Balance - Part 2

We are never static, when we are standing, sitting or lying down we may get the impression that we are not moving but the body is in constant motion and in a permanent state of unbalance.
One question I like to ask both beginners and the more advanced students is: Do you know how to walk?
At first it seems like a stupid and easy enough question to answer, 'Yeah you put one foot in front of the other and off you go'. OK, yes well that is walking but the body mechanics that allow us to walk are slightly more complicated.
We use both the conscious and sub-conscious mind to make this work and for most of the time it is the sub-conscious mind that is doing all of the work.
For this short blog post we will look at the axis that interact permanently with the body and helps us counter this unbalanced state.
These invisible axis never move their position, they stay in a fixed point, it is the body that moves around the axis.

Central Vertical Axis

The CVA starts above the head, runs through the centre of the body, out between the legs and into the ground. Think of it as the pole that goes through the centre of a merry-go-round horse keeping it in place.

Central Horizontal Axis

The CHA runs parallel to the ground, roughly in the centre depending on your body make-up as not every ones centre of gravity is the same. Again the axis starts outside of the body and extends through the opposite side.
You can see from both photos that there is only one CVA but there are two CHAs, there is the Lateral (side to side) and the Radial (forwards, backwards and circular).

As the body moves around these axis we become more unbalanced, the more we become unbalanced the more the conscious mind takes control in the decision making process. This is even more so when dealing with a combat situation.

No matter your position, your balance will be effected to some degree. if you are in a combat situation you not only have to be aware of your own balance but also that of your enemy so practicing balance drills in all positions is necessary to be comfortable at performing and understanding how the axis come into play.

As we cannot always choose the location or the time that combat will take place, being able to control your balance whilst being mobile in a vehicle is essential.
How many times have you being travelling on a bus, train or tube for example and lost your balance when the vehicle lurches around a corner or slows to a stop?
How many times have you been on a ship or boat and you lost your balance through the rolling of the vessel?

Not only will you need to be able to control or fire a weapon from a speeding vehicle but you should also consider the physical safety aspect as well. Do you train for this?

How is the rolling of the vessel going to affect your aim? Consider your balance when grappling or again just from a physical safety perspective.

Balance is a far greater subject than this blog post has gone into and one that is often forgotten by instructors and students alike.

Combat Focused - Are you?

Stay Dangerous

Rock