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.

Self-Defense: The Line; The Point

“The Line” is that line we don’t want to cross in self-defense that means you are not actually defending yourself but rather you are either fighting or committing acts of violence against another human being. When I say, “The Line,” I mean the one that keeps you within the guidelines of societies self-defense law. It  means you avoid the need for it and if you cannot for any reason you use it judiciously enough so that you don’t suffer the consequences.

Now, we all know that in self-defense, much like in combat, you have to decide on whether you will do what is “necessary” to live. This means you have to give yourself permission to do what is necessary, needed and just plain required to achieve your ultimate goal - to win, to avoid, to be safe and secure and to remove or at least limit damage to yourself, your loved ones and to others who don’t have your abilities. 

“The Line” is a moving entity and it moves according to each and every single individual moment. No one can provide you that one line you cannot cross and this is one of the complexities of the law. The law tries to define that line and the murky water it tries to mark means that a clever person or persons can perceive the line where ever they can as long as they can make their case to those who judge these things. 

If you cross “The Line” then you had better understand all that is involved so you can articulate your position so others who are hell bent on making their case are convinced your case is true, correct and within the “spirit” of their intent regarding self-defense. 

Martial Arts that teach self-defense need to teach you all of this and they must achieve success if you are to have and use self-defense. Marking “The Line” is not as important as teaching students to see the line. Teachings are not meant to induce fear and obstacles of the mind that would cause a freeze. It is more about teaching you that the line exists and you should want to remain behind it but when you do cross it you have the tools to control others perceptions so that they also feel you are behind the line. 

“The Line” is a teaching tool itself. Much like the complexities of self-defense the line is that something you are aware of and that lives in your lizard mind so that when you approach it you can naturally and instinctively decide if you need to cross it or if you do just how far you can go before you reach that “point of no return.”

The point of no return is that point where nothing you do, say or believe will deter the others from making you suffer the consequences for crossing “The Line.” 

The Line and the Point of No Return are both fluid. They change, shift and flux according to many factors that are controllable and uncontrollable. You have to learn how to shift, slide and change your actions so that you control both rather than either/or one or the other controls you. This is extremely difficult and many who teach self-defense/martial arts cannot achieve that level of teachings. 


Know the line, know the point of no return, and train to achieve a state of expertise that allows you to stay behind the line and the point. Know that if you cannot that you have the knowledge, ability and expertise to persuade the perceptions of others so that you move the line and point to your advantage. 

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