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.

Physical Fitness Classes

I, and I believe others, have referred to some of the karate classes personally witnessed and experienced as nothing more than exercise classes or karate-size classes.

The focus is heavy on the warm-up portion which is not really a warm up session, it is actually and exercise/physical fitness session/class.

So much time is devoted to running in circles (one leader of one system, nor recognized by all of the factions tho, uses this run-a-round for almost all his/her sessions  along with lots-n-lots of bag work), doing basic techniques with out intent and so on.

Physical fitness is important if you plan on competing and even if you practice for fighting, etc. I would say that actually physical fitness is a by product of the real need in fighting, endurance. From my personal view "endurance" is the chief component as a person engaging in a violent fight will have to endure about 3 to 5 minutes of the most intense action they may have ever experienced.

That burst of energy to not get hit and to not lose uses up bodily resources quicker than the speed of light. Regardless, karate training and practice, from my view, should not be where one achieves that endurance/fitness. My personal view is one who wishes to follow the way of the empty hand for combative reasons or even competitive must achieve that endurance/fitness outside the dojo. Dojo time is for training and practice.

With today's societal culture of busy, busy, busy one must use the time efficiently and effectively. Time for practice is limited in today's karate world so that time must focus on things of importance such as fundamentals of stance, body movement, finding your ranges, etc. with out losing site of those leading to power and force.

Doing a ton of exercises is a good thing yet it will not carry the day if you get into a tournament/street sparring/fight. It is  like our pension to muscle it, muscling it is not the focus but the efficient use of that body, i.e. muscular system, skeletal system, tendons, cartilage, etc. are what really count. A whole, not just a part.

Sometimes my post may lead one to believe that I am down of using all those avenues to endurance but actually I am just promoting that one who truly follows a combative martial system get in shape outside the dojo; spend the maximum time in dojo to train; spend the maximum time in dojo to practice!

Football players work out BEFORE practice. This goes for a almost every sport. In the Marines we did physical fitness programs early every day BEFORE we trained. Training was for training; practice was for practice. Marines would spend five or six minutes to warm up for physical safety yet when we started to train or practice we trained and practiced.
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1 comment:

Zacky Chan said...

"muscling it is not the focus but the efficient use of that body, i.e. muscular system, skeletal system, tendons, cartilage, etc. are what really count. A whole, not just a part."

This reminded me of "the Bountiful Pleasures of Stretching" by John Jerome which really advanced a lot of my thoughts on stretching and its affects on the body ... as does your blog. Good stuff.

9:13 PM

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