I have heard it said that a true warrior must be "on" all the time to be prepared for any and all threats. This is one of those legends or stories that gets around and results in advertisement bits to draw in customers. I can emphatically say that this does not work. I can say this from experience. The experience is trivial compared to those who actually work and live in threat conditions.
We have threat-conditions or threatcons in our military readiness system dependent on any given situation in the world. The lower the threatcon number the greater the risk. There is a reason we have these levels much like the countries home land security threat colors. The countries military and homeland security know that to remain on high alert all the time is a killer - killer of us, not the threat.
I find that I am or have been on a higher alert mode for a time now. It is not combat as we have in street life or military life. It is one that many might not recognize as a always-on situation. Recently I have recognized a threat that comes when I am at my most vulnerable and in my most secure location. I kept wondering why I am so mentally and physically tired. Why I felt certain psychological things with no apparent reasons until I read something that literally woke me up to my condition.
Then I understood that the physical manifestations of being always-on are not good for long healthy living. I am finding an urge to take things to a higher level that is not within the defensive posture of deescalation/avoidance, etc. This is not good. I should have known that I was experiencing psychological warfare and taken steps to put up protective shields. I get the feeling that our military suffer from this type of warfare and may not recognize it as such and train for it.
I thought I had trained and practiced well as a Marine and Martial Artist. I have not done a complete practice even tho I have trained the mind as well. I have focused on the verbal and physical threat with emphasis on how to avoid and fight vs. deescalate and protect against psychological attacks. How do you train for this aspect?
Training starts with recognition. It continues with gathering knowledge on the method. It results in adjustment of training and practice to achieve a level of protection and actions that would divert and eliminate psychological warfare.
In a nutshell works hurt. Words along with associated principles can influence other people in subtle and unconscious ways. It can be conveyed by the body language the mind perceives; it can be conveyed by the way a person holds their body around you; it can be conveyed by the tone of the voice; the distance they allow or not allow between you; the facial expressions and even in the silence. Silence by the way is not truly silent. If your mind is unconsciously perceiving all the other communications listed with out words it is still effective.
This is how they came to study what they called in WWII as "brain washing." Psychological attacks are a form of brain washing or more apropos manipulation of the unconscious to affect the conscious triggering emotional triggers of brain chemicals that have both adverse and beneficial effects where the intent here is to trigger the adverse side. We fall pray to it simply because we are not aware of these tactics and how they can influence us. Isn't fighting simply communications that effect our monkey brains into the social violence stuff? Injury of pride and ego; loss of face forcing us to act like uncontrolled mentally deficient monkeys.
I am tired. I am now aware. I have to allow time to achieve proficiency in fighting the psychological warfare I have endured for a long time. I know now why things are what they are and how I can change them. If you don't play they will give up trying. If that means leaving the arena, running from a fight, then so be it - run Forrest run! You can not survive by being always on. No warrior can remain up all the time. This is how warriors die. Balance, find balance and allow instincts with awareness to give you the signal to "go into on alert." Shields up Mr. Sulu!
p.s. which would be the greatest damage, physical? Mental?
Hey, Attention on Deck!
Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!
When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:
I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me
I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me
I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull
I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death
I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed
I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes
I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados
I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers
The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn
Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung
WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE
The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)
“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)
“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne
I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.
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