Martial arts is like dancing(the mental state of contact improv) where the other participants aren't co-operating with you. You're trying to prevent everyone from getting hurt (or, I guess one's goal might be to inflict an injury, but I don't want to!). So maybe start with safely manipulating a partner who is just being limp, or stiff: not cooperating, but not opposing either. That description reminded me of an injured person. Then maybe progress to the partner flailing around... trying to hit you...
this doesn't seem to include trying to manipulate their energies in a symmetric sort of fight, I notice, where each participant is trying to move the other one in a certain opposite way (a discontent with the resolution of everyone just sitting down / relaxing anytime). Maybe I'm too shy about being pushy or offensive. I hate competition.
Thinking further, contact improv is "easy" in that you mostly don't have to take responsibility for your partner's well-being as much as your own, because you both have some idea how to fall, and generally are not entangled with each other's bodies (deliberately). Most people(partners) aren't quite like this, especially when angered or unwell.
