The Top Ten Principles of Yachigusa Ryu Aiki Bugei - #1 Avoidance Tendencies
Since I first stated that the techniques taught at my school were based on principles, and that we focus more on understanding the principles that makes things work than the techniques themselves, people have e-mailed me asking me if I could explain these principles in more detail.
Unfortunately, trying to explain many of these principals in writing is very difficult, since many can’t be explained in words alone. However, I will try my best to describe these principles for the “blog” readers, using words, charts and pictures.
Keep in mind though, that in order to sometimes fully understand a principle you have to also understand other principles that relate to it. Most principles aren’t fully useable on their own, and have to be integrated with others.
Basically, Avoidance Tendencies means understanding how and why the body moves the way it does when threatened, and how to use these movements to your greatest advantage, offensively and defensively.
In a broader definition of the principle, Avoidance Tendencies refers to anything that reduces a threat, even prior to a threat actually occurring. This includes those wonderful maxims you learned as a child like “don’t talk to strangers” and the stuff they teach at most self-defense seminars like "know your surroundings".
However, using this principle in its correct context is the first step in understanding all its broader variations.
One example of a true Avoidance Tendency is the normal reaction to raise the arms and place them in front of the face when the face/head, especially the eyes, is threatened. This is an instinctual “hard-wired” reaction; a reaction few people even realize they are doing at the time. It is a natural movement that when controlled can be used effectively by the martial artist.
1. Bad Flinching
2. The same basic hand movement used effectively
Another obvious Avoidance Tendency is the “fight or flight” response. The “fight-or-flight” response, also refered to as the “acute stress response,” was first theorized by Walter Cannon in 1929. According to his theory, animals and humans react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the animal/human for fighting or fleeing.
During this response numerous physiological changes occur in the body. These changes include:
Of course even with all these changes taking place, how the subject reacts can still vary. Normally there are four distinct reactions:
I refer to the first reaction as the “Bambi Syndrome.” When faced with a threat the subject will freeze and become motionless. The person will be so scared, that even though all the above physiological changes have occurred they cannot move or defend themselves. All they want to do is hide, and hope the threat goes away.
Basically they try avoiding the threat by hoping they are not seen, or that the threat will simply go away.
The second reaction is what I call, “Posturing.” This basically means the person adopts an a posture or attitude in order to deter the threat. This can include yelling, negotiating, profane language, adopting an aggressive stance, or releasing their bowels. In other words, the subject does something to either shock, intimidate, or disgust their attacker, hoping such action will deter the attack. This occurs quite frequently in nature where animals use body language, coloration, vocal sounds, and scents to defuse/settle confrontations, before actually resort to a violent physical encounter.
The third and fourth reactions are simple: the subject either runs or they hold their ground and fight.
Of course using the word “fight” isn’t always accurate. The person might just flail and thrash wildly, lashing out at anyone and anything in their path. In this state they act on instinct and are unpredictable. For these individuals, the basic instinct to survive takes over, and in most cases they are not even conscious of what they are doing.
What is absolutely certain is that one should never underestimate the instinct to survive. It can make ordinary people do extraordinary things and overcome extraordinary adversity.
While there are four distinct reactions, one must keep in mind that any one person can exhibit a combination of all of the above reactions at any point throughout a threatening situation. Just because someone appears to be running away at first doesn’t mean they won't all of a sudden stop, turn, and fight. After all, appearing to retreat and then turning and attacking one’s enemy is a classic battlefield strategy.
While understanding the theory of Avoidance Tendencies is one thing, using it advantageously is another. This requires a lot more study, and practice.
to never flinch and to never tense up.
Proper training should also include learning body geometry so that correct avoidance (evasion) movements can be learned. These should be practiced until they become one's natural tendency.
An example of this is learning how to evade an attack to the midline. Many martial art styles teach techniques that use linear or circular footwork to evade this attack. For the most part, these techniques are not bad, just too big. There is too much movement, which often creates too much space between the attacker and the defender.
The truth of the matter is that only a small movement is required.
Using body geometry this is simple to understand. If the distance between the tips of one's shoulders equals 19 inches, then one only needs to move 9.5 inches off the midline to avoid an attack. This formula works since the shoulders are normally wider than the width of the hips, and only half the body has to be moved from the attack zone.
Nine and a half inches is a relatively small movement. The advantage of such a small movement is that it places the defender in optimal striking/grappling distance, while crowding the opponent and making it hard for him to do a follow up strike/attack without readjusting.
These small movements are also optimal for sword techniques, where success or failure is often measured in fractions of an inch.
Clearly, making smaller movements requires faith in the effectiveness of one’s actions, and these movements have to be done with full resolve and determination. Any hesitation, tension, or flinching can be disastrous.
Of course there are those that would argue that Avoidance Tendencies should start even before an altercation has begun. Many techniques to reduce the likelihood of getting into confrontations are taught at self-defense seminars. These include knowing your surroundings, walking on the lighted side of the street, avoiding alleys, taking the long way, etc.
One last, but sometimes overlooked, Avoidance Tendency for the trained martial artist exists in what the Japanese call Kamae. The common definition of the word kamae is "stance", however that is not really accurate; kamae means more than that. It actually refers to a posture that conveys an attitude, normally an attitude of readiness to face the task at hand. In a martial context this often means using body language in a manner that conveys an air of superiority, alertness, and defensiveness.
In fact there are numerous stories of two Samurai dueling, where the duel is settled by no more than just adopting a particular kamae. There are even stories of old Kendo masters whose kamae were so strong that their opponents could not perceive a way to attack them, and yielded the match to them.
If one really studies the human psyche, it really shouldn’t be that surprising that a stance/posture can be an effective deterrent to altercations. Body language can often work in situations where talking has failed.
I like to use the example of two Roosters meeting: as they walk along their heads are low, but when they meet they inflate their chests, raise their heads, fluff their feathers, and try to look as big and intimidating as possible. Normally the smaller of the two—or the less confident—moves aside and gives way.
The same can be said for humans. If you’ve ever witnessed the moments leading up to a fight, there is a lot of posturing that takes place before fists start to fly. Posturing is clearly intended to intimidate one’s opponent.
While I don’t advocate assuming a “fighting stance” when faced with a threat, there are other types of body language I use to convey that I’m not an easy target, or that I’m alert and ready.
One of these goes back to my very first example of Avoidance Tendencies where the arms are raised in front of the face. This is basically the internationally recognized posture of surrender. During an altercation, if one adopts this posture it will often defuse the situation reducing the level of antagonism. It works because the position is one of submission.
However, it is actually a strong defensive posture where the hands are in an ideal position for defense and attack.
The above technique is not only an example of one type of Avoidance Tendency, but also a small lesson in the psychology of fighting and self-defense.
A simple example of this is faking a strike to the eyes. Most people will pull their head away from the oncoming strike. This happens for two distinct reasons: first to protect their eyes from being damaged, and second to maintain visual focus on the rapidly moving hand/object.
As the head pulls backwards, the chest arches forward, and the neck becomes exposed. Not only can the throat be attacked, but due to the unstable body position (the arch), the person can be pushed backwards and downwards towards the ground quite easily.
In many instances, the person will also be “grounded” making it very hard for them to move or counterattack. Even if their hands rise forward in defense, their power is diminished due to the arch that tightens the corresponding shoulder muscles.
Just lean your head all the way back and stretch your arms forward. You will feel the pull in your shoulders and the weakening of the strength of your pectoral muscle across the chest.
Those martial art practitioners that practice the art of vital point striking often have a comprehensive understanding of “cause and effect,” as it relates to striking specific points of the body. Or in other words, using the body's natural avoidance tendencies as it relates to the sensation of pain.
While an understanding of these reflex actions to pain is only one element of Avoidance Tendencies, it should not to be taken lightly. In fact, learning to capitalize on the body's natural reaction and aversion to the sensation/stimulus of pain is extremely important, if not essential, to the proper execution of many martial arts techniques.
Simply put, specific strikes to specific points cause specific responses. Knowing how the body will react and move after being struck makes follow up strikes, joint locks, and/or projections quicker and easier.
Case in point:
Subject “A” grabs Subject “B.” Subject “B’ strikes Subject “A” at the crease of the arm in a scooping motion.
Two things happen at this point: first of all, Subject “A” feels pain; the second thing is that his upper body will come forward in the direction of scoop. This brings the head forward into striking distance.
The sensation of pain is not and should never be the primary goal—just a fortunate byproduct if it happens. It is the directional scooping motion, and the body's desire to “escape” (avoid) the point of stimulus, that makes this technique work so predictably. (See the forthcoming essay regarding "Reflex Action" for more specific information on this reflex.)
For the most part, reactions such as these are predictable and can be duplicated time after time. As long as the proper stimulus is applied, even if the attacker is aware of what is about to happen (such as in the classroom), they can not override the body’s innate reactions.
The body is clearly a wonderful machine capable of wonderful things. However, like many machines there are built in safeguards, which are hard-wired in to protect the machinery from damage. The principle of Avoidance Tendencies, whether used defensively or offensively, is basically about learning to manipulate these innate abilities to their full advantage.
Of all the top ten principles, "Avoidance Tendencies", is most likely the easiest one to understand and develop. All it takes is a moderate study of the human psyche and physiology to start to integrate this principle into techniques one already knows. Chances are that these skills are already part of any martial artist's training, in varying degrees.
Unfortunately, trying to explain many of these principals in writing is very difficult, since many can’t be explained in words alone. However, I will try my best to describe these principles for the “blog” readers, using words, charts and pictures.
Keep in mind though, that in order to sometimes fully understand a principle you have to also understand other principles that relate to it. Most principles aren’t fully useable on their own, and have to be integrated with others.
#1 Avoidance Tendencies
Understanding "Avoidance Tendencies" means learning the natural and instinctive ways the body will react to perceived danger and/or pain. Some of these natural tendencies are useful; others such as flinching have to be prevented. Some can aid in defense, and some can be capitalized upon when used against others.Basically, Avoidance Tendencies means understanding how and why the body moves the way it does when threatened, and how to use these movements to your greatest advantage, offensively and defensively.
In a broader definition of the principle, Avoidance Tendencies refers to anything that reduces a threat, even prior to a threat actually occurring. This includes those wonderful maxims you learned as a child like “don’t talk to strangers” and the stuff they teach at most self-defense seminars like "know your surroundings".
However, using this principle in its correct context is the first step in understanding all its broader variations.
One example of a true Avoidance Tendency is the normal reaction to raise the arms and place them in front of the face when the face/head, especially the eyes, is threatened. This is an instinctual “hard-wired” reaction; a reaction few people even realize they are doing at the time. It is a natural movement that when controlled can be used effectively by the martial artist.
1. Bad Flinching
2. The same basic hand movement used effectively
Another obvious Avoidance Tendency is the “fight or flight” response. The “fight-or-flight” response, also refered to as the “acute stress response,” was first theorized by Walter Cannon in 1929. According to his theory, animals and humans react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the animal/human for fighting or fleeing.
During this response numerous physiological changes occur in the body. These changes include:
- Sweating increases - this helps keep the body cool
- Blood clotting ability increases - the body prepares for possible
injuries - Blood is diverted to the muscles, the muscle fibers tense, and the
muscles become ready for action - Senses are activated to make one more mentally alert
- Breathing rate increases to provide more oxygen to one's body
- One's heartbeat speeds up and blood pressure rises
- The liver releases sugar, cholesterol, and fatty acids into the blood
to supply instant energy to the muscles [this is what makes a person faster,
stronger and less likely to feel pain] - The bladder and bowel muscles close down
Of course even with all these changes taking place, how the subject reacts can still vary. Normally there are four distinct reactions:
I refer to the first reaction as the “Bambi Syndrome.” When faced with a threat the subject will freeze and become motionless. The person will be so scared, that even though all the above physiological changes have occurred they cannot move or defend themselves. All they want to do is hide, and hope the threat goes away.
Basically they try avoiding the threat by hoping they are not seen, or that the threat will simply go away.
The second reaction is what I call, “Posturing.” This basically means the person adopts an a posture or attitude in order to deter the threat. This can include yelling, negotiating, profane language, adopting an aggressive stance, or releasing their bowels. In other words, the subject does something to either shock, intimidate, or disgust their attacker, hoping such action will deter the attack. This occurs quite frequently in nature where animals use body language, coloration, vocal sounds, and scents to defuse/settle confrontations, before actually resort to a violent physical encounter.
The third and fourth reactions are simple: the subject either runs or they hold their ground and fight.
Of course using the word “fight” isn’t always accurate. The person might just flail and thrash wildly, lashing out at anyone and anything in their path. In this state they act on instinct and are unpredictable. For these individuals, the basic instinct to survive takes over, and in most cases they are not even conscious of what they are doing.
What is absolutely certain is that one should never underestimate the instinct to survive. It can make ordinary people do extraordinary things and overcome extraordinary adversity.
While there are four distinct reactions, one must keep in mind that any one person can exhibit a combination of all of the above reactions at any point throughout a threatening situation. Just because someone appears to be running away at first doesn’t mean they won't all of a sudden stop, turn, and fight. After all, appearing to retreat and then turning and attacking one’s enemy is a classic battlefield strategy.
While understanding the theory of Avoidance Tendencies is one thing, using it advantageously is another. This requires a lot more study, and practice.
Leaning to use Avoidance Tendencies defensively
Hopefully, learning to control and override your body's natural inclination to threats is part of every martial artist’s training—especially in those arts that teach life-protection skills. In most cases, this involves simply modifying behaviors: the two most important ones beingto never flinch and to never tense up.
Proper training should also include learning body geometry so that correct avoidance (evasion) movements can be learned. These should be practiced until they become one's natural tendency.
An example of this is learning how to evade an attack to the midline. Many martial art styles teach techniques that use linear or circular footwork to evade this attack. For the most part, these techniques are not bad, just too big. There is too much movement, which often creates too much space between the attacker and the defender.
The truth of the matter is that only a small movement is required.
Using body geometry this is simple to understand. If the distance between the tips of one's shoulders equals 19 inches, then one only needs to move 9.5 inches off the midline to avoid an attack. This formula works since the shoulders are normally wider than the width of the hips, and only half the body has to be moved from the attack zone.
Nine and a half inches is a relatively small movement. The advantage of such a small movement is that it places the defender in optimal striking/grappling distance, while crowding the opponent and making it hard for him to do a follow up strike/attack without readjusting.
These small movements are also optimal for sword techniques, where success or failure is often measured in fractions of an inch.
Clearly, making smaller movements requires faith in the effectiveness of one’s actions, and these movements have to be done with full resolve and determination. Any hesitation, tension, or flinching can be disastrous.
Of course there are those that would argue that Avoidance Tendencies should start even before an altercation has begun. Many techniques to reduce the likelihood of getting into confrontations are taught at self-defense seminars. These include knowing your surroundings, walking on the lighted side of the street, avoiding alleys, taking the long way, etc.
One last, but sometimes overlooked, Avoidance Tendency for the trained martial artist exists in what the Japanese call Kamae. The common definition of the word kamae is "stance", however that is not really accurate; kamae means more than that. It actually refers to a posture that conveys an attitude, normally an attitude of readiness to face the task at hand. In a martial context this often means using body language in a manner that conveys an air of superiority, alertness, and defensiveness.
In fact there are numerous stories of two Samurai dueling, where the duel is settled by no more than just adopting a particular kamae. There are even stories of old Kendo masters whose kamae were so strong that their opponents could not perceive a way to attack them, and yielded the match to them.
If one really studies the human psyche, it really shouldn’t be that surprising that a stance/posture can be an effective deterrent to altercations. Body language can often work in situations where talking has failed.
I like to use the example of two Roosters meeting: as they walk along their heads are low, but when they meet they inflate their chests, raise their heads, fluff their feathers, and try to look as big and intimidating as possible. Normally the smaller of the two—or the less confident—moves aside and gives way.
The same can be said for humans. If you’ve ever witnessed the moments leading up to a fight, there is a lot of posturing that takes place before fists start to fly. Posturing is clearly intended to intimidate one’s opponent.
While I don’t advocate assuming a “fighting stance” when faced with a threat, there are other types of body language I use to convey that I’m not an easy target, or that I’m alert and ready.
One of these goes back to my very first example of Avoidance Tendencies where the arms are raised in front of the face. This is basically the internationally recognized posture of surrender. During an altercation, if one adopts this posture it will often defuse the situation reducing the level of antagonism. It works because the position is one of submission.
However, it is actually a strong defensive posture where the hands are in an ideal position for defense and attack.
 |  |
The above technique is not only an example of one type of Avoidance Tendency, but also a small lesson in the psychology of fighting and self-defense.
Learning to use Avoidance Tendencies Offensively
Learning to use Avoidance Tendencies proficiently against one’s opponent is much harder and requires more study. Often times, it requires the skill to create an “illusion” of threat such that one can capitalize on the opponent's instinctive response by striking/attacking a corresponding target.A simple example of this is faking a strike to the eyes. Most people will pull their head away from the oncoming strike. This happens for two distinct reasons: first to protect their eyes from being damaged, and second to maintain visual focus on the rapidly moving hand/object.
As the head pulls backwards, the chest arches forward, and the neck becomes exposed. Not only can the throat be attacked, but due to the unstable body position (the arch), the person can be pushed backwards and downwards towards the ground quite easily.
In many instances, the person will also be “grounded” making it very hard for them to move or counterattack. Even if their hands rise forward in defense, their power is diminished due to the arch that tightens the corresponding shoulder muscles.
Just lean your head all the way back and stretch your arms forward. You will feel the pull in your shoulders and the weakening of the strength of your pectoral muscle across the chest.
Those martial art practitioners that practice the art of vital point striking often have a comprehensive understanding of “cause and effect,” as it relates to striking specific points of the body. Or in other words, using the body's natural avoidance tendencies as it relates to the sensation of pain.
While an understanding of these reflex actions to pain is only one element of Avoidance Tendencies, it should not to be taken lightly. In fact, learning to capitalize on the body's natural reaction and aversion to the sensation/stimulus of pain is extremely important, if not essential, to the proper execution of many martial arts techniques.
Simply put, specific strikes to specific points cause specific responses. Knowing how the body will react and move after being struck makes follow up strikes, joint locks, and/or projections quicker and easier.
Case in point:
Subject “A” grabs Subject “B.” Subject “B’ strikes Subject “A” at the crease of the arm in a scooping motion.
Two things happen at this point: first of all, Subject “A” feels pain; the second thing is that his upper body will come forward in the direction of scoop. This brings the head forward into striking distance.
The sensation of pain is not and should never be the primary goal—just a fortunate byproduct if it happens. It is the directional scooping motion, and the body's desire to “escape” (avoid) the point of stimulus, that makes this technique work so predictably. (See the forthcoming essay regarding "Reflex Action" for more specific information on this reflex.)
For the most part, reactions such as these are predictable and can be duplicated time after time. As long as the proper stimulus is applied, even if the attacker is aware of what is about to happen (such as in the classroom), they can not override the body’s innate reactions.
The body is clearly a wonderful machine capable of wonderful things. However, like many machines there are built in safeguards, which are hard-wired in to protect the machinery from damage. The principle of Avoidance Tendencies, whether used defensively or offensively, is basically about learning to manipulate these innate abilities to their full advantage.
Of all the top ten principles, "Avoidance Tendencies", is most likely the easiest one to understand and develop. All it takes is a moderate study of the human psyche and physiology to start to integrate this principle into techniques one already knows. Chances are that these skills are already part of any martial artist's training, in varying degrees.
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