Block 3: Self & Defence

Emotions are reactions that help us process the world around us. The American Psychological Association (APA) says there is more than one type of emotion, and they vary depending on what triggers them. In other words, joy occurs when someone receives good news, while fear happens when a threat is perceived as dangerous or harmful.

Emotions are powerful forces that rule our daily lives. Yes, they are natural, but they can also be destructive, because we constantly make decisions based on how we may be feeling at that given time and might choose hobbies based on how these activities can impact our moods. Therefore, emotional intelligence can help us navigate life with greater ease and stability.

To every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction. This means that when we take action, we cause a reaction that gives us an emotional experience. 

In boxing, that reaction usually comes at us in the form of a counter punch.  

After spending weeks understanding the different striking combos, the mind and how to make our subconscious work for us rather than against us. We now need to protect ourselves from those combos and reactions. 

Shielding ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally so that we don’t get thrown off balance or get caught off guard. 

The best way to shield ourselves is to first understand ourselves better. Get to know ourselves on a deeper level and examine our personality type and what makes us react the way we do when something happens to us. 

Once we are able to control our emotions, we can better control our actions which determine our experience. 

According to American psychologist Dr. Paul Eckman, there are six basic emotions that are universal throughout human cultures: fear, disgust, anger, surprise, happiness, and sadness

The above mentioned emotions all have a response mechanism attached. This determines how we react when we experience any of the emotions.

In boxing, when punched in the mouth, the most common emotion to arise in a fighter is anger and fear.

Stay tuned as we progress through this exciting block as our Fighters’ begin to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their personalities, strengths and weaknesses, etc. while also learning to counter-attack – not only our opponent’s strikes – but also the metaphorical punches that life loves to give us at times.

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