Martial Arts Awareness

Wait!

Called out my teacher just as we were exiting the store to the parking lot.

You were just going to walk right out?

No pause, or even a change in the timing?

Honestly? Yes, I was thinking about the sandwich I was about to eat.

First rule or martial arts- awareness.

Awareness of a change in the situation.

What we practice in the dojo, is done so that it is plain to see and easy to understand, a formula of movement that is applied outside of the dojo, in much more potentially complicated situations. 

That moment of transition going from the store to the parking lot, there is a change in situation.

In my own movement a pause, or a change in timing to assess.

Cars driving around.

People walking about.

What interactions need to be navigated and what is the distance and timing of them?

What blind-spots or areas of movement should I be aware of?

A quick note and assessment of what is happening and what could be happening.

Awareness is the first rule of movement in the martial arts.

Then I could eat my sandwich.