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.

Lucky Me ...

Reading a good book, "Violence, Blunders, and Fractured Jaws: Advanced Awareness Techniques and Street Etiquette," by Marc MacYoung. In it he analogizes using the team and that team has its own "operating system." I won't try to explain how that works just know that it is about "factions." Groups and group dynamics with team/tribe/faction interactions and the OS of each of these is unique and not necessarily compatible.

You may join a team or the team may recruit you or by osmosis you end up associated with that team and then you are indoctrinated into that team/tribe's operation system, i.e. rules. You know, like the laws of civilized society! Of course, there are those written laws but with teams/tribes in this sense there are unwritten rules.

In this sense those rules rule unless the subvert the societal laws/rules to the point that someone at that level becomes overly concerned. Another aspect I won't try to explain: get the book and read it for that.

Here is my point, we martial artists (me, karate-ka that is) have tribes. It starts at the dojo level with Sensei and other practitioners. We are required, if we wish to participate and/or belong, to follow that tribes rules or operating system. If that dojo is affiliated with other dojo or other organizations, i.e. think associations, then we have those rules. The more the merrier.

Even though they are all associated does not mean they all follow all the rules of the tribes/teams/systems. A good example is this American chapter of a major association for Isshinryu, my system too. The American tribe does what it wants yet when it invites the major tribe they "change" what they do and say and practice so that this other tribe "sees" and "hears" what makes them happy and deludes them into thinking all is well and all the tribes are towing the line.

When this occurs the teams/tribes become so indoctrinated that if the rules are questioned or not followed it causes conflict. Even if that change is truth and fact the tribe tends to not "see" it for the color of the indoctrination rules, the tribe operating system rules and that stifles growth and such system fundamentals resulting in a loss of them, fundamentals, etc.

In the beginning I felt the need to join a tribe. I had one in the dojo on Okinawa run by my Sensei. It was a simple one with few rules and the OS was not too restrictive. He promoted the idea that we experiment and find how it works and then what ever we found if actually worked was implemented into our individual practice and training. I am thankful for this attitude. The tribe, i.e. dojo level OS, was good and didn't conflict with anyone in or outside it.

Then I decided to associate with other tribes, i.e. major associations for my system. What I found in time is the Operating Systems or Rules were drastically different. The system in a very basic form was pretty much the same, as much as humans can achieve. The rules or OS tended to be ego and politically driven with economics at the core of the OS or rules.

As I gleaned more and more data I found that remaining in my own dojo tribe was best. It allowed me to seek out all information and provided me the attitude that what I practiced and trained in was open to change and growth regardless of where that came from. I had released myself from the shackles of many OS systems.

I kept that attitude and set of rules, so few they were, as my Sensei provided on Okinawa so my students took what I offered and then supplemented as they needed for their individual and unique way of the empty hand. I also warned them they would run into walls, obstacles, that would refute and down right profess what I taught was not correct but to practice and learn.

I tried to express that all systems regardless have something to offer and hopefully they learned to "data mine" all that would be good and totally discard that stuff they perceived as bad.

I am very lucky. I feel that because I more or less removed my association with tribes, other than for data mining, that I developed a more open, hopefully yet still learning about his aspect, attitude that deepens my understanding and knowledge which hopefully equates to my proficiency. If not then I might have quit long ago and never found the Way.

I realize that we all are influenced by nature's survival instincts where association with a tribe is the only way to survive. I understand that means, to me, home and family; neighbors; local communities, etc. yet I don't feel it applies to this type of association, i.e. martial systems to associations, etc. I am lucky I don't feel the need to "belong" to those tribes. The one's that truly deal with survival, of a nature, are critical.

I feel that this instinct that causes us to gravitate to such tribes for validation, approval, and other such things is a bit burdensome and a stifling association. I believe that the only validation necessary is the one from the relationship of a person and their Sensei, period. All the rest should be "fun" but never stifling or restrictive or , etc.

No comments: