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I am very interested in how to use Tai Chi for fighting mainly in the competition ring, but also in actual self defense.
How can Tai Chi mitigate the fight or flight response that I get when I am close to fighting and when I am actually fighting? How does adrenaline affect your ability to use chi in fighting?
Does the fight or flight response ever truly go away when in a real confrontation? Does it take a great deal of meditation? I never get the fight or flight response when training in the gym no matter the skill level of the person I am sparring. I only get it in actual confrontations and it always affected how I fought.
Thank you for reading my question.
Joe Lee
I remember one time I was practicing sinking while driving and I thought I had sped through a speed camera which induced a pretty decent adrenaline rush. Since I was sinking it went straight to my lower dantien (not the most pleasant sensation I’ve ever felt) and completely bypassed the effect you get when it goes to your head. I maintained a completely calm state without even having the intent to do so.
Perhaps this is how you get around it but I can’t really say from that one experience.
Hey Joe,
Did you want the “Settling In” video in the Beginner’s Program? Bruce takes us through a stand where we release the nerves and then go into movement trying to maintain that internal state.
The beautiful thing about the Tai Chi is that we’re going to test that same kind of transition — adding more complexity once we’ve established a smooth internal state — at increasingly difficult levels of movement first, then interaction, then intensity. In other words, the same awareness you used to do that exercise is going to be the same awareness you will use to start the interactive practices, like Push Hands.
Unlike full-on sparring where your fight or flight will kick in hard right away, we have a systematic way of building it up, so you never just completely freak out.
Pretty cool, huh?
Dan
Different things work for everybody, and we must all find what works for us. One recommendation outside of Tai Chi, DVD title is Breath for Internal Control; its Systema, author is Vladimir Vasiliev.
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