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.

Behind the Curve


I realized today, once again, that I am way behind the curve. I believe I have acquired a fair amount of knowledge but as to applications I have fallen behind. I can make excuses but really I just don't want to get out on the floor any more and put out the effort. I guess I am a bit tired and getting more so as time literally flies. 

In the movie "Joe Black," Anthony Hopkins makes a statement at his Birthday party that really means something, "sixty, it goes by in a flash." I liked that movie.

This year has flown and it does seem like a blink. I am behind the curve on the martial arts physical side. I guess you can say my martial arts equilibrium has shifted toward the philosophical and academic. It makes me wonder if I should continue writing about it or not. I suspect that most would rather hear from those in the trenches than one who is mostly retired from the type of practice that requires more than one person. 

I still enjoy the ride on a personal level. I can still gleam things by the individualized practice I like to engage in but it has its limits as to physical applications if a real conflict were to occur. Yes, what I have will still work and I believe it will be enough for most conflicts and I do avoid anything and everything that could result in a bad, bad, bad conflict. 

As you may be able to tell I am beginning to wax a bit more philosophical which in most instances is a personal journey so why post it I ask. I actually sat on my keister this Sunday and watched all the "Lord of the Rings" movies in preparation for the soon to be released "Hobbit" movie in December. It was fun and I even had my wife's company which is cool since she lives for the garden and the social things she is into - cool. 

I am also gladly finding work, not fully retired yet and still have to eat, increasing in an area that makes posting a bit harder - maybe not every day anymore but then again I mostly get a flash of an idea or read something that causes a flash of inspiration and it takes all of about four or five minutes to put it down and into the blog so what the hey. 

Life is really a wonderful thing and it is strange that it does move a lot faster as the winter years start up. Winter years, never thought I would ever reach this stage of life but I look forward to it and hope to be fully retired in about two to four years - maybe. 

What would I do, write more and see if I can eek out a fictional book. Love fiction, reading all of the adversary and repairman jack series by F. Paul Wilson. Really fun books to read and I can't think of anything I would like better than to actually write fiction and actually have people want to read it - so cool.

I am actually going through my personal last time editing the eBook on the ken-po goku-i so I hope to have it ready sometime before the end of this year for others to read and edit and comment. It is a gas and hard work all rolled into one. But then again, all the time it is taking puts me behind the curve once again as to my own schedule to get it done. 

Ahhh, time to head out for the BART station and home - have a great day and a better tomorrow!

Addendum dtd 3 October 2012 at 07:37 hrs:

I may have alluded or given an incorrect impression I am quitting karate all together. NO, I practice and train every single day. I just don't participate in dojo community oriented practice, i.e. with others on the training hall floor. I had a period where I solo practice about ten years ago and focused on both Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Gung for health, etc. then I went back to teaching and participation in a training hall.

I later stopped the dojo visits and started in-depth study on my own and through media such as the Internet web and blogging, etc. The studies included many, many readings of such books as Scaling Force by Rory Miller and Lawrence A. Kane - reading it right now. I may end up ending this particular physical side sabbatical in the future but the future is not known to me yet. 

 Being behind the curve in this instance is because there are many things that can only be vetted on the training hall floor with other folks. It is that set of things that cannot be done solo, ergo since I am not training with others right now I am behind the curve physically speaking. 
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2 comments:

Zacky Chan said...

your life sounds pretty cool to me. maybe you can find a way to increase the physical side of martial arts by a few minutes each day and see how it goes. I wonder when the hobbit will come to Japan?...

3:56 PM
Charles James said...

I still practice every single day but I just don't do the dojo with others thing is all. I can't give up the practice and training as it is a considerable part of who I am.

It is a bit like being a Marine. I am a Marine but I am not an active Marine so you can say I am a karate-ka but just not a dojo active, karate community active - physically interactive - practitioner.

I do reserve the right for my ego to send me back to the dojo anytime in the future tho :-)

If any of this makes sense.

7:36 AM

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