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The Suakhet’u Program: Opening the Sensorium by Mark Hatmaker

 


My twin studies of the archeology of frontier rough ‘n’ tumble combat and “primitive” indigenous abilities have [and continue to] unearth tasty morsels of violent mayhem that we deliver in our revised RAW/Black Box curriculum.

Thus far this material has been manifested as physical expression [the tactics and how-to] and the cognitive side of the game [the strategy, history, mind-setting.]

Along the way though, there have been many illuminating ideas in the areas of a more esoteric nature, that we may loosely judge akin to meditation, environmental immersion, awakening practices.

These terms “meditation” and the like are abstract Western constructs and do little to convey what these practices are truly like.

[Full Disclosure: I practice the Suakhet’u myself, 365 days of the year, rain or shine and have found the benefits and revelations of paramount use to my life. Take that for a statement of crass salesmanship, or if you know me, you may take it for how I mean it—a frank statement of subjective truth.]

So, what exactly is The Suaket’u Program?

First, what The Suakhet’u is not…

·        It is non martial arts or combat sports related.

·        With that said, the practices are all indigenous Warrior based and were used to temper the spirit, open the heart, expand the senses, thusly in a quite tangible meaning increase everyday situational awareness which is most definitely a warrior attribute to strive for and yet…

·        It goes far beyond situational awareness, as that term and entire construct means that awareness is “situational,” that we turn up attentional intensity in some domains and dampen it or dull it in others.

·        Suakhet’u Awareness is trained to be always on—a persistent multi-sensory antenna with you as perpetual receiver of information at the center of your subjective universe.

·        Do not take that Center of the Universe as metaphor. See this support article for the Survival Navigation empirical back-up. Centers, Circles, Related to All

·        The Suakhet’u is not a strenuous physical endeavor and yet it will train stress-responses.

·        The Suakhet’u is not Scoutcraft and yet it was considered THE entry into perceptive scoutcraft.

·        We cannot learn if we cannot see, cannot sense.

·        “If a scout is not careful it is the same as having no eyes.”—Zhuage Liang, The Way of the General

What IS The Suakhet’u?

·        Is it Situational Awareness?

·        Is it Scoutcraft?

·        Is it a series of Sensory Expanding Exercises?

·        Is it Stress-Inoculator?

·        Is it Anxiety-Dampener?

·        Is it a Perspective Widener?

·        Is it Breath-Control Training?

·        Is it Vision-Training?

·        Is it Warrior Philosophy?

·        Is it Warrior Science?

·        The answer to all is YES.

 

·        It is an audio-visual course-package [DVD, print syllabus w/ support materials & guided podcast.]

·        It details and leads you through a morning enlivening/awakening practice culled from various Indigenous traditions that takes a mere 8-minutes of your day for a practice that can be carried forward.

·        My adopted tribe and frame of reference for these exercises and practices is Comanche, so I use the Comanche terminology throughout, although these practices pop up in many traditions under many names.

Demonstrated is…

·        Rock-Sitting to kill fidgeting.

·        Spinal-stacking, elongating, and lumbar checking.

·        12 cycles of Tomo Suaket’u to wake up that system.

·        An analysis of why empirical science confirms the Indigenous method of inverted breathwork. That is, kick even-breathing, inhalation-based, and box breathing to the curb.

·        Following the prescribed method is empirically verified to reduce stress, dampen anxiety and, well, use the program to experience it for yourself or see this article for a wee look at the science.

·        Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials

·        We then introduce 5 exercises to widen the visual field.

·        1 for olfactory sensitivity.

·        1 for “tasting the air.” See this article for backup and this astounding ability: Flehmen & Your Possible 6th Sense

·        A drill for increasing tactile awareness.

·        Then we bring all senses online for one resonating antenna of awareness.

·        We then proceed to 6 eye-exercises to improve near and far focus and orb mobility.

·        See this support article for the powerful effects of subtle gaze control. The Way of the Warrior: “Look Up & Lengthen

·        We then proceed to 3 vital breathwork exercises: 4/7/8 Preparatory Breath.

·        Stack & Pack for CO2 Inoculation influenced heavily by the Ama and Moken people.

·        Hook Breathing which can re-set stressed systems lickety-split following exertion or save your life if one is a free-diving enthusiast.

·        We conclude with 3 Dual Cycles of Filling & Relaxing Breath.

·        Your self-prescribed benediction.

·        We then rise into Kanaba’it’u to remind us to carry forward what we have just built.

Extrospection Over Introspection

·        Although there is some “sitting” involved, this is not meditation.

·        Although there are specific breathing methods involved, they are not “exercises.”

·        The Suakhet’u is not about withdrawal to inward realms.

·        It is not about “forgetting” the self.

·        It is not introspection—It is extrospection.

·        Suaket’u is diametrically opposed to navel-gazing and inward journeys.

·        The Suakhet’u is an expansion of the world via simple yet tangible sensory awareness practices.

·        It is an expansion of awareness that is conducive to both the wise alert Warrior and the wise and appreciative human being.

·        It is a grounding in “being in the center” by awakening to the center.

·        The Suakhet’u takes no more than 8 minutes out of one’s morning, but the results are tangible and measurable.

Yes, it sounds esoteric, but this is as concrete as combat training.

I am confident that a mere week with the practice will reveal the validity of its method.

The Suakhet’u Program is the foundation of the upcoming The Frontier Scoutcraft Program.

It is available to RAW Subscribers/Black Box Brotherhood for a deep discount—Brotherhood, you need do nothing, you will receive it as the January Blast-off.

Not in the Brotherhood, but intrigued? Have a look here.

Those interested in the RAW Program/Black Box Project or the free newsletter may delve further here.

The Black Box Brotherhood

The Rough n Tumble Raconteur Podcast

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