There are many situations where life depends on the speed of the reaction. A reaction is the body’s response to any stimulus, after which there is an immediate action to interact with this stimulus (threat). In simple terms, the exercises that develop the reaction set as their ultimate goal to teach the brain to control the body in automatic mode. For this, exercises and certain psychological preparation are necessary. This will be discussed in more detail in the article.
What is a reaction?
First you need to briefly determine what is meant by this concept and what is the reaction rate. A reaction is a certain mechanical action caused by a stimulus in a certain way in an automatic mode. Three types of main irritants are distinguished: sound, visual, and tactile. A person is so arranged: he reacts to different signals at different speeds.
Reaction rate - the time interval between the appearance of a signal and the response to it. In many ways, it depends on heredity, the structure of the nervous system, age, gender, and other factors. An equally important condition is the person’s awareness of the specific situation in which he has to act. After all, tennis, hand-to-hand combat, e-sports or driving are different areas of human activity. And then ask yourself the question of how to develop a good reaction in this or that sphere. However, there are a number of general exercises and recommendations that allow you to increase mindfulness, concentration, general coordination and interaction of the brain with the body, as well as other important characteristics. They will not only help answer the question of how to develop a reaction, improve well-being, but also simply allow you to cheer up.
Ball work
This is the most basic level, designed to improve overall coordination of movements. For such exercises, you need only a small ball, convenient for grasping with a brush, as well as regularity in execution.
Approaching the wall, you need to hit it with the ball and catch with the same hand that made the throw. You need to start with a strong hand (leading). This monotonous exercise is designed for 10-15 minutes.
Then they do the same thing, but only with the other hand.
The next task is becoming more complicated and at the same time becoming more interesting. The throw is made with the right hand, and the catch of the sword with the left.
Partner - Half Success
All people love to play. This is a great opportunity to hone your skills, as the interaction in the games is based on the principles of competition. Among other things, giving yourself various mental commands and then performing them is a tedious, inefficient task. Another thing is when a companion does it. It is difficult to predict his actions. Yes, and he will do everything possible to make them different by surprise. Therefore, when the question arises: “How to develop a reaction using the help of another person?”, Game activity, like no other, is best suited for these purposes. It provides a wide selection of interested parties and various strategies: from the banal “stone - scissors - paper” to the ball throwing at each other.
It is worthwhile to dwell on a number of clear, effective recommendations, answering the question of how to develop a reaction at home. It should be understood that training your own body must be carried out taking into account the prevalence of a certain stimulus, for example, tactile, and a specific field of activity. Thus, exercises that develop a tennis player will not help the boxer much, but all because of the difference in the packages of teams that are laid in the subconscious during long hard work.
There is one more important factor. It is few who take it into account, even fewer people work on it, and, as practice shows, it is very vain. It is about the work of the body on "autopilot" in a state of stress.
The influence of ancient instincts on the speed of reaction
A number of researchers in their works have proved that fear is one of the main emotional and behavioral reactions that directly affect even perfectly honed skills in a stressful situation. This instinct went to a person in the process of a long evolution. It is divided into two types: agitation and stupor.
Agitation is the usual physical flight. One of the strategies that a person uses with a real or imaginary threat. This classification of threats is also chosen by chance. There are situations of real danger when only running can save a life, but there are imaginary ones (the probability of losing one’s status, reputation, etc.).
The state of stupor, or, as it is aptly called, "internal flight" is a completely different protective mechanism. A man does not run anywhere, but his body does not obey the "internal" biocomputer. No less ancient instinct and a way of survival, inherited from distant ancestors. According to scientists, the ability to pretend to be dead or freeze in place allowed to survive when meeting with a powerful predator.
Is there anything you can do with this and how to develop a quick reaction that will allow you to act in an extreme environment? To do this, you need to consider some exercises for various types of irritants. Because only the study of all the material in the complex will allow to achieve good results in the shortest possible time.
The importance of reinforcing auditory response skills
How to develop reaction and speed, if the main irritant will be a certain sound signal (whistle, clap, scream and so on). To achieve success in the search for an answer to this question, it is important to remember: a fixed movement must carry a certain semantic load. It must have an end result. Dull moving objects is unacceptable. You need to hone some specific, vital skill. For example, quick snatching a weapon from a holster or a gas canister from a pocket. It is out of pocket, because the sad experience of many victims of various robberies, rape confirms the truth: an object that can save a life must be at hand, and not in a purse.
What is important to remember when practicing a skill
How to develop agility and reaction in the shortest possible time? The first thing you need to pay attention to is the development of useful skills in a complex of various annoying factors. This includes working on sound, touch, or visual detection of trouble.
Relying on only one hand is not an option. Therefore, a painstaking work involving both limbs. Ideally, the achievement of a result when the speed, literacy of the necessary set of movements will not depend on the hand. Movements should also be as simple as possible. Their simplicity is the key to success. The body itself performs the movement that is most suitable in the current situation, relying on muscle memory.
Particular attention must be paid to various conditions (lighting, space, etc.). It cannot be expected that if the skill is needed, the conditions will be “greenhouse”. As a rule, the opposite is true. They will be unfavorable, dangerous. Only composure, coherence will achieve success. Therefore, learning to apply the best practices in any light surrounding the environment, taking into account the effects of other distracting factors, is not a whim, but a necessary necessity aimed at the result.
Sound work
As the name implies, the conversation will focus on how to train the reaction in conditions where a certain signal will be the main stimulus. Variations can be different, but realistic (scream, imitation of stamping feet). The more realistic the training will be, the better. Loading into the unconscious sphere the necessary set of psychological commands will reduce the likelihood that a person will panic at the most inopportune moment.
In this situation, any person can act as an instructor / trainer. The main thing is that the effect of surprise is observed. At his signal, it is necessary to get a gas spray as soon as possible and be ready to use it.
It will also be useful to learn to intercept any item from the table faster, on the floor (there are many options) than the opponent will do.
Touch exercises
The importance of these basic skills lies in the fact that contact has already occurred in a situation where a person does not have visual control over the space behind him. This exercise will help you develop your personal safety skills.
Its meaning is that, as soon as the partner made an unexpected touch from behind to any point on the body, the student should immediately give an adequate response. There are several options. One of them, perhaps the most reasonable, is to bounce to the side. The second is to turn around to a conditionally attacker already in a fighting stance. It will be necessary to turn around in any way - this will allow to establish visual control. Another question is with what set of “home” blanks this will happen. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation does not recommend starting cooperation immediately with self-mutilation. Therefore, it should be approached wisely in the selection of the necessary skills.
How to develop visual response and speed
Here, games familiar from childhood are the best fit. For example, "stone - scissors - paper" or "even - odd." Explain the rules of the game about the stone and scissors is not worth it. This game is familiar from childhood, especially by the indescribable sensations in the event of a loss. The only clause and amendment is in the very conduct of the event. In a regular yard game, all participants simultaneously throw out their “figures”, and when training the reaction, the instructor needs to give the trainee some head start in time to make the right decision.
But what is “odd-even” is worth explaining. Here roles are distributed: there is a leader and a slave. The leader’s task is to throw out any arbitrary number of fingers. For example, two is an even number. The slave, in turn, must throw out any odd number on his fingers.
Conclusion
In different recommendations on how to develop a reaction, many methods, techniques, and methods are given. The only thing to observe is the regularity of classes to consolidate the material. As in any business, control and self-discipline will come to the rescue. And do not forget that in each specific area of human activity you will need your own unique skills.