Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

JUDO-RON 72- Fear factors and a Winning JUDO Strategy

July is normally a month for vacations and a particular period to review our judo activities. As we prepare for the falls registration, we may organize ourselves to better address some of the pertinent questions new-comers might ask about our activities or which express their apprehension and fear about joining our martial art. At one time or another, we too, have probably experienced similar doubts and fear about our judo activities. My first Sensei Bernard Gauthier used to say: Fear only yourself, conquer yourself first and then, try to master others. This article is meant to open a discussion about the two principal fear factors found in judo: fear of being injured and fear of our opponent. Public information and warning In the last few years, we have read public reports about some accidental deaths associated with specific judo performances or teaching methods. Professor Ryo Uchida reported in 2009 that the cause of serious injuries or accidental death in judo was principally attributable to wrong teaching methods, bad coaching habits and by the extreme drive to obtain victories at all cost. His report has been widely broadcasted in different media to alert the population of the potential dangers. Supplementary observations were noted by professor Kamitanii who indicated that younger judoka (under 20 years of age) and those fighters with more experience (three years of competition plus) were more likely to be injured when executing excessive offensive maneuvers.ii Just reading the outlines of such reports without having an understanding of the training conditions prevailing in different countries, dojo and or in high performance circles, may induce chilling feelings and fears in most of our future judoka. Fear a normal condition We must recognize that fear is a normal and vital response to physical and emotional unknown. The data and statistics alone as supplied by these past observations will induce a certain amount of fear before the potential dangers associated with the judo activities in general. It will likely yield sufficient hesitancy to keep the newcomers away. We understand that fear normally occurs when we face any kind of unknown. It is mostly present when confronted by presumed dangerous situations. If we were not to feel fear before minor incidents, we could not adequately protect ourselves when authentic life threatening situations prevail. Too often, for no good reason, we have a tendency to dislike any event or information which upsets our normal behavior. We have a propensity to freeze or hesitate due to the strangeness of the moment.
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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Fear instrument A cursory look at what is happening within each of us will highlight that when surprised by unknown situations or events, we trigger a defensive alarm or signal system which may have at its sources different memories or past traumas, bad life experiences or that we simply do not fully comprehend what is happening and realize our ignorance of the subject matter. A man, who has been in danger, when he comes out of it, will forget his fears, and sometimes he forgets his promises." Euripides - Iphigenia (414-12 BC) Basic definition We usually define fear as a basic emotion brought about by a perceived threat which causes us to shy away from pursuing our actions. In judo, different fears can be expressed, such as: fear of falling, fear of getting hurt, fear of not responding accurately to instructions, fear of being ridicule by others when not following the group, fear of competing with a stranger, fear of the challenges made by an elder or superior judoka etc. These moments are bound to trigger our basic survival mechanisms (flee-fight-freeze) which provide immediate or latent responses to a badly defined situation or express our lack of confidence. Fear is not a unique sensation; it can be affiliated with other native emotions we display from time to time such as: joy, horror, panic, anxiety or anger. Fear and Anxiety Sometimes, purists have tried to make a distinction between fear and anxiety. The difference is in our view only of a linguistic preference as we say that we have a fear of something and are anxious about something. Fear is frequently related to a specific manner of escape and avoidance, whereas anxiety is the result of threats which are perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable. Both transmit comparable symptoms or visual responses. Let us take two different situations to illustrate their similarities. Situation A: when confronted with a person directly threatening us with a knife or a gun and situation B: where we are disturbed by someone who yells at us and make threatening gestures. In both situations we are bound to experiment some or all of the visible signs: increase sweating, dizziness, dry mouth, heavy breathing, shaking of extremities, anxiousness, need to urinate, palpitations, and or placing extra distances between us and the aggressors, shouting, turning away and raising our hands to our ears, or thrust them high in the air while we express our stupefaction etc.

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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Duration of fear As we probably have experienced, we can feel fear for a short period or it can linger on for months if not properly managed. The longer it stays, the more difficult it will be to suppress it. Regardless of the vocabulary used, when we feel fear, we show our vulnerability through our hesitation and a lack of conviction for action. When in doubt, our first escape route is most likely to freeze or flee and we are certainly not in a mood to fight.
Mechanism of Fear

With deeper observation of the phenomena, we note that fear frequently relates to future events or anticipated encounters. (Potential worsening of a situation/a continuation of an unacceptable behavior which is bound to irritate us). These conditions can be caused by both external and internal factors. As soon as we are able to distinguish a clearer image definition or recall a previous impact that irritated us, we hit the internal red button in response to their potential danger. Before any danger or threat, we have three options: Flee-Fight or Freeze. The fears intensity or the internal warning lights will automatically vary to synchronize the level of response in accordance with the degree of negative feelings we derived from those threats. When our negative feelings become too intense, our body will attempt to seek a more controllable reaction to minimize the provoked stress level. Our body will thus make the necessary adjustments to protect our entire systems from being overtaken. In response to fear, it is not uncommon to witness an increase in our heart rate, a surge in muscular tension, the escalation of sweating, etc. Within those reactions, our adrenal gland proceeds to release cortisol and other beneficial and active chemicals to restore the basic equilibrium within.

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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Here under, is an illustration of the stress mechanism as portrayed by Sophie Shrand in her 2012 article Manage Your Stress.iii

Consequences of Fear It is understood that most people develop specific fears as a result of their past learning, culture or historical experiences. We also recognize that fear can be self- induced or projected upon us by others who have had frightening incidents involving diverse reactions to heights, colors, space, sounds, smell, people etc. Fear becomes a common reaction when we refuse to accept or meet with anything unfamiliar in terms of any situation or individual. If allowed to persist, the fear can ultimately lead to a very restricted form of behavior. It behooves us to try to turn most of our unfamiliar and unknown into acceptable information and integrate it as part of our familiar surroundings or comprehensions. Of course, the universe is too vast to think that we can understand everything around us. Fear of some unknown is likely to occur. In our quest to continue our self-improvement, we should address the ways and means to minimize the occasions where fear may arise. The majority of martial arts and judo teacher will tell us that we should confront our personal demons and dispose of them before we decide to undertake the judo practice. As such, the Mokuso period of a judo session is an ideal moment to remove most of our negative opinions and our fears. Unfortunately, not all judo classes conduct such moment of meditation. (Refer to Judo-Ron 24 for more info)iv
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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Overcoming Fear It is estimated that if we do not undertake to wrestle the obstacle producing our fear, it will soon or later overcome our capacity to act. We have to realize that most people are too passive towards such emotion and that they may not understand just what needs to be done to overcome it. Simply put, we need to short-circuit our fear factor and turn off our Flight-/Freeze responses. We need to be prepared to FIGHT and develop our mental fortitude. We must arrange for a proper and suitable response via the exposure and accumulation of different knowledges and knows-hows which can then articulate calm new images and dj vu situations. Since our mind is open to most ideas and can superimpose millions of images without restriction, we can try to store new data via special studies of the subject matter, entertain mental discussions, research peers opinions and practice various forms of meditation. We may have read that Fear factors have been subject of numerous studies by neuroscientists and psychologists who have made great advances in helping people overcome their fear. There are also some chemical products which can help to stimulate or enhance hormonal functions that will regulate the heart rates and metabolisms. Nevertheless, in dealing with fear, we have chosen to stay with the prominent approach which suggests to repeatedly confronting our fears and attempting to suppress the fear-triggering memory or stimulus through intellectual exercises. To that task, we want to replace the three F known as fear, flee and freeze with our own 3K made up of Knowledge, Know-how and Knockout. The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently. Pema Chdrn, When things fall apart2000, Preparation for fearless judo participation Good technical performances are not the only key to a judo victory. There must be sufficient confidence and will power to prepare for and win the Shiai. As we said before, the greatest obstacles encountered are the different fears: Fear of being injured, of making tactical errors, of not being sufficiently prepared, of stumbling upon the wrong opponent at the wrong time or simply the fear of losing. To fully overcome these impediments we must begin by understanding them. As we said: fears and inhibitions share many similarities. At their root, they both have mindset issues that cause a lowering of our confidence, an increase of our anxiety level and they propagate hesitancy to act. All these facets introduce sufficient doubts in our abilities to overcome our weaknesses.
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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Seeing through the fog It seems that those freezing mental blocks appear when we lack sufficient information about the subject matter or display limited self-confidence to be able to rise to the challenge. We too often underestimate the power of our accumulated skills sets or experiences. We frequently undervalue our experiences as we have no idea as to how we can best use them to perform in the future. It is only when we have identified the parameters of these new tasks or objects which cause the resistance that we will be able to dispel the fog and manage the new situation. Being at such a cross road of decision making is a decisive moment where our mental toughness or fortitude will matter most. We have to demonstrate our readiness to confront the situation to the best of our abilities considering that we may encounter some degree of uneasiness with the unfamiliar grounds. A methodical process We must try to address each phase or component of the problem. To help us tackle the issue, let us draw a few simple steps to help us define our approach: Make a mental list of our current skills and experiences. Define objectively the parameters of the obstacle. Focus on individual components and list the pro and con of the key characteristics. Think out of the box. List the features on a grandeur scale and go for the one that represent the least impact. As we address that portion, use each small victory as stepping stones to move further up the scale of complexity. Make good use of the intelligence given by those we trust to be objective and sincere. Move on with our plan with determination and decide NOT TO BACK DOWN. Excuses are poor responses to remedial action Tomorrow I will begin anewI promise Yes, I will start it tomorrow or next Monday... How many times have we heard this? How often have we been sorry that we did not take the appropriate action on time or have been let down by procrastination before implementing a good action plan? Procrastination is nourished by hundreds of reasons and every one of these excuses will appear to be valid in our mind. However, we have to be aware that the long range effects of procrastination are mostly negative. As a judoka, we cannot miss the right opportunity to attack. Lingering and postponement need not be part of our current reasoning. We must find ways to quickly stimulate our mind maintain proper balance and hastily pursue our task of dealing with our fears.

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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Where do we begin? Knowledge and Know-how are our strategies and weapons of choice. We need to seek good and reliable information about the object of our fear. Seek out data from documents, lectures, researches, essays, observations, comments by knowledgeable coaches or interested parties or share opinions with other reliable persons. Once we have sufficient data collected, we will need to sort it out and evaluate the pertinence. We have to remember that too much fuzziness and unreliable information cumulated over time may become another and serious problem. What is our plan? We need to establish our goal and ascertain the perimeters of fear. The target must be properly identified as to its impact, circumstances and raison dtre. This initial data gathering is vital to gain the necessary momentum in our exercise of overcoming the barriers. Let us avoid our prejudices and try to remain sincere, objective and selective as we list those attributes considered to be serious impediments. Because we seek a different outcome in our future behavior, we have to eliminate the identified obstacles. This is not easy as we are habits forming individuals and often seek the easiest way out. Just brushing aside the issue and not eradicating must be avoided. The fear obstacle is difficult to annihilate but it is the reward of our victory over it that will make us grow stronger. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." President Roosevelt (FDR) - First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933 Details and notes taking Once the fear is identified, let us try to give it a short identifier or a name that we can write down in a personal diary along with its key characteristics and the different steps we intend to take to overcome it. For a clear picture, it is useful to write up its history: when did it begin, what factors caused it to appear, what are the associations to other factors, time, space, weather, circumstances etc.? Describe how fear affects us? What do we do or avoid doing because of it? What is the worst scenario that can happen? Is the source of our fear actually dangerous? From the answers obtained, let us determine whether we have good reasons to be afraid or be intimidated by it. Let us try to understand how it began and how it works. Once we better understand our fear, we can place our efforts in developing the proper action plan to change the circumstances and overcome it.
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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

The battle to overcome fear is hard fought Just as we do in a Randori exercise, we must keep the momentum going even when we anticipate some setbacks or moments when we are tempted to give up. We must stay determined and build upon our success. As we keep up the offensive, let us not wait until our fear has been completely overcome to give ourselves a pat on the back for our efforts. We should celebrate each milestone and cherish the happy moments when we reach each steps. Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it." Lt. John B. Putnam Jr. (1921-1944) COMMON JUDO CHALLENGES Now let us discuss two of the fear elements most encountered in a judo session: Fear of falling/injury and fear of the opponent. The Art of falling without injury To get rid of our fear of falling and getting injured, we must first learn the art of falling or UKEMI. The ensemble of these methodic exercises is meant to introduce us to make better use of our body and mind within diverse spatial environments (front, back, sideways etc.). We soon discover that the ukemi liberates us from our concerns about the effects of gravity and our potential impact with the mat. Getting acquainted with different forms of breakfalls from lying down, sitting, squatting, standing or rolling positions we gradually introduce the use of hand and arm to dissipate the impact with the ground with their placement at 45 degrees. With careful supervision and attention, we also learn to make better usage the truck, shoulder, thigh and knee joints as shock absorbing springs and maximize the propelling of legs to further distribute our weight or facilitate our recovery or return to a standing position. Soon we will progress to make greater use the ukemi to make forward rolls, front and back manoeuvres necessary to avoid other obstacles and accept the throwing techniques that will be performed against us. For greater safety, we will practice the different ukemi within different spacing arrangements in the dojo or in selected combat areas. They will be practiced individually, in pair or in groups and we will learn to assist and guide our training partners with their falls.

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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Accidents with falls For our peace of mind, we know of no report nor published document pertaining to the seriousness of injury sustained by proper use of ukemi techniques. There are some observations which noted the accidental striking of the head on the mat, some incidences of sore neck muscles or the temporary loss of wind when the exercise was badly executed. Ukemi is an invention of Professor Jigoro Kano which led to the creation of judo after removing the lethal aspects of Ju Jutsu in the 1882s. Under the guidance of recognized instructors mastering the different forms of performing ukemi will liberate us from our inhibitions of performing advanced throwing techniques with confidence and prepare us to better respond to any standing attacks because we can count on our abilities to dispel the effects of a possible fall. Notwithstanding our individual preparation, it is important to note that: most judo dojo are equipped with proper first aid tools and qualified medical-attendant, that rules and regulations pertaining to discipline and ethics are being applied in the dojo or in the Shiai- jo and that they prevent most of the unorthodox techniques to be applied, that competition is organized in safe surrounding and by age and weight classes. In judo, the method of falling is an art in itself. J. Watanabe-L. Avakian,v

Understanding body language of our partner/opponent

Now, let us address the second fear factor: the opponent. Here again, our fear is related to our ignorance of the opponent. Language signs The literature tells us that we communicate with others through verbal means for 20% and employ non-verbal signals for another 80%. These figures show the importance to recognize the signals or clues given away through body languages and how to read these signals. Reading people languages is not a science, it is a practical skill we develop with time when we know what to observe, in what circumstances and identify their meanings. Policemen, military personnel, psychologists and many other professions have made successful use of body language reading.

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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Other references to the people skill development We previously discussed the need to practice our observation skills in our former articles such as Judo-Ron 20, 35, 57 and 58. vi We touched upon the need to pay attention to details or clues found by the opponent<s behavior and which can be deciphered from watching the facial expressions, eye contact, posture, hand and feet movements, body movement, placement, appearances and other impressions identified through the clothing mannerisms and particularities. It was noted that with a keen eye we can detect most gestures and identify their meaning when we are able to classify them through repeated occurrences. Attention to details and patience are keys. We suggested to try to become accustomed to watching nonverbal communication as often as possible and emphasized the development of our ability to read nonverbal communications through practice. As we now realize, our communication medium is not limited to language alone. Nonverbal communication is a very important part of our natural interaction. Facial expressions and hand gestures are a couple of the more obvious forms of nonverbal communication, but posture, stance, eye contact, scent and even use of space are often used to convey important messages. We have to recognize that some nonverbal signals can convey meaning on their own, such as a nod of the head to indicate an approval or other signals such a smile, wink, or hand movement can help emphasize spoken words. There are some behavioral studies that reported that animals and humans can recognize fear by the scent projected through the skin which would indicate the presence or the absence of fear.vii Before we meet the opponent in the competition circle, can we identify if he or she is right handed, preferred the left side techniques, was injured recently, is a member of an elite club and determine his or her relationships with peers and the trainers, etc. Most of the answers can be found in the personal appearance, the body language and the communication with others, the pre-match actions and training exercises, the pattern of conduct off the mat and in the immediate environment. Further information can be obtained before the event by using the content of videos, pictures, club visits and training camps. It is important not to come to conclusions too fast or be fooled by decoys. We must be able to detect the patterns through repetitions and use common sense in our evaluation. I cant believe I didnt see the signs. They were right there in front of me. How could I have been so blind? Jo-Ellen Dimitriusviii

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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Practicing the people reading skill It is too often and too easy for us to ignore the realities because of our subjectivity. We close our eyes and seal our minds to events and persons who may disturb our personal comfort. It will take a great effort on our part to acknowledge the facts that we do not like to disengage ourselves from past emotional commitments or natural defensiveness. To be objective and thorough in our future people evaluation, we need to: 1. Spend more time with other players, judoka and their entourage. 2. Take more time to observe, to properly look for details and to listen to what is being said and how it is convey. 3. Practice our memory-retention for details and ability to list the important clues. 4. Let go of our old prejudices and old impressions. 5. Pay attention to repeated patterns and slowly assemble the true picture. Discerning the latent patterns In our quest for more information about our rival competitors, we need to discover the different patterns that emerge from their actions in different circumstances. We have to watch for habit forming, deviations, extremes conduct under different scenarios and spontaneous reactions to controlled or uncontrolled events. This is not accomplished with a cursory look; we need time and patience to capture the relevant traits that will emerge over time. As we cannot assemble all the details in one sweep, we will need the information provided by our own entourage (training partners, coaches, friends, outsiders, newspaper and TV coverage, etc.) and may even consider the review of some electronic or training video footage. Once we have obtained sufficient information, the time will come to define the principal physical and mental traits from which we can establish the degree of importance to our upcoming competition and design our counter-action plan to overcome the resistance. Rendezvous assessment When we are about to compete with the known judoka, we have another chance to assess and confirm our evaluation. In the hours or minutes before the match, let us try to observe both the physical and mental characteristics and their meanings. Can we separate the real image from the decoy? Are the bandages real of fake? What are the warm-up drills? Is the opponent calm, emotional taken or excited? What is the span of attention? Is there a search being conducted in the crowd or near the tatami for moral or visual support? Are there signs of anger or aggressiveness? We must make a scan from head to toes to confirm what we already know about the opponent.

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Zuihitsu-Random Notes about Judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

Go for it Let us not stay ignorant of the potential opponents, but seek all occasions to pin down the key characteristics that raised fear in us and work on our strategies to alleviate it. We must add to our technical baggage and experience the total knowledge obtained from scanning all the patterns and pieces of evidence of our opponents. As with all other judo activities, time and proper decision making are paramount to our success. Go for it.

Ronald Dsormeaux Judo teacher, University of Toronto, Hart House Dojo July 2013

References
i

Kamitani T. Am J Sports Med. 2013; doi:10.1177/0363546513490662, June 2013. Ryo Uchida, Mixed Martial Arts, Underground Paper, Herald Tribune NY Time iii Joseph A. Shrand, Manage Your Stress, June 2012 iv Ronald Dsormeaux, JUDO-RON-24 Mokuso-Meditation, WWW.SCRIBD.COM v J.Watanabe and L.Avakian, The Secrets of Judo, Charles Tuttle, Tokyo, 1960. Page 95 vi Ronald Dsormeaux, JUDO-RON/Zuihitsu series Judo Ron 35,57,58: Matrise de la peur, Heijoshin, Bio Feedback and Interpreting Body Language, WWW.Scribd.com, 2011-13 vii Kerstin Ackerl et all, The Scent of Fear, Neuroendocrinology letters, 1SSN 0172-780X,April 2002 viii Jo- Ellen Dimitrius, JP Mazzarella, Reading People, Ballantine book, New York, 2013,page 32 and 747
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Note This article contains copyrights and is registered with the National Archives of Canada, electronic Bank. Reproduction for non-commercial purposes is permitted. For additional information, please contact: Ronalddesormeaux@Gmail.com

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