{"id":84,"date":"2016-10-18T02:09:45","date_gmt":"2016-10-18T07:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kenukan.com\/blog\/?p=84"},"modified":"2016-10-18T02:09:45","modified_gmt":"2016-10-18T07:09:45","slug":"fear-and-the-flight-or-fight-reflex-part-5-of-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kenukan.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/18\/fear-and-the-flight-or-fight-reflex-part-5-of-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Fear and the Flight or Fight Reflex – Part 5 of 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jim Harrison (Originally Published By MA Success Magazine)<\/em><\/p>\n

What is the third and final stage in this training process of\u00a0overcoming fear?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stage Three involves the street or combat zone.\u00a0Tournaments and ring fights are always planned in advance.\u00a0You know the date and even the approximate time that you\u00a0will fight. Consequently, you normally have plenty of time to\u00a0think, and to worry, about the possibility of losing.<\/p>\n

Street fights, however, are normally spontaneous eruptions\u00a0and, consequently, you have little, if any time to anticipate\u00a0them and little time for the flight adrenalin to activate. In\u00a0most self-defense situations, you know only that there is\u00a0impending danger. As a Law-enforcement officer, you realize\u00a0that a combat situation might develop but not always. In\u00a0military combat, and certainly with a SAD (Search And\u00a0Destroy) Team, you know that combat is definitely\u00a0impending, it’s just a matter of when?<\/p>\n

In police situations and military combat, you also know\u00a0that there’s a very likely chance you will be wounded,\u00a0crippled or killed. In the sport ring, of course, the chance of\u00a0injury, and especially death, is much more remote.<\/p>\n

Therefore, there are two different types of fear involved in\u00a0these two different environments. The fear of humiliation\u00a0and possible injury in the sport context, as opposed to the\u00a0fear of serious injury and possible death in the others.<\/p>\n

In competition, ring fights to the knockout are more\u00a0decisive, but still conducted with restricting rules and a\u00a0referee who can stop the fight. In combat, it’s a fight for life or\u00a0death, with no rules and no referee – only your brains, skill,\u00a0experience, conditioning, determination and luck. Without\u00a0rules, the man with the best ability to improvise, and who\u00a0will\u00a0take the greater risk, is usually the winner – providing that\u00a0plain luck doesn’t interfere.<\/p>\n

Where is the turning point in overcoming fear?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whatever game we play that involves risk, it is essential\u00a0that we prepare ourselves, both mentally and physically.\u00a0However, to enter the game we must normally push ourselves\u00a0to enter it, and that is the critical turning point. We must\u00a0actually – and perhaps often – force ourselves to step on\u00a0the mat or into the ring, to climb out on the wing of a plane,\u00a0or paddle into the rapids, and so on. Basically, to take that\u00a0step from which we simply cannot retreat.<\/p>\n

The rest is easy. Because there you are: In the match, in the\u00a0air, in the canyon, or in the fight. Then you simply do your\u00a0best to not only survive, but to excel and to win. It just takes\u00a0that first difficult step, jump or leap.<\/p>\n

More often than not, once you take that crucial step you\u00a0will find the experience exhilarating! So go for it. Even when\u00a0you lose or fail, you will feel better for having tried. Then you\u00a0say to yourself, ‘I’ll do better next time.” And with that\u00a0attitude, “next time” will surely come.<\/p>\n

Overcoming fear is a matter of courage. Not being afraid is\u00a0stupid. To stand and advance into the jaws of fear is simply to\u00a0conquer, first, yourself, then your opponent. And conquering\u00a0your opponent may be easier.<\/p>\n

How can I develop your kind of attitude, one of\u00a0unadulterated confidence in the ring or in combat?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don’t know that everyone can. I can only relate my\u00a0experience of how I did it, and how many of my students and\u00a0the fighters I’ve coached have. But I do know that, unless you\u00a0try, we will never know if you are one of those people who\u00a0can or not.<\/p>\n

One, you begin by initiating the steps I set forth earlier. By\u00a0working out in a tough training hall, including a tough\u00a0instructor \/ coach and tough teammates \/ sparring partners. By\u00a0competing in sport contests, formal bouts and matches. And\u00a0finally – if this is your desire – by testing your skills,\u00a0conditioning, attitude and fortitude on the street in self-defense\u00a0and \/ or in combat.<\/p>\n

Like I said, to learn to swim you’re going to have to get wet.<\/p>\n\n