The Principle of Harmonious Chaos.

Viewed a video of someone doing a drill, attempting to feel some principles at work, good stuff all around except one point where they stopped and said ‘no, that isn’t good because your hand is there and I would walk right into it.’

No. In reality the hand is not going to be there, it will not be hanging there for your convenience, nor will it remain there as an impediment just sitting in one spot.

Drills like these have flaws built into them for a reason. It is not necessarily important what the other person is doing or how they are standing because that is NOT reality. What IS important is what YOU are doing; how you are moving, getting a feel for it.

THAT is where one should reframe their focus, keeping in mind that, in reality, it will NOT be so clean and crisp either, but the mechanics will be there. Don’t get hung up on form, or how something should look, that is never the bottom line and anyone looking strictly at these things is missing the point entirely.

There is a lot missing from any given drill. Look at what is missing, take note, look at where your focus is, take note.

Remember that you are NOT fighting or defending against a technique, you ARE fighting or defending against a PERSON, complete with all their ferocity, aggression, and will.

That hand is going to move, come from another angle, a different hand will come at you from somewhere else, now a foot, now a head, grabs, pulls, pushes, knees, elbows, fingernails, spit, slobber, cuss words, derogatory statements... Maybe a weapon appears, maybe not.

Sometimes you need to close distance, sometimes you need to create distance... The latter is going to be your ultimate aim in order to escape and get to safety.

Maybe you have that option, maybe not.

My Teacher used to say ‘Don’t think, just do,’ and ‘No Mind.’ Going along with my previous post about hyper-vigilance and operating from the lizard brain, this is precisely correct.

Thinking about things in logical sequence, trying to make sense of these things from a higher brain standpoint is okay, it has its’ uses, but the aim is to sink into the lizard brain, to hone our ruthless survival traits, to focus them and, ultimately, act without thinking.

Some people call this second nature, but it is really first nature, innate to all of us, otherwise we would not be here. 

This is not a philosophical journey in its’ primary aim, most of that is secondary stuff. The aim is always to seek advantage, to dominate or be dominated, so when I see people going through motions and thoughtfully considering things, but then getting hung up on things that don’t really matter, it is a wonder that things have degraded over time.

The proper aim of things has been lost. 

It is easy to see the nature of a person by the way they move and their intent. One can pick the ruthless from the meek in just a few simple movements.

Now for the philosophical side. One need only know that peace is preceded by war, without conflict we would not have needed to invent two separate words to describe two concepts such as war and peace.

The truly peaceful are those capable of terrible violent things, yet choose not to do those things unless  absolutely necessary.

I understand the idealistic views some people hold. The romanticized view of things as we would want them to be, but reality rarely confirms to our ideals and when we try to force it to conform then all sorts of things go wrong.

It is best to live in balance with nature, knowing full well what that actually implies. Harmony is an action word, it has nothing to do with pacifism, it has nothing to do with doing nothing when something must be done.

It has everything to do with seeing things as they are, without blinders, delusions, or personal idealistic opinions.

It is both ugly and beautiful at the same time. Great and terrible. Ordered and chaotic. It is a mess. Live with it or be torn apart by it.

Recognizing Hyper-Vigilance.

The lizard brain reacts, it does not think critically, it does not think at all, it does not assess or try to make sense of anything... In other words, once activated, it cannot be reasoned with.
In hyper panic mode this is the area of primary operation and, in hyper panic, overrides everything else with the ‘thinking’ side, our conscious, rational, and reasonable side constantly playing second fiddle catch-up as it justifies all actions of the lizard brain after the fact.

It helps to know what we might be dealing with, both in ourselves AND in everyone around us. The panic buying with no seeming rhyme or reason behind the items bought and hoarded; signs the lizard brain is in a hyper-vigilant State (and a bit rusty with no experience due to psychic atrophy, which can make it all the more dangerous, albeit not necessarily more unpredictable).
A person operating in a constant hyper-vigilant state will justify anything so long as their survival is guaranteed, even accepting less freedom, more tyranny, and justifying acceptance of any information from sources perceived to be most conducive to survival (due to prior perceived status) without question.
These sources, and their agents, assuming a high status point in a perceived dominance hierarchy with the lizard brain forcing the individual into a subservient role.

This explains what has already been happening, but the trajectory is not good over an extended period of time as things further erode and survival is constantly in question.
People will often be shocked by what they are capable of doing, furthermore, what others are capable of and willing to do to them... Mob Mentality is one manifestation of a collective lizard brain, tribal mindsets are another.
People, desperate, breaking windows, kicking in doors, invading homes to get at the goods within (and likely much more, to the horror of the victims unprepared).
Attacks in stores and store parking lots are only the tip of the iceberg if things continue down this road and fear porn is spread around continuously like candy.
‘Worry about this,’ and ‘why aren’t you worried about that?’ Memes literally State by end of the world messages in the midst of it all, stuff we would normally find ridiculous. Amidst all this, individuals not necessarily operating from honest places of concern seeming to stoke the fire and fan the flames because they want to make a statement at the expense of everyone else who are genuinely afraid.
(I had to block two people in such a category a couple days ago because of statements in public... And contradictory statements in private from one - this is not a political issue and to assume it is whilst approaching it like that is dangerous considering the level of panic).

Knowing is more than half the battle. Remaining aware, taking the hyper-vigilance down a few notches, being mindful in all situations, of yourself and others, this does go a long way. When the lizard brain enters go time, however, all bets are off.
Others will try to take what you have, and more, you cannot approach that in the same mindset you normally would, can you defend what you have? Where are you willing to go? It is not a pretty picture and there is time to change some of it, at least with those around you, your neighbors, friends, and family, strength in numbers is a good deterrent, but the picture still sucks.

Sticking together and staying positive is the optimal plan of action, but being aware of the worst within will prepare for the worst as it comes from the outside to tear you apart and take everything that is yours.

Gloom and doom? No. Just realism should things go this way for an extended period of time. Get yourself out of your state of sheer panic and recognize when you are dealing with the lizard brain in other people.

The True Path.

It is not how much you know, but how much you train, how deep you question, and how much of yourself you put in (and take away) from it all.
There is no such thing as a ‘black belt’ or a ‘white belt’ and titles are meaningless when they are given based on WHAT you THINK you know.

There is no such thing as ‘advanced,’ just things repeated in different ways, or often the same ways in different sequences, in different places, and these things are only illustrated to teach something... The only way to learn is in doing, in training, and in questioning.
Take NOTHING at face value, nothing whatsoever... Pick something. Spend a lifetime on that, all other things will fall into place and the results will flow out into every other aspect of life if you keep the right focus and mindset.
Good character, however, is not the goal, but a side effect. The goal is in defeating enemies, which turns to defeating obstacles, ultimately defeating yourself and, as a result, revealing yourself.

This is not a sport or a game. This is not some fancy philosophy about living in some romanticized ideal of harmony and balance.
True balance comes through struggle, constant pushing and pulling, bending and swaying, all upon a center point, the eye of the storm.
Harmony is an illusion as most everything in nature seeks to kill and dominate everything else, so true nature is brutal, living in harmony is accepting the brutal nature of reality. Peace is ever dependent on War just as up is dependent on down and right on left.

White pajamas, colored belts, prim-and-proper etiquette and form? Etiquette is important within our social circles, but the notion of form does not carry itself into reality and if it cannot readily serve this  purpose then it is utterly useless... Stop calling it what it is not.
If it leads to weakness and calls for dependence and approval then, at the end of the day, it serves no one except those whom it serves and THAT IS NOT YOU.

Education is meant to bring out what is within and refine it, understand it, mold it in a way that improves its’ functionality and expression.
Uniquely human, but not entirely. That manner of brutality already exists inside of you in its’ raw form, now to couple that raw energy with a true manner of education... Rather than telling you WHAT to do it will shed light on the thing and show you HOW.
No Teacher can truly do this for you, they can point towards whatever it is based on what worked for them (questionable in this day and age with most), but only you can make any sort of headway towards understanding as you walk the path.

Some Things to Impliment.

This is not something that was on my radar to write about and not something I wanted to write about particularly, considering the negative vibes people are putting off in regards to the coverage of it, but here we are.
No, I am not going to write about what a state we are in and what hopelessness surrounds the situation, but what CAN be done to combat this thing along with what people might find useful in safeguarding their families.
Livelihoods may be lost, but in the Philosophical School of Stoicism, we tend to suffer more in imagination than in reality. That is not to make light of the situation, but to put it in a different perspective.

A positive mindset can overcome just about anything, not everything, mind you, but just about anything.
Yes, when it is our time to go, it is our time, not much can be done about that, but at least we can face it knowing full well it is our time; as they say, an old Tiger knows when its' time has come. For most of us we are not there yet and, despite the panic, we know that deeply.
Take heart and forge your spirit to push forward. On the other side is wisdom. Yes, things may be different, they likely will be, but what are YOU going to do with that knowledge NOW?

If you are exposed, or even if you are not, bolster your immune system with some Ibuki Breathing, or Kokyo Ho (as they call it in Aikido), learn to put yourself through discomfort with a mind to push through it by taking cold showers, switch to hot at the very end, then step out, dry off, and go about your day.
Make a game plan, have non-negotiable activities, like Meditation, exercise is good to follow this, stretch, keep in good shape, in good health, but most of all, take your mind back and keep it positive.

Don't go out an buy in a panic, panic and fear COMPROMISE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM if you are in such states for extended periods of time and this will lead to becoming ill, this will lead to negative mindsets, this will lead to further doubt, fear, even anger.
Anger is one thing that can go either way, uncontrolled and it will hurt you, controlled and reigned in, coupled with a positive mind (sounds weird) it can see you through almost anything. You will be a force of nature at that point and someone not to be trifled with.

Stock up on canned food, whole food, staple food, a little bit at a time, don't buy in bulk. Toilet paper? Not really a big deal, napkins are available, a bit at a time.
Crime is about to go up in response to measures that are being taken, mainly because people do not think in their panicked state and some come to things too late so they will seek what others have. Don't show what you have, not entirely, and be prepared for people to confront you, even violently. Make sure your homes are secure, look for weaknesses in security, stay vigilant, but never lose your mindset, never allow that to carry you away.

I have recommended practicing Sanchin Kata three times a day. That is one way of doing things. I also recommend taking a walk around your house or apartment each day when you wake, and each night when you go to bed, make sure things are secure.
Also, get to know your neighbors, never discount your community. In this whole thing, never allow yourself to be alienated from those around you. Fear can set in if someone we know comes down with the infamous virus, but look at them as a person and put yourself in their shoes. Most of us will fight off the virus, so we need not worry in the slightest, while those that are most at risk might depend on our help, never fail to give it if you can.

I do NOT agree with social distancing, as most of us will overcome the virus, it is not Ebola, it is not Swine Flu, so build immunity, the same way we used to do with Chicken Pox.
Even in an Ebola outbreak I would likely help those that needed it, yes, it is scary, but I am comfortable with my own mortality, and one person's last moments can be made better with some simple acts of kindness.

Don't give in to fear. Take your time. Even here, Shihan's teaching rings true, do a little, but do it often.

Wake up.