Survival Stress Reaction and Combative Performance

Survival Stress Reaction And Its Effects on Combat/Self Protection:



Acknowledgements:

Much of the information on this post can be directly attributed to Bruce Siddle who is the Executive Director of PPCT Management Systems Inc. For those who are interested in further expanding their knowledge on this topic, I would highly recommend Siddle’s book, “ Sharpening The Warrior’s Edge”, which more fully explains the who, what, where, when, why, and how of Survival Stress Reaction.

Darren Laur




HISTORY OF SURVIAL STRESS REACTION (SSR):

Recently, I have read a number of posts that talk about teaching “gross motor skills” ( motor skills that generally involve the action of large muscle or major muscle groups) rather than “fine motor skills” ( motor skills that are performed by small muscle groups such as the hands and fingers). Throughout history and the study of combat, it was recognized that in “real” combat stress situations, fine/complex motor skills go for a dump, but gross motor skills gained in strength and usability.

The first real studies in the area of SSR as it related to combat performance, were conducted in the 1930’s, when it was noted that those soldiers who were sending Morse code during combat situations (fine/complex skill), had much more difficulty in doing so when compared to non-combat environments. The next real research in SSR came during the Vietnam war as it related to the location of buttons and switches in fighter cockpits. As a result of this research, cockpits were reconfigured to take SSR into affect, as it specifically related to eye/hand co-ordination during combat situations.


Although much of the early research surrounding SSR was conducted by the military during times of war, recently (from about the mid 1960’s to present time) a lot of research has been conducted in SSR as it relates to athletic performance.






DEFINITION OF SSR:


Siddle’s definition of SSR as it relates to combat is ; “ a state where a “perceived” high threat stimulus automatically engages the parasympathetic nervous system” The parasympathetic nervous system is an autonomic response process which, when activated, one has little control of.

Why is SSR so important when it comes to combat/self protection? , because when activated, SSR has both a psychological and physiological effect to the body which could effect one’s perception of threat in a negative way. So what are some of these effects?


a) Increased Heart Rate:

· We know that SSR is directly related to increased levels of heart rate
· At 115 beats per minute (bpm) most people will loose fine complex motor skills such as finger dexterity, eye hand co-ordination, multi tasking becomes difficult
· At 145 bpm, most people will loose complex motor skills ( 3 or more motor skills designed to work in unison)


b) Effects To Visual System:


· The visual system is the primary sensory organ of the body for those of us that can see, due to the fact that the visual system sends information to the brain that is needed during combat/self protection
· At approximately 175 bpm, a person will experience an eye/lid lift, their pupils will dilate and flatten. As this reaction takes place, a person will experience visual narrowing (commonly known as tunnel vision). This is why it is very common for a person to back up from a threat in order to get more information through this tunnel. It is also at this point in time that a person becomes “binocular” rather than “monocular” This is why in CQB shooting, I teach two eye “binocular” shooting rather than one eye aimed shooting.
· At 175 bpm, visual tracking becomes difficult…… this is very important when it comes to multiple threats. During multiples, the brain will want the visual system to stay with what it sees to be the primary threat. Once this threat has been neutralized, the brain and visual system will then find its next threat. This is commonly known as the “light house” effect. Studies have found that a person in SSR will experience on average about a 70% decrease in their visual field. This is one reason why in combat, we need to teach students to constantly be scanning their environment, looking for the second and third opponent.
· At 175 bpm, it also becomes difficult to focus on close objects…. One of the first things to go under SSR is depth perception. A fighter WILL become far sighted rather than near sighted. This is why it is very common for people experiencing SSR to say that the threat was either closer or father away from where they actually were. Studies in SSR have shown that binocular fighting/shooting will improve one’s depth perception by 20-30%




c) Effects To The Auditory System:

· At approx 145 bpm, that part of the brain that hears, shuts down during SSR. This is one reason why it is not uncommon for fighters to say “ I didn’t hear that” , “ I heard voices but I couldn’t understand what they were saying” or ‘ I heard bits and pieces” “ I didn’t hear a gun shot”



d) Effects To The Brain:


· At approx 175 bpm, it is not uncommon for a person to have difficulty remembering what took place or what they did during a confrontation
· This recall problem is known as “ Critical Stress Amnesia. After a critical incident, it is not uncommon for a person to only recall approx 30% of what happened in the first 24hrs, 50% in 48 hrs, and 75-95 % in 72-100hrs
· At 185-220 bpm, most people will go into a state of “hypervigilance” this is also commonly known as the “deer in the headlights” or “Brain fart mode” It is not uncommon for a person to continue doing things that are not effective ( known as a feedback loop) or to show irrational behavior such as leaving cover. This is also the sate in which people find themselves in why they describe that they can not move, yell, scream. Once a person is caught in a state of hypervigilance it is a downward spiral that is very tough to get out of. Once caught in a state of hypervigilance information of the threat is reduced to the brain which leads to increased reaction time. This increased reaction time then leads to a heightened state of stress which further plunges one into a deeper state of hypervigilance


e) Effects To Motor Skill performance


· At approximately 115 bpm, fine/complex motor skills go for a dump (pulling a trigger, handling a knife), but gross motor skills turn on and become optimized



So why is this information so important ?, because the higher the heart rate, the more SSR will effect one’s perception of threat. Also, the higher the heart rate, the more negative effects it will have on motor skill performance.

One must remember that in combat, a person’s heart rate can go from 70 bpm to 220bpm in less than half a second. So what is the “combat maximum performance range” when it comes to SSR and heart rate ? Siddle in his studies has found that it is between 115-145 bpm. Siddle has also found that a fighter’s “maximum reaction time performance range” is also between 115-145 bpm. In other words, the 115-145 bpm range is where fighting skills (gross motor) and reaction time are maximized.

Survial Stress Reaction part II

MANAGING SSR:


As I said earlier, SSR is an autonomic response, which happens without conscious thought. Having said this, a person can manage SSR to attain that peak 115-145 bpm range in the following ways:


1) Skill Confidence:

· This takes place through both mental and physical training



2) Experience Through Dynamic Simulation Training

· Experience increases and builds confidence
· Training should be “realistic” stimulus/response based
· The more real the training experience (stimulus) the better


3) Visualization (mental imagery)

· Commonly known as “spinal tuning” we now know that the upper part of the spinal column holds a short term memory.
· This is one reason why I have taught my Emergency Response Team (ERT) to visualize both their plan “A” strategy and plan “B” strategy as they are enroot to their target.
· Remember that the mind can not tell the difference between fantasy and reality. The more one uses mental imagery the more one becomes spinal tuned to deal with the task at hand
· As a certified hypnotherapist, I am using the science and art of hypnosis and NLP to pre-program stimulus /response issues directly into the subconscious, specific to combat performance. Not only have I have seen a DRAMATIC increase in combative performance in those students in which I am using hypnosis and NLP, but I am also experiencing about a 50% decrease in the amount of time needed to make a student unconsciously competent in the skill set taught, when compared to those who I have not conducted this type of training with. In fact, I truly believe that hypnosis and NLP specific to combatives, will be the next nexus in training

4) Breathing

· This skill has been used in the martial arts for thousands of years
· Known as autogenic breathing
· One wants to breath in through their nose for a three count, hold for a two count, and then breath out through the mouth for a three count. Studies have found that if a person was to do this for a 3 cycle count, it decreases one’s heart rate up to 30% for up to 40 seconds. Again remember that heart rate is directly related to SSR. If a person heart rate was sitting at around 175-220 bpm, autogenic breathing would help bring them back down into that target range of 115-145 bpm
· I have also taught this skill to my ERT team. While they are doing their spinal tuning, they are also conducting autogenic breathing drills at the same time. Our ERT team had conducted a lot of empirical and “real world” operations where they placed heart monitors on team members which have proven this de-escalation in hart rate


5) Value Of Life:

· In our society a person’s life is considered to be precious. In fact, most of our morals and laws are based upon protecting one self and others against serious injury or death
· In a self defence situation, one may have to seriously injury or even kill another human being.
· Although a reality, many people involved in combatives training have not “really” internalized or even thought about this. Because of one’s “belief system”, to kill or seriously injure another person is as foreign to them as committing suicide
· If one does not come to grips with this issue one will fail to act in such a situation


6) Belief In Mission / Task At hand:

· If you do not believe in the mission or task at hand, or if the risks outweigh the ultimate benefit to you/society, you WILL hesitate in combat
· One who hesitates in combat, will usually levitates 12 feet under or be seriously injured


7) Faith System:

· You do not want to go into combat without having things resolved
· Both the ancient samurai and the kamikaze’s during WWII understood this important rule
· Even in our modern times, there are certain spec war teams around the world that are allowed to make peace with their deity prior to mission
· A strong faith system, whatever that faith system may be, MINIMIZES the fear of dying. As a graphic example of this, look at the events of September 11th and how the terrorists were not afraid to die and thus were able to carry out their mission. Also look at what is happening in Israel right now !!!!!!!
· Remember, combat is not the place for you to be making major adjustments to your belief system. You need to be concentrating on the task at hand and nothing else. Not to do so places yourself in jeopardy




8) Training:

· Training for combat “must” be gross motor based why ? because we know that during combat, SSR will negatively effect fine/complex motor skill performance no matter how well trained !!!!!!!!!
· For any skill taught, there must always be a plan “B” abort strategy conditioned as well. We must not be teaching multiple defences (responses) to a specific type of attack (stimulus). The reason for this, HICKS LAW !
· Hicks Law basically states the following: the average reaction time given one stimulus one response is about ½ second. If we now teach a student a second technique (response) to the same attack (stimulus) we WILL increase a person’s reaction time by 58%. On the street we want to DECREASE reaction time, not increase it. If we teach multiple defences to one specific attack, the brain will take time deciding which option to use. This increased reaction time could mean the difference between life and death.
· Instructors should always teach a new technique in slow motion, why ? it allows the students brain time to observe the technique and begin the “soft wiring process” which becomes “hard wired” through physical and mental training in conjunction with repetition, as long as it is gross motor skilled
· All physical skills should be chucked into progressive steps rather than all at once. Many instructors when teaching a physical techniques will have the students practice the entire technique from beginning to end when first learning the specific skill set. This is a huge mistake. Remember that the brain first learns in pictures and through modeling. By teaching a technique from A to Z all at once, the student may not fully develop the full “mental picture” needed to perform the technique properly which usually leads to frustration by the student. Teachers, coaches, and instructors must insure that the student understands step A fully, then move onto step B. Once step B is understood move on to step C and so on. By doing this, frustration goes down, while confidence and skill level go up.
· Once the skill sets are learned, they must now be applied in dynamic training in order to make the stimulus/response training as real as possible. Again, the more the real the training, the better prepared one becomes for the reality of the street






Survival Stress Reaction is a reality that we as instructors, teachers, coaches and students need to understand and come to terms with. If you are studying a combative system that does not take into consideration SSR issues, specific to combat technique, you are not best preparing yourself for winning the street confrontation.


Strength and Honor

Darren Laur
Integrated Street Combatives

Archived with kind permission of Darren Laur.