On the surface, the lessons learned in Martial Arts appear to be useful in the defense of a physical confrontation but if we make an effort to look closer, we'll see that much of what we learn can be used as self-defense in all of life's trying moments. Life has a way of testing us and many times, due to peer pressures, insecurities, or anger we make the decision to act before we have actually given ourselves the time to select the best or correct response. If you’re like me, you then carry the burden of regretting your action(s) and having to go back and correct the inappropriate response that you hastily dished out.
At Lee's Martial Arts, located in San Jose, California, owner Jerry Maloney uses a technique known as the "Critical Distance Line". It is a point of distance where one person can strike another before they have a chance to react. If your inside that line, your in the Critical Zone. Outside would be the Safety Zone. If your attacking, the trick is to get inside of the Critical distance line, strike, and move out of the Critical Zone without being struck. If you’re being attacked, your goal is to control the Critical Distance Line.
To further understand controlling the Critical Distance Line it is helpful to know the components of determining it. When an attack is directed towards you, there are 3 steps you need to go through in order to avoid and counter it. First, Mental Awareness Speed. The time it takes for you to realize something is happening. Second, Mental Processing Speed. The time it takes for you to decide a response and send that message to the body. And Last, Physical Reaction Speed. The time it takes for you to react to a message from the mind. As you can see, to complete these 3 steps in time to avoid an attack, it is necessary to build in some distance.
When related to sparring this is all very straight forward but how can this philosophy relate to other aspects of life? Although situations occasionally blindside us without warning, the great thing about most of life, as opposed to sparring, is that we control the time we need to get through the Mental Processing Speed. It could be as simple as planning your schedule so that your not late for a meeting, deciding to stay off the roads on a holiday, or evaluating the importance of a statement before you blurt it out. These are all examples of how we can keep from unnecessarily entering the Critical Zone.
Essentially, individuals will distance themselves to the point where he or she can decide the response that meets their comfort level. When confronted, some folks will avoid a heated debate by holding back verbally while others will spew out comments hoping it will spur conversation. Everything is relative to the person(s) involved and the level of passion they feel toward a given instance. But knowing yourself isn't the only challenge.
We must also be aware of the potential threat that is involved. In sparring, I might distance myself further from someone who has a longer reach while someone who is quicker than myself might not be as threatened. Similarly, I will distance myself from someone who would be overly sensitive to something I wanted to say or do in a given situation. If you can initiate an action and get a response that is positive, then you have used your Mental Processing Speed to your benefit. If the outcome is less than desirable, then increase the distance between the topic and yourself.
As in Martial Arts, you'll find that applying the Critical Distance Line technique to everyday situations allows more time to think and avoids intentionally offending anyone physically or verbally.