When we think of fighting techniques, we usually consider only physical actions.
In this article I would like to talk a bit about the psychological techniques that are applied to combat.
Not only are these techniques something you may never have heard of, but the source of the information may also surprise you.
Psychological well-being is very important not only if you are a professional competitor or use self-defense moves against a surprise attack on the street, but also in life in general. It is said that the most successful people have the ‘win mentality’ and in fact a small rainforest has given itself over to the mountain of self help books, DVD’s and even decks of cards which claim to give you this ‘win mentality’ in exchange for a certain amount of profit.
Good performance comes from experience, knowledge and, of course, a decrease (or control) of fear.
A certain amount of fear is healthy. It keeps wild animals safe and alert, always on the lookout for predators that may be lurking in the bush.
In a self-defense situation, it keeps you alert and helps you avoid unnecessary confrontations that could endanger your life. In competitive matches it helps you to be alert to your opponent’s attacks and to maintain a good defense. But unnecessary fear can overwhelm you and lead to inaction, whether it’s fighting, communicating, or even preventing you from taking action in any facet of your life. Controlling that fear and not letting it control you is a crucial step toward psychological well-being. (Don’t let the tail wag the dog like they say).
One person who has largely controlled his fear is Charles Bronson, not the actor but “Britain’s most dangerous prisoner.” He has quite a reputation when he comes to fight.
One startling revelation from Mr. Bronson is that he uses a yoga technique he once learned from a fellow inmate who was a martial artist. Charles said that he once used it to psych himself up before jumping off a prison landing to punch a prisoner and kick a steel door off its hinges. He now claims that he has controlled his temper and improved himself using the same technique but with a different application. (Phew!)
Tea Kapalbhati Pranayamaas it is called is a breathing and meditation exercise that has been used for centuries in the East and has been tried by many. Without going into all the technique, in this article you can find many examples of Kapalbhati Pranayamathrough an online search engine.
It may well be that this technique, if used by more competitors, is another ingredient in MMA finding the best martial art, as the potential benefits of using it in competition are huge, and so are the long-term benefits to your mental health ( and physics). welfare and not just to ‘hit the nonce in g-wing!’
As for the punch power, he also talks about the ‘cow punch technique’. What he says is that you have toButler your punch to deal power and damage, not half-punches, but a punch that butlers to hit the target with maximum impact.
This is one of my favorite fighting techniques and very good advice. If you’re hitting focus pads, the heavy bag, or any target, make sure there’s intention behind the strike. By concentrating on each attack, he will see the results for himself, instantly!