# Reaction vs Anticipation

- Link: https://brianejohns.com/2016/08/09/blog-reaction-vs-anticipation/
- Published: 2016-08-09T19:26:00-04:00
- Author: Brian Johns

## Learning the difference between reaction and anticipation is challenging for a beginner student. In the beginning, students will often anticipate their opponent’s next move, often leading to bad outcomes. Over time, with guidance and experience, they will learn that reading and reacting is a better course of action than anticipating a move.

If you are not able to view the video, click [here](https://youtu.be/8Pt9-BR5lEU).

For this post, “anticipation” is what you _think_ is coming your way. On the other
hand, “reaction” is what you _actually_ see.

In the above video, I advise that you let the game come to you and react accordingly.
I demonstrate how I see Alex’s counter and re-counter him. To get to this stage 
requires considerable practice. It is important that you see what’s coming to you
and react accordingly.

On the other hand, anticipation is a form of overreaction to what may be happening.“
_I just know what he’s going to do next!_” Doing so is, ahem, ill-advised.

In another context, my wise wife once said, “_it is better to under-react than to
over-react._” 

## As Opus from Bloom County would say “Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!” 

No one could have said it better than my wife! That is exactly the key to tapi tapi
play.

Having a calm and clear mindset and letting the game come to you is absolutely essential
to prevailing in an encounter. Anticipating or overreacting will put you on the 
ash heap of history. ?

Having a clear mindset requires hours of practice and stress inoculation from an
instructor. After hours of drilling and practice, one will begin to see the wisdom
of letting the game come to you instead of anticipating/overreacting to every move.
One will see the angles of attack coming at you, seemingly in slow motion, and learn
to react and counter accordingly.

This tapi-tapi mindset also carries over into real-life situations, and I’m not 
necessarily referring to self-defence situations. Personal and professional relationships
come to mind. How one responds to events and situations is part of the picture as
well. 

How often have you seen the damage done by overreacting to a statement, an argument,
or a confrontation? 

## Over-reaction nearly ended in disaster for me once.

I was on the way to an LCBO (a beer and wine store for those not living in Canada).
While driving there, a pickup truck cut me off in traffic. I reacted angrily, blaring
the horn at the f—–g idiot. Having vented and feeling good about my righteousness,
I proceeded to my planned destination.

As I walked to the LCBO entrance, the pickup truck pulled up alongside me. A muscular
bald dude with tattoos on the neck and covering both arms rolled down his window
and asked, “_did you fucking honk at me?_” He had a Marvel Comic book body, and 
I didn’t doubt that he was using steroids.

I immediately went into de-escalation mode and said, in a Joe Pesci-like voice, “
_who me? I don’t know what you’re talking about_.”

Luckily, he bought my answer or decided the matter wasn’t worth pursuing.

In hindsight, I should have under-reacted instead of reacting with righteous indignation.
In doing so, I could have avoided what could have been a very unpleasant situation.
_It’s better to under-react than to over-react._

> _Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to
> it. – Lou Holtz._

Whether tapi tapi or in real-life situations, anticipation/over-reaction rarely 
ends well.

## Better to have a calm mindset, read the situation and react accordingly.  

## Additional Reading

 * [Angles of Attack in Filipino Martial Arts](https://brianejohns.com/2015/08/10/blog-angles-of-attack-in-filipino-martial-arts/)
 * [The Modern Arnis 2 vs 1 Drill](https://brianejohns.com/2012/05/02/blog-the-2-vs-1-drill/)
 * [Review of Master Chuck’s “Combat 2 vs. 1 ” DVD](https://brianejohns.com/2012/07/17/blog-review-of-master-chucks-combat-2-vs-1-dvd/)
 * [A Great Seminar](https://brianejohns.com/2009/05/12/blog-a-great-seminar/)
 * [Friday Recommendation #18](https://brianejohns.com/2023/09/01/friday-recommendation-18/)

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