SLCPK.org

Fight vs. Flight

Well this being my first article on slcpk.org, I hope you all enjoy it and learn something useful.

Fight vs. Flight

Turning the corner casually walking home from school you accidentally bump into a big guy with a short temper. This guy is angry with you, and you can see right then and there that he wants to fight you. In any potentially dangerous situation your body will automatically receive impulses from the brain, and release epinephrine. (Not to go into detail.) In other words you get that adrenaline pumping through your blood. What follows this physical phenomenon is an instant mode, your body reacts “fight or flight”.

Few people would stand their ground and fight this guy. In this case I’m going to be taking on the flight position. Though it may seem there are more choices then just “fight or flight,” flight can be broken up into different categories. When they refer to the term “flight” they are actually saying what you would do to avoid the fight. So it could be talking your self out of it, sending your friend to fight, or running away is what usually comes to mind with most traceurs.

In today’s society it almost seems like running away from a fight would make you “less of a man” or “a wuss” depending on the seriousness of the situation. It is often the seriousness of a situation that determines what actions we take. Either way all of us (or most of us) practice parkour which takes on the ability to efficiently escape someone chasing you, or rescue someone in need like a fire fighter may. The actions you take in any given situation may be heavily based upon your training or practicing. Traceurs are training in ways that would make great escape. So it is very likely placing a traceur in the situation above they will take the flight response because in the back of their head that is what they train for. Taking the “fight” position you could easily refer to someone who practices martial arts. The reason they practice martial arts may be varying, but the route of all martial arts is to create a means of self defense when a fight is necessary or that is the path which is chosen.

It makes perfect sense doesn’t it? “Fight” is to martial arts that “flight” is to parkour. Many traceurs also practice martial arts which will in turn effect the decision they may take in the situation above. There would be no reason to fight the guy unless it comes down to; should you run away and dismiss any physical confrontation, or fight the guy so you don’t take on the name society has put on us for “wussing out”? Though I don’t think our decision should rely on how others will see us, but more importantly it should rely on what you would predict the final outcome would be. In many cases your decision may have to be quick and rely on instinct, and every situation is different. There may easily be a situation where you are cornered and must fight your self out, or you might fight if you must defend some one else. You wouldn’t want to take off running while your friend is getting beat up. Or sometimes flight may be the only option. A situation might not always consist of confrontation with another person; it could simply be you are escaping a burning building.

So many situations to prepare for, so what do you do? Do you try and visualize every possible situation that might come up? That would be near impossible because the varying situations are limitless. So now what? Just go out and hope for the best? I think not. There’s something I call “training instinctively”. While in your normal training sessions (whether it may be parkour or martial arts) you can learn to train instinctively. The number one thing while training is to be aware of your surroundings, anything that may be around you; the birds flying, or cars driving by, but still keeping focus on your body’s movement and thoughts. In any given situation it is always important to know what is going on around. What is ahead of you? What may be behind you? What can you use for potential tools to help your situation?

This is just the beginning, I could write a whole other article just on “training instinctively” (which I may do). The most important thing though is that you can be prepared within your body’s movements on how well they perform, and your instinctive thoughts which will lead to the actions you take. Even though this is a parkour community I tried not to be too biased between parkour and martial arts. If one is to prepare them self for any situation I don’t think it should be just for the “flight” tactic because that tactic might not always be available (referring to those of the parkour community). So if one reason you are training parkour (besides it being fun) because you want to be prepared for any given situation, I would highly recommend some form of martial arts or self defense be included with your normal parkour training, or the other way around. Any form really will do; boxing, tae Kwan doe, kung fu etc… Which I know quite a few already do here in the community. If you don’t have the opportunity to take classes, just remember “training instinctively” and you will be surprised with the way your training sessions will change and the way you will view your environment.

-Ronnie Shalvis