If I were to be asked about what I thought could, would and sometimes is the culprit in conflict I would tentatively say, “Impulse control.” If we are to make self-defense work even as far back as the possibility of avoidance all together then impulse control seems a good one. I quote from the book, “Emotional Intelligence,” “The root of all emotional self-control, since all emotions, by their very nature, lead to one or another impulse to act.” When you try to define the word emotion you find that its root meaning is “to move.”
In conflict I can see why having a strong impulse control mechanism could actually provide you the ability to avoid conflict. Especially that conflict that leads to violence (especially physical violence where you really don’t want to receive damage.).
When I think of impulse control I think of Rory Miller’s references to our monkey mind. Impulse control is how one may prevent what Marc MacYoung calls the “monkey slide.” Where you tend to slip and slid down that very slope paved by your monkey mind telling you that what you need to do is this or that in direct contravention to good self-defense.
I suspect, if this is true, that one must develop the capacity to resist that impulse to act (or to talk out of turn - so to speak - when you get in that dig, etc.) so that you can avoid danger, conflict and violence. It is the ability to squelch that incipient movement, most likely translates at the high level of the brain function into the inhibition of the limbic signals to the motor cortex (speculative).
Add in that this ability must weather the storm that arises from that chemical stress rush often encountered in conflicts that trigger great emotional upheaval that are then stroked and stoked as a hot fire by the run away monkey chatter that pushes us down that monkey slide. Resulting in violence.
How do you train to control your impulses. First, give it conscious attention and self-analysis. Second, expose yourself to a reality based stress training system so that you can learn to control your impulses and emotions when the stress chemicals hit. There are a few great programs out there and you may even find one or two that are martial art oriented to supplement your martial arts training.
The following bibliography will have recommendations within their materials along with a lot of knowledge on the SD world.
No comments:
Post a Comment