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.

Limitations



Are there limitations to karate or any martial system? The simple answer is yes ... and no. In the "no" department the system of karate has no limitations and yet it does. What is that limitation you say? Well, it is not the system itself but rather the proponent who practices that system. This is why one system as compared to another system is neither the best or the worst. It is a system and all systems serve a purpose - that is a good thing.

Limitations exist, nature dictates those limitations. A boulder sitting in a desert does not move, it can not and that is a limitation. Does that matter to the boulder, no; why does it not matter to the boulder, because the boulder does what it was meant to do and finds no need to extend beyond that particular function.

Let us take another view. The upper arm has a bone. That bone has limitations. What those limitations are depend on a variety of factors. Simplistically let us say that this bone in perfect health and condition could, for the sake of discussion so use your imagination, be taken outside the arm and placed, on one end, on a solid stationary unmovable surface. The arm bone stands perfectly perpendicular to the ground or surface.

The limitations of this particular bone depends on bone density and the direction and amount of the force applied. Looking at the snapshot below if the weight is applied to the top of the bone with the direction of force going as shown in "A" the bone will hold a great deal. When the weight applied reaches a certain level then the bone structure will weaken and finally at a point collapse. This weight+force+direction application will be the limitations of that particular bone.

Is that the immutable fact of the bone's limitations? Yes and no. Yes all things remaining the same it is the absolute limit the bone can endure. No, for if you change the rules then the limitations can be exceeded, exploited and extended beyond its absolute limitations.

Click for large view and if you like it please feel free to download and use it.


Add cartilage, other bones, tendons, muscles and the mind to apply appropriate principles of body mechanics and the bone assumes a greater degree of ability thus extending beyond its limitations creating new limits the bone can endure. What was a limitation is now not a limitation adding in other factors that extend limitations. Is that the limit of the bone now?

Yes and no. Notice a trend going on here. Karate's only limitations are those imposed by the mind of the practitioner. Some will say, "Physics says there are limitations for everything." Once you reach the limitations governing by the rules of physics that is it, no more. Ok, you can limit yourself if you wish by that thought. I can say otherwise.

Once it was believed that the fastest anything could go was the speed of light. That was the limits of speed. There is no way anything can travel faster than the speed of light, no way, no how, never and not ever. Once upon a time man had limitations, he could not fly. By the extensions we developed man can now fly. Once upon a time man could not venture out beyond the limits of the Earth's atmosphere .... need I continue.

Moral of this lesson is that there are limitations and the only limit to those are the ones you impose on yourself for your mind can expand, extend and just plain break the rules that dictate limitations - even physics is not immutable now.
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