How Martial Arts Use Mushin to be At Peace and Unstoppable

If you’re looking to promote a calmer mind and a healthier body, then you could do a lot worse than trying martial arts.

 

This might sound like a contradiction. After all, martial arts are all about fighting, and that hardly screams ‘calm’.

 

But that’s only the mainstream perception of martial arts. If you actually look deeper and start to learn more about these disciplines, you learn that martial arts are about discipline, calmness and defense. There is no aggression here.

 

And Mushin is perhaps the ultimate example of this, think of it like fighting in a meditative state!

 

What is Mushin?

 

Mushin can be loosely translated as ‘no mind’ and it’s something that you may actually have some familiarity with.

 

If you’ve ever been playing a sport and you’ve found yourself become completely fixated on that sport, then you might have noticed external distractions and other thoughts simply falling away. All that’s left is you and the game and this results in heightened reflexes, accuracy and performance. You stop thinking and let your body take over from you, and suddenly you become much better at combat.

 

This is something that scientists have been very interested in recently. In science, this is known as a ‘flow state’ or more accurately ‘temporo-hypofrontality’. In this state, your prefrontal cortex closes down and you’re left simply with your reflexes.

 

In martial arts, this is the goal during combat and it allows you to think without thinking and to become effective, efficient and harmonious. 

 

Pushing Hands and No Mind

 

One way this is achieved in martial arts like Aikido, is through the rigorous training of technique. Every time we practice any movement whether it’s a dance, a fighting form, or the movements necessary to play an instrument, this causes neurons to fire in the brain (this is called an ‘action potential’). Each time we repeat the same movement, the same neurons fire. And each time this happens, the strength of that connection strengthens (through a process called myelination) and this makes it easier for those neurons to fire next time.

 

Ultimately, this results in the connections strengthening to the point where one neuron firing causes an automatic cascade and we can complete complex movements entirely without thought. It’s this rigorous training and practice that eventually allows the mind to step back and the body to act purely on instinct and reflex. And this can feel incredibly enlightening. 

 

This can also be trained through something called ‘pushing hands’. Here, one opponent stands opposite another and pushes them gently. The defender then needs to react to that Kinetic energy by moving their upper body to prevent it from pushing them over and they then return the energy back by pushing their opponent. At no point should it be ‘force against force’ but rather it should be like two willow trees swaying in the wind.

 

With practice, an Aikidoka can develop this ability to the point where they react entirely without thought and can move out of the way of any attack.

 

Submission Wrestling for Novices

As submission wrestling calls for a lot of sparring rather than repetitive moves like in Karate, pay close attention to what the other people are doing so you've an approximation what to do when it's your turn to go into the mat. 

 

When you get into the mat, the most crucial matter you have to do is relax as it helps you think when you're fighting an adversary. This will likewise keep your muscles from being tense which slows you down. 

 

As most submission wrestling matches last for three to four minutes, you have to pace yourself as you don’t bear yet the endurance or the toughness to win a match like most pros. 

 

Being a newcomer, you'll be opposing other pupils who have been there longer than you so don’t feel badly if you submit to them many times. Eventually, you'll be able to return the favor which may only happen once your skills improve. 

 

Speed is just one of the elements required for proper performance. Mechanics and leverage are likewise crucial as in this sport; you don’t win by hitting your adversary but rather by immobilizing them. If a particular move doesn't seem to have any result, learn to let go and attempt something else. If it works, wait till the individual submits. 

 

When you're fighting in close quarters, one matter you have to do is take a breath. You have to try to keep inhaling in a regular pattern which is difficult to do when under pressure. 

 

You likewise must be consistent every time you go to practice. Time flies fast and before you recognize it, you'll soon enter your 1st contest. When that day arrives, never say you're not ready as this just step-ups the chances that your adversary will win. 

 

Being a newcomer, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don't comprehend a particular technique. Knowing this might help avoid injuries and make you master the prowess of submission wrestling. 

 

Everybody has to begin someplace and submission wrestling is no exception. Having a background in one or two martial arts is great but if you wish to be a good fighter, you have to discover other styles and adjust these to your fighting strategy. Gyms provide training for those as young as four so you're never too young or old to move into this sport. 

 

Assorted Holds and Positions in Submission Wrestling

Submission is a non-contact sport and among the ways to win a battle is to hold an individual till he decides to tap the mat or says so. To give you an idea, here are a few popular submission strategies. 

 

The 1st is the shoulder lock. Here, you're holding your adversaries shoulder up while at the same time elevating his head off the ground. Many wrestlers have stated that this move is more efficient than the wrist lock as the pain is centered only on the tendons of the elbow joint. 

 

Following is the Standing Heel Toe Hold. While the adversary is on the ground, you hold one foot utilizing one of your feet while the other foot is on the mat for more adept leverage. You then take hold of the other leg which he will likely try to kick you with putting one hand going for the toes and the other hand under the opponent’s Achilles tendon. If this is executed right, you're able to put considerable torsion on your opponent’s ankle. 

 

You likewise have the double wrist lock. This hold may be performed while you're lying on top of him or while you're standing. When you're able to snatch one of your opponent’s wrists utilizing your opposite arm, you utilize the other one to reach over and lock it. 

 

There's likewise the sleeper hold. If you're able to get behind your adversary, you put one arm round his neck with the other hand behind the top of his head. What you're doing here is setting pressure on his carotid artery instead of the throat so technically, this isn't a choke.

 

To be able to perform these moves, you are able to learn by watching a video and then rehearsing with a sparring mate. If you've never done this before, you better have somebody who's knowledgeable about it close by to monitor what is occurring so no one gets severely hurt. 

 

If you can’t find anybody, go to a gym that instructs submission wrestling so if you're assaulted, you are able to fight off the aggressor or subdue him till help comes.

 

3 Jiu Jitsu Moves to Help You Escape From an Aggressor

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is among the most effective martial arts strategies around. As a matter of fact, you'll find this to be really valuable during close quarter battle. When confronted with an adversary, you are able to utilize one of these 3 moves to conquer your aggressor and get off to safety. 

 

If you're walking and somebody abruptly grabs you from behind, the 1st thing you have to do is crouch down, widen your base and attempt to make yourself heavy as conceivable so he will have a difficult time lifting you. If you fail to do this, merely hook your foot around the exterior of your opponent’s leg then crouch, choose a side and step out so you are able to see one of his legs between yours. 

 

Now step around behind your adversary and then fall to the earth. The leg placed behind him will make him fall and it works even if he's bigger than you. If you're frightened to land on your rear, don’t worry as you'll land on your opponent so he acts as your buffer. As this is going to hurt him more than you, stand up and run. 

 

Should your aggressor be coming directly at you, cover your face and get your head against his chest while at the same time, executing a leg check or a firm kick to his leg. This won’t block his punches and the only way to accomplish that is to sweep your hands out to obstruct his biceps, hook your hands over his triceps and utilize your forearms to command his arms. With your brow still on his chest, thrust ahead so you're able to produce isometric tension.

 

The following thing to do is go around his back with one arm and travel to that side. Your additional arm should stay in the same place with your thigh close to his leg so he will not be able to swing around or even knee you in the groin. After holding that individual for some time, push him out and make break for it. 

 

If you're pushed to the ground and he's still coming directly at you, shove your knees into his chest. If he's too big to push aside, be ready to take those punches and protect your face. If he attempts to get away, put your back to the ground and put your legs around his hips. As he can’t escape, he will likely thrust forward and attempt to choke you. Since your feet are still enclosed around his legs, attempt to pick him up, flip him over and escape. 

 

These 3 Jiu Jitsu moves are simple to learn. While it doesn't cause any harm against your aggressor, it gives you adequate time to run and get assistance.

About Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

What Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? It's both a martial art and a battle sport that centers on hand-to-hand struggle in order for you to overcome your opponent and make them submit. 

 

Much of the strategy was adapted from kodokan Judo and Jiu Jitsu. Discovering how to perform the proper process enables even a littler and weaker individual to overcome somebody who's bigger which is why it's likewise utilized in self-defense classes. 

 

Brazilian jujitsu developed early in the twenties. But it only acquired world recognition when Royce Gracie won the Ultimate Fighting Championship 4 times after it was established in '93. As a result, assorted schools are now instructing this martial art. 

 

If you wish to excel in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, practice makes perfect and the only way you are able to do that is by free sparring. This entails fighting versus a live and resisting adversary under realistic circumstances at the same time being heedful not to cause any grievous injury.

 

During preparation and competition, wrestlers are demanded to wear the Gi. It looks really similar to what you'd wear when you rehearse judo. The only deviation is that the outfit has tighter cuffs on both the jacket and trousers. 

 

Submission in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is accomplished either by chokes or joint locks. Choking as you well know calls for constricting the trachea so the individual isn't able to breathe. Aside from that, there's also what is called strangle which constricts the arteria carotis. Choking is less effective than strangles and might cause permanent harm or even death which is how come the 2nd is utilized more often during competition. 

 

As for joint locks which are likely safer, what you're doing is producing a lever with the body position which will force the joint to move past its average range of motion. This is better known as hyperextension and since there's no way out of it, the adversary has no additional recourse but to give up. 

 

Anybody can learn Jiu Jitsu. As you get more adept, you're promoted to the following belt class. Beginners start with the white belt and move their way to the red belt. For those who are under fifteen years old, you work your way from white to green belt.