In martial arts tactile sensitivity is the greatest of senses with the most reliable of information one can depend on for defense. Our eyes can be fooled. Our hearing is subjective to many influences especially when chemical dumps are involved. Touch or tactile sensitivity is ideal as it will enhance our responses and our techniques when those responses and techniques are trained to instinctive reflex.
Tactile sensitivity provides more information than visual sensitivity. We might see something but feeling it is more reliable as we can feel not only the touch of the other but the strength, stress and stability of the person through touch. Think of tactile sensitivity as a more holistic sense over vision and/or hearing. Your vision and hearing are more atomistic in nature, i.e. they have a narrower focus but tactile sensitivity has a wider spectrum that encompasses the entire body.
Look at the body following the mind and the mind following the body. You will feel those emanations, vibrations and rhythms, provided you train your tactile sensitivity.
How to train tactile sensitivity? I have heard of one person who uses a blind fold and in-close grappling, wrestling, ground type training to teach the body and mind to detect and interpret tactile sensations. This is something to think about and may prove superior to sight and sound, the two senses most novices depend heavily on in martial training.
Think of it this way, we see something that attracts us. Then we hear someone that attracts us. Finally we touch that person and the vibrations, rhythms and sensations explode. Then think of darkness and intimacy, the tactile sensations rule don't they? Then why not in combat as well?
Push hands and similar exercises as well.
ReplyDeletePush hands, etc. are good fundamental exercises to give a person an idea regarding the sense of touch in fighting or self-defense.
ReplyDeleteRemember, that in order to take full advantage of tactile sensitivity you have to go beyond merely standing toe to toe and doing push hands.
You have to find out what it feels like whole body and a decent way to do that is through jujitsu, judo and aikido, etc.
The in close where eyes are unable to get the whole picture is the type of training necessary to get the "feel" of tactile sensitivity while push hands are a good introduction although limited as to whole body tactile sensitivity.