effect as to the mind. There are some things that will cause us to freeze or act inappropriately for the event simply because it cannot fathom what is happening and thus no frame of reference nor an ability to break out of the freeze, etc.

It is imperative that training and practice break out of the comfort zone and seek out those chaotic events that can be induced in training much like the military and police, etc. where their training must be such that it programs the mind with reference points that can be enacted until the mind truly achieves some experience in real time.

This is a discussion that has and will go on for a long time for today's martial systems simply due to a lack of understanding and a frame of reference for most that will allow the brain to reach beyond the comfort zone and seek out knowledge and experience, of a sort with out actually getting it live, that will provide the programs, those modules that are pieced together by the main brain program, so that it can provide action instantly.

Does this make sense?

p.s. education + experience is the formula to = frame of reference ...