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.

Shield's Up!

Your going about your daily business. You have the hairs on the back of your neck go tingly. Say out loud at a level your ears can hear yet not so loud anyone can actually perceive what you said and say, "Shield's UP!"

Your paying attention to your instincts, your intuition, your inner voice that is saying, "something is not right." Your shield's are up now that you spoke the words and your going to train yourself to do two things, open your awareness and keep moving.

Whether stationary or moving you start or keep moving. Say it out load in the same manner, i.e. "Shield's up - move."

Your awareness is peaked so you scan as you move. Say it out loud in the same manner, i.e. "Shield's up - move - scan."

About now your saying, "How embarrassing, I am not going say anything out loud - everyone will think I am nuts." Ok, but I can say that talking out loud will help you immensely to retrieve those actions and intent better and will assist in keeping your body and mind from freezing. Remember that to keep moving and scanning will assist you in keeping the vision from tunneling, it will keep you breathing since you have to in order to speak out loud, and your peripheral vision while scanning will pick up more. Important as well you will be less likely to focus on one thing that catches the eye thus tend to stop moving and remain stationary.

While you are speaking out loud, becoming aware, moving, and scanning you want to assume a SD kamae which says two things, 1 - Your are not a threat and 2 - you are not a victim. If you take some aggressive position be it stationary or moving the threat may take that as a challenge. If you fall into a body posture or movement that is viewed as submissive or fearful it also will promote the threat to attack.

I will put my arms up with one across my stomach and the  other with the elbow in my open hand and that arm's hand up under my face and chin in a position that says I am contemplating something or thinking seriously but accompanied with the scans, etc. will "tell" others I am not an easy target, I am not a victim.

In that position if I need to move fast to get away I can assume a Dracula pose (Rory: Sorry can't remember what you called it) so I can charge through any blocks or barriers, etc. to seek and get to safety. You know, Bela Lagosi pose with the cape when he approaches Abbot in Abbot and Costelo meet Dracula ... you know ....

This is another way to keep you out of a freeze and moving. I feel this is a good fundamental strategy to avoid dangerous situations. It is not meant as any type of protection agains really violent and unexpected attacks from predators. You can say if you are aware that your instincts and intuition would give just enough warning to get shield's up and all that other stuff. If you practice to do this it will become a bit more natural and instinctive so it will happen fast (I understand reading it makes it seem like a longer process but not really.).
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