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.

Model - Mentor

" ... my dad was a Korea-era vet. Hunting camp was an annual ritual that included him and his buddies from the army sitting around the campfire and telling stories. I think a lot of growing up in many cultures is guided by stories around a campfire. You can learn the skills of hunting, but you model the attitudes. ..."  - Rory Miller Chiron Blog: 3 - Way

When I read this I felt a tiny bit of sadness. Not for Mr. Miller as I also felt a bit of envy but for me for unlike Mr. Miller, assuming by this short quote, I had no model when I was young. The details are not important. I had to find my own model's. I had one in high school, my math teacher who took no shit from me. I had one in Jr. High, audio visual teacher, who also didn't take my crap but in a way that showed respect.

In the Marines I had one particular, although there were many others, who was a model, mentor and Sensei. Sgt Maj Warner Dean Henry now retired in the stumps of southern California.

I consider myself very lucky to have the personality I have although a bit crude at times, most times. It has allowed me the gift to see things that normally might fly by like a breeze on a warm summer day at the beach. Maybe his indifference, my father/family, was a type of model for it left me alone, stranded and without a foundation which spurred something inside that in lieu of just doing nothing resulted in me doing something - positive.

I guess I should feel grateful for that much even if the intent from him was not there, he simply didn't give a shit about anything but himself. I guess I have to say his indifference influenced me to get up and move.

I do this monkey brain stupid chatter thing once in a while saying to myself, "What if I had a dad who took me camping with his friends and told all these stories, etc.?" Would it have had a significant impact to how I lived my life? Yep, monkey-stupid-chatter that I must let flitter by and go its way like a summer breeze at the beach.

I just had this thought, is this possibly why I took up training/teaching/mentoring in the Marines, in Karate-jutsu-do and why I blog all this mental stuff? Maybe, and if so and if just one person benefits then I would say - Yea, cool.
at

1 comment:

Zacky Chan said...

Making waves James! So I think you can say that "Yea, cool" with confidence. I think below it all, in regions were things are dark and not seen so clearly, I keep coming back to martial arts because it's where I've found my best mentors. Not some of my best, my best. But, it is a lot of monkey chatter flittering on by. Much less important in the moment than even a petty fly that lands in your nose! That would have to be taken care of, I think.

3:22 AM

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