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.

My Martial Art - Explained

I practice martial arts. That seems to those who read this blog and my posts as a redundant statement but I am about to clarify what it is that I practice to ensure clarity to many aspects of the posts herein this blog or blogs.

First, I practice a physical, traditional, developmental, health and philosophical discipline called Okinawan Isshinryu Karate-jutsu-do. I do NOT do sport. I don’t practice it for self-defense (mainly because this is a fighting/combative discipline in nature as it would apply toward its practice and application on Okinawa during the period starting early 1600’s through to its conversion to an educational discipline in the late 1800’s. If all I wanted to do was to damage another human regardless of the reasons this system would supply that capability but in truth it would have to be modified a good deal toward a more modern combative losing its traditional roots. 

My focus can be said to point toward a more spiritual and health or fitness direction with a lot of philosophical drive behind what is called the body, mind and spirit development through the disciplines of martial systems. So I focus on the spiritual, health, traditional disciplines of Okinawan martial system called Isshinryu. 

At one time I thought I was actually teaching, as a part of this system, self-defense. I have since found that what I was teaching was how to fight - on a limited scale. The fighting I taught, first and foremost, is illegal in today’s modern world. Also, that fighting would lend more toward a more sportive perspective than self-defense or true fighting because it lacked many components that make for legal and socially accepted self-defense. I was one of those guys who overstepped the true boundaries of what I practiced, training and taught. It was not intentional because I was, like many, passing on what I had been taught until now. 

I write a lot about self-defense because I have spent a good deal of time and effort researching that subject through sources I feel strongly have the knowledge, ability and experience actually applying self-defense in the real world. What I will try to teach in martial arts, if that is a practitioners reasoning for taking lessons or guidance from me, is avoidance. I also will write about and teach all that I personally understand about self-defense without the physical applications because I find those parts that are physical are out of my expertise as I state here. 

Know this, if I had to defend myself I would do so without hesitation. I can say this due to some modicum of experience in this in my early years but also because I have learned a lot, academically speaking, in the last five or more years. I also attribute my ability to defend myself in the more esoteric meaning of reality due to my training and experience in the military with a caveat that I know and understand the differences between fighting/combatives of the military and the self-defenses of civilian life. 

I wanted everyone to know who reads my materials that this is where I stand as to knowledge, understanding, experience and the reality of life so there are no misunderstandings as to what I provide. My most strong desire when it comes to self-defense is that I convey the absolute necessity for anyone who takes up that discipline has exposure to the full and complete realm of self-defense. There is so much out there that is good material and my sources are provided through my library listings and the below bibliography that is far from extensive or complete. There are literally volumes of solid material that one who seeks self-defense training or instruction must find, read, learn and understand before trying to apply it on the street.

I remind everyone that what I present is based on about 5% experience and 95% knowledge through studies as I present here. I have extensive experience and expertise in my model or discipline of martial arts. I have spent thirty-seven + years in practice and study. One of the reasons I wanted to explain in more detail what it is I actually study, practice and train.  I don’t want anyone misunderstanding my credentials in the posts that speak of fighting, combatives and most importantly self-defense realms. Here is where I first practice “avoidance” as I wish to avoid misunderstandings by those who read my stuff. It is important if I am to gain any semblance of respect in my writing. 


So, I am a martial artists of a traditional nature and a knowledgeable academically motivated self-defense source. When it comes to the parts that require application in real life I can recommend without question and doubt a person contact some of the authors below for seminars and instruction. They all have a level of experience and capability that makes me look, as I truly am, a novice - a rookie. 

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