We wake up, go through our morning routines and then we carry on with our day. As we go through our day, situations occur that we are either ready to handle or we need help in learning how to handle. We are then given choices as to how best to face the challenge in front of us. These choices are derived from our response to the challenge. If we choose a response out of fear, then we end up compounding the negative in what ever the situation is that we are facing. If we step outside of ourselves and objectively look at the situation and make a balanced decision, we are more likely going to have a succesful conclusion to the problem. When training in the Martial Arts you are constantly faced with having to choose the appropriate response to the situation that will have the least negative impact on both you and you're opponent. These decisions are happening at a lightning fast speed and require you to be relaxed and to rise above or step outside of the situation as it is occuring, This place you are in when that happens, I like to call "the zone." When you reflect back on the situation and your response, you realize everything seemed in slow motion and you were better able to see the technique even before it was thrown at you. It's a state of oneness with your opponent but most importantly with your self as it always leads to a successful conclusion for you.