MUAY SENA THEORY OF COMBAT SPEED

Combat specific speed is perhaps the most coveted and misunderstood attribute of the Martial Arts Sciences. 

Most people, including many Martial Artists, associate speed in combat with how fast an individual can strike or move his feet and body. While muscular impulse is an important element of combat speed, it is only one of several factors which dictate a fighters overall speed in combat. 

According to the Muay Sena Theory of Combat Speed there are three categories of speed involved in fighting. The three categories are complementary and synergistic get distinct. 

The three varieties of combat speed are:

1. Proactive Speed,

2. Reactive speed and,

3. Adaptive speed. 

Each of these categories consists of multiple unique processes and elements which distinguish them and their role in violent physical interaction. 

PROACTIVE SPEED :

Proactive speed is the simplest and most direct form of combat speed. It is the speed at which the subject can initiate an attack. Proactive speed, like all categories, involves a number of pre-motor processes however, unlike its counterparts, it avails the subject a significant physiological advantage. 

A proactive initiation of bodily force does not necessarily mean that the target is aware of imminent offensive action therefore the subject enjoys, in this case the luxury of premeditation and planning.

Another advantage of proactive speed is the lack of, or relatively low levels of psychoemotional and physiological arousal that is inherent when a subject can dictate and decide how and when to engage the target. 

This usually improves the speed and quality of the subjects movements as the stress hormones such as adrenaline, that deteriorate cognitive function and complex motor skills are not yet stimulated at maximal levels. Proactive speed consists of a relatively straightforward set of requisites;

assess the target's vulnerability, choose a sequence of movements and execute the selected techniques. 

REACTIVE SPEED :

Reactive Speed is a more complicated form of speed than the aforementioned proactive variety. 

It is characterized by the subjects speed in response to the opponent's offensive movements. The speed at which the subject can react to antagonistic sensory input is contingent upon a complex sequence of physiological processes and the subjects ability to calmly calculate the stimuli and act accordingly. 

Reactive speed involves the sensing of the opponent's attack computing what the attack consist of (eg. a punch, kick, takedown, choke Etc.), decide on an appropriate response and execute the physical reaction. Interestingly  enough, trained Martial Artists tend to struggle with reactive speed especially if the attack is unexpected. 

Martial Artists typically undergo training and a controlled and predictable milieu where all parties are cognizant that combat simulation activities are taking place. In an actual confrontation this is not always so clear. 

Often the opponent may attack without the subject even being aware of his presence or unexpectedly in the midst of some interaction which may or may not be of an belligerent nature. 

Rarely is reactive speed simply a matter of the combatants both facing off in stances and prepared to fight as in training or competition. 

A fortunate byproduct of being attacked without warning is the secretion of stress hormones and other physiological processes that can potentially inhibit performance have not had sufficient time to metabolize. Reactive speed assumes the subject is able to sense the incoming attack of course, however they must react in an appropriate manner within a matter of milliseconds or sustain bodily force. 

ADAPTIVE SPEED :

Adaptive Speed is the most common and complex form of combat speed. It is the interplay of proactive and reactive speed in a dynamic and rapid exchange of kinetic forces. 

Adaptive speed is the speed at which the subject can transition between offense, defense and counteroffensive movements. This is where the well trained Martial Artist can really apply their skills. Adaptive speed scenarios may be simple counterattacking, combinations or an all-out fight where the combatants are actively exchanging techniques. 

Subjects must be capable of making many calculations to a constantly changing situation an adapt to the adversaries actions and reactions to their movements. Reactive speed is largely determined by the quality and type of training the subject has undergone however, perhaps even more important is the subjects ability to harness and regulate the adrenalization levels and remain calm and relaxed in the chaos of combat. 

Real Combat situations can often introduce elements which the trained Martial Artist may have never experienced such as illegal or otherwise unexpected techniques as well as psychoemotional stimuli resulting from the brain's physiological reaction to the violence sensory input. 

Adaptive speed is the speed at which the subject can adapt not only to the adversaries actions and reactions but also the speed at which the subject can calculate these sensory input, decide upon a movement and perform the movement properly while being beset upon internally by their own neurochemicals, emotions and other potentially hindering contributing factors. 

Combat speed of all varieties is governed by the subjects command of a number of premotor processes in addition to muscular contractions. This process is a 4 phase sequence of conscious, subconscious and unconscious physiological and psychological events which vary between individuals. 

The nomenclature coined for these processes varies, however United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd's model is the golden standard for elucidating the decision-making process under the stress of combat. 

Colonel Boyd's model, known as "OODA", states that when the subject is exposed to the singular pressures of real combat they automatically commence a "loop" of cognitive processes which are influenced by many factors both conducive to and more commonly non-conducive to combat speed. 

The four phases consist of the acronym OODA :

1.OBSERVE,

2.ORIENT,

3.DECIDE and,

4.ACT 

To further elaborate the actual processes involved in each phase of the OODA Theory, an explicative is as follows. 

OBSERVE:

This is the initial stage of the OODA loop system. Simply put, the brain receives sensory input of tactile, auditory and/or visual varieties, and relays the nerve impulses to the brain for interpretation. 

On a physiological level, sensory neurons or "afferent" neurons, carry nerve impulses from peripheral nerves to the central nervous system (CNS),at the approximate speed of 200 feet per second (FPS). 

Once the CNS receives the signals they are integrated and the next step of the OODA process commences. 

ORIENT:

This is the second stage of the OODA loop process. At this point the brain has received the sensory input via the receptors and now is tasked to interpret these stimuli. Physiologically, interneurons or "internuncial" neurons, transmit the incoming sensory impulses to the appropriate parts of the brain for processing and interpretation. 

The speed at which this takes place is contingent on several factors. Once the subject is oriented to the sensory stimuli the integrated process of the OODA loop moves on to the next stage.

DECIDE:

At the third stage of the OODA process the subject chooses their response to information they have interpreted. On a physiological level a process, known as "convergence", allows the brain to collect a variety of stimuli, process the information and respond to it in a special manner. 

A process known as "Divergence" also may play a role in certain complex decision making regions of the brain. Associated areas of multiple lobes of the cerebral cortex which are collectively known as the "general interpretive area" facilitate the decision making process. 

The speed at which this process transpires is dictated by many of the same factors as the Orient stage of the OODA loop process. Upon selecting a motor response to the sensory input the final stage of OODA begins. 

ACT:

The last of the physiological and mental processes of the OODA phenomenon is it the culmination of the previous three stages manifesting into action. At this point the brain transfers the nerve impulses out of the brain via motor or "efferent" nerves to the "effectors" of the corresponding muscles. 

Motor impulses stimulate the effectors to contract by relaying the message to the neuromuscular junction where a neurotransmitter called "acetylcholine" causes the muscles to contract. 

Like the sensory input going into the brain at the observational stage, the neural impulses leaving the brain travel at approximate speed of 200 FPS. This action concludes the OODA loop process.

The OODA loop process is an intrinsic dictator of combat speed. These events can be influenced both an adverse ways as well as in ways which augment the speed at which it transpires. The key to achieving maximum levels of potential combat speeds is the conditioning of the neuromuscular system for instantaneous action under the stresses of real combat conditions. 

Although the speed at which impulses enter and leave the brain cannot be altered,, peripheral sensory input reaches the brain faster than focused senses do.

The two stages which consume a large portion of the process that is the Orient and decide faces can be expedited. 

Factors that influence the speed at which the Orient stage takes place can be placed into two categories: those which increase the processing speed and, those which decrease the speed of processing. Factors that will effect the interpretation of sensory input are determined by the individual subjects experience with the intricacies of combat and the inherent stresses of this violent activity. More specifically if the subject has experienced the same or a very similar scenario of combat in their training and/or previous fight experience, they have a much better chance of orienting to the stimuli because it is not an event they are unfamiliar with. 

Training itself can also condition the neuromuscular system to orient to stimuli in a rapid manner however type of training one undergoes is what will determine this. 

If the subjects training methods involve abstract, predictable, cooperative drills, this will be to the detriment of the subject under combat conditions. 

An unrealistic expectation of combat that has been cultivated by flawed training methods will cause the subject to overthink the situation. The tendency for inexperienced fighters to try to process too much information, much of which is irrelevant, when being attacked, consumes times and allows the opponent the tendency for an experienced fighters to try to process too much information much of which is irrelevant allows the adversary critical milliseconds to insert an attack that may prove to be the subjects demise. 

If the subject is being relentlessly attack they will often be frozen in this stage, orienting to every attack and failing to move into the next stage of the OODA loop. 

Practitioners must develop the ability to orient to general, rather than specific sensory input. Another critical factor is the speed at which the subject orients to sensory input is their response to the release of stress hormones such as epinephrine. 

If the subject is not conditioned to remain calm, clear-minded and equanimitous when faced with serious physical conflict they may not have access to any of the skills they have developed. 

Sensory adaptation is the equivalent to a desensitization to some form of sensory input, in this case, the experience of combat. 

An experienced and well-trained subject will retain a large portion of their motor skills as well as their ability to think, breathe and strategize. 

This goes to both the orient and decide stages. The stages of making a decision based on the information of the Orient stage is usually the most difficult for Martial Artist to master. 

Much of the time it takes to complete the OODA loop is spent on deciding on a course of action. Trained Martial Artists, paradoxically, are hindered by their knowledge and learned behaviors and skills. 

To elucidate there is a formula known as "Hick's Law" which states that the more options you have, the longer it takes to select one of them. 

If the subject knows dozens, or even hundreds of responses to any given situation, it will take much longer to interpret the intricacies and choose in action. 

While knowing proper and diverse responses is good in certain situations, it can be disastrous when a subject is attacked abruptly or without warning. 

The subjects ability to reduce their arsenal to the basic essentials in scenarios of a time sensitive nature will greatly increase their speed of decisions and overall combat speed. 

The way of subject can condition themselves for responses to unexpected or sudden attacks is with actual experience in real combat however, this is often not tenable. In addition to actual experience the Martial Artist must apply a practical and subconscious knowledge of biomechanics. If the subject can automatically orient to the opponents movement and decipher what is and is not physically possible based on the distribution of weight, foot positioning, the attack being utilized, Etc. they will be better equipped to make rapids general decisions. 

Once the OODA has completed its circuit and the impulses have been relayed to the corresponding muscles, combat speed becomes a matter of the subjects relative strength, power and muscular control. 

The tendency for trained, but inexperienced Martial Artists to exert too much muscular effort when faced with actual combat, reduces the potential speeds of the techniques. Skeletal muscles which are responsible for executing the chosen techniques are called "Prime Movers". 

These Prime Movers are assisted by Synergistic muscles to complete the movements. Because most muscle groups act in pairs which are opposing forces, in order to contract smoothly in with maximum potential the antagonistic or opposing muscles must be relaxed while the prime movers contract. 

An overexertion of force tends to engage antagonistic muscles which in turn reduces not only speed but also power and accuracy. 

The subjects ability to remain relaxed in stressful conditions inherent to combat will aid in their combat speed in several ways including their fluidity and stamina. The subjects strength and power is directly responsible for the speed at which they can execute their techniques. The subjects relative strength must be developed for the movement specific to those which are necessary for actual combat. Many Martial Artists neglect supplemental strength training leading to speeds that are submaximal to their full potential. Functional strength for combat lies primarily in the core band of muscles specifically, the "Rectus Abdominis", the "External and Internal Obliques" and the "Spinal Erectors". The core is the primary conduit of combat strength in all phases of combat. The legs play a large role in the strength of the combat athlete. 

A truly strong subject possesses a well-developed and balanced functional strength tailored for the demands of combat. 

This strength will augment combat speeds by endowing the subject with greater control over inertia, momentum and both their organism as well as that of the adversary. 

Strength is necessary to draw potential kinetic energy from the earth and transfer said energy through the organism and into the weapons or techniques. 

Power is the rapid exertion of strength and immediate relaxation. It is the explosive force that epitomizes speed in combat. The subject may be strong but not relatively powerful. 

Factors that contribute to potential levels of power are genetic, as well as the contingent upon the subjects training methods. Genetically, subjects with higher percentages of fast-twitch muscle fibers, particularly in the areas responsible for the actions of combat, will demonstrate higher levels of relative power and therefore more speed in combat. The same can be said for strength. 

Training will develop power if said training consist of proper plyometric routines that stimulate the explosive fibers that actuate the organism in combat situations. Generally the stronger subject will be the faster of equally skilled combatants provided the training methods are designed to simulate the movements of combat.