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.

Chinkuchi Pushups: Addendum


As I have noted in previous postings on this subject, these are not easy pushups to do. Regardless of the validity toward the concept of “chinkuchi” being necessary for this to work there are anomalies I would question in the two performing the demonstration. 

First, as stated in other postings the feet are wide for balance. I am not sure why this is so because most pushups I have done including the ones in the military the feet are not spread wide but are touching close together. 

Second, take notice in both snap shots of the hands. The hand position may just be a fluke but for both it seems to be a position that boosts the ability to do the pushups. The hands on both performers is pushed up close to the front of the “chinkuchi pushup bars.” I wonder if that provides additional support so they can actually do the pushups. Please note, if I had a pair I am not sure I could do them either. I do believe, if I had a pair, I would be able to do them after a short period of training time and I firmly believe that would come from repetitive practice and not necessarily because of some ability with chinkuchi. Then again, it depends on your definition of chinkuchi.

In my definition it relates to certain physiokinetic principles such as structure and alignment. Even so, without some time training with the pushup bars it would be difficult for most to do. In addition, it takes more hand and wrist strength then mere structure and alignment. I am pretty strong and do pushups every day but it would still take some time and practice to get it to work and I would be working diligently to keep the feet together during the exercise. 

Third, the second snapshot actually shows the first finger and thumb wrapping around the front of the push up bar. This, in my eyes, provides more support and I also wonder if they actually both placed their hands exactly in the center of the handles and kept the supporting bars that run to the ground free from body parts if they could do it as well as it showed in the demonstration. 

I don’t do this to disparage the person or persons but do so to “question the teaching” that this is indicative of good chinkuchi. I also got the impression from my practice that chinkuchi is a more transient ability, i.e. sequential locking and unlocking process from the feet, up the body and into the arms, etc. where this seems more static. 

Then again, I am not the expert that these folks are and bow to their greater knowledge and experiences in the hopes that one day, one day soon, clarity in explanation will enlighten me to the chinkuchi push up bar as it relates to chinkuchi. 

I suspect that like most things this is about doing something others have no experience with and explaining it in a manner that seems logical but cannot be proven one way or the other. In other words a means to impress others as to ability and knowledge when in the end there is no real proof either way. 

I am using logic as one who has studied physical fitness and tried to learn how to do exercises correctly for maximum benefit, etc. I apologize if this angers some folks but hey, explain it completely and then do the pushups without spread legs and the hands positioned in the exact middle of the handles while doing the pushups. Then, provide the novice a chance then let them work on it for a while and in all likelihood they will do just as well with them and no where will they actually detect a change other than strength and technique. 

Knowing technique is ok but knowing its purpose and how it is applied and under what conditions is superior. This seems, to me, as inadequate in both technique and the knowing of it relating to chinkuchi. Just because I say it ain’t so does not make it not so and the one saying it is so does not make it so. 


Just trying to understand!



p.s. also, why do it on grass? Is it because the bars tend to sink in giving additional support? If this is truly a "chinkuchi pushup" system then why not do the pushups on a hard surface so that true chinkuchi or principles can be used to do the exercise?

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