Here is what I wrote on another thread where I was trying to convince someone it was a REALLY bad idea for a woman to think she could slug a man.
I also had it happen on my yondan test. I was in a particularly "vigorous" match with a Canadian, who let it be known in the first few seconds that he liked to hit hard. Fine by me...I will however remind folks of a few "innocent" things that happened in my life. Once a fraternity brother turned the corner in my house, and dumped a bucket of ice water on me. To both our surprises, I decked him. I only realized what I did AFTER I did it. Fortunately we were friends, and I did no permanent harm. In another situation someone threw a pillow in our living room at the frat house, and a mug of hot scalding water ended up in my crotch. The next thing I remember is the guy begging for me not to hit him as I had him collared with the left hand and right fist in ready-fire position.
These were simple horseplay situations, Ian, and I found myself instictively attacking. It scares the crap out of me.
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My frat brothers knew not to throw buckets of ice water on me if I was minding my own business (unless I was their football coach...), or dump mugs of scalding water on Little Willie.
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My guess is that years of training in Sanchin and kumite exercises (prearranged and freestyle) have helped blend low and high road in a way that my fist does what it does when the low road perceives a threat. For those who've never experienced this, the whole process happens totally independently of thought. It is a most strange experience.
Last week, one of my students sent me this video. The title is kind of funny in a racial stereotype way. Beyond that, what you see here is EXACTLY what I experience. When you watch the path that this fellow's elbow travels, you can tell that his "home activity" likely is football. That arm basically is bench-pressing the punch.
More importantly, watch very carefully how he jumps a fraction of a second before "the event" happens. There's nothing rehearsed about this; it's the real deal captured on film. Then watch his "conscious" response afterwards.
Thanks, Jim, for the clip. And thanks to Scotty for formatting and posting.
Enjoy!
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Never Scare a Brother
- Bill