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.

A Self Defense Model - Just an Idea ...

Yes, I am not an expert on self defense yet I do want to learn more and in doing so came up with a synopsis of a "self-defense model" from reading some more on the No Nonsense Self Defense site by Marc MacYoung. Take it with a grain and see if this works for you if you wish to use it as a basic or introduction to self defense practice.

Self Defense Model

- Common Sense: use common sense to recognize and know the behaviors that will put you into conflict; use common sense and know the moral and ethical issues involved with the use of force.
- Diplomacy: can this event be resolved with other means than the physical. Can  you talk, negotiate or trick you way out of it?
- Strategy: if all else fails do you know when and where to hit to end it quickly and effectively? Is it justifiable use of force?
- Tactical: do you instruct as to the physical application of hitting powerfully and effectively.

Does your training program instruct/address the higher level skills necessary to avoid-deescalate-consider-manners-awareness, etc.?

Questions to pose to participants in self defense training:

1. Do you instruct participants as to what is violence?
2. Do you instruct participants as to what are the medical/mental ramifications to violent acts?
3. Do you instruct participants as to what are the legal ramifications to violence?
4. Do you instruct participants so they can recognize environmental and human conditions that indicate violence or possible violence?
5. Do you instruct participants so they can recognize the stages that lead to actual physical violence-altercations-fighting-predatory violence, etc.?
6. Do you instruct participants as to the definition of self defense?
7. Do you instruct participants as to the legal definition and requirements of self defense?
8. Do you instruct participants so they know and can apply "people skills?"
9. Do you instruct participants as to a life style self analysis regarding their possible exposure to violence, violent environments, etc.?
10. Do you instruct your participants that physical applications of self defense should be the absolute last resort?
11. Do you instruct your participants that the physical end of self defense is also the most unreliable of responses?
12. Does instruction focus more on the "options" that would prevent you from ending up in any violent situation that would require physical responses?
13. Do you instruct on those behaviors, the participants behaviors, that lead to violence, i.e. will result in your escalating it vs. deescalating it?
14. Do you instruct on the difference between self defense and fighting?
15. Do you instruct that it is not a matter of winning or losing but two persons who will both be arrested and if you are the winner you will be arrested?
16. Do you instruct the participants that involvement in any violence will have life long effects, both physical but mostly psychological?
17. Do you instruct the participants that in reality "most people" cannot apply effective self defense techniques in a crises?
18. Do you instruct the participants that the adrenaline dump caused in a crises can only be overcome through specific and ongoing training, it is not a matter of take a few classes and then assume it will work when needed?
19. Do you instruct the participants in the ability to communicate correctly regarding self defense with police and defending your actions in a court of law?
20. Do you instruct the participants in their responsibility for their words/actions, i.e. see manners, etc.?
21. Do you instruct the participants or at least introduce participants to the concepts of the behaviors that "lead up to" violence?
22. Do you instruct the participants as to where they can continue their research into the concepts of behaviors leading to violence? laws? psychological ramifications, etc.?
23. Do you instruct the participants that research, education, analysis, and seeking legal/expert advice/instruction, etc. is an ongoing process much like education, i.e. it is continuous for life?
24. Do you instruct the participants that is is their responsibility to seek legal advice as to Self defense before taking a self-defense program or before completing said program? Is this a requirement/prerequisite to the programs attendance/completion?
25. Do you instruct the participants as the difference between "lethal" vs. "non-lethal" force?
26. Do you instruct the participants that when prosecution occurs that "YOU BEAR the BURDON of PROOF!"
27. Do you instruct the participants that all things being correct, etc. that you as a participant in a self defense scenario can still be taken into civil court for further legal actions from your opponent?
28. Do you instruct the participants to research the self-defense laws in your state, i.e. state level, county level, city level, etc.?
29. Do you instruct the participants that they should either have an attorney on retainer or at the very least the number and name of a good attorney you can call, preferably one who specializes in criminal law or even better self-defense law?
30. Do you instruct the participants to research criminal jury instructions for their state in addition to seeking legal advice as to self-defense law?
31.  ???

As I see the way experts view self defense training is the curriculum should consist of about 90% higher level skills that will avoid violence, that 9% will deal with possible violence through verbal deescalation and finally the last 1% on the physical as a last resort. This 90-9-1 model would indicate that the program has a good understanding of self-defense and its legal and moral applications.

I  see it like this, if they cannot answer your questions and if they don't have a program that fits in the 90-9-1 model for self-defense programs then you can bet with confidence that the program is a profit oriented one because the physical is the easiest part to promote and teach in a limited time, i.e. cost-benefit of teaching/instructing the largest amount of paying customers in the shortest amount of time. Think turn-a-round.

Marc MacYoung's articles on self defense provided all the above and has links that could be critical to understanding self-defense applications. He provides one link I recently read that provided one quote I feel is important to know yet by itself should only cause you to seek out more information and expert/legal advice before you apply for a program or try to use what the program taught you regarding self-defense.

"Whatever the situation, you are expected to use force only as a last resort - that is, only when the circumstances preclude all other options." - Brandon Otto; www.useofforce.us

Read it again and again, read his site again and again for both should turn on a light for this topic. You CANNOT do enough to learn as much as you can about violence, force, fighting, and/or self-defense BEFORE you find yourself facing arrest, prosecution, and the life long effects of actions you take/took.

FINAL CAVEAT/FIRST STEP TO SD TRNG: "If in doubt, the laws themselves through the eyes of your lawyer are the surest source."

Bibilography:
MacYoung, Marc. No Nonsense Self Defense: http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/
MacYoung, Marc and Miller, Rory. Conflict Communications: http://www.conflictcommunications.com/index.htm
Otto, Frandon. Use of Force: http://www.useofforce.us/

Note: Any mistakes, omissions, etc. on this post are mine alone, please let me know so I can make corrections.
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