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.

Traditions, So Important

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

Family, Tradition, and Courage: those things that are handed down from generation to generation; those things that create, develop and adhere a culture to its people. In this new film I find it of such inspirational value that I had to write about its core value of traditions because many in the martial arts community also believe in such traditions. 

This movie, see snapshot and view the trailer at the link below, also tells another story of great value in that traditions are not something that remains unchanged over the generations but at times must change and change in a way that fosters and builds on the culture through its traditions. In the transmission of such traditions, customs and beliefs from generation to generation, are a way to pass along those things most dear to the tribe, the clan, or to a society. It ties the people of the moment to those people of their past, a connection that is the cornerstone of a social culture. 

In this documentary it is obvious that the traditions were passed only to the males of the tribe but even with such deep and historically significant traditions the tribe embraces a change that would seem to some blasphemous and a break from that tradition. In truth, the tradition is not broken just because the passing process and recipients change for the core, the essence, of the tradition isn’t changed at all. 

It is inspiring that such an ancient peoples and culture have the open minded ability to change even if that change may seem unchangeable for the change marks a new historical tradition of the tribe, change without change. It is this inspiration that should be embraced by all humans, all disciplines and all traditions. 

Change is nature and through change we evolve and evolution of the species is about survival. Survival is about traditions that are a critical part of the foundation of every tribe, clan or society. If we want our culture and beliefs to exist and survive then we need to embrace change for change is nature and evolutionary processes toward survival.




In my personal instance and belief of my karate called Isshinryu, the lack of change has resulted in its existence almost disappearing from the very culture that inspired its creation and naming in the 1950’s. It almost went into extinction yet still survives on Okinawan from the efforts of only a very few dedicated to the traditions built in the practice of Isshinryu. 

The very traditions and nature of Okinawan karate have evolved from the ‘old traditions’ to the ‘new traditions’ and are still tied to the evolving cultural beliefs of its people and that makes me wonder if they had not embraced the changes, that is their cultural nature to begin with, would karate on Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, have survived? 

To believe in, adhere to and pass down traditions, those symbolic meanings and special significance of the traditions origins are about the past but not prohibitive to the change of the present and the new traditions of the future, requires an openness to the nature of change but must be attached to the past for the culmination of all traditional historical cultural beliefs are what create tribal, clan and social connectedness that allows survival throughout the ages both past and future. 

To have a tradition means to transmit, to hand over, and to give to those who follow those traditions necessary for survival, for safekeeping over the generations. It is how those who follow inherit the wisdom of the forefathers and foremothers to the generations of family, students and community members over the millennia. It is once again about survival. 

In karate the traditions are found in kata, the beliefs and customs and skills of those who came before being passed down to those who follow but not in such a dogmatic unrealistic and unchangeable form but rather a form that analyzes the past, compares to the now and synthesizes for the future in a world of human nature called - change. It means to me that by the passing of kata, regardless of the form, is a tradition that remains while the content and intent of that kata will change accordingly.

Embrace the traditions but don’t become mired in the past except to learn and change the moment and future. It is about survival; survival of the individual; survival of the family; survival of the clan or tribe or dojo; survival of the system or style; and survival of the traditions of the traditional; the survival of the culture; survival of the beliefs and survival through changes that make for traditions.

Traditions are our heritage, it is our belief system created and maintained through the process and discipline of traditions. and it is a way to share our history, customs, culture and tribal body of teachings. 

Traditions are comprised of objects, beliefs and customs; they are about rituals of social interactions; there are phrases and gestures and they can be larger concepts practiced by the dojo, group, tribe, clan and/or society. Embrace your tribes traditions but don’t get lost in them either for change is a tradition of the human species and makes it possible for humans to survive. 

“In archaeology, the term tradition is a set of cultures or industries which appear to develop on from one another over a period of time.” - unknown

Note, that traditions in archaeology are about those developed traditions over time that means to me over time as to how things change in our environments. To ignore the environment and its changes are to place obstacles to survival in the way of human evolution. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)



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