Path working

You mentioned this "Path working" in the "go button" thread https://selfprotection.forumotion.com/psyche-talk-f11/the-go-button-t8105.htm

Could you please go into a bit more detail on this or give an example. This is an area I have quite an interest in. I do some scenario based things and am always trying to improve on that. Right now I don't feel that I have what I need in this area.

Hi mate

there are several 'levels' of pathworking, but in its most basic form its a kind of interactive meditation based around being placed 'mentally' in aviolent scenarios .. a VERY quick example


The participents will stand well apart from each other on the mat (whatever) eyes closed and a the 'instructor' will describe a scenario and the participents wil wait for the word "GO"

I will describe a VERY short one to give to the idea, bearing in mind this example is as basic as it gets.

"You are standing outside a shop on a busy street .. a large man in a black leather jacket gestures angrily at you from across the road .. you see him .. study him .. he shouts at you and starts to crioss the road .. he is now on your side of the road and is approaching you angrily .. you are preparing yourself yot meet him physically is need be .. watch him .. get ready (Often here the participents start opening and closing their fists, twitching a bit etc)

he puts his hand in his right hand pocket and pulls out a small knife .. he is now 5 steps away
GET READY ... WATCH ... STEADY ... GO

here the participents launch into a fast hard agressive set of free moves.. anything they think will work

Then we dissect the moves and thoughts etc

its an excelelnt excercise, but needs lots of tuition on both the part of the instructor and the participents to get it right

hope that helps a little

Thanks for the explanation Dave, I also asked about path working on the "go button" thread.

Thanks Dave...

Do you find that this visualization comes easy for people or do find it takes some time to get them to be able to do it.

Depends on when in their 'career' they start it.. usually by the time we introduce it they have had a fair it of trainng and they seem to 'get it'pretty quickly

Just as a very personal view.. I wouldnt introduce it to my students until they have done about a year or so, maybe ornge/green belt levels.
However its mandatory for black belts