Exactly because of this, various programmes that are held out in the open are being developed today. Recreational camping, "survival team building”, different working therapies in nature, education in nature, some parts of schools' curriculums as well as physical preparations of professional athletes are led with "primitive technologies” as their primary tools. These kinds of programmes are more and more existent. Among a large number of different activities, the so-called "survival in nature” types of programmes are the most popular.
But what does "survival in nature” really imply?
The term "man's survival in nature” means that the man will perform a sequence of smaller or a number of complicated motoric patterns thanks to which he/she tends to survive in nature and regulate his/her basic biological needs.
The survival technique is made up of rational and efficient movements by which, in nature, a person can make shelter, light a fire, catch fish or another wild animal, pick wild and edible plants, collect moist from plants or compile a condensing trap in order to gather water, master the terrain by lowering from a steep cliff or travelling across a river, transporting water, food and equipment from one (the most secure location) to another (even more secure location), etc.
It needs to be stressed that anyone can find himself in a situation where he/she will need to try and survive. Also, we need to take into consideration that the definition of survival is very complex and that it does not imply only natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, fires, snowstorms etc. Keep in mind that day trips in nature without enough water or food along with unfit equipment can turn into a stressful situation which people are not used to and might come across for the first time in their lives.
When a man steps into the unknown, he needs to, potentially, survive it. In order to have complete control over his natural environment, he needs a large amount of experience and knowledge which, in turn, is gained over a long period of research and practice. If a person is suddenly put in a survival situation, his mind will be taken over by confusing thoughts and feelings. He first needs to face those feelings and brush them off. Firstly, he needs to find an adequate place which is protected so he can formulate a plan for survival.
Good planning and preparation will help in overcoming difficulties and danger and will keep the victim alive. As soon as possible, all positive and negative aspects of the situation need to be weighted. The main priorities are shelter, water and fire.
The connection between martial arts and the knowledge of survival in nature
Survival in nature has an extremely long tradition in martial arts warrior training. Even the ancient Spartans took their children aged from 11 to 13 years old to inaccessible parts of nature and left them there for a couple of days to manage and survive on their own. The goal of such upbringing wasn't just to become acquainted with nature, i.e. know how to get around or survive. The main goal was build a "warlike character”. Warfare and nurture were, primarily, oriented towards the self and certain weaknesses that the warrior has inside himself. Any kind of weakness, whether physical or character, was perceived as a disadvantage which the warrior had to overcome. A very similar, almost identic, way of upbringing was implemented in some Native American tribes and the same pattern was used by the Vikings, the Aborigines in Australia, samurais and ninjas in Japan, kung fu monks in China, as well as many other cultures.