the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

Well, I live in the big city, and when I'm on the subway I sense people watching me all the time But, afa your experience, I get what you're saying. Now, if I were in the country hunting a predator, like bear or cougar, all my senses would be on high alert because of the situation. That includes the senses I'm aware of as well as the senses that I may not be aware of, but that I would depend on for survival.

Steve James wrote:Now, if I were in the country hunting a predator, like bear or cougar, all my senses would be on high alert because of the situation. That includes the senses I'm aware of as well as the senses that I may not be aware of, but that I would depend on for survival.

Well said. This was and is exactly the point of this entire thread, regardless of where we live. Even in the city, survival may depend upon allowing that type of subtle extrasensory awareness, followed by increased conscious alertness, to be automatically activated when needed, since most street crimes involve hidden intention and the element of surprise to overwhelm the victim before they even realize what is happening.

Thus, an effective advanced warning system is indispensible, imo.

What about the phenomenon of unconscious, sleeping individuals suddenly awakening with an inexplicable, negative feeling that something is wrong, that a threat exists just outside the house or perhaps already inside the house? How is it that this extrasensory awareness of potential danger can enter our consciousness and awaken our body, prepared to respond on full alert, even while we are sleeping? Can we deliberately and specifically program our subconscious mind to insure such mental awareness and physical response?

Good question. Is there a way to train it?

I asked you first!

Wish I knew a specific technique.

Steve James wrote:Wish I knew a specific technique.

There's certainly been a number of specific techniques presented in the course of the past 37 pages of this thread thus far. Perhaps you should check a few of them out.

The question is, when are you sensing things, and when are you imagining things?

klonk wrote:The question is, when are you sensing things, and when are you imagining things?

If even the smallest shade of doubt exists, you are probably only imagining things!

Doc Stier wrote:

klonk wrote:The question is, when are you sensing things, and when are you imagining things?

If even the smallest shade of doubt exists, you are probably only imagining things!

When can there not be doubt, if you're talking about something that can't be quantified or assessed?

I sense a disturbance in the force - as if a billion voices cries out at once and then were silent. Was it just me or is anybody else getting that too?

Finny wrote:When can there not be doubt, if you're talking about something that can't be quantified or assessed?

The type of awareness being referenced here is NOT dependent upon conscious thought of any kind, including value judgements and personal discriminations based on mental quantification or assessment, which often leads to doubt about the conclusions made.

In contrast, genuine extrasensory awareness is usually an unthinking response to an unexpected and inexplicable 'feeling', which is impossible to consciously quantify or assess, imo.

The most common way to train this I've seen requires a group setting.

Have several people sit in a circle facing outwards. Seiza seems to work better than sitting crosslegged for some reason. At least four and no more than seven or eight people are required. Blind folds and ear plugs can be helpful. Have them sit with their eyes closed and focusing on their lower dan tien.

Next, place one person in the center of the circle. Give this person a stick. Have the person with the stick randomly strike one of the people sitting in the head. A thin bamboo stick works best. It needs to hurt just not cause real damage.

Here is the interesting part. Intention on the part of the striker is important. Specifically the desire to hurt the person they are striking. The need to want to kill the other guy.

Take at least 20-30 seconds between strikes.

Filming this is always interesting. The person being attacked will frequently roll or dodge out of the way. Again intention is the part you are training. If this is left out it can train the wrong sensation.

The lower dan tien tends to work with the innate survival mechanism of the human body. While this is generally not capable of higher level thought, it is helpful to reingrain a connection with your survival instinct. This is particularly helpful when dealing with people who are city dwellers, or the extremely intellectual, as it reinforces something they have usually failed to develop.

That sounds hilarious, but I'd like to try it. Wanna be the whacker.