Infraculture

Infraculture as best I can determine means, "behavior on lower organizational levels that underlie culture. It is behavioral and rooted in man's biological past. Some quotes to give you an idea of how this may apply are as follows:

"Whenever people talk, they supply only part of the message. The rest is filled in by the listener. Much of what is "not" said is taken for granted. Cultures vary in what is left unsaid." pg 102, chapter 9.

[suppositions, body language and culture; another important reason why one should study the culture that presents or offers a discipline like or similar to a martial art, karate or other combative object. Self-defense once again comes down not to the physical but rather the mental, communications. Do we synchronistically listen, reflect and understand or do we just plaster our internal belief system toward what is communicated and respond accordingly with out consideration of the person, the person's culture and what is filled in by us. Understanding the culture, the person and the infraculture might just fill in the gaps, the reality gaps. To see, hear and feel what is left unsaid may be the key to avoidance in conflicts.]

"Fixed-feature space is one of the basic ways of organizing the activities of individuals and groups. It includes material manifestations as well as the hidden, internalized designs that govern behavior." pg 103, chapter 9.

[knowledge of culture as it deals with space or in my vocabulary "territories." Isn't some conflict a result of invading one's territory? If so, and we study their culture and infraculture then we might understand enough to either avoid territorial disputes or at least communicate effectively enough to earn a free pass through the territory.]

"The facade is one that people present to the world and the self they hide behind it. It signifies recognition of levels to be penetrated ... " ... many men have two or more distinct personalities, one for business and one for the home." pg 104, chapter 9.

[Face .... saving face ..... understanding how culture can dictate a person or groups "face." Facade is not only applied to space, territory, but also to the person and the group to which a person or person's belong.]

"Man's feelings about being properly oriented in space runs deep. Such knowledge is ultimately linked to survival and sanity. To be disoriented in space is to be psychotic. The difference between acting with reflex speed and having to stop and think  in an emergency may mean the difference between life and death - a  rule which applies equally to the driver negotiating freeway traffic and the rodent dodging predators." pg 105, chapter 9.

[space, territory and culture all drive life and death instincts even if they are not perceived by society today as reality. They still exist and our brains still respond to them so fast your emotional adrenaline driven responses tend to take over and drive the bus. A huge trait to try and train into some semblance of control and repetitive practices toward a reality based training/practice regimen is required.]

This speaks volumes as to the type and need for knowledge before training and application of such things as communications and physical application of martial arts or any combative tactic. Make your fundamental strategy to find the knowledge, encode it to your brain and then train for it both mentally and physically. Find the balance and make it influence the tactics used from this strategy.

Bibliography:
Hall, Edward T. "The Hidden Dimension." Anchor Books. New York. 1969, 1990.