Purpose of Drills

[atlas1212]

I have a "dumb" question in the vain of "there are no dumb questions".

In Softwork, when working on the drills of moving your body to relieve the pressure of an attack (sorry, don't remember Coach Sonnon's terminology at the moment, I'm at work), are those drills meant for actual application? For instance, if someone is punching me in the shoulder, are those drills meant to help me relax, absorb and move out of the way? Or are those drills meant to build some other attribute? I guess what I'm asking is what is the application of many of those drills in Softwork?

[lafnjack]

In Softwork™, when working on the drills of moving your body to relieve the pressure of an attack (sorry, don't remember Coach Sonnon's terminology at the moment, I'm at work), are those drills meant for actual application? For instance, if someone is punching me in the shoulder, are those drills meant to help me relax, absorb and move out of the way? Or are those drills meant to build some other attribute? I guess what I'm asking is what is the application of many of those drills in Softwork™?
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This is my existing interpretation of Softwork's drills.
1) It aids in the recruitment of multiple joints to offset aggressive kinetic power.
2) It aids in the recruitment of multiple joints to evade aggressive kinetic power.
3) It aids in the recruitment of multiple joints to retranslate force into aggressive kinetic power.
4) It aids in the recruitment of multiple joints to create force of aggressive kinetic power.
5) As someone else said, its Warrior Wellness with a partner, ergo has many of the same benefits of WW in a dynamic and live situation.
6) It looks damn fun, doesn't it?!?!!

You have to assume 2 scenarios in a fight situation.
a: You can evade SOME attacks
b: You can't evade ALL attacks...especially as that FIRST one will probably come with no warning (ie: No standing in front of you and pushing you saying "Dude, you're going to be so sorry"...more like you're sitting at a bar, and someone builds up the anger to club you from behind). I don't care about an attack I see coming. I'm getting ready for the attacks I don't know about.

But that's just my existing interpretation thus far.

John Simons
Huntington Beach, CA

[Scott Sonnon]

Softwork as a method of CST with partner(s) is designed to:
1. Discharge residual tension;
2. Unclog myofascial density;
3. Counter-conditioning fear-reactivity;
4. Move with Selective Tension ("appropriate force"), multi-planar, recruit multi-joint, and store elastic energy;
5. Exhale through perceived threats;
6. Convert the biochemical "dump" (of for example adrenaline) to a "slow-release."
7. Refine attentional stamina and orientation strength (as per the Awareness Diamond.)
8. Restore innate improvisational creativity and flow.

[lafnjack]

Learning more and more every day. Thanks Coach.

John Simons
Huntington Beach, CA

[Chuck Kechter]

What coach said. . .

John wrote:

You have to assume 2 scenarios in a fight situation.

Please don't take this the wrong way. . . But ANY assumptions in a "fight" are "wrong," and a bad place to put yourself.


You can evade SOME attacks
b: You can't evade ALL attacks...especially as that FIRST one will probably come with no warning (ie: No standing in front of you and pushing you saying "Dude, you're going to be so sorry"...more like you're sitting at a bar, and someone builds up the anger to club you from behind). I don't care about an attack I see coming. I'm getting ready for the attacks I don't know about.

This first attack COULD stun you, knock you out, incapacitate you (short circuit your neurological system, break skeletal support, et cetera), or kill you.

If your awareness is intentional or meditative and you get suckered, all you can HOPE for is to ride it out, shrug it off as best you can and get back into it.

A broad attentional awareness, fast OODA loop, conditioned body, accessable toolbox, indignation, et cetera, are what will "save" you.

Hopefully this made sense. . . :roll: :wink: 8) :D

[lafnjack]

Thanks Chuck. You're right...

"Please don't take this the wrong way. . . But ANY assumptions in a "fight" are "wrong," and a bad place to put yourself. "
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My semantics were extremely faulty, and I agree 100%. My attention had too narrow of a focus!

You made perfect sense. Gracias!

John Simons

[atlas1212]

So these drills are meant to be applied in fighting? For instance, if someone hits my shoulder, instead of just tightening up or getting rocked by it, I can just accept the force and absorb it sort of? (I know I'm taking the conceptual and trying to wrap my brain around it) I'm just curious how someone who drills Softwork would look in a "real" fight.

Thanks for the above advice too, it really helped.

[Scott Sonnon]

Jason,

This is just from a gross physical perspective:
Imagine that you were standing in a rigid boxing stance, guard up. Imagine your partner suddenly slapped on a hook to your elbow pit. Rigid, he could quickly and deftly move your entire body. Understanding how to be aware of, absorb, and retranslate force gives you the physical ability to move only that immediate joint while not adverseling impacting your entire form/structure (which in turn allows you to translate his "attack" into your advantage, or even the catalyst from a 'dependent' strike, takedown, jt. manip, etc.)

but more importantly, you're changing your physiological response to the local (and general!) impact of stress to you. Imagine slapping a hot-headed man across the face. He easily loses control and rages into a charge. Such uncontrolled forward aggression is easily addressed. The goal is to discover and discharge those little hot buttons throughout us.

I encourage you to not try and "figure it all out" in your head. Since your "body is your cononscious mind" the answers are locked within you, bound by the above catalogued impediments which we ALL suffer to varying degrees. Do the drills, practice... and then you will answer your own questions better than we.

There's no such thing as an "unreal" fight. :wink:

[Chuck Kechter]

Jason wrote:

I'm just curious how someone who drills Softwork™ would look in a "real" fight.

Jason,

This is almost too broad a question. For example Coach Sonnon, and Coach Chomycia would move similarly due to their training together frequently. But they wouldn't move the same.

I wouldn't move like either gentleman, though I have used Coach Sonnon's methodologies for several years now. Jarlo and I might move similarly, but not the same, as our training histories are similar. Et cetera. . .

Then add in fear-reactivity, attentional placement, environmental conditions, et cetera. . .


For instance, if someone hits my shoulder, instead of just tightening up or getting rocked by it, I can just accept the force and absorb it sort of?

My advice is always: Avoid if you can, innoculate when you can't, absorb when you must.

During absorption deformation will happen whether you want it to or not (regardless of armoring). Training shock absorption through Softwork allows the practitioner to loosen density, disipate fear-reactivity, and move creatively.

Hopefully this makes sense.

[Scott Sonnon]

Chuck - loved that.

Many people look at the Softwork DVD and think "so that's what Softwork looks like." Nope. That's just me (mostly, but also "just Dan" and "just you" and "just each of the others who were depcited.") And I would go on to say... that WAS me (Dan, you, etc.)

[JasonE]

The way a newbie moves in Softwork is significantly different than that of an experienced practitioner, with smoothness, control and efficiency developed over time... regardless of one's base martial arts background.

In sparring and rolling, I have noticed an increased ability to access and apply the practiced skills I have from martial arts. In a year or two I'll probably notice additional changes from continued practice.