If birds gather, he is not there.
(Sun Tzu)
Danger
Be
aware of your surroundings at all times.
Is the ground slippery or strewn with objects? What is behind you? How is
the visibility?
Can you manoeuvre easily? Where is your exit? Is there any help nearby?
Self defence is not the
same as
fighting in a ring or a dojo. The physical environment is less
predictable.
You could be driven back into a wall, a fireplace or a glass. You may
simply trip and fall.
Accidents
What are 'accidents'? Are they random, unforeseen events,
independent of human influence?
No, they are not.
Usually, an accident is a situation involving negligence and
carelessness.
A person may be walking along the street and something falls on them from
above.
They are struck and fall to the ground.
From the victim's perspective, it was an accident.
In the case of a seeming accident, ask yourself: could it have been
prevented?
If the answer is yes, then an apparent accident was most likely not an
accident at all.
There was negligence, poor consideration and ignorance.
How many parents watch children teeter at the brink of disaster?
You warn them to take care and they ignore you, only to bang their heads a
moment later and start crying.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu thought that you should take very careful stock of your
surroundings.
You must maintain a constant awareness of what is
around you at all times, without losing your composure or
psychological calm.
In
self defence, you do not
want to fall victim to an 'accident'.
When stepping forwards or backwards, tread cautiously.
The
quote at the top of the page refers to the
presence of predators. Birds will not gather when a predator is nearby.
Sun Tzu is warning you to determine the danger of your surroundings relative
to the ambiance of the locale.
If the street is garbage-strewn, dark and lonely, it is not the place for
you to be.
Miyamoto Musashi
If you are attacked, avoid
flamboyance and over-commitment. Stay centred and composed,
detached and sensitive.
You cannot afford to get lost in the melee and forget where you are.
It is simply too dangerous.
Miyamoto Musashi's Book
of Five Rings contains many tips and pointers concerning your
surroundings, your conduct and your
composure.
He emphasised the latter most of all and so do we.
Our syllabus simply will not work if you are
tense, spaced-out or
aggressive.
In the moment
Never lose your sense of where you are.
Stay
rooted in the here and
now, in the
real.
Detached.
Present. Composed. Relaxed.
Do not get lost in thoughts and anxieties. Pay attention to what is in
front of you.
Your surroundings are very important. See what is there. See who is there.
Make note of the layout, positioning, options, choices and variables but do
not plan anything. Just
look.
Page created 21 January 1999