| Everyone these days praises the concept of | | | | the 'multi-tasked' event. |
| multitasking -- performing more than one action at | | | | So, if you drive and cell phone, for example, you |
| the same time. Have you ever considered the | | | | are putting less than 50% of your attention into |
| disadvantages of multitasking in the martial arts? | | | | each activity. Both activities suffer. |
| You probably already know that it's hard to pay | | | | Add a third activity to the mix, like eating a donut, |
| attention to other stimuli, when you are, for | | | | while driving and talking on the cell phone, and you |
| example, eating food and driving. A common, | | | | put in less than 33% of your attention into each |
| morning routine for a lot of people who commute | | | | activity. |
| to work. | | | | (In other words, you don't really enjoy the taste |
| If someone were 'to hammer' your window at a | | | | of the donut, AND you could be setting yourself |
| stop light, you could very well miss any warning | | | | up for a car accident.) |
| signs, if you are doing anything in addition to | | | | Unaware Multi-Taskers |
| paying attention to the road. | | | | In this article, I am not talking about the danger |
| Would you like another example from the world | | | | of doing the activity, like driving, with less than |
| of commuting? | | | | your full attention on the task. Rather, I am |
| The business man burrowing into his briefcase on | | | | referring to being in a state of mind |
| the passenger seat would be easy pickings for a | | | | ofpreparedness ... a state of awareness. Aware of |
| criminal. This guy isn't paying attention at all. He | | | | self-defense situations. |
| has his nose buried in his papers. | | | | We are talking about the martial-arts mind. |
| At a Disadvantage to Criminals | | | | As a martial artist and an observer of life, I look |
| I am a very honest soul, but if I were a crook, I | | | | at all of these creatures running around frantically |
| would actually look for the distracted commuters | | | | before work and school, doing multiple activities |
| as my targets. It makes sense that they are | | | | but doing none of them well. |
| easier pickings. | | | | And to paraphrase Douglas Adams ... "and all of |
| I don't want you to be easy pickings.... | | | | these creatures running around frantically had |
| Face it, study after study has shown that | | | | digital wristwatches, and they still weren't happy." |
| multitasking reduced the effectiveness of each | | | | Don't be at a martial-arts disadvantage with |
| action by more than the action's participation in | | | | multitasking. Be ready. Be prepared. Be aware. |