The Pre-Fight
Most Martial Arts classes begin with a basic warm up and stretching exercises.
It is widely accepted that such a training routine prepares the mind and body for the rigours ahead. However if we place this in the context of a real life situation we can see the potential pitfalls of placing fitness before psychology. Now don’t get me wrong I am a strong advocate of hard physical training, but I see too many instructors of separating the realms of Martial training and mental training, as far as I am concerned both should go hand in hand. Nevertheless I am aware that the reality training elite such as Geoff Thompson, Dennis Martin, Peter Consterdine and Kevin
O Hagan have come up with innovative solutions to these problems and their physical training often compliments their Psychological prep.
What is often ignored by most of us mere mortals is the pre-fight. I believe that a regular Martial Arts class or Self defence class should not begin with stretching and press ups etc, but should start with a little in your face aggression, swearing, power talking and all the general mayhem that you are likely to encounter in a real life attacking situation. This allows the student to explore the often neglected realm of the PRE-FIGHT which has been addressed so well by the notables above. Thank fully due to their hard work on the seminar circuit they have shoved it in the faces of the PLASTIC BLACKBELTS and other deluded MARTIAL ARTISTS. What you mean I am not going to be able to stretch out my leg muscles and do a few press ups NOPE YOU'RE NOT. WHY??, I think that’s pretty straightforward mate, the other guy has already spat in your face, called three generations of your family and re arranged your face quicker than a Beverley Hills Plastic Surgeon (not for the better mind you and it is more likely that a bottle was used rather than a botox needle) before you have had time to drop down and give twenty. WE SHOULD START AS WE MEAN TO GO ON with a damn load of aggression, pushing shoving and getting in each others faces. We should be bringing our hands up you guessed it in the FENCE which was recently described as THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO SELF DEFENCE, by the very talented Mr Dennis Martin I would strongly agree with that assessment.
