Theme of the Week: Conflict

This week we’ll be looking at conflict.  What’s that mean?  For us, it means the moments leading up to the fight – the words, the posturing, the stakes and the consideration of risk.  This might mean doing a drill that involves a touch of role playing – being a bully, being an innocent bystander or whatever else we can dream up.

Students are encouraged to experiment with their responses – the training floor is, after all, a place for experiment.  Try being a pacifist.  Try being aggressive.  See what happens.  Explore.  It should be no different than trying out technique.

In fact, the same way that some techniques come naturally and others are very difficult, students may find the same to be true of the choices they make in scenarios.  Some students may favor throwing punches first and asking questions later.  Others may favor diplomacy as an initial entry point.  Know what you’re good at and explore what you aren’t good at.  Watch others.  Discuss the possibilities after class with your fellow students.  View the drills as an opportunity to examine your natural tendencies and give yourself the opportunity to think about how you ideally (ethically) would like to behave in the face of violence.

Don’t worry – classes will still consist of hitting things and each other as well.  🙂

Click here to see what students thought of today’s class.