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.

Where is the Fluidity in Kata

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

Watching a video of a high ranked karate-ka I wondered where the fluidity of movement and transitions are, why and where is the fluidity of the kata? Is fluidity actually a necessary component and trait of kata? What has this got to do with budo kata practice? Is there actually a budo kata practice? Are budo kata actually meant to be translated into actual technique, tactics and strategies of self-defense? When I think of such things the questions flow like water trying to synthesize some adequate response. I have come to believe that intent in this depends, much like self-defense tactics and strategies, it all depends on intent (like social vs. asocial to predatory S/AS process/resource reasoning, etc.). 

What is used and what should be used when evaluating kata practice? What is the intent and what traits and requirements are seen as positive when evaluating kata practice, not competition for that is another different subject all together? 

First and foremost for ‘ME’ I see kata as a tool, a means to learn about and how to make use of fundamental principles in order to apply multiple self-fense methodologies through the various types of force applied through necessity to stop an attack. I see it as a means to apply the various sensory systems such as sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, balance/vibration/temperature in relation to applying methodologies and types of appropriate forces to get the job done. 

Seems complex but kata, to my perception and for my martial discipline intent, are the best tools to learn, understand and provide a transitional model to apply them in a reality based model of self-fense. 

When I have watched some of the most senior karate-ka perform kata I sense that the fluidity is missing and that they rhythm and cadence, although present in one sense, is also askew when kata is performed. Principle based kata training also addresses these questions of fluidity, rhythm and cadence. For instance, once you gain a certain level of ability you then transition that understanding and ability to things like applying the OODA loop with speed, rapidly changing methods and force applications along with other things to disrupt the adversary’s loop, put him into the OO bounce, so you can get-r-done. 

I also feel a strong theory that the lack of fluidity, rhythm and cadence is about not transitioning to the proverbial higher levels of training and practice so when it is used in applications you get the benefit of the full composition and capabilities of the system both obvious and not so obvious. 

Sometimes I think that are focus on ranking and overall ‘time in grade (terminology of military for years within a certain grade as a means of evaluation toward next grade, etc.)’ requirements where often they take precedence over knowledge, understanding and applications - the spirit and mind aspects of training and practice disciplines. All to often in my military time I have seen inept personnel get promotions just because of time in grade requirements and the fact they had not obvious disciplinary obstacles. Example: An E-4 who came to work in the training section with me who, I discovered, could not read or write. Wow, an E-4 is a leader and how did that happen? How did the person even get into the Corps and how did they actually get through boot camp not reading or writing?

When you take the most difficult aspects of a discipline and move them aside due to the difficulty factor of teaching and evaluating you are left with the more ‘academic oriented’ and ‘easier evaluation criteria’ where more of the unqualified are ‘given rank’ and so on. Another factor in issues and obstacles of the so-called ‘Educational Implementation’ revolution of the early 1900s in Japan and Okinawa. 

Fluidity in kata from the seniors shows that just kata practice and demonstrations are not what they seem and that may be because kata practice is more about presentation as perceived at the lower levels of practice over applicable skills for self-fense, fighting and combative levels of practice and training. Then again, what the f*&^ do I know, right? ;-)

Q: Is fluidity actually a necessary component and trait of kata? 

Ans: Yes and no, it is about the intent to the practice of kata. If the intent is toward learning self-fense then have a sense of fluidity along with rhythm and cadence is all a part of the principles that can be learned from the practice of kata. For instance, using Colonel Boyd’s OODA loop you begin to understand that all things of nature have a rhythm and cadence often manifested in the fluidity of that things movement and a precept of using the OODA in self-fense is to utilize you rhythm and cadence at a faster tempo than your adversary puts you inside their loop, causing the OO bounce, allowing you to achieve your goals. The fluidity of your rhythm and cadence is a product of those into a faster tempo to get-r-done. 

Q: What has this got to do with budo kata practice? 

Ans: I feel that most who use the term budo are using it as a means to promote a way or belief that may or may not be based in fact. As humans tend to react to emotionally driven stimulus this term speaks loudly to the instinct of human conflict and violence survival. In short, it triggers the male testerone levels much like sex, the emotions of excitement, need and drives leads us all by the nose toward whatever we perceive at the end of that rainbow. 

Q: Is there actually a budo kata practice? 

Ans: No, not really, not from where I see things because kata are sequential physical, mental and spiritual tools to help us learn and understand things like principles, methodologies and types of force for self-fense. 

Q: Are budo kata actually meant to be translated into actual technique, tactics and strategies of self-defense?

Ans: Seen the last question and answer. 

Q: What is used and what should be used when evaluating kata practice? 

Ans: First, and foremost, relying on opinions of others who have personalized, individualized and unique perceptions of kata is inappropriate and not useful so I advocate learning the moves, sequences and patterns then rely on your own perceptions as they relate and translate said practice into actions and experiences. I have witnessed some whose kata seem child like when practiced but when it comes time to apply the methods, principles and force levels those people shine like the early morning sunrise. 

Q: What is the intent and what traits and requirements are seen as positive when evaluating kata practice, not competition for that is another different subject all together? 

Ans: See the last question and answer. 

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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