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.

EM-of-MA

There was a time I would observe a very proficient practitioner of MA demonstrate a technique or kata where the movement seemed to restricted to be of any value. It was much later that I realized that what I was seeing was a very proficient practitioner who was mastering or had mastered EM-of-MA or Economical Motion of Martial Arts.

So many of my systems practitioners, both novice and expert, seem to be still training and practicing where larger, more obvious, and easily detected mover were used. If you ask you might here "It is the way Sensei taught us or it is the original and unchanged way the master taught us."

The system I practice may have lost sight of the principles that are intricate to MA because of many factors yet it is still not too late to discover and implement these into our practice.

In my opinion at the level of San-dan to Go-dan the practitioner should be moving from the gross movements of the system into the more EM-of-MA.

Bibliography:
Perlman, Steven J. "The Book of Martial Power: The Universal Guide to the Combative Arts." New York. The Overlook Press. 2006.

3 comments:

Sue C said...

Hi Charles, my understanding of economy of movement is that it means using good footwork so that you get your feet into position in one swift movement (rather than shuffling around or taking several small awkward steps) or placing your hands/body in the correct position on your opponent in one movement to control them. Occasionally this means big movements rather than several small ones. Is this the same as what you are saying or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Charles James said...

Hi, Sue: Thanks for the comment. Actually your view is within the whole principle.

Whether it is a small movement or large always depends on that moment in time.

Economical Motion is a martial principle for all systems where the end result is conservation of energy where conserved energy is applied to the power of the applied technique.

Hm, not exactly but a hint anyway. Really the explanation comes when it is studied within the whole scope of fundamental martial principles - Steven J. Pearlman, The Book of Martial Power.

Don't get the title as a literal although it does apply to applying power but rather as a title the publisher felt would gain greater attention.

It is really a great fundamental explanation of those principles that must be present to achieve true proficiency in martial practice and by proxy application of said system.

Charles James said...

p.s. without these fundamental principles studied and applied as a whole the MA is not a SD system but merely dancing. With FPofMS (Fundamental Principles of Martial Systems) it becomes SD, Combatives, and any other fighting system that is effective regardless of the MA system studied.