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.

Cruise Control

You learn all the rules of the road before driving. You learn about how to drive the automobile, i.e. steering, brakes, accelerator, speed, turn radius, etc. You also learn about other drivers and the bad and good of driving defensively. You learn to start the car, put it into gear, check the mirrors, and then check the environment all around your vehicle. Once you determine that your safe and clear to go, you place it into the appropriate gear, check around for safety again and then slowly accelerate.

As you drive you find your on a straight road for a long distance so you know you have cruise control. You set it at a specific speed, sit back, hands at ten and two and you allow the vehicle to drive you - mostly. Your still aware somewhat and your knowledge allows you to scan left, right, rearview mirror, side mirrors and turn to look at your "blind spots."

You watch for other vehicles coming up behind you, pulling out from side streets or entering on the road from on-ramps, drivers changing lanes, and so forth, your driving defensively and when your scans detect some anomaly, something not quit right or something simply does not fit in your situation your hit the brake to release the cruise control, sit up and your awareness opens wide - your alert and focused on what is going on and ready to act if the need arises.

Self-defense, learning all the intricacies of what to be aware of and allowing your mind and body to work on cruise control until some stimuli that triggers your warning system triggers the hairs on the back of your neck then you turn off cruise control, put up your shields and scan for details. Then all those particulars you learned in self-defense, all the data on what to look for and to recognize and finally the appropriate actions to avoid danger - danger Will Robinson, danger!

Focus on the particulars to learn, dismiss them into storage - encode in the brain through training and refresh the encoded data from time to time to keep it frosty but underneath the radar until needed. You can't stay frosty 24/7 but it can remain ready at all times. Allow your mind to work its magic through instincts and survival mechanisms where training and practice use or replace those flight or fight type responses, i.e. freeze only when useful, break the freeze only when useful and so on .....

The only constant habit you need to stay 24/7 occurs when you leave the safe zones of life. You need to keep frosty by making "the scans" a part of every day habit. Remain curious to your surroundings once you walk past the front gate of your home until you close and lock the gate behind you at the end of the day. Always allow your mind to put up shields when instincts trigger your spidey sense that something is amiss here, something does not fit and something just ain't right. Fix it with awareness, recognition, classification and action (avoidance is best at this point but ...).

p.s. SueC, see what your challenge inspires!
at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)