Learning to fall properly

[loreta]

This morning I published an article about this subject in Sott Spanish. You will see a little video, what type of exercises the old people are doing. I think these exercises give a certain "power" to old people, as if the were again in contact with their bodies. They work balance, flexibility and the old people use their brain, they feel better, more secure, more in contact with themselves. They seem very happy!


http://es.sott.net/article/45393-Como-aprender-a-caer-bien-sin-hacerse-dano-video

 

[obyvatel]

This is about stumbling or slipping and falling (literally). Falls are common cause of injuries especially among the elderly.

So, a post with helpful info like this is always timely, I'd say. Thanks for sharing.

I'm exceeding my own post limit. But I sincerely hope this illustrates my point about analytical discipline (effort.)

I did not find it so.

[quote author=sitting]

This falling issue is critical. My next door neighbor -- lady in her late 60's -- died from a fall. (Rushing to pick up ringing phone.) I know numerous hip replacement victims. It's so widespread that it's scary.
[/quote]

Indeed.

[quote author=sitting]
I believe I know something about falling. Eight years of karate, 18 years of taichi, 45 years on the ice, 45 years on the slopes. Plus close observation of judo (Olympic caliber) and jujitsu. (This may sound like bragging -- but it's a fact.)
[/quote]
ok

[quote author=sitting]
The techniques in the police video are actually dangerous.

It's all from judo. The hard hand slap is for (kinetic) energy dissipation. Great on a judo mat, bone breaking possibly on any hard surface. For non-believers, just try it. On concrete (sidewalk), or hard wood (home.) And do give it a real good whack!
[/quote]

Maybe. I have tried it on hard tiles and hard wooden floors. I did not give it a "good whack" as it was not the point. The idea as far as I understand it is to meet the ground with the flat palms in such a way that the elbows or the wrist do not hit the ground. Or that is the way I look at it.

[quote author=sitting]
That 95 year old (demonstration) was indeed impressive. But it's all done on a mat (mattress,) or trampoline. It isn't real life. (And I'm in no way downplaying his obvious agility.)
[/quote]

Given that you have such extensive experience in martial arts this comment is quite surprising to me. One practices techniques in a safe environment to prevent injury. One practices so that if ever they need it in real life, they can react automatically based on muscle memory of training.

[quote author=sitting]
Anyone (advanced in age) falling, will face unknown risks. And that brings up the subject of prevention. A greater balance awareness can reduce (not eliminate) the chances of falling. That needs to be stressed as well.
[/quote]

Sure. It is better not to lose one's footing and learning to balance better is a very useful skill.


Now coming back to the topic of "analytical discipline", IMO it would include at its outset the context. People without martial arts or some type of gymnastic background are generally not trained or aware of falling properly. So the first step is to bring the topic of falling into awareness.

The next step is to have some instruction which would hopefully help people to think about it in a real way. The skill involves physical movement, not thinking. So a video is useful to see how it can be done. Without any instruction, it is just another piece of information, like so many others vying for the readers' attention. Adding the video does not mean it will have the intended effect but it increases the chances.

Buddy just acknowledged the above two factors and that for some reason provoked a response from you.

Was the police video the best example of falling instruction? I do not think so. I was looking for something which would be suitable for more people and would not involve advanced martial arts training. There could be better ones out there. After Loreta's comments, I could find another one. Others in this thread have contributed by posting some more examples. None of them are perfect. But if it gets a few people who did not think about this topic earlier to pay attention and do something about developing the skill, it would more than serve its purpose.

Now I am not sure but the tone of your post suggested that it was dangerous to post the video on police training. If someone were to use it, they would get hurt in real life. I do not agree. Assuming someone was going to practice the technique from the video, I reiterated two points one of which was explicitly covered in the training video snippet itself and the other was more implicit. They are: start from close to the ground and use a soft surface to prevent possibility of injury. Besides, my thinking was that policemen, for their own good, have motivation to learn this skill as they have far more chance of ending up in the ground unexpectedly and violently than any martial arts practitioner in a dojo. If what they are learning do not work, they would be breaking their own bones left and right and that would lead to a modification in their training routines.

So in case your point was that something "dangerous" was being suggested and others like Buddy were lapping it up without "analytical discipline or effort", it is debatable. BTW, Buddy has martial arts experience and if my memory serves me right, some emergency/police service experience as well. The point is he may be in a position to know something practical about this topic as well.

If you know this topic well, share your input skillfully so that others can potentially benefit in a practical way.

 

[sitting]

So in case your point was that something "dangerous" was being suggested and others like Buddy were lapping it up without "analytical discipline or effort", it is debatable.

It was unfair of me, to use your post -- as a jousting object -- in my (somewhat heated) exchange with Buddy. I may have over exaggerated certain points, in furthering my arguments. I'm sorry.

You brought up a most important topic. For seniors especially. But for any age, falling can often mean disaster. For that reason, I most often encourage youngsters to take up judo, not karate. Skating too is good. And I always suggest taichi to older people. For greater balance awareness.

I want to thank you for bringing up this important issue. And I hope you will accept my apology for any shortcomings on my part.

FWIW.

 

[sitting]

Do you think it is the same idea?

I think it's roughly the same idea.

But this is a concept with infinite range. From "simple" to "exceedingly profound." At the profound end of the spectrum, I view it as a certain lightheartedness. With simplicity & elegance at its core. (Almost emptiness like.)

But I could be wrong.

FWIW.

 

[Buddy]

BTW, Buddy has martial arts experience and if my memory serves me right, some emergency/police service experience as well. The point is he may be in a position to know something practical about this topic as well.

If you know this topic well, share your input skillfully so that others can potentially benefit in a practical way.

I'll give it a go.

Lt. Dan Marcou (Ret.) emphasized from the outset that this presentation is about how he learned how to fall and how he personally would train someone to fall. To ignore his implication that this was not intended to be the perfect method for everyone is to miss his point, I think, and any danger in it seems relative.

By tucking the chin (turtling up) and slapping the palm, the majority of the impact from a fall, using this side and rear falling maneuver, is absorbed by the meaty or fleshy portions of the body. The intention seems to be to limit as much bone contact with the ground as possible and in such a way that otherwise an entire arm or leg could be disabled, potentially increasing the percentage of helplessness or dependency the person might experience afterwards. The hand slap might be dangerous or cause injury if done too forcefully, but IMO, the idea of at least having the palm facing the ground during contact, even if you just cup the hand, is important for keeping the elbow safer. I believe he did mention cupping the hand for the rear fall technique.

The tuck-and-roll maneuver for front falls is pretty standard tactics in police and military training and works well to prevent injury. It was also standard training for the rear-falling maneuver we learned at Otay lakes, CA the day some friends and I went for our first static-line jump from 3000 feet in a Cessna - a business which, at that time, was being run by a retired marine who had a lot of training in this area. The way it works for a rear fall is to let the knees collapse and guide your body weight to one side or the other and go into the side fall. What makes it a reverse tuck and roll is simply the momentum from the drop from a height greater than just standing, so that may not be so relevant here; just including it for thoroughness, I guess.

Anyway and, of course, ANY impact to the body, even from movements intended to prevent impact damage, has the potential to cause injury, but the greatest injuries from falls seems to come mostly from the 'sudden stop' aspect of bone and joint impacts. This is why Dan mentions, more than once, that our tendency is to put out the arms and hands (which also tends to lock the elbows) to stop a fall and that tendency would be worth trying to overcome in order to fall without injury.

The only danger accompanying Dan's techniques that I see, relates more to the general danger mentioned previously and that concerns the potential for injury during any movement of the body.

I also agree with the comment that a technique would be best 'trained in' ahead of the time of an accidental or unintentional fall and that there won't be time for thinking it out during an actual fall.

IMO, the body has an extraordinary native intelligence that operates somewhat independently of the slower conscious mind and much faster. Without training, and without interference from deliberating conscious word trains, the body can be trusted to minimize damage to itself in a wide variety of situations if the situations occur naturally and are not contrived. So, with just a little bit of training, like from a video such as this, potential injury has a chance of being minimized even further.

My opinions on this subject represent my life experience and some training in the areas obyvatel mentioned and other areas I've never mentioned. It all begins in early youth when I was determined to find out for myself if life as a Tarzan would actually be possible. From there, experience simply accumulated as I progressed through some kung-fu practice with a Vietnamese buddy in High School, through the military and on through graduating a regional police academy and then taking on some personal training with a whiz in Wing-Chun and the 1-2 boxing technique with a focus on Ray Floro's non-telegraphing punch; this last being an essential component in the "Strike" physical protection training method within Robert Humphrey's 'Life Values' program. It just provides a confidence base for defending your own life values from the predatorial population.

So, I still recommend the video and would simply suggest to anyone who thinks their physical condition(s) or personal preference would be better served by something else, to use this opportunity to find something more suitable for you while the topic has your attention. And maybe post it here to help others.

Main thing to take-away from this, I think, is to fall on the meaty parts of the body with bony areas tucked in and, if possible, fall flat on the back with chin and arms pulled into the center-line of the body. I'm no expert, though, so just take all this as my thoughts on the topic. Thanks for the opportunity.

 

[Voyageur]

It all begins in early youth when I was determined to find out for myself if life as a Tarzan would actually be possible.

:D good one.

Points taken!

 

[Rich]

This morning I published an article about this subject in Sott Spanish. You will see a little video, what type of exercises the old people are doing. I think these exercises give a certain "power" to old people, as if the were again in contact with their bodies. They work balance, flexibility and the old people use their brain, they feel better, more secure, more in contact with themselves. They seem very happy!

http://es.sott.net/article/45393-Como-aprender-a-caer-bien-sin-hacerse-dano-video

Thanks for sharing. Exercises for the elderly are brilliant and should be essential training for all. Really could save a great deal of pain, injury, suffering and trauma. Agree with you on giving "power" to the elderly. Can see it would provide much needed confidence in our fast-changing environments which can make many scared to carry out daily activities that would be beneficial to them.

 

[Corvus]

We did that falls on the academy, like said they are taken from judo and it is done in bjj as basics. Yes, on the pavement you would get bruised because it is very hard surface unless you are experienced judoka, but still less hurt then not knowing basics and breaking something.

It was the only useful thing we learned there, so that argument that if that is used by police or military then it must be useful, do not count on it everywhere, because we also did those standing locks from standard jiu jitsu and that was a nightmare to watch and do because in reality applicability is close to 0 per cent in real situations if there is resistance, but off course you do simulations only. Someone who has done bjj would laugh his ass off at seeing it because that person knows how it is hard to make a lock on the ground, especially if the person is much stronger and heavier and knowledgeable, not mentioning it in standing position. Yes, the weight and strength is big plus when it comes to sports like bjj, judo, wrestling but also and the knowledge/experience.

That program is from the 80-ties, too outdated, just showing you what kind of idiocrats run the place, and is based on french and german model they say. I am not applying it is like that in every country because some have more realistic approaches. But still what can you expect when the people writing that are birocrats and writing it from their chairs. I did some bit of a bjj some time ago(some basic skills) and when we were for a month at the anti riot police, that are more specialized and trained, three guys(two weighing 10 kg s more then me) that were also of my rank on probation for basic and border police could not subdue me, in the end I let them, others started to laugh and the instructor got angry at them and said it is not funny, but told that in the end they succeeded. And when they were testing us, one guy was punching and kicking the bag, and it was horrible to watch because technique was so bad, instructor asks him did he train anything, he said he is training muay thai, instructor says I can see, and I am laughing inside myself because I did it a bit also and train technique at home on my bag and will start it again in some club recreationally. Incompetent people all over, no wonder the state is in a such a rotten state, just a micro picture of how other state institutions work, because it is all connections and nepotism.

Normally, some naive eat that story because they did not train anything in their life or did not train in martial arts, of course you can not expect that from them based on their knowledge, they know some basics(even that is weakly trained, once a year for a week) but when in real situation when it does not go as teached they are kind of shocked, nothing better to get punched in the face to wake up to the reality that without the pain, sweat, blood and tears there is no other way of learning real martial arts like experienced 90-100kg guy in bjj puting his knee in your ribs or sitting on your lungs, and you are already dead tired after few minutes in a 5 min round and barley breathing.

I ve been there and know it is hard road when taken seriously and competitively, especially when older and satiated already to taking new martial arts(same principle everywhere and asking yourself I do not need this s... in my life starting all over again), constricted with time and having other more useful things to do, so I do it recreationally only, because I am satiated with it but also know you need them in this world in a way, only regretting not taking that kind of more useful arts in earlier age.

 

[Buddy]

...but when in real situation when it does not go as teached they are kind of shocked, nothing better to get punched in the face to wake up to the reality that without the pain, sweat, blood and tears there is no other way of learning real martial arts like experienced 90-100kg guy in bjj puting his knee in your ribs or sitting on your lungs, and you are already dead tired after few minutes in a 5 min round and barley breathing.

I ve been there and know it is hard road when taken seriously and competitively, especially when older and satiated already to taking new martial arts(same principle everywhere and asking yourself I do not need this s... in my life starting all over again), constricted with time and having other more useful things to do, so I do it recreationally only, because I am satiated with it but also know you need them in this world in a way, only regretting not taking that kind of more useful arts in earlier age.

I don't see any real need for regret. If a person wants to learn martial arts because they think it might be needed for self-protection some day, like in a street fight, I'd say stay away from formal, competitive training. IRL, you're only going to have about 30 seconds to do whatever you're going to do in your own defense, anyway. When the body mobilizes energy for self-protection, its default mode is to throw everything into that first 30 seconds. You've got to make that time count, so if the possibility of a street fight is a reality for someone, then they might do better to try alternative approaches, like from this guy:

Wing Chun Tai Chi JKD - Master Wong
_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORAOkP1h3R0

If the above is not your style because you want something effective, but that also allows a path for advancement over time, then I would go for no less than ROSS Systema Russian Martial Art.

Here's General Alexander Retuinskih, Founder of ROSS Systema, Distinguished Master of Sport in Sambo, demonstrating some moves. Note the first part of the video shows the same front shoulder roll that Dr. Miguel Hadid is helping those ladies perform in that video on that page loreta linked, except that the arm is not tucked in for this technique.

_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKqLoZmfPGs


Added:

Joint mobility and fluidity of movement can be improved with Scott Sonnon's Intu-Flow Joint Mobility Program. Google the phrase "intu flow" and pick from what comes up. The entire beginner and intermediate series is posted on you-tube under the title, The IntuFlow Mobility Series.

 

[Corvus]

If a person wants to learn martial arts because they think it might be needed for self-protection some day, like in a street fight, I'd say stay away from formal, competitive training. IRL, you're only going to have about 30 seconds to do whatever you're going to do in your own defense, anyway. When the body mobilizes energy for self-protection, its default mode is to throw everything into that first 30 seconds. You've got to make that time count, so if the possibility of a street fight is a reality for someone, then they might do better to try alternative approaches, like from this guy:

I know that a street fight is different, brutal, there are no rules, groins, eyes, etc... I did krav maga for a year, it is a different mindset on the street, as you said fast and violent approach. But still found they lack more sparring to get used psychologically to punches, it is better for persons who had some back ground in another martial arts, defense against knife and gun I think is not realistic. For a gun at close range it is but if guy has two neurons he won t close a distance, and against knife if person can handle the knife I do not want to go even there, I would advise running in that situation. But still even good standing art like muay thai can be enough against multiple opponents if there are no guns and knives, and on the ground bjj but normally against one unarmed opponent, other ways you ll get stomped.

Here's General Alexander Retuinskih, Founder of ROSS Systema, Distinguished Master of Sport in Sambo, demonstrating some moves. Note the first part of the video shows the same front shoulder roll that Dr. Miguel Hadid is helping those ladies perform in that video on that page loreta linked, except that the arm is not tucked in for this technique.

_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKqLoZmfPGs

I am familiar with systema, it is completely different style, I have no love for israelis and when compered to systema I would choosen systema but there is no systema in my city, they have more spiritual approach(that is why Japanese were not so easy to teach westerners at first), and that is what is lacking with most westernized and commercialized martial arts losing their traditional values today, but in the end you do with what you have. As Gichin Funakoshi said: "In the past, masters would first look at the character of potential students before agreeing to teach them. Those whose natures were deemed inappropriate, even in the case of one's own child, were strictly forbidden from re-ceiving training in the martial arts", “Spirit first, technique second”, “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.” And it was job done in my case, I remember my roots. Most of these artist today do not understand the essence, want a quick ego fix and spot of fame but with more traditional arts it is the life long and hard quest, way of life.

 

[sitting]

As Gichin Funakoshi said: "In the past, masters would first look at the character of potential students before agreeing to teach them.

Interesting you mentioned Funakoshi.

He was actually Okinawan, not Japanese. And his source material came from Fujian, China. He made modifications -- out of which came the Japan Karate Association (JKA.)

I studied with several of his first disciples (JKA instructors) sent to America. These guys were impressive to say the least. Okasaki in Philadelphia ... Mori in NYC. But I only saw videos of Nishiyama in CA.

(Bruce Lee would face serious trouble with them -- in my opinion. And Chuck Norris would be a cake-walk. They were that good.)

From my experience, I was impressed with the techniques but less with their innate spiritual development. (This is a rather harsh assessment but that's the way I feel.) The general dojo "mental aura" is one of harshness & aggressiveness (not calm) ... and excessive preoccupation (on the part of students) with belt rankings. Other people may have had different experiences.

I stopped my karate practice in 2000. And moved to the Chinese internal disciplines ... mostly taichi. At a proficient level, taichi is an effective fighting form (when needed.) Plus its health benefits are substantial.

FWIW.

 

[Bar Kochba]

I recall practicing throwing and being thrown on a hardwood floor and concrete, learning "how to fall correctly" in my first year in martial arts. I practiced so much that it's ingrained as a reflex now; that's the tough part of teaching someone something that goes against a natural learned reflex. Normally, when most people fall, they want to stick their arm out straight, wrist bent, and bear the brunt of the fall on the palm of their hand. Why this is a reflex, I'm not sure, but I've seen it time and time again. It's very difficult to unlearn this. Repetition breeds technique, so practicing the actual move over and over is the best way to have it available when you most need it.

Just like sparring. No matter what your martial art, if you don't full contact spar and get hit or submitted or thrown, you won't ever really know for sure if what you've been practicing will really work. And you will never really know how you will actually react during an adrenaline-packed physical confrontation. Hopefully, that will never happen; but what is the point of having a tool if you do not sharpen/grease it and ensure its readiness?

 

[Buddy]

I know that a street fight is different, brutal, there are no rules, groins, eyes, etc... I did krav maga for a year, it is a different mindset on the street, as you said fast and violent approach. But still found they lack more sparring to get used psychologically to punches,...

Somewhere within the whole of the krav maga, systema, spetsnaz and the combat Sambo Systema approach, are instructors who focus their training on dealing with the fear of being hit. I've seen some video demonstrations and based on that, I'd say the shortest, most efficient route to "get used psychologically to punches" is to simply get punched a lot by an instructor who will not physically damage you but will allow plenty of opportunity to let you move through the various phases of red-faced annoyance, anger, humiliation, fear or whatever comprises one's psychological resistance to being hit. Since your fear-training instructor will be better trained than you, there's no risk to him from your anger. Worst-case scenario is that you'll get so mad you'll just stomp off fuming and not come back.

No doubt some students could not handle fear training and did walk out never to return, but that's not a bad thing since you could waste a lot of time and energy in training someone only to see it evaporate and get that student hurt when he gets hit and loses his cool. I understand that Russians incorporate some fear training for their military and is one reason why those troops are respected as professionals.

defense against knife and gun I think is not realistic. For a gun at close range it is but if guy has two neurons he won t close a distance, and against knife if person can handle the knife I do not want to go even there, I would advise running in that situation. But still even good standing art like muay thai can be enough against multiple opponents if there are no guns and knives, and on the ground bjj but normally against one unarmed opponent, other ways you ll get stomped.

At the practical, physical level, there's no perfect 'way' for everyone in any situation.

“Spirit first, technique second” might better apply here if you'll interpret "spirit" as "breath" in this context. Breath control is extremely important. When folks came to understand the ideal ratio between carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body, they developed "tactical breathing" for specific situations, from stopping hyperventilation to finding that 'sweet spot' in the overall breathing pattern where there is the maximum attentional focus and maximum physical force possible.

Tactical breathing also reduces stress, helping you to calm down. It helps control the affects of adrenaline in your system. That's useful even for just dealing with bullies. Combined with the knowledge of the control pause and with practice, you may even develop a limited ability to kinda see like in slow motion during a physical encounter. There's nothing mystical about this, it's about getting cognitively closer to the actual "now" that your senses experience. If you've ever played with a friendly, energetic dog, you already know that no matter how fast you are at trying to touch him first, his paws are already there to meet your hand by the time you make contact. That's what I'm talking about.

Not much I can say about a gunshot from a distance. Best thing is probably prevention by just trying to live a good, decent life...to stay calm, breathe to keep your stress levels down and your focus as sharp as possible in dangerous territory. More and more police officers and military personnel are being trained in tactical breathing for use if they do get stabbed or shot in order to control shock and other effects from the limbic reaction to trauma.

That said, from a practical standpoint, this is about as comprehensive as I can make any answer to these concerns.

Closer to the topic, learning to fall properly can also be enhanced with a little bit of breath control. In the video presentation opening this thread, Dan mentioned having the lungs emptied of air at impact with the ground. That's useful because if you've already expelled the air before contact, you can't have it knocked out of you. Also, Bar Kochba's emphasis on "how will you know if you don't try" is well placed here, I think.

 

[Corvus]

Interesting you mentioned Funakoshi.

He was actually Okinawan, not Japanese. And his source material came from Fujian, China. He made modifications -- out of which came the Japan Karate Association (JKA.)

Yeah, I know I trained it for 13 years, from when I was 8 years old, was state champion in my kilo class, few times third, and many others competitions, was in national team, but had a moment when I wanted to throw all that medals in the basket when I quit. But still it is a good basics to have, some others went to mma later and got successful, but that is a joke also, one professional fighter from one discipline like modified kyokushin kai and shoto kan, muay thai, bjj that has trained it from childhood and modified it with other arts for mma can take most of those new born juiced up fighters (training it for a few years) if they had a will because they do not have such a good base, discipline and prior experience.

From my experience, I was impressed with the techniques but less with their innate spiritual development. (This is a rather harsh assessment but that's the way I feel.) The general dojo "mental aura" is one of harshness & aggressiveness (not calm) ... and excessive preoccupation (on the part of students) with belt rankings. Other people may have had different experiences.

I stopped my karate practice in 2000. And moved to the Chinese internal disciplines ... mostly taichi. At a proficient level, taichi is an effective fighting form (when needed.) Plus its health benefits are substantial.

Yes, too much of a tradition closes the mind for new things, with to little of it it loses it s discipline, purpose and spirit. I agree that in japanese traditional styles there is harshness but it is for the purpose of building strong will, but as said there are variety of persons who do it for many different reasons and purposes. I agree when it comes to belts. You quit it in right time because it all went downward from them, tradition was lost with the spirit in Gichin style for the purpose of gaining more people, popularity and money, self defense was totally forgotten. I remember when I was a kid and did sparr with stronger guys, you got hit many times and there were also ko s on competitions, white thin gloves, the philosophy was always on precision and speed, explosivity, one hit. Just compare it then with now:

Then:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=292RJFjGCKA

Now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr5eL1PGHkQ

Just like sparring. No matter what your martial art, if you don't full contact spar and get hit or submitted or thrown, you won't ever really know for sure if what you've been practicing will really work. And you will never really know how you will actually react during an adrenaline-packed physical confrontation. Hopefully, that will never happen; but what is the point of having a tool if you do not sharpen/grease it and ensure its readiness?

I totally agree with you.

Somewhere within the whole of the krav maga, systema, spetsnaz and the combat Sambo Systema approach, are instructors who focus their training on dealing with the fear of being hit. I've seen some video demonstrations and based on that, I'd say the shortest, most efficient route to "get used psychologically to punches" is to simply get punched a lot by an instructor who will not physically damage you but will allow plenty of opportunity to let you move through the various phases of red-faced annoyance, anger, humiliation, fear or whatever comprises one's psychological resistance to being hit.

That is why I did it and do when training with the help of others or alone.

“Spirit first, technique second” might better apply here if you'll interpret "spirit" as "breath" in this context. Breath control is extremely important. When folks came to understand the ideal ratio between carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body, they developed "tactical breathing" for specific situations, from stopping hyperventilation to finding that 'sweet spot' in the overall breathing pattern where there is the maximum attentional focus and maximum physical force possible.

Tactical breathing also reduces stress, helping you to calm down. It helps control the affects of adrenaline in your system. That's useful even for just dealing with bullies. Combined with the knowledge of the control pause and with practice, you may even develop a limited ability to kinda see like in slow motion during a physical encounter. There's nothing mystical about this, it's about getting cognitively closer to the actual "now" that your senses experience. If you've ever played with a friendly, energetic dog, you already know that no matter how fast you are at trying to touch him first, his paws are already there to meet your hand by the time you make contact. That's what I'm talking about.

I agree, they count to 4 while breathing in, hold for 4, and breath out for 4, and those in the swat and military before close quarter combat hyperventilate to energize themselves, 4 fast deep breaths because of adrenaline rush and anxiety.

By the way, I found there was opened one systema club in my city late last year, so I ll give it a try. There was an article on their site that was commentating on german Bild article that said in the systema clubs Moscow recruits people from military and police attending them, Putin creating secret army, people and instructors being sent to Moscow to train into explosives, etc.. some people stopped attending because of that in some clubs in eu.

To which length this propaganda goes is remarkable when you see how much krav maga is popular in eu and further west due to zionist lobby trying to gain popularity and thus solidarity with zionist israel, and many from police going to train in israel and to work as their spyes in the end. It is a way around situation.

 

[Buddy]

By the way, I found there was opened one systema club in my city late last year, so I ll give it a try.

That's up to you, of course and I don't know anything about any propaganda and politics involved here. The info I posted is just what I've had to sift through and try to understand in order to figure out exactly what I was looking for. If all this has been a part of your life for so long, you probably know the field better than I and hopefully know I'm not making any specific recommendation for any general interest in sport or competition.

In your original post to this thread, you agreed with the usefulness of the technique presented on the OP that was offered as a way of learning to fall properly. With the experience you've had, and keeping in mind a general readership that may have no martial arts experience and could use a technique that is simple enough that it requires no extensive thinking ahead of time, do you know of any other techniques? Something that could help a reader of this thread who comes to read something on learning to fall properly?

I haven't posted anything different because already think we got a good start. :)