REXBURG—The community can learn about “managing conflict with confidence” at the Business Skills and Networking Forum on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Madisonhealth Memorial Hospital located at 450 East Main St. in the Grand Teton Community Room.
Th forum speaker, Isaac Payne, is the owner of PAC Jiu- Jitsu and worked professionally in law enforcement. Both areas helped him realize the importance of communication and helped him learn to navigate conflict.
Many people are nervous when attending their first Jui-jitsu class and the physical contact of the sport. Payne sees the art differently especially when the word itself means gentle art in Japanese.
“The idea of good Jui-jitsu is that I can control another person without hurting them,” Payne said.
Payne finds the conflict within Jui-jitsu is no different from one in a conversation with a person. In everyday communication many avoid any conflict at all costs. When athletes train together on the mat it is impossible to avoid conflict.
“[Conflict is] communication with the volume turned up. It's communication under pressure,” Payne said.
Avoiding conflict can quickly lead to external and internal damage, Payne said. Everyone faces conflict in some form, not always at the heightened level as law enforcement, but it can happen in family dynamics, at work, or even with a stranger.
One of the best ways to learn how to navigate conflict is by applying it to low stakes situations, Payne said. In the workshop one of the activities is role-playing conflict situations. This allows individuals to practice more confidently for future situations.
Like Jui-jitsu starting with the basic skills helps one master the ability. He said managing conflict is the same. Practicing skills like being calm and working to solve problems in a tough situation can benefit an individual.
“I hope they start looking at conflict differently. I hope they start framing it differently, that it's just another form of communication and it's not avoidable,” Payne said.
The forum “Managing Conflict with Confidence” will be held on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Madisonhealth Memorial Hospital located at 450 East Main St. in the Grand Teton Community Room.
An educational course hosted by the Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce will be coming out soon when people can learn more about managing conflicts.
To learn more about Isaac Payne go to pacjiujitsu.com or forums happening rexburgchamber.org.