Develop Military Bearing and Awareness

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Mr. Joe Navarro in his book, “Dangerous Personalities” describes what predator’s look for out there in the wild when hunting prey. He then writes the following that also is found in military bearing and awareness training. 

• Look about when out - observe.
• Pay attention - look at folks directly, let them know you see them.
• Walk upright, shoulders back and head held high; walk with purpose and decisively (good arm swing, etc). 
• Walk facing traffic. 
• Walking to car avoid your phone and other distractions and keep one hand free.
• Walking, avoid alleys or being close to the street if walking alone. 
• Walking about, look for places someone can hide. 

As most of my readers already know, the military teach a bearing that projects a certain attitude of confidence and competence backed up by effective training. The very first lesson taught at the receiving barracks at Parris Island is how to move quickly and instantly into to a posture of attention on yellow footprints.

• Head erect with chin slightly tucked in...
• Eyes front...
• Shoulders back and relaxed...
• Spine erect and aligned...
• Arms at side...
• Fists loosely held with thumb along trouser seem..,
• Hips balanced..,
• Legs straight with a slight bend of the knees...
• Heels together and angled at about 45 degrees...
• Body, overall, balanced to maintain an erect attentive position in a positively relaxed state of readiness so movement comes quickly, easily...

Coupled with training, practice and ongoing accumulation of experiences as applied in the field all contribute to that state of military bearing that when in combat instills fear of facing a Marine!

This type of bearing is exactly what Joe Navarro writes of in his book “Dangerous Personalities.” Rory Miller also pretty much says the same in a recent posting on Facebook.

Rory Miller's Chiron Training 4-27-2020: Studies have shown that predators can and will pick victims based on posture, gait, and awareness levels. How do you work on this? How do you help students work on it in classes? Can it be done effectively? https://journals.sagepub.com/d…/abs/10.1177/0886260512475315 -Paul D.

There is no reason this bearing cannot be passed on to folks without the benefit of Parris Island Marine training because as martial practitioners of disciplines like karate provide for training with similar content and intent as the military although with different requirements overall, I.e., one is sanctioned combat violence while the other is lawful force justified by law for self-defense.

The description provided to the positioning of attentive readiness above is actually an application of the fundamental principles taught in the dojo leaving one able to assume a posture and attitude of confidence and capability that predators tend to avoid for easier prey.

When you think of self-protection for self-defense it becomes easy to visualize how bearing and awareness can be a huge benefit to the art and science of “Avoidance,” because the best method in conflict and violence is to avoid it all together. In this instance we exude an aura that avoids being the chosen target for predators. Ain’t life a kick? 

For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)