Whoever came up with this
expression had obviously never dealt with a stubborn toddler. OK, I get the
fact that it is meant to show how easily big bullies can pick on much smaller
opponents. But who amongst you have
tried to forcefully remove a lollipop out of a baby’s hand, when the said child
wants that lollipop in the worse way. He will have a death grip on that stick
like you can’t believe. You will
probably end up lifting the entire baby along with the lollipop. And you will
definitely have to pry each finger loose to remove them. Rings a bell to any
parents out there?
If you take a good look at
how a baby controls what he wants, he is doing it perfectly: he keeps his
elbows tight in, he depends on the strength of his core (he instinctively knows
that his arms and shoulder won’t carry him through), he uses his entire body to
hang on, he is well lined up with his grip, he clutches to what he wants and
does not let go. And if we do remove the prize from said death grip, you will
have holy hell to pay for it…. The screaming alone may drive you crazy. He has
core strength, he has good body mechanics, he has drive, he has pure
determination, and that “never give up” attitude.
I am not suggesting a baby
can beat us at the strength game, let’s face it we can win at this everytime.
But I am suggesting that babies have a self-protection built in mechanism. They
have an innate instinct and they use it. And they don’t think they can/should
lose either.
Since most babies have
this, where the heck do we lose it as we get older? Where did we learn to
depend on our weak arms and shoulders instead of our core, when do we learn to
think things through way too much, where did we learn to give up what we really
want? Are we so full of ourselves that we think we can re-invent the wheel?
That we can muscle our way through things without using the good old common sense
God gave wee little babies? Why some of you big tough guys may be able to do this,
I can’t. My attackers are going to be stronger, better, bigger or faster than I
am or will take me by total surprise to even the score. I need that common
sense wee little babies have.
Pound for pound, if a
small child knew what he was really doing, he would a killer in ground
fighting. They are not wearing blinders. They can see all the “gifts” or
opportunities available. They never take time to think “hmmm… this may work but
that would look stupid” or even better “I was taught to always do it this way”.
Nope… they see an ear, a piece of hair, an earring, flesh… they go for it. No
sympathy, no hard feeling… just business. All parents have learned not to
dangle anything in front of a child at the risk of either much pain or losing
the dangling item. They are not waiting for permission, they are not waiting if
something better will come around, and they are not waiting for what they imagine should work best. They just act
on pure instinct.
We need to tap that
resource and use it, not only in self-defense but in life as well. Go for it. Don’t let fear, bad training or
“common sense” hold you back. Look for the gifts that are presented to you and
use them. Use laws and sound biomechanical principles. I once put a large man
though a wall (literally) using solid body mechanics and surprise (yup he was
pretty surprised ).
Learn from your babies.
Be smart, stay safe.
