Warrior Work Week 18

In the next few weeks, we are going to look at some of the warrior
work that we focus on in the g.e.t.i.t. integrative arts programs. A lot of
martial arts and various stratums of our society focus on techniques
and the “power” of techniques but there is no power in a technique if
there is no power inside of you. The color code this week can be
viewed as it stands but I also ask that you apply the concept of how
our words “strike” others and ourselves as well instead of thinking that
striking only applies to hands and feet or other body parts. Apply the
color code to help increase your awareness in ALL your relationships.
Work at using it to be soft, open and receptive to what is going on
around you; be sharp and clear with your actions and words but allow
space for change within you and around you. The color code helps you
look at goals, energy, techniques, situations, inner skills and possible
outcomes so you can position yourself for success and not be caught
“wondering” how something could have happened without your
advance awareness. Share it, discuss it but most importantly, use it
and test it in your life!

COLOR CODE

The goal of the color code is to help you identify the various levels of
mental preparedness that exist in dealing or not dealing with conflict.
Jeff Cooper, the founder of Gunsite, developed the original color code
for training F.B.I., military personnel and other members of the law
enforcement community. This color code is a g.et.i.t. adaptation of
that code.
From the time we are young, we are conditioned to believe that
striking others is wrong and yet there are times when you may have a
moral obligation to strike someone to protect yourself, family or
community from harm. The difference between striking someone out
of a malicious intent and a loving intent is the difference between
getting the death penalty and getting a medal. In both instances, force
is used but the intent behind the force is what juries deliberate.
The color code helps to take you through an escalation of thought from
the level of the victim to the level of the warrior who is acting out of
love to protect and serve.
White - relaxed, unaware and unprepared
This state is the one in which “we never saw them”. Often we are
preoccupied in our own thoughts or activities and are not aware of
what is going on around us or even the intent of those around us.
This is the state in which we are an accident or victim waiting to
happen.

Yellow - relaxed and alert

In this state we are relaxed but we are aware that there are predators
and power oriented people who like to hurt or abuse others. In this
state we realize that “we might have to confront or hit someone
today”. We walk out of a store and we are aware of the parking lot and
the people in it. When we walk into a building we look around and are
aware of the people in it and where our exits are. We look at people’s
intentions by watching their body language and looking for things that
are out of place.

Orange - specific alertness

In this state we see a potential situation that may require
assertiveness or force. Force is energy that is directed strongly toward
a goal and can be verbal and or physical.
"I may have to use force on that person.” Something is out of place.
We read an intent that is aggressive, hostile or preditory.

Red - proactive resolution

In this state we are acting to diffuse or end the conflict. It may be
something as simple as seeing a suspicious person in the parking lot
and walking back into the store and asking for assistance or reporting
it. It could also be a verbal challenge in regards to a person’s goal like
“what are you doing here?” or “what do you want?” or a verbal
diffusion like, “I don’t want to fight” or “I’m sorry if I offended you”.
Proactive resolution means to see conflict and resolve it with as little
force as possible. In this state we are engaging or disengaging,
releasing, locking or even striking based on the situation and our
moral and legal guidelines. We have clear goals and we are directing
our energy through verbal and or physical techniques to achieve them.
Legally we are required to use "reasonable force".

Black - Void
In this state there is so much pressure mentally, emotionally and
physically that our mind shuts off and we default to the base level of
out intent and training. That is why so much emphasis in the martial
arts is placed on the following two slogans:
•the way is in training
•purify your intent
In training you learn to deal with more and more pressure without
having the consequences that exist in the “real world” and you see
where your skills fall apart. Also we come to see that everything we do
originates from our intent. It is like the main computer programming
chip that all the programs run from even though they may take many
different shapes and forms. People without clear intent and training
“blank”, “freeze” or “lose it” in this state and then often regret the
outcomes that result.

To apply the color code, start using it on a daily basis and also
evaluating the level that others are in while they are moving through
their day or interacting with others. Apply it to the characters in
movies to see the level of their mental conditioning. In using the color
code within the overview of the g.e.t.i.t. acronym, it fits in with
developing one’s inner skills, learning to read situations and then
applying the best techniques that fit the situation to achieve your goal.
Look back at the end of your day and observe the different colors you
were in throughout your day and the co relation between the colors
you were in and what you created and accomplished.