THEORY; THEORY; SUB-PRINCIPLE: Opponents as illusions

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We need not and should not focus on what we do to our adversary but rather on our proficiency in principles (principled based multiple methodologies for defense). Illusions have power if we believe in them. If we give life to the concept of “adversary’s” by worrying about what they might do to us and what we can or cannot do to them then we risk compromising principles in order to produce certain results. Production of certain specified results is the basis for a technique-based training model rather than a principled based one. 

Giving credence to the notion that the adversary holds power actually gives power to the adversary. When I think of this I consider any doubts I might have as they relate to an adversary along with the various repercussions from his attack and those of society in case we violate certain socially driven legalities such as a greater level of force then necessary or even required. One hallmark of karate and martial art training is to achieve a present moment situational view of being attacked where there is no win or loss but just reaching a previous permissible goal, to survive. 

Example: If an adversary grabs our wrist we tend to focus on the wrist but if we apply principles such as “Indirect Pressure” we can move from a location other than our wrist, say the elbow, we can overcome the power the adversary has over us via our focus on the wrist, etc. Note: these principles end up createing an appropriate response derived from the multiple methodologies for defense rather than those driven by a technique based model. 

Believing the adversary has power gives the adversary that power. Our mind-set creating a mind-state is our weakest link especially when we fail to avoid and escape. Once we resort to some physical response our minds, i.e., mind-set and mind-state, must remain outside influences of the ego, the monkey dancing idiot within us all, and reach for our defense goals. Disregarding the adversary, provided we execute/apply principle-based multiple defense methodologies, dispels the illusion of power. As always, proficiency in applying principle-based multiple defense methodologies applies. This is about learning to disregard, or at least stop blaming, our adversary.

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