Self defense relies on learning the simplest and most effective techniques possible for a given aggression. They are meant to be easily mobilized by the brain.
As in any discipline, visualization plays an extremely important role in the learning process. The ability to project oneself into the exercise allows the brain to be better prepared for particular situations.
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A matter of neurons
Remember, we talked about it in the article about the importance of creating a déjà vu effect.
We also explained the mechanisms of memory.
Please remember that science testifies that the brain does not know how to make the difference between an experienced memory and a mental image you created from scratch in your mind.
This is the reason why role-playing games are so effective and acknowledged by professionals, because they allow you to anchor in your memory a fictitious sequence of aggression as well as an appropriate gesture, tailor-made to react as efficiently as possible to this aggression.
Mental imagery already allows us to improve our performance in normal circumstances. In self defense, we go a step further by physically staging concrete scenarios, which allows us to anchor them a little better in our memory.
By dint of repetitions, these memories created from scratch will be more easily accessible to the brain, since the synaptic connections associated with this souvenir will be regularly solicited so they won’t break.
This leads your brain to consider this information as worthy. As such, he will store it close at hand so that he can appeal to it quickly.
Self defense is not the only discipline to use this principle. In martial arts, the principle of kata, tao and other poumsé aim at creating a fictitious fight.
The goal is to maximize your chances of not being caught off guard when facing a situation that will no longer be completely unknown to you. At least, if you manage to remain lucid, which is not a piece of cake under stress.
But to do so you still need to have prepared and experienced a multitude of scenarios beforehand.
Work in slow motion using “mental photographs”
In my jargon, a mental photograph is the frozen image of an action which is cut out piece by piece.
When I advise you to take mental photographs, I advise you to deconstruct the techniques during your training sessions, and especially the attacks.
Indeed, it is crucial to take the time to impregnate each phase of the attack in order to have a better understanding of each situation. Where’s the danger? What can I do? When?
Hence the comparison with mental imagery. This is a much needed preliminary exercise you have to do conscientiously during the learning phase. Once you’ve assimilated the technique, you can move to the next step and put more punch in it.
