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| Original Source: judo.forumsmotion.com |
Tai Sabaki
Applying the principles of a
vital physical skill into mental and emotional self defense applications.
By: Sensei Dave DeGrouchie,
Rokudan.
Tai Sabaki is a term used to describe the defensive movement, of body positioning
in the Japanese martial arts. However, the concept is used in any type of self
defense or sport combat activity. Moving one's body in a way that allows the
defender to reposition, avoid harm, and end up in a more advantageous position,
is, what is referred to as Tai Sabaki.
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| Source:tsubakijournal.over-blog.com |
The use of Tai Sabaki allows the defender to
avoid the attack of the assailant, and place his or her self in a position
where they can respond with the best solution for the situation. In some
martial arts, a vital point strike, or perhaps a take down or control
technique, follows a Tai Sabaki motion. In some martial arts, it is taught that
simply repositioning the body out of harm's way is all that one should aim for.
Which is better, best advised, etc., is a subject best covered by its own write
up. For this particular writing, I would like to stay the course on the subject
line, which suggests using Tai Sabaki beyond the physical.
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| Source: hiroshiryu.wordpress.com |
In the martial arts, we are taught that the
greatest opponent is ourselves. Do we really know what that means? In brief, we
are the base of our own negative feelings, and reactions. The human machine
seems to naturally react based on hurt, confusion, how we look in the eyes of
others, etc. Outside forces are not what determine these feelings and
reactions. How we chose to digest situations, and whether or not we choose to
respond by act, or feeling, is the determining factor of whether or not
something affects us or not. Other people's actions do not form our reality.
Our own reactions do.
We spend years on the physical aspects of the
martial arts, but often tend to overlook the mental and emotional applications
of our practice. Just about any physical martial arts technique has both a mental
and emotional application to it as well.
What???? Sounds a bit nutty, doesn’t it? Let
me illustrate with a few brief examples.
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| Source: www.shidokanmontreal.ca |
Control and restraint techniques: These are
used, in a physical sense, to stop an attack, not totally defeat the attacker,
but void their attempt at inflicting harm. These techniques are done in the hopes
that the attacker can be calmed down, and discouraged from attacking any
further. We can apply this aptitude mentally and emotionally as well when faced
with a difficult situation by paying enough attention to the situation, and
taking a long hard look at it, until we arrive at the best possible resolve, or
course of action.
So, if we are to give the above two examples
some clear, fair, serious thought, we see the truth in the fact that the
attributes developed in physical technique, can be applied to mental and
emotional situations as well. Indeed, the physical techniques of the martial arts
do have a mental and emotional application to them. It’s in the aptitudes
developed. Follow thus far?
Now that we understand this, we can understand
how we can apply the aptitudes developed in Tai Sabaki, to mental and emotional
self defense situations. Let's take a closer look:
If from a physical sense, Tai Sabaki is used
by defenders to reposition themselves out of harm’s way against a physical
attack....can they not do the same with emotional and mental attacks? When you
are attacked by the words and/or opinions of others, can you not choose to
sidestep the attack, and not allow it to affect you? When you are faced with a
stressful situation of any kind, rather than stand directly in front of it and
get hit by it head on, can you not reposition yourself mentally and emotionally
so that the situation does not consume your entire reality? To get the body out
of harm's way, we move. To get our minds and emotions out of harm’s way, we
decide what to focus on, and what not to. We change our mental position.
It goes without saying, that applying Tai
Sabaki, or "repositioning", to mental and emotional situations is
possible, but not easy to do at the outset. It does require training. What
powers your reactions and responses? Your mind. Do you know how to manage your
levels of consciousness, otherwise known as brain cycles? If not, you will need
to. Feel free to contact me anytime for some tips in that regard.
In order to be able to fully understand and
apply the use of Tai Sabaki attributes mentally and emotionally, you will need
to experience emotional and mental attacks from the world around you. That isn't
hard to find! Embrace these training opportunities, because that is what they
are. Not world enders, not life destroyers, but training opportunities.
Learning to embrace adversity as a developmental tool is already an example of
Tai Sabaki being applied in your own life, on a mental and emotional level. We
tend to stress over negative situations, but in truth, they are the building
blocks to true self esteem, self-worth, and fortitude.
It is best to not allow negative situations to
control your reality. Negativity is mental and emotional warfare. Like in any altercation,
defend your well being, but never fight. There is a difference. If an attacker
throws a punch at you, is it best to punch back, or not be in the way of his
strike? If a person verbally attacks you, is it best to verbally respond, or
just stay silent? We are fighting when we return the negative behavior that is
thrust upon us in the same manner as it has been delivered. That is not martial
arts. We are defending ourselves when we do not allow the negative behavior to
have its intended affect. This is the ultimate power that each of us holds at
all times. That is martial arts at work.
Get out of the way when the attacker swings.
That is Tai Sabaki. Understand that you control the effect mental and emotional
attacks have on you, so choose to not allow such attacks to have any power.
That is applying the attributes of Tai Sabaki, mentally and emotionally. Shift
your mental focus.
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| Source: pakuachangjournal.com |
We get out of the way physically, by moving.
We get out of the way mentally and emotionally by choosing not to invest
ourselves in the mental or emotional attack. Keep in mind that the effects of
mental and emotional attacks are empowered by the amount of attention YOU choose
to place on them, and the amount of importance YOU decide they have. Doesn't
martial arts training cultivate confidence, self-esteem, and inner strength?
Then you should do just fine.
Tai Sabaki in its most simple definition is
getting out of the way of an attack. Be sure to get yourself out of the way of
mental and emotional attacks as well. Physical attacks are not as frequent as
mental and emotional attacks. You will face attacks mentally and emotionally
often in life. Each time you do, is a training opportunity. It's your chance to
practice Tai Sabaki type attributes, mentally and emotionally.
Thank you, Dave! Having worked
as a health and safety consultant, I can certainly attest to the usefulness of
martial concepts such as Tai Sabaki in the realm of everyday life, particularly
when it comes to emotional health. I encourage readers to contact Dave if you’d
like to explore concepts such as Tai Sabaki a little further. You can reach him
at dojofit@yahoo.ca
Dave DeGrouchie is a
lifetime martial artist based in Bathurst, NB. Starting in martial arts at age
8 in 1983, he has been studying the arts for 32 years, having spent the last 22
years as an instructor. Dave has trained in and taught Japanese JuJutsu, Sport
Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Mixed Martial Arts, and has taught self defense
to various groups, as well as training combat sports fighters on both an
amateur and professional level. In 1999, he founded the World Budo Alliance, an
international martial arts instructors organization that at one time had
members in 18 nations. Lately, Dave's focus is more on being a student than an
instructor, and he invests his time in
the martial arts training in the material he knows best, exploring other systems,
and writing on various martial arts topics.
Readers may also be interested in THE MARTIAL ARTIST'S GUIDE TO THE USE OF BRAIN WAVES
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