Systema, Neurological Reaction Time and Learning.     

by Dr Andrea Bisaz

A major factor in fighting arts is the speed of response to a
given attack. As we know, this is dependent on many different factors. Timely action is crucial for a positive outcome with an adversary.

Different fighting disciplines have implemented various
strategies in order to gain a time advantage over their opponent.

A common approach by many professionals such as SWAT Teams,
Special Forces etc. is to use just a handful of very generic applicable
techniques based on gross motor skills. The idea behind this approach is:

– One, to decrease decision time of the mind, thus, to shorten your reaction time (response time) to a given
attack.

– Two, the gross motor skills allow people to still perform under duress.

Whilst the response in our brain to physical attack is very complex and varied, there is an intriguing aspect, which I would like to discuss. It is important in understanding the response time of the subconscious approach (Systema) as opposed to the conscious choice approach mentioned above.

It is relatively unknown that when our brain prepares for a
movement, for example, in response to an attack on our person, it will always do a dry-run first, without activating our muscle and without our conscious awareness. This means the brain has something like an emulator. Before we become aware of our intended movement, our brain will dry-run the movement through its brain maps. This will include hormonal activation, blood pressure changes and all the usual psycho-physiological adaptations. The only thing, which is missing, is the activation of our muscles (and our awareness). Only following this dry-run will our intended movement become conscious and we will
perform this action with our muscles activated. To our conscious minds this movement appears spontaneous and original, as we are not aware that in actual fact we have already done it in our brains.

Now here is the difference: if movement is directed by our
subconscious mind or as we call it, if the movement happens spontaneously, then our conscious response will be the second run through by the brain. However, in the example of conscious mind control (SWAT team, Special Forces…), if a technique selection is required, then the brain will repeat the dry-run with the chosen technique, before activating the muscles in a third run through. Whilst a small selection number (of technique choices) decreases selection time, it still remains the third fully performed run through by the brain when applying a conscious mind approach. Systema, however, relies on a subconscious
response, meaning that we can act on the second performed run through.

Whilst this advantage represents only a fraction of a second, it is nevertheless very significant.

This yet is not the whole story. Where do the brain’s initial
ideas for the subconscious response originate? Neurologists refer to these sudden reaction movements as Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs). A FAP is a chosen system by natural selection for a reduction of choice and decision time. In other words, through past experiences the body has learned to react in a certain way under certain circumstances (Trigger Event), and in order to reduce reaction time a quick “movement package” is applied in a coordinated fashion whenever needed, without the brain having to repeatedly re-invent the wheel. These patterns are very deeply rooted in our response system. They can range from very simple withdrawal actions to complex movement patterns. That doesn’t however make them the best or most efficient choice under any given circumstance.

Let me give you an example: if you touch a hot object, you will
withdraw your hand immediately in a FAP, nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, if someone grabs your finger in a finger lock, this same FAP will be activated putting you in a much worse situation as you have just increased pressure on your finger lock. How then can we change this situation and how can we change FAPs or any other rapid reaction movement? …The answer is training.

Training has the ability to override current FAPs.

Let’s look at this a bit closer. The brain has many body maps
spread throughout its different areas. The most basic (and famous) are the primary motor and sensory maps also referred to as homunculi. These body maps interact in hierarchical fashion from lower-to-higher-grade maps. Information from the body enters the primary sensory map and then rises through complex processing and constant reassessing procedures up to layers of higher maps. The higher up they travel the more information gets incorporated in the processing of an action such as emotions, memories, body images, beliefs, pain patterns etc, etc. On the way up, information gets constantly fed down the chain again
for reassessment and confirmation with new sensory information just entered. Eventually, appropriate action is decided on and emulated, then fed down through the hierarchy and all the way to the primary motor maps, from which muscles are activated and conscious movement arises. Let’s bear in mind that these complex procedures and interactions take but split seconds to occur. We also can see that no matter how much we try, every action has an emotional association attached. We might not be consciously aware of it but it is unavoidable!

Through regular training we can teach our body to behave with
chosen patterned responses to particular situations. The interesting point here is that we can learn specific patterns (techniques) or we can teach our body principled responses such as relaxed generalized movement patterns.

The difference being is that we allow our bodies to come up with its own solutions to problems as long as it adheres to chosen principles such as relaxed, efficient, natural
movements as in the case of Systema.

In order to allow for this wide range of body applications, we
have to understand that the nervous system works via what we call facilitation. In simple terms, this means the more we use an action the more likely the same action will be chosen the next time. Now, if we use a mirror action over and over again we will eventually reinforce this action in a specific way as a FAP to be used by what’s deemed as relevant situations (Trigger Event). However, if we continually vary the specific movements, whilst keeping the modus operandi more constant, this being a calm, relaxed way of movement, then the quality of this habit will start to instill itself as a FAP response without a specific hyper-facilitated movement pattern attached. The brain will then pair up its own choice of movement pattern, which it regards as most appropriate. It will draw from familiar movement patterns that have been trained, however, more
‘freedom’ exists, which will be advantageous in adapting precisely to
individual situations.

Once the initial subconscious response has taken place, we can
include a consciously directed action if necessary, as we can perform it
concurrently with the already happening responses, thus, we do not suffer an apparent time delay. In simple terms, the brain is multitasking (although strictly speaking due to the on/off nature of the nervous system it is actually an alternating action).

A subconscious approach requires a certain level of faith, as we
teach ourselves principles, hoping that the best response will be chosen
subconsciously at a time of need. It is a very different approach to training specific names and techniques for specific situations.

An advantage of the ‘principle approach’ versus the ‘technique approach’ is that the brain does not get bored through endless repetitions of the same movements, as every movement is slightly different and somehow novel. Once the principles have established themselves, a marvelous thing occurs: Instead of a limited set of technique responses, we now have an unlimited array of ‘principle responses’ available (often referred to as body memory). We have trained our bodies to come up with its own creative solutions to a given situation. Of course the body will always develop its favorite idiosyncrasies, largely due to neurological facilitation, individual body parameters and individual abilities.

It is also very important to mention that RELAXATION is
absolutely imperative in order to work subconsciously. When afflicted by
tension (fear, aggression etc) our brains will lose their ability to be creative, to multitask and eventually to function efficiently altogether. Much has been written about the debilitating effects of tension on our performance, especially in the flight-fight situation. It is not the purpose of this article to discuss this, but I simply would like to stress that it is crucial to instill a relaxed manner of working, if we want work efficiently subconsciously.

It is also important when training for conflict situations to
incorporate regular human-to-human interaction with significant contact such as strikes, aggressive behavior and the like. This will assist in providing proper trigger events and help in reconditioning specific ‘approach and avoidance behaviors’ already present in FAPs. If done properly, it will also assist in reducing fear and pain-based tension.

An additional interesting point is that research has shown slow training of complex movements to significantly shorten the learning time required for those movements… sounds familiar?

Now the more we train the lower down on the brain-map-hierarchy
we move the processing. This means that after many years of training our principled responses can be processed mostly in our primary motor maps. At this point, we have made the system our own and we will instinctively and spontaneously respond with FAPs according to our training. In other words, our subconscious mind will now start to
respond spontaneously to an attack in a smooth, creative and intelligent
way just like in training, instead of in a rushed, abrupt and tense fashion. With appropriate training, we will also be able to work with much less emotional involvement and less disruptive fear-based tension.

Obviously, technique-based training can override the spontaneous
FAP response too, however, if we continue to involve our conscious mind for technique choices, we will still react with the third brain run through only. Alternatively, if Systema practitioners miss this point of subconscious action either through faulty training or lack of faith/trust, then they too will respond to the third run through only. This is particularly apparent in new students and will only change after considerable training.

As mentioned, it is very acceptable, even advisable to use
conscious decisions during a physical conflict but the trick is not to initiate with a conscious action if spontaneously challenged. Rather intermingle it sparingly amongst plenty of subconscious work. This will minimize interference and allow your work to be fast fluid and natural, whilst still maintaining some conscious strategic control.

As simple as this all may sound, and as easy and natural as a
competent Systema practitioner can look in motion, this is actually very
difficult to achieve. Difficult inasmuch, as it takes dedication and years of
mindful training in order to acquire this natural and efficient
subconscious/conscious response process when under attack or duress. A good dose of playfulness, dedication and faith can make this journey spectacularly joyful and satisfying. Not to mention the insight into our persona and our emotions, which we can gain through introspection and through feeling during training.

About the Author: Dr. Andres Bisaz is a Systema
Instructor at rmaSystema-Australia
in Melbourne, training and teaching Systema since 2005. Dr. Bisaz also works at the Melbourne Sports Clinic and can be contacted at +61411745746 or at: bisaza@optusnet.com.au.