A Martial Arts Mind Experiment. Can I take the guidance of a couple of leaders in their field to rewrite my mind? Yes, and here is the process.
First off, I have a heart rate monitor, a Blood O2 monitor, and a brain wave monitor – this will make sense in a moment. It is not as cut and dried as one would want. The results are getting blocked with/by some other things.
NSNG
Shortly after I started the Wim Hof Method, I started the NSNG diet (No sugar, no grain). See Vinnie Tortorich, I didn’t sign up with him I just followed his rules. As a result, I dropped 35 lbs.
Resting heart rate is 60, down ten points from the last doctor. visit ½ years ago. I do not recall the numbers on the blood pressure but I recall the doctor. commenting that was, “Very good for my age.” I’ll take it.
The Breathing
When I do the breathing, I have started to watch my Oxygen level (O2) and heart rate. The O2 starts high, and of course, decreases over the breath-holding. I have noticed when the breath reflex kicks in the O2 has dropped to about 62-68%.
This drop can be overcome. But as the heart rate increase starts it becomes challenging. This reaction is the body responding to the need for breath. And, or it is me reacting to the reaction of the lowering O2. How to measure the impact of the physiological response and my mind? The jury is still out; my goal is to receive the reflex and maintain a normal heart beat. But immutable physics tells me the lower the O2, the more the heart will beat to meet the body’s need for O2.
The heart rate is an inverse bell curve, high during preparation and high at conclusion. The heart rate lowing during the majority of the training. The upturn in heart rate begins as the stress of lower O2 takes effect.
Wim Hof & Brain Waves
Brain waves begin in Beta during this training, and shift to high Beta. The brain waves go no further, no matter the level of relaxation I use. I had suspected I would shift to Alpha, doesn’t happen. It may shift elsewhere but my assumption of Alpha has not proved out.
Another point of interest is Wim Hof has you do several variations on this theme. Hot shower, cold shower, hot shower. After finishing his home course and have taken it in a different direction. I start with a hot shower, then go to a cold shower. I used no breathing preparation I set my brain to feel as if I had prepared with the Wim Hof method. After about 1 week -/+ I was able to control the cold shock response.
Cold Water
I know the cold water is coming so that changes the equation. The brain has learned the cold blast is not terminal and has lowered the reaction. Of course, this raises some other questions and possible methods. Some more research and experimentation are warranted. The upper temperature of the warm water I don’t know. The lower level of the cold water is 40 F or so this winter, a little higher in the summer.
If Wim Hof teaches this, I don’t know it seemed a path to go down on my part. I need to know if though Exposure Therapy I can gain control the sympathetic system. Exposure Therapy is what it sounds like, a little exposure increasing over time. This therapy is most often used to address anxiety, panic and fears. I went straight after the panic center.
The event I am seeking is the moment of transition, from hot to cold. The transition and duration are abrupt and small. If I can nip it in the bud, as Barney Fife would say, I win. I have tested the process for 1 minute, not more than that as I am focused on the transition. I am interested in suppressing the cold shock response.
Times above 1 minute without core temp dropping is possible. Maintaining core temperature over time as has been demonstrated by better. And a different goal than what seek.
I have yet to find a way to measure core temp. I suspect I know, but…yeah. I don’t need that martial arts mind experiment.
Summary
Summary. Wim Hof is responsible for this experiment. I took it and challenged myself using Hof’s encouragement, via video, and the one time I trained with him and 100+ folks in Vancouver Canada. I was creating my own martial arts mind experiment.
Exposure Therapy works, you can rewire your brain. Hof’s methods have withstood medial scrutiny and work. The combination brings good results. No fear of the cold water, low response to the temperature change and a better handle on how to control the sympathetic system in my body.
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KRIS WILDER
Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.