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.

Acceptance

We must accept the truth if we are to act/react to an assault/attack. We can and do accept that the monkey dance fight or school yard scuffle will not end in major injuries or death - mostly as there are always exceptions to anything. In the Anti-social driven predatory attacks if we don't accept the truth of who these folks are and the fact that in order to do what they do tend to be a bit different than us we are going to freeze and we are going to get hurt.

Question I am asking myself, is this true - mostly - partly?

Lets face it, predators and such criminals have different traits the drive what, how and who they do things to. The psychological make up of such persons may provide the validation and ? that allow us to accept them and what they can do so we may act accordingly. Maybe this type of knowledge is how we so called "normal folk" can "other" the predator so we can take the necessary actions to remain alive and free.

I got to thinking that to justify and validate why reasoning, etc. will not work when confronting predatory assaults I needed a layer of understanding as to why they do it vs. just knowing that they do it. Are these guys a level of psychopathic personalities? There are twenty such traits that are used in certain area's of professionals but any set of those traits may be present in the person who lives as a predator.

Maybe how far a predator goes in doing their "job" may also be governed by the traits they have assuming that this list is accurate and validated to be true and effective in identification. We should then, if so, accept them so we can train/practice accordingly before confronting one.

I am not sure this is true or even relevant to self-protection by understanding not only the why a person is one but the how to recognize one when confronted. I am fishing on this one. If you know comment.

Another question, if this list of traits is true regarding predators then can a person who does not have any of these traits become a predator and remain free of them?

4 comments:

Sue C said...

Hi Charles, what are the 'traits' that you talk about, can you list them?

Charles James said...

Hi, Sue: Those traits are provided in the book "Facing Violence" are are such better read in their content.

If you seek out a sociopath or psychopath traits you will then find comparisons.

Sue C said...

My copy of the book arrived today - I'll look forward to reading it for myself ;-)

Charles James said...

Sue, did you get "Meditations on Violence" as well?