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.

Something to Bear in Mind


First, the quote to bear in mind, "The injunction against the taking of human life is so strong, the only way most people can break it is to convince themselves that their life, their welfare, or the life of their family is menaced by their enemy and that, therefore, the enemy must be removed." A quote to support the answer to the question, "Why do humans kill one another."

Killing another human being. When the quote states injunction I tend to give it the meaning that instinct, an instinct so deep regarding the survival of the human species that it takes some special circumstance or special mental change that allows one to take a life. Not animal but human. Sometimes humans also have a difficult time taking an animal life as well. That is another post.

It might be said that all killings are a result of self defense. The quote intimates this feeling. Then one might say, "what about revenge or jealousy?" Jealousy might be a lead in to revenge, i.e. one who is jealous may anticipate a need for revenge. Revenge returns one to a position of self-respect and reestablishes the persons sense of worth and power in their own eyes. 

All other considerations may fall under the guise of power - money being the most common of all. Does not power, revenge, jealousy and money provide an impetus to defend oneself from either an actual or perceived need to kill in self-defense? Doesn't the perceived infraction of any of these make one an enemy and don't we other those to make it easier to kill? Even the martial adage of the empty hand provides a believer a means to other a person so that one or more of these categories requires they defend themselves sometimes ending in the loss of human life. 

The adage, "I come to you with only karate, empty hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor; should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong; then here are my weapons, karate, my empty hands." — Ed Parker - March, 1957

Isn't this quote actually allowing a person permission to move another human into the category of adversary or enemy thereby requiring defense and that allows othering so one can feel justified in taking the type of actions that could lead to death? Is it possible that the only reason one might take the life of another is if they feel that they must defend themselves regardless of the perceptions of either party? 

Can it be true that the only and one reason a human can take the life of another human is by declaring self-defense even if it is called self-defense, revenge or jealousy, etc.?

Can all the reasons actually fall under the heading of self-defense even if not a truly acceptable reason for taking human life? Is this possibly the reasoning underlying all human thought to justify, at least in the mind of that person in that moment, their reason for claiming self-defense even when a human life is lost?

Or would it better be stated that killing is always dependent upon power and whether is is abused or misused to subjugate others. Is this enough reason to kill? Do we as martial artist and professionals allow for such discussion in what we do be it teaching or applying self-defense or protecting against those who would damage or kill others? How far do martial artists or self-defense experts take it to teach such things so loss of life can be avoided? 

Lots of Questions with lots of answers. Which are acceptable to society and which are not? More questions. Is the justification justified? Does it ever end? Can it end? How do we foster a society that has no further need for such things?

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