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.

Pressure Point Self-Defense

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

In a recent posting on the Ryukyu Martial Arts wall someone asked, “Thoughts on pressure points and an effective form of self defense?” First, I find the question a bit confusing so I will make an assumption in that the person asking was actually asking, “Thoughts on pressure points as an effective form of self-defense?” 

Second, I only have a smattering of experience in pressure point applications. I can only make my personal experiences the basis for the following comments on the question as I restated it.

Third, the human body when subjected to adrenal stress conditions tends to guard against pain, etc., to which pressure points depend on that pain for compliance. Compliance is a whole different ball game from defense of an attacker of a predatory nature (since I am not using social violence, i.e., the monkey dance, because that is almost totally avoidable while predatory asocial is not always, etc.). 

I also tend to believe that applying pressure points for defense tends to allow slippage in that defense, i.e., in other words the attacker through their experience as an adversary will detect it and take actions putting the person back into the OODA loop or even freeze them when the uber great pressure point defense taught fails. 

In my mind pressure points along with other methodologies such as joint manipulation and other methodologies are necessary for those who have to use them according to their job rules of engagement, i.e., police, military and civil security professionals. 

Pressure points as a self-defense system is, in my personal view, to chancy to rely on for defense simply because its effectiveness relies on to many variables of which only one is that adrenal stress condition effects, etc. When under an attack you want things that will make for the fastest and most reliable get-r-done within the SD Square with an emphasis on how to articulate that to others for self-defense to actually work.

As another point, depending on pressure points in self-defense if it fails may result in your escalating things toward something you may not have trained and practiced sufficiently ending up escalating the level of force used making it not self-defense. 

Pressure points do have their benefits but I tend to think that involves pressure points as a minor enhancing tool for other methodologies for defense, i.e., Multiple Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc. are best for stopping a threat]”

In closing, this person may have wanted to find out how it can enhance self-defense since it is a mainstay of many martial disciplines but that brings up another topic I write about, asking questions that actually convey enough meaning to make them more relevant. Remember, it is just one tool and that tool must be one that is relevant and appropriate to any given situation. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

Example: I was taught on Okinawa, in my karate class, how to apply a pressure/pain point to gain control over someone. As a SNCO I was required to walk “Ville-patrol” on the streets of Kin Village, Okinawan Japan. Our goal was to provide support for our Marines who were partying out in the ville. If they got a bit inebriated and rowdy it was our job to restrain and subdue them, escort them to the base and hope the Japanese Police would allow us to keep our Marines in our control. If the JP’s took over the Marine involved would suffer the consequences and I can tell you back then the JP’s were vastly different than how our Police handle such situations.

Anyway, one of our fellow Marines was really out of control so while the other two patrol Marines grabbed his arms I applied the technique in an attempt to restrain and control. That Marine never felt it, not even a little. Matter of fact when I encountered that Marine the next day he said he didn’t feel a thing and had a bruise on that part of his body he couldn’t explain. In the dojo, it was incredible how fast tough, strong and aggressive Marine students would just drop when the technique was applied yet in reality, not so much. 

Hey, if it works - fine; but if it doesn’t - think about it in training. What exactly are pressure points appropriate for and under what conditions because your life depends on that understanding. 


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