Dark Side

We all posses a dark side. A part of us that we keep repressed for fear that we will be perceived as nothing other than animals. It is the part of us that is willing to act without inhibition or physical, moral or psychological limitations. One of the prime functions of our dark side is to provide a system which facilitates overt aggressive. Even a casual observer of street violence will agree that it is usually the more aggressive individual who prevails in moments of extreme violence. This is the type of person who has allowed his dark side to override his social programming which, in normal day-to-day circumstances, would serve to constrain his behaviour. A combative system which ignores to teach us how to embrace our innate inclination for extreme aggression is a system which is designed to fail. Worse still, the point at which these systems fail is when the threat of violence is imminent and inescapable.

Predator Mindset

The reason why I do martial arts is to overcome a ‘fear of domination’, a term which I first came across when reading Jesse Glover’s inspirational book; Non-Classical Gung Fu.

If I had to reduce the frame of mind needed to overcome domination it would be this; never view yourself as a victim, ever. Despite the tendency for it to become self fulfilling, it also gives rise to a stream of negative self images which tend to stunt you from doing what you need to do, to survive a violent encounter. Complying with the demands of an aggressor should not be considered an option, with the one proviso being; where you are 100% sure that compliance will guarantee an end to the incursion.

Instead, view yourself as the predator. Frame yourself in terms of positive self-expression or at the very least, use a self image that encourages you to act, move, rebel and preferably escape.

Picture how a predator moves and thinks. How is her body positioned? What is her expression? What does the predator’s internal dialogue say when she see’s her mark (the aggressor)?