Self defence | ||
Tai chi syllabus | ||
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What relevance do tai chi fighting skills have in modern life?
Simple. Tai chi teaches you how to defend yourself
from harm.
Tai chi self defence skills lead to less fear, greater confidence and the
ability to identify (and avoid) dangerous situations.
What is self
defence?
Self defence is the ability to protect yourself: physically, mentally and
emotionally. The aim of self defence is to incapacitate the attacker and walk away; ideally
unharmed.
When it comes to self-defence, flashy moves may look cool, but they
often don't work in high-stress situations. Your fine motor skills can go
out the window, leaving you with only the simple reactions you've trained
for. It's all about building simple reactions through training and relying
on them when you need them the most. So, forget about the flashy moves and
focus on the basics to defend yourself effectively.
(Brad Dotten)
Common definitions
There is no consensus on what 'self defence' actually means:
Some people think self defence refers to tips & pointers that will enable you to handle any manner of assault
Martial artists often regard self defence as a weak, limited aspect of combat
The Police see self defence as being a reasonable, considered, appropriate response to an assault
The law
Self defence is legal. Fighting is not.
What is the difference?
Fighting
has the connotation of reciprocity: two people trading blows.
Unlike fighting, self defence involves one person being assaulted by
another.
Reasonable force
It is necessary to avoid prosecution when using self defence. Employ
restraint (reasonable force) and only apply your skills only when you have
no other choice. You should never use your art in
anger.
Laws exist to ensure the safety and wellbeing of
society, and a martial artist should respect this.
Everyday conflict
Life presents us with many situations that can be unpleasant:
Hostile/dangerous motorists
Macho behaviour
Gangs
Intimidation
Bullies
Problems at work
Assault
Threats
Personal relationships
Verbal abuse
Sometimes
you may feel vulnerable and alone. You may feel helpless, afraid,
angry and frustrated.
Dealing with confrontation
Confrontation occurs in many forms and can be very
stressful. It is important to handle yourself in a constructive, calm
manner.
Discover how to keep a cool head, avoid conflict and
cope with hostility.
You can be switched-on without being macho, defensive or paranoid.
Panic
When faced with hostility or violence, most people panic.
Panic is an adverse reaction to unexpected events.
It is the failure to acknowledge your fear, understand the cause of fear and
recognise the options you have available.
I’m aware of how much
violence there is at work these days. I met up with friends I used to work
with in housing and violence is very common at their work. NHS staff are
increasingly under physical attack (I’ve noticed warnings in my local GP
surgery). School teachers too, and transport staff.
(Karen)
Freeze, flight or fight...
The human brain responds to danger by making us do one of the following:
• Freeze
• Run away
• Become aggressive
Tai chi offers an alternative to option 3.
Instead of becoming aggressive or panicking, we seek to neutralise
the threat whilst remaining calm.
More...
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Page created 25 August 1994
Last updated
16 June 2023