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.

Are we really teaching Self-defense?


This though entered my head immediately after reading the post by Rory Miller on the Money Dance. In a fundamental sense the monkey dance is a social event. As a social event often it is considered fighting. Fighting is illegal so to enter into a fray that is based on a social situation, i.e. the monkey dance, means anything we use in that instance is not self-defense.

In that light I also thought to myself that isn't the monkey dance actually a good high percentage of what most people encounter? If the answer is yes, mostly, then is what we teach in martial arts actually, factually and truthfully self-defense? If not, then when we tell students that what they are learning is self-defense are we not setting up a situation where that person will be implementing actions that are mostly illegal and regardless of perceived circumstances be legally prosecuted? 

So, if I have this right and I suspect if I don't I am pretty darn close to the truth. Martial Arts when taught as a combative system, a self-defense system or a fighting system is teaching how to break the law! 

Then it begs the question that if MA is actually teaching illegal actions in a self-defense scenario then what should actually be taught for self-defense? If I am correct in my perceptions then all martial arts are illegal for defense especially in the most encountered situations, the monkey dance. 

Now, lets leave the monkey dance and enter the world of asocial violence, the predatory violent encounter. This is a totally different situation that warrants far more in-depth study, learning and practice to get the whole picture and this is simply an exercise in thinking it out. I have to think, are martial arts self-defense teachings still illegal since this is, for this discussion, outside the monkey social dance? I guess it would depend on the present moment situation. What attack, the type of attack, the type of technique used in the attack, the ultimate goal of said attack, and then the response you provide - if you even get the chance to provide a response. After all if my understanding remains valid this type of attack against you, the experienced martial artists, means you were acting in a manner that said victim and the assailant knows that he has you and your going down hard and fast. 

I suspect that even in the asocial violent encounter your actions, if successful, will depend greatly on how you present your case in court and as you already know that is a whole other can of worms. Use of force comes into play here while it means little or nothing in the monkey dance since the legal perception is both parties involved are guilty of fighting. 

See, this subject of self-defense gets more complicated and convoluted as one seeks out knowledge. It makes the onus of the seeker of self-defense to determine true self-defense training that is realistic and within the limits of the social and legal culture and laws critical. I have to wonder, "how many of the self-defense trainers actually know stuff like this and are they actually teaching within those criteria?"

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