11/05/2026
The Martial Arts of Mental Health: From "Informed" to "Responsive"
As we head into Mental Health awareness week, I have been reflecting on 2 projects that I have been working on as A Martial Arts Coach, Peer Support Worker and Lived Experience representative.
These projects are: Writing a Qi Gong Training Programme for a person of whom I am supporting and the Development of Trauma Training for Staff.
In professional training, we often talk about being Trauma-Informed. But as someone living with trauma, I know that being "informed" is just the beginning.
It really is the difference between reading a book, blog or watching a YouTube video (yes, we know it happens) and the Mindset that is needed to make that step through the ropes into the ring.
It occurred to me, that I am able to make similarities between the 2 worlds and in this analogy, it means that to truly support people, we need to move from Kata to Bunkai.
Now, bear with me.. Let me explain:
Kata
In the dojo, Kata is a choreographed form of set moves, designed to create muscle memory to enable the body to respond automatically to a threat that the body may be under attack from.
In mental health, this is being Trauma-Informed. It’s knowing the "moves" the biology of the brain. How the brain will automatically react to a perceived threat.
Bunkai
Bunkai is the practical application of the Kata... It’s the "Action".
This is being Trauma-Responsive
The presentation is a Strike.
When someone presents with anger or shuts down, their nervous system is "striking out" to stay safe.
With both Martial Arts and responding to Trauma, we are able to use “The Responsive Block”
We don’t meet force with force, instead we use Co-Regulation and Validation as our "blocks" and just as in Martial Arts practice, the block dissipates the energy, to keep everyone safe without escalating the pain.
The main difference here is, that you can perform a perfect Kata alone, but trauma doesn't happen in a vacuum.
Knowing the theory doesn't always tell you what to do when a person is in crisis.
This is where we need the Presence of Zanshin.
Zanshin
A true martial artist maintains “Zanshin”, a state of relaxed awareness.
If a professional is tense or clinical, a person with trauma senses a threat.
When we stay grounded, we become the "anchor." We aren't trying to "win" a confrontation; we are training to be the calm centre of the storm. This means that we can be more effective in our support.
How I see it, being trauma-informed is a state of mind.
Being trauma-responsive is a skill.
We don't need more people who "know about" trauma, we need people who know how to stay in the room and hold space when the fight-or-flight response kicks in and the brain is unable to respond effectively at that crucial point of attack.
Trauma-responsiveness isn't just what you know, it's what you do when it counts, and this is why our training really matters.
I fear not the person who has practiced ten thousand kicks once, I fear the person who has practised one kick ten thousand times.
Take care of yourself.
Yours in Budo
Sensei Adele
