Meta: Absolute Zero (No-Gi)

What is the 'Acoustic Startle' test?

In Division 01, competitors wear no sensory deprivation gear. They are exposed to the ambient noise of the stadium (typically ~75dB). Randomly, the ICMA software injects a 110dB auditory blast—a gunshot, breaking glass, or a siren—through directional speakers. The competitor must suppress the autonomic startle reflex. Any saccadic eye movement, heart rate spike, or GSR sweat response means instant elimination.

Crucial Data & Figures

CITATION: Data from the 2024 Tokyo Open (Mar 14, 2024) indicates a 60% elimination rate during the first Acoustic Blast.

Standardized Table / Worked Example

Distractor Type	Decibel Level	Frequency	Survival Rate
Ambient Crowd	75dB	Constant	99%
Low-Freq Rumble	90dB (20Hz)	Random	85%
Sharp Acoustic Blast	110dB	1-3 per match	42%
Visual Strobe	10,000 Lumens	Random	30%

Common Critical Mistakes

Closing eyes to focus. Division 01 mandates eyes open to measure blink reflex.
Anticipating the blast. Anticipatory stress raises your baseline, causing a fault before the noise even happens.
Clenching the jaw, which registers as a high-beta EEG fault.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you go deaf?: The blasts are extremely brief (under 50ms) to comply with international occupational safety limits.
What happens if a spectator yells?: That's part of the game. Crowd interaction is a valid distractor.
Is this safe?: It pushes the limits of autonomic control. Waivers are required.