Please take a look at Articles on self-defense/conflict/violence for introductions to the references found in the bibliography page.

Please take a look at my bibliography if you do not see a proper reference to a post.

Please take a look at my Notable Quotes

Hey, Attention on Deck!

Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!


When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:


I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me

I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me

I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull

I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death

I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed

I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes

I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados

I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers

The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn


Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung

WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE

The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.


Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.



“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated. - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)



“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)



“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne


I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.

Ki - The Definitive Answer


First, ki is misunderstood and glamorized by legendary mystically beliefs. Ki, or Chi in Chinese, is not mystical or mysterious. It is not some mystical force that can be projected or used in a manner outside of the individuals body. It is not some projection of energy, energy and power are manifested by the ki within the body and that is how the mystery began. 

Ki or Chi is the name given to a physical phenomena that lacked the ability to explain certain physical feats of the time in which the term was first used. Ki does exist and it does manifest in both energy and power. Not the type of energy as if you were measuring the energy of an explosion or the fictional energy of the force or the energy of nuclear material. 

Ki or Chi is the word coined to explain the seemingly mystical means by which legends were born to the martial arts, both Chinese and Japanese, and are told in the stories passed down through the generations. It was used to explain the then perceive awesome physical abilities that are depicted as flying through the air, flowing through walls and feats of power beyond explanation. This is how it would have seemed to those who witnessed the prowess of early martial artists. 

So, if it is not some mystical power like the Jedi force what is ki? What is Chi? Ki and Chi are the same thing only spelled different or represented by characters/ideograms perceived and translated differently but the actual ki/chi are the same. For ease of writing this post when I state "ki" I mean both "ki and chi."

Ki is very physical. It is an energy that is manifested in martial arts as power. It begins as first a mind-set. I mean by mind-set where your ability to generate physical energy and power though your attitude. If you think you are weak, you will be weak. If you think you cannot do something, you will not do it. Your mind-set through the attitude you have, use and project affects the type of energy and power that your body will have and use. 

Ki is very physical. It is an energy that is manifested through the fuel you provide your body. Junk in, Junk out. That fuel, the food and water you consume, is processed and the level of vitamins, minerals and nutrients will provide for the level of energy within your body. If you put dirt in a gas thank the engine will not start. If you put diesal in a gas driven engine it might start and it might run, but with no energy and power. It will run rough and fail quickly. If you put regular gas in a high octane performance engine it will run - poorly and with minimal power and energy and speed. If you place high octane fuel in the tank you will get maximum energy, power and performance. 

Ki is very physical. When the stomach and intestines process the fuel it passes its high octane nutrients, etc. into the blood stream and that circulates through out the body providing it with fuel, energy, and power along with all the benefits. 

Ki is very physical. If a person has studied a martial art and has a grasp of the fundamentals of martial systems then they know all the parts that make up the whole that is ki. Karate and other martial arts are about energy and power for conflict and violence and ki is a part of that process connected to the fundamental principals of martial systems. A person who can make them work in any discipline has great ki or chi. Simply put they have gained proficiency in optimizing their body and mind to achieve extraordinary things much like the legends of Chinese, Japanese and Okinawan history. 

Ki is also gaseous. Breathing is another means by which we gather, gain and use energy and power. The manner in which you breath promotes low energy or high energy depending on what physical activity you do. Lack of proper breathing means no energy, no power, no ability. 

There is an energy that truly routes through out your body. From the blood, to the organs, into the muscles, bones, tendons, cartilage, etc. that permeates your entire body. The level of that energy derived from things like the fuel you consume, the air you breath and the actions you take both mentally and physically all are ki and all circulate and all provide you energy levels, power levels and ability levels. 

Ki is the result of the actions you take, the mind-set of your attitude and the limitations you place upon yourself in what you know, do and perform. Ki is the very essence of the physical and mental of your body and you control it all with your mind. The level of ki is determined by you and you alone. It is not external except in the manifestation of the mind and bodies actions resulting from fuel, mind-set, and physical actions/activities, etc. 

Ki can even be defined by perceptions as demonstrated through one's aura. It is that distance your mind perceives and detects as to close for comfort. It is not some force field but perception. Perception has an affect on your mind and body therefore on the energy and power levels used by the body and mind. 

This is ki. It is not mystical and the control you have on it is personal and limited to the physical and mental given by the individual. You can't share it, you can't project it though empty space but you can transfer it as energy and power as explained through chinkuchi and other such explanations for martial prowess. 

Basketball players have this ki, football players have this ki, all athletes have this ki. Everyone living has this type of ki and use it to live well but martial artists and other professionals build it up through diet, exercise and mind-set into more than normal. 

Ki or Chi is real, just not what most believe. Today's world of science allows us to see, feel and understand the concept of ki where in ancient times there was no way to achieve this understanding resulting in the legendary mystical legends told in stories and depicted in movies of modern times. 

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