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.

I Ching, Trigrams and Martial Systems

The lines of the I Ching hexagrams do reference the marital systems we practice today. This is yet another symbolic connection one see's, hear's, and feel's toward what they do to find balance along the path. The six lines begin at the bottom when reading/interpreting. The first line relates to causes outside the individual and requires "sensing" to perceive with an open-mind.

The second line called the official line is the next level of the individuals responsibility for their life and to create the reality that is reality. This is the thinking stage. In martial systems we attempt to make all of the thinking be accomplished in the dojo and not in combat. Thinking slows the mental processes and delays actions necessary to circumvent or deal correctly with conflict.

Your motivation shows in line three where your feelings are determined and the totality of the three lines for the lower trigram of the hexagram are representative of your attitude toward your inner world, your self. Your open-minded ability speaks to your attitude and your attitude holds great sway on how your attitude is applied and displayed to the outer world where the upper trigram and lines four, five and six are relevant.

The third line when holistically and symbiotically applied with line one and two lead you to the fourth line. The line is the karma of the body, your direction which is not necessarily out of your control. There are aspects that are not and you hopefully dealt with them in the lower trigram. The body leads to the soul that is governed by the heart and your mind. This is a stage where your maturity resulting from the previous lines and your practices in martial arts comes into play for it should have permeated your very being, your soul, to achieve the proper and correct mastery to the level you reach at any given moment.

The final line, line six, is the line that speaks to the results of the hexagram. You entered into this divination with a specific question and solid result that you wish to implement, step by step in detail, that will be either confirmed or denied as appropriate from your spirit as the answer to the moment. Your spirit is the wholehearted commitment you give to your question and answer.

Your spirit must be totally and completely committed as that is the only way to succeed for to have any doubt no matter how much and how hard you practice and train would result in a freeze and a resulting defeat, damage and even death. The spirit and essence of the I Ching and the divination of the hexagram toward your questions and strategies/tactics means absolute commitment in spirit or the mind will balk at the crucial moment.

In this way you take total and absolute responsibility first within yourself for all aspects of your life in and out of the dojo then you, you alone, create the body, soul and spirit that is committed to the path you, only you, choose with the aid of the I Ching as our mentor, guide and confidant.

Click for a large view.

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