Intuition is a natural outgrowth of both preparation and experience. When I say preparation I include training, practice and knowledge and understanding. For martial artists or just about anyone it is a matter of translating our experiences into action. To increase you intuitive abilities into decision-making skills you build up more experience and then make better use of them. It is not like turning folks into samurai warriors or even Jedi Knights, but is it more realistic.
Our gut feelings, our hunches or our spidey senses seem to come from some mystic place, but this is because we are just not aware of the connections to the knowledge and experiences that led to these perceptions - gut feelings, hunches, spidey senses.
When the old spidey sense kicks in and tells you to act you should consider that it comes from possibly noticed, subconscious, etc., subtle clues or what martial artists call tells without realizing it. What you have accomplished in these instances is a blending of both analysis and intuition into one solid trait that allows you to make instant action decisions in some of the most stressful situations you could encounter. Think of this, if you can do it well in high stress situations then the benefits in less stress filled moments is a definite bonus.
Once again I would ask if this could be one of those explanations that speak to how professionals train, practice and apply their skills and if so this is how we as self-defense practitioners can achieve the right level necessary for protection without crossing over into the moral and legal limits of society.
In many postings I have spoken of the more esoteric aspects of studies. The circle or the yin-yang. The yin-yang here is the intuition-analysis. Think about how you make decisions. Often you make them subconsciously before you even begin to think or analyze it. There is a balance here somewhere that we can exploit toward faster decisions in high stress scenario's but if you don't know of it, recognize it, and acknowledge it then you can't truly train and practice it to its potential.
Just remember, intuitions are indicative of how well we have worked, studied, practiced, and trained. It is about how we accumulate and compile experiences, not on any type of advertised magic. It is hard work and due diligence.
I quote, "What enables us to make good decisions is intuition, in the form of very large repertoires of patterns acquired over years and years of practice." - Gary Klien, The Power of Intuition.
Ahhh, here lies the answer to my many questions of late. There are so many facts and combination of facts. The more complex, the faster complications build up. Just keep seeing knowledge. Just keep analyzing it holistically. Just keep using the compilation of such knowledge and experience in the proper way. Then, allow your intuitive-analytical abilities to find those actions in that particular moment. Now that I think I have found a way I need to ask myself more questions and allow for it to seep in deep down where these things are best served.
Think of what you have heard in training as a Marine or any other professional service. "You continually challenge yourself to make tough judgements, honestly appraising those judgements to learn from the consequences, actively building up an experience base, and leaning to blend intuitions with analysis." - Gary Klien, The Power of Intuition.
Now, doesn't this sound like a training session with an after action report analysis. Isn't this how one should always train, practice and apply themselves.
A new beginning and a fun road ahead that passes beyond the horizons seen by the mind.
Caveat: Don't allow the pension for gathering data and making analysis to hinder you use of intuitive-analysis in action decisions as that will add to your tendency to freeze in the moment. It is a balance as I state so go ahead and do the gathering and analysis but in the end you have to make a decision and that decision is the one that will save your bacon. When in training and practice the gathering and analysis is set aside and the goal is to act properly and effectively (no freezes, etc.). In other words, "shut up and train." :-)
Addendum dtd March 15 2013 at 13:55hrs:
I quote from Gary Klien's research on intuition, "What is it that sets off those alarms inside your head? It's your intuition, built up through repeated experiences that you have unconsciously linked together to form a pattern. A pattern is a set of cues that usually connect together so that if you see a few of the cues you can expect to find the others. When you notice a pattern you may have a sense of familiarity - yes, I have see that before! As we work in any area, we accumulate experiences and build up a reservoir of recognized patterns. The more patterns we learn, the easier it is to match a new situation to one of the patterns in our reservoir. When a new situation occurs, we recognize the situation as familiar by matching it to a pattern we have encountered in the past."
Does this sound familiar? Is this how we accumulate strategies and tactics for the various scenario's we may encounter when confronted in a conflict? Isn't this how we accumulate experience by the frequency we encounter thing forming patterns, etc. so that we can match them as needed when needed? Isn't this a process that provides the best decisions during the more challenging, situations that are more confusing and complex, where information is scarce or inconclusive, where time is short, and the stakes are high - like in violent encounters?
It is not just repetitive practice but rather meaningful practice and training with a mind to encounter as many complex things requiring complex judgements so that when the time comes you can act using your history of patterns that provide food for intuition to do its thing.
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