Interesting posts, everyone. I am just delighted that my journal has
sparked some interaction on this forum.
I would venture one of the most valuable ways we prepare for life-
threatening circumstances is the emphasis on relaxation and even
enjoyment of training. It helps to rid ourselves of fear, pride, and
tension. For example, learning to absorb strikes lessens the fear of
being hit, as the mind and body learn to recover from even a hard
blow that will knock the wind out of you. The exercises we do without
breathing teach us not to fear being deprived of air. Learning to
relax and smile when people are twisting all your limbs, striking
you, or otherwise creating pain, is a good preparation for dealing an
attack where someone really wants to twist your arm until it's broken
or hit you until you drop. If you can be relaxed under such
circumstances during training, it improves your chances of staying
relaxed if such scenario occurs in a real conflict.
It may seem contrary to how you would normally expect to train in
self-defense. After all, if you treat your training like a game, then
how can you be prepared to defend your life, which is certainly no
game? I think the playful atmosphere of training is just another way
to conquer fear. Training that might have seemed frightening to the
uninitiated becomes enjoyable to the practitioner.
Well, that's my take on it. Keep in mind I'm just a novice. You can
read the Russian System Guidebook for more on why training is often
treated like a game, even for serious professional combatants.
*Vsego nailuchshego* (best wishes),
Rachel