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The Art of Syntonics Let me begin by the following post on the Isshinryu Karate blog. It gives a brief explanation of syntonics which is going to relate to the Gentle Art of Self-Defense I am studying to achieve a greater level of communications ability for performing the first line of defense in any conflict - avoidance by active listening and utilization of appropriate communications - verbal self-defense. I discovered, from my studies, another term that describes relationships in the physical world. I plan on commenting here on the part that relates to martial arts and self defense of communications, i.e. verbal self-defense. Syntonics are being in tune with. As no one is an island syntonics are not doable if something that needs to be in tune with another thing is not present or in tune. In MA that is Sensei-Seito, Kenpai-Kohai, etc. In self defense that is threat and victim. It is also a training of two individuals in a manner that promotes learning and encoding principles of martial systems with all the entail. To be syntonic means a state where two humans are properly in tune for successful interactions be they verbal or physical. Verbal syntonics means to be in tune to one anothers perceptual filters or for communications to be successful. This is the crux in explaining the method overall - fundamentally and generally. Thus the gentle art of verbal self-defense is the art of syntonics. As to the physical side of syntonics. This has both Yang and Yin features. Yang is in regards to two who are in conflict where one or the other disrupts the others tone, tempo, etc. allowing the other to defeat them. Yin is where the Sempai and Kohai, in practice or training, provide the tone and tempo that are syntonic, or in tune, that promotes mutual learning and encoding of principles and technique for their system to use in protection, fighting, and combat - as necessary to goals. My goal is to introduce you to the series of books as follows: Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Self-Defense at Work." New York. Prentice Hall Press. 2000. This set or series builds on one another. It provides a solid teaching tool that will enlighten you to what you may or may not be aware of as to your verbal skills and it will definitely provide you with awareness and recognition in others as to their verbal communication skills. It does relate to martial art training and the following excerpts from blog posts will assist in that understanding. Before I begin the excerpts please know that this is a total recommendation to you as a martial artist. It applies specifically to those who want to learn self defense. Self-defense as conflict start, in most non-predatory violence situations, with verbalization of something where disparity or perception filter reality differences cause us to escalate to physical fighting. Here we go: Talking vs. Listening: Two things of importance, first is that one must actively listen to the other person to truly understand what is being communicated. It also involves total awareness and then return communications for clarifications, etc. This is where failure to listen and respond accordingly results in flares of anger, etc. Not good. Second is that listening actively is healthy. It promotes lowering of blood pressure and triggering of internal chemical things that reduce the adverse effects of fear, anger, and all those physical adrenaline effects. How can this be wrong. Talking, especially without truly and actively listening before talking, results in higher blood pressure, quicker and shallower breathing, and all the other mental and physical stuff that hinders common sense and appropriate defensive actions. In the health department this causes stress that destroys the body and mind. Even innocuous talking both out loud and internally do the same of a lesser scale. The art of listening coupled with verbal self defense can do both conflict avoidance-deescalation and increase healthily benefits to the body and mind. It also enhances those attributes used to control fear, anxiety, stress of all kinds be it life experiences or more conflict oriented encounters. Bibliography: Next: My viewing of the system of Isshinryu is that great disparity exists. We in Isshinryu have factions or tribes that although fundamentally believe in the system the perceptions as to what constitutes that system vary - sometimes greatly. I have to ask myself, "Why is that?" First lets discuss that disparity. It exists because of the disparity in human perceptions. We have them between male and female of our species. We also have them because humans are governed by specifics that influence each of us as individuals that create unique "colored glasses" from which we view the world. That world is unique to each of us as unique individuals. Second is how to we bridge that gap. Lets use the term from VSD and say a "reality gap." That gap can be a small ravine or a huge cavernous divide like spanning the grand canyon. We have to find common materials that can be coupled, joined, and related so that they provide support so we can first span that divide the cross over to the meet in the center. Only then can we shake hands and discover that we are all the same and have the same goals for our system. Third is how can we do this until we understand what it takes to bring this to our conscious level? How can we then build that bridge and meet in the middle span of conscious reality where one reflects the other exactly? Knowledge is that key to unlock the gate to the bridge of reality spanning all divides both small and large. Finally if we understand the fundamental basis for perceptual filters then we can expand that to encompass anything that requires communications. Using male to female we can say, Men use a metaphor of life and say "Life is a football game," while female tend to use a metaphor of life that says, "Life is a traditional schoolroom." What does this mean. Using a metaphor: "You are playing football and pretend you have the football when you don't - is not a lie." "You are in a schoolroom and make a false statement it is a lie." This warrants considerable thought and you may find that by some common and acceptable metaphor you can have a meeting of the minds and open the path to change and acceptance. Not an easy path to take! Yet to understand the concept of perceptual filters and discovering a method to close that reality gap cannot be a bad thing, right? And one more ... There is a new martial system I have begun to train in today. It is, for me, something new and unique. It is me stranded in a life boat and finally seeing land just above the horizon and I know that if I start now, paddle like crazy, use the currents or the ebb and flow of the ocean I can reach that landfall - someday. This new system of VSD will allow me to supplement in greater details my view on self defense and its implications when using communications to avoidance and deescalation. I am of course a novice, a white belt. It reminds me so of my early days as a karate-ka - you know, a bit awkward but hungry to learn and practice. I look forward to growing in this new martial system and thank two persons for it was their input, via books, that inspired me to take this on with a fevor and the kind of diligence I have in karate. Thanks to Rory Miller and his book Facing Violence where I was introduced to an expert author on this system, Dr. Suzette Elgin, Ph.D., in the GAVSD. 穏やかな芸術口頭での自己防衛 |