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.
Infraculture
"Whenever people talk, they supply only part of the message. The rest is filled in by the listener. Much of what is "not" said is taken for granted. Cultures vary in what is left unsaid." pg 102, chapter 9.
[suppositions, body language and culture; another important reason why one should study the culture that presents or offers a discipline like or similar to a martial art, karate or other combative object. Self-defense once again comes down not to the physical but rather the mental, communications. Do we synchronistically listen, reflect and understand or do we just plaster our internal belief system toward what is communicated and respond accordingly with out consideration of the person, the person's culture and what is filled in by us. Understanding the culture, the person and the infraculture might just fill in the gaps, the reality gaps. To see, hear and feel what is left unsaid may be the key to avoidance in conflicts.]
"Fixed-feature space is one of the basic ways of organizing the activities of individuals and groups. It includes material manifestations as well as the hidden, internalized designs that govern behavior." pg 103, chapter 9.
[knowledge of culture as it deals with space or in my vocabulary "territories." Isn't some conflict a result of invading one's territory? If so, and we study their culture and infraculture then we might understand enough to either avoid territorial disputes or at least communicate effectively enough to earn a free pass through the territory.]
"The facade is one that people present to the world and the self they hide behind it. It signifies recognition of levels to be penetrated ... " ... many men have two or more distinct personalities, one for business and one for the home." pg 104, chapter 9.
[Face .... saving face ..... understanding how culture can dictate a person or groups "face." Facade is not only applied to space, territory, but also to the person and the group to which a person or person's belong.]
"Man's feelings about being properly oriented in space runs deep. Such knowledge is ultimately linked to survival and sanity. To be disoriented in space is to be psychotic. The difference between acting with reflex speed and having to stop and think in an emergency may mean the difference between life and death - a rule which applies equally to the driver negotiating freeway traffic and the rodent dodging predators." pg 105, chapter 9.
[space, territory and culture all drive life and death instincts even if they are not perceived by society today as reality. They still exist and our brains still respond to them so fast your emotional adrenaline driven responses tend to take over and drive the bus. A huge trait to try and train into some semblance of control and repetitive practices toward a reality based training/practice regimen is required.]
This speaks volumes as to the type and need for knowledge before training and application of such things as communications and physical application of martial arts or any combative tactic. Make your fundamental strategy to find the knowledge, encode it to your brain and then train for it both mentally and physically. Find the balance and make it influence the tactics used from this strategy.
Bibliography:
Hall, Edward T. "The Hidden Dimension." Anchor Books. New York. 1969, 1990.
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