In business, being flexible and ready to move often means the difference between acquiring a new client or not. You may be willing to offer a feature that your competitor cannot or you may be willing to move a bit on your fee structure, making yourself more attractive as a partner.
In kenpo, we have the same concept, generally referred to as DYNAMIC. By being both aware and open to your environment and yourself, your opportunities for expression are that much greater. Now that’s a rather open-ended assertion. Obviously we can get as meta-physical as all get out with this, I’ll restrict myself to comments on the physical level.
Being more dynamic is always an area of interest for me. Why? Well, out of all the Keys of Power, I personally think it’s the most important, although I suspect Instructor Jason would say for him, it is INTENT. Consider that a dynamic fighter will seem quicker to his opponent, his strikes probably more effective because he’s hitting when and where it is not expected. He can sense sudden shifts in balance or tempo from his opponents and be able to act on them instantly. A dynamic fighter would not just decide that he wants to punch his attacker in the face; instead his targets and actions flow from what is available and right at that very moment of time.
How then can one improve upon being dynamic? Good question. Entire systems of martial arts have pondered upon this. Boxers spar a lot.  The Tai Chi people push hands with one another and this builds sensitivity over time as well as letting them practice projecting force. Same thing for the Wing Chun’ners with their chi sao. Aikido or jiu-jitsu people practice techniques over and over again to internalize the same feelings of balance and rightness they have in their structure when executing a move properly. Karate systems practice prearranged kumite which teach one correct distancing and exertion of force. In theory, this trains certain concepts of timing that one can execute under pressure or stimulus from an outside force.
I think all of these approaches are both right and wrong. They teach ASPECTS of being DYNAMIC, yet they are incomplete in of themselves. You must practice free kumite, but too much free kumite can actually teach you bad habits, particularly if you are inexperienced. You must also practice for feeling, for sensitivity as well. I’ll try to update this post to flesh out this last paragraph some more as I get the chance. I’m definitely leaving the idea hanging the way it is now…