Violence happens out in the world whether we want it to or not. Animal, vegetable or mineral, in order to continue our existence, something else must die. Which means we have to kill it. Most urban peoples are so far removed from killing that they forget it exists; meat at the grocery store never had a face, and if it did they didn’t have to look into its eyes when it died so that they could keep on living.
Many animals learn through play. Humans learn through play as well and even through playful violence. Yes, violence can look and feel playful. Don’t believe me? What about your kitten. We think that kittens look so cute sneaking and pouncing around but no one ever goes on to discuss what they learn to do as a result of all that play: they learn to kill.
In rewilding, we must become intimate with the things we kill to keep on living, whether they appear as plants or animals or whatever else. More exists behind violence than simply putting food in our stomachs. Violence, particularly playful violence, engages the senses, activates endorphins and hormones, builds confidence and deeper sense of self, as well as keeps your body in good shape.
I remember the first time I started boxing and getting hit in the face. They say “getting your lights knocked out” but for me it felt like getting my lights knocked on. My thoughts stopped, adrenaline rushed through my body and everything became vivid and crystal clear (of course I recognize getting hit too hard will knock your lights out). One of my favorite things about boxing now involves getting my lights knocked on. In this hilarious scene from I Heart Huckabees they call it “purity of being”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgeGd6IzPtA
Many people these days might have a hard time admitting that they yearn for a little violence. Violence is not always used simply to kill another for food, but in the case of civilization it is used to force people into slavery. As domesticated humans, we are trained to live docile lives and leave the violence to our masters or to the machines we have created to remove ourselves from the intimacy of violence. We call this coercive use of violence, abusive violence. Most of the violence in America is now invisible (or shipped to the third world). Still, outlets exist in sports and martial arts. But even in the garages of unsuspecting people.
The garage in this video looks not unlike my own garage, where I practice fluency sparring with other friends and teachers (replace the keyboards with raccoon hides and basket materials). Another reason for playful violence can be seen in this video; it creates a tight-knit group of people. Being physical with another person requires trust. The spirit of play is born from a trusting environment, and the bonds of physical intimacy create lasting relationships. This is not new and exciting information. The military does this in training teams. But it is a refreshing reminder of how to quickly create bonds between people.
Here at Rewild Portland, as part of building a community, we incorporate violence in our programs. From carving wood in our friction fire classes to killing and butchering animals for food to team building full-contact sparring in our Rewilding Immersion Program where we teach a mix of Kali Stick-fighting, Western Boxing, Thai Kick-boxing and Qigong. You will never see anything other than playful violence (except for when we kill things for food which we call sacred violence). In addition, our culture says that violence of this nature is generally exhibited and accepted by men. When in fact, women are just as capable and just as in need of experiencing the joys of playful violence as men are. In order for the violence to feel playful we incorporate safe words, ground rules and boundaries on an individual basis and as a group. Instead of pretending that violence doesn’t exist, or claiming that all violence “is bad”, we embrace it.
Playful Violence
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Posted: February 17, 2011 by Peter Bauer
Violence happens out in the world whether we want it to or not. Animal, vegetable or mineral, in order to continue our existence, something else must die. Which means we have to kill it. Most urban peoples are so far removed from killing that they forget it exists; meat at the grocery store never had a face, and if it did they didn’t have to look into its eyes when it died so that they could keep on living.
Many animals learn through play. Humans learn through play as well and even through playful violence. Yes, violence can look and feel playful. Don’t believe me? What about your kitten. We think that kittens look so cute sneaking and pouncing around but no one ever goes on to discuss what they learn to do as a result of all that play: they learn to kill.
In rewilding, we must become intimate with the things we kill to keep on living, whether they appear as plants or animals or whatever else. More exists behind violence than simply putting food in our stomachs. Violence, particularly playful violence, engages the senses, activates endorphins and hormones, builds confidence and deeper sense of self, as well as keeps your body in good shape.
I remember the first time I started boxing and getting hit in the face. They say “getting your lights knocked out” but for me it felt like getting my lights knocked on. My thoughts stopped, adrenaline rushed through my body and everything became vivid and crystal clear (of course I recognize getting hit too hard will knock your lights out). One of my favorite things about boxing now involves getting my lights knocked on. In this hilarious scene from I Heart Huckabees they call it “purity of being”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgeGd6IzPtA
Many people these days might have a hard time admitting that they yearn for a little violence. Violence is not always used simply to kill another for food, but in the case of civilization it is used to force people into slavery. As domesticated humans, we are trained to live docile lives and leave the violence to our masters or to the machines we have created to remove ourselves from the intimacy of violence. We call this coercive use of violence, abusive violence. Most of the violence in America is now invisible (or shipped to the third world). Still, outlets exist in sports and martial arts. But even in the garages of unsuspecting people.
The garage in this video looks not unlike my own garage, where I practice fluency sparring with other friends and teachers (replace the keyboards with raccoon hides and basket materials). Another reason for playful violence can be seen in this video; it creates a tight-knit group of people. Being physical with another person requires trust. The spirit of play is born from a trusting environment, and the bonds of physical intimacy create lasting relationships. This is not new and exciting information. The military does this in training teams. But it is a refreshing reminder of how to quickly create bonds between people.
Here at Rewild Portland, as part of building a community, we incorporate violence in our programs. From carving wood in our friction fire classes to killing and butchering animals for food to team building full-contact sparring in our Rewilding Immersion Program where we teach a mix of Kali Stick-fighting, Western Boxing, Thai Kick-boxing and Qigong. You will never see anything other than playful violence (except for when we kill things for food which we call sacred violence). In addition, our culture says that violence of this nature is generally exhibited and accepted by men. When in fact, women are just as capable and just as in need of experiencing the joys of playful violence as men are. In order for the violence to feel playful we incorporate safe words, ground rules and boundaries on an individual basis and as a group. Instead of pretending that violence doesn’t exist, or claiming that all violence “is bad”, we embrace it.
We make violence playful instead of painful.
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