The Yin and Yang of Aggression

First, aggression is like all things of the Universe, it has its yin and yang sides. The yang side is its capability to take over your entire life and then take you for the ride that leaves you in a very dangerous state where anything bad can and often does occur. Second, is the yin side. The yin side is where you as a martial artists takes their aggression, when it is running, and works it to their advantage. Often the yang side is coupled heavily with fear and anger. Not a good mix.

You have to have a controlled aggression when using martial arts to protect and defend against violent acts. You have to have a control that allows you to keep the anger and fear out of the equation so the aggressive behavior works in your favor. You have to gain control so that when you reach a certain point you can reign in your aggression keeping within the strict and fluid boundaries that is self-defense. Not an easy thing.

Learning the tipping point is important in martial systems. It takes practice, practice, practice and also takes a level of self-perception and self-analysis that gets past such things as ego, pride and beliefs. 

Often we hear of how we need to use our anger to achieve success in a violent encounter but I feel that is a limited explanation of what is needed. I see anger as always being a uncontrollable part of the human condition where aggression has the yin and yang aspects where you gain the advantage by use of the yin part keeping the yang in its cage. Practice, practice, practice.

Anger is not conducive to control in a violent encounter but aggression that is logical can make use of the bodies natural defensive chemical dumps allowing for appropriate actions that could, would and should result if avoidance, deescalation and damage control. 

The military and other such professional organizations help to achieve controllable aggressive behaviors. Just the kind of thing that one needs not only as a professional but more importantly as a person on the street who has to defend and protect against violent encounters.