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.

A Training Tool for Martial Karate: Penmanship

Kanji, or Chinese characters, were originally created as "drawing" of those things that they would represent. They began in China several thousand years ago, introduced to Korea and finally entered into Japan where they became an art form called "the way of writing" or Shodo (Show-doh).

Shodo became important to the culture because it became associated with morality and spoke to the education level of the person performing or writing kanji. The writing of kanji became a fundamental part of the samurai training because of its being introduced and influenced by the practice of Buddhism. The writings of Buddhism was written in kanji and due to the importance of Buddhism influences on samurai culture it became what it was for the samurai.

The skills required to learn, the then over 50,000 characters, which had to be written in a prescribed order of up to twenty-five or more lines or strokes per character which can be done only through memorization so it can be readable and have artistic merit resulted in a high level of discipline, penmanship, etc. which influenced character and on the approach to life itself. It became a vehicle for all Japanese to develop the ability to create attractive designs and developed a high degree of hand-and-eye coordination when dealing with things small and complex.

When a person makes a request to be accepted into a dojo it would be of benefit to them to take up the pen and practice their penmanship. This would have a positive impact on their character and their approach to self-reflection to increase their ability to perceive or seek out imperfections that would promote continuous achievement in perfecting their craft. I have been informed by my studies that if this were of greater focus in early education of all children it would and could have vast influence on their mental discipline, etc. For Westerners once a personal penmanship reached a certain level of artistic achievement then it could be suggested they take up the brush or pen for "calligraphy" which is a European/Western art of writing.

Click for larger view.
More and more the culture and beliefs that influenced our practice of martial karate speak to the more spiritual side which in this case speaks to the internal side of the practitioner where emotions, art and other things are developed to balance out the physical. Consider this, it is what provided for the samurai culture that although samurai were no more still has influence on today's Japanese endeavors - all of them. This brought about in about thirty years their rise from obscurity to the second largest and strongest economic force second only to the United States.

If you think that the samurai culture and spirit are no more, think again. Take up the sword, take up the pen and achieve balance in life.

1 comment:

Rick Matz said...

I find lately that whenever I must publicly write; to sign a receipt or a check or something, I take my time, my breath and sincerely write rather than just making a scrawl.

To do anything less I think is a wasted opportunity.