I placed it on GENERAL ISSUES yesterday, but maybe it should be more apropriate hear to get coments.I have been training karate for 13 years in a 4 times a week basis.I never take competitions but I am keen on kumite, and I have been an average black belt.Yesterday I was very relaxed walking near my home and sudenly two man were waking by in the oposite direction and one jumped over me, grasped by the shirt and had a knife in the other hand...It took me "hours" to realize the knife and that it was a real situation.The other older guy was very calm indeed and maybe had a weapon too, I just didn not look at him.I freezed, talked with them and said that I had not the cell phone they wanted and I gave them the money they wanted too and went away safely.From the replays I got (THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS, U HELPED ME A LOT, HOW GREAT WAS TO GET THAT SUPPORT FROM YOU FELLOWS!) my no reaction was ok and safe.But now I know that a real knife is diferent from in doors studio and that I have that freezing adrenaline unconvenient response.What can I do to overcome such a disability?Any helpefull coments ? thank you
I hope this comment finds you well in the helpful part.. When it comes to weapons i'd say that the "freezing" response is your BEST response. Theres no two ways about it in my opinion, if someones sticking a gun at you or a knife then theres a high chance if you fight you'll get injured/seriously injured/killed. If however no weapons are involved that makes it slightly less good with the freezing if you feel you can use your MA experience effectivly. The only way you can get used to that is by experience IMO. maybe competitions would be a good way to start? Hope that helps.
Compete, spar, fight, then when you freeze against an armed assailent, it will be through choice. If he's unarmed kick his ass. Might not work, but certainly won't harm your martial arts.
I have to agree with Mixitup. The more times you put yourself in high adrenaline situations, like facing a really tough opponent you've never met before in a tournament, the better you'll become at "adrenaline management" (c).* BTW even if you'd just won the world championships in sparring, a guy with a knife to your throat just earned what little money you were carrying. You did the right thing. Is it worth it to possibly die for walking around money? Not in my opinion. As the Christians say "Lord Give me the strength to change what I can and the patience to endure what I can't change and the wisdom to know the difference." * I'm copyrighting that. Sounds like a good title for a book!
