Colour Visualisation and Vibration Techniques
by Zoltán Dienes
Page 1 - Page 2
The results cannot be explained by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For all I know, TCM predicts neither colour, red or blue, makes a difference - but then why did they make a big difference? Or TCM predicts that one colour should be better than the other - but then the effect should not reverse just because people are told it should reverse. Also, if , in addition to suggestion, there is a real TCM effect in either vibration or colour, it is completely obliterated by the much stronger effect of suggestion.
It should be pointed out that my conclusion as to the ineffectiveness of vibration applies only to the particular type of vibration used when nikyo is practiced. Rubbing actions can be very effective in stimulating some points, such as the golgi bodies above the elbow.
It could be argued that I had not had enough practice in the players - for example, practice in imagining a colour. This is of course true. However, I could get effects of the same magnitude as was suggested to us in the seminar. I did not need any more practice to reproduce what I had observed. Even if this were not so, my substantial point is not undermined - that doing almost anything can double the effectiveness of a move OR halve the effectiveness of the move depending on what people believe. It is incumbent on us as instructors to make sure we do not teach purely arbitrary principles that seem to work only because we believe that they work.
In science, other things being equal, the simplest hypothesis is the one accepted. Thus, while suggestion remains a possible explanation of an effect, other things being equal, it also the best explanation. It is gratuitous in this case to use more exotic principles to explain people's experiences.
I think the
moral is that techniques work best when there is conviction and intent.
Believing you are performing a weak move will lead you to undermine your
own performance - albeit unconsciously. Using imagination can help you think
positively about your technique and apply it with commitment - but you can
imagine whatever works for you, there is no need to pay large sums of money
to be told what to imagine in different situations.
Instructions for techniques
A. Vibration
makes the technique less effective
"When you perform tuite - or grappling - it is important to move smoothly
with intent. It is often good to change direction suddenly to off-balance
the opponent, but this isn't done in a jerky way because that makes the
opponent tense. It is best to 'fool' the opponent into relaxing so there
is minimal resistance to your technique. I belong to an internet kyusho
discussion group, and one instructor wondered if it might be good to shake
or vibrate as you perform locks. It turned out with careful experimentation
that this is just the opposite of what you should do: Because back and forth
motions actually relieve pain. Just like when you rub a sore part of you
to relieve it. Or when you bounce when stretching - bouncing is no good
for stretching but it FEELS good because it relieves pain. The vibration
acts directly via a spinal reflex 'gating' the pain. I want you to experience
this for yourself. Perform the centre lock smoothly, and also by vibrating
like this [demonstrates], just like you were shaking from the cold, or its
been a day or two since your last pint. Perform the centre lock both ways,
and use just enough effort to get the same effect on your uke. Notice how
much less effort it takes to make the smooth motion work rather than the
shaking motion - something like half as much effort, or even less. Minor
differences in technique can make a BIG difference in effect so be very
careful."
B. Flowing
blue but not red makes the technique more effective
"It has long been known that different colours have effects on people.
For example, if you want to calm someone down, put them in a blue room rather
than a red room. Red is associated with blood and flushed faces and excitement.
Blue with the sky and the ocean, which is very calming. The ancients knew
of the connection between colours and psychological responses, and argued
that imagining different colours increased the effectiveness of different
types of attack. Pressure points were said to lie on different meridians,
associated with different elements and colours. For this move, the centre
lock, for the way we are doing it, you are using a water meridian to attack
a fire meridian. Imagining blue flowing through your arm, into the opponent,
and out his opposite leg increases the amount of water used in the attack
and dramatically increases the move's effectiveness. On the other hand,
imagining red activates your fire meridians, augmenting your opponent's
fire, dramatically decreasing the move's effectiveness. You might find this
hard to believe, maybe you would prefer to think of it this way: Thinking
blue makes you calm, more focussed. Thinking red has the opposite effect.
Thinking different colours means you do the move in subtly, almost imperceptibly
different ways. But you will be surprised just what a difference the colours
make. Try the move with both colours, use just enough effort to get the
same effect on your uke. Notice how much less effort it takes to make the
move work with blue rather than red - something like half as much effort,
or even less. Minor differences in technique can make a BIG difference in
effect so be very careful."
C. Vibration
makes the technique more effective
"When you perform tuite - or grappling - it is important to move with
intent. For some locks, if in addition you vibrate as you perform your technique,
it magnifies the effect of the technique many times over. This relies on
the principle of 'complex torque'. The rapid motion in different directions
fools the brain and it cannot resist the move. The motion also potentiates
stimulation to the pain receptors so that they are triggered more easily.
I want you to experience this for yourself. Perform the motion smoothly,
and also by vibrating like this [demonstrates], just like you were shaking
from the cold, or its been a day or two since your last pint. Perform the
centre lock both ways, and use just enough effort to get the same effect
on your uke. Notice how much less effort it takes to make the vibration
motion work rather than the smooth motion - something like half as much
effort, or even less. Minor differences in technique can make a BIG difference
in effect so be very careful."
D. Flowing
red but not blue makes the technique more effective
"It has long been known that different colours have effects on people.
For example, if you want to calm someone down, put them in a blue room rather
than a red room. Red is associated with blood and flushed faces and excitement.
Blue with the sky and the ocean, which is very calming. The ancients knew
of the connection between colours and psychological responses, and argued
that imagining different colours increased the effectiveness of different
types of attack. Pressure points were said to lie on different meridians,
associated with different elements and colours. For this move, the centre
lock, for the way we are doing it, you are using a fire meridian to attack
a metal meridian. Imagining red flowing through your arm, into the opponent,
and out his opposite leg increases the amount of fire used in the attack
and dramatically increases the move's effectiveness. On the other hand,
imagining blue activates your water meridians, extinguishing the fire, dramatically
decreasing the move's effectiveness. You might find this hard to believe,
maybe you would prefer to think of it this way: Thinking red makes you more
alert, fires your adrenalin. Thinking blue calms you down, almost sedates
you. Thinking different colours means you do the move in subtly, almost
imperceptibly different ways. But you will be surprised just what a difference
the colours make. Try the move with both colours, use just enough effort
to get the same effect on your uke. Notice how much less effort it takes
to make the move work with red rather than blue - something like half as
much effort, or even less. Minor differences in technique can make a BIG
difference in effect so be very careful."
This Article was taken with permission from www.ussu.net/shotokan.
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