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.

Videos, Videos, Videos


I was inspired by the post by Wim Demeere on the preemptive strike. You can read it here. He makes a comment about assuming everything you do will be on video for later analysis. Take a look at all the past event of the killing of Oscar at Fruitvale Station BART in Oakland. Also Wim Demeere has a good video of a home invasion as well. With today's technology there is potential to be recorded at any moment. 

Do we teach this is self-defense? Do we allow the concept and possibility affect how we apply self-defense to our detriment or even to our benefit? How do we apply this to our self-defense training?

Last first, I believe we should train for self-defense in as realistic manner as possible and to add in video's by allowing those who are observing to gather like a street group might in a real fight and take video's with their phones. Everyone has a phone with video capability so use it. Then you can analyze how it was handled after by discussion then enhance that analysis by viewing the various video's and discussing what you see and how you or a normal, everyday citizen might see it. If you have any professionals in the group they can add in their expertise as well. Look at how the news, society and the legal system look at such video's and then try to analyze your training videos with the same perspectives. 

Look at it as Wim Demeere posts, i.e. remember it will be scrutinized later. 

Do you think that the videos might not be used legally, well just wait because it will be on YouTube moments after it all happens so you should train and practice and prepare for the inevitable. 

Note: this type of training can also be used to help you train to communicate your self-defense reasoning, i.e. why you did what you did, etc. 

This also provides you the experience as to how it will effect your self-defense in the training hall, not on the street. This would benefit you by allowing you to train for it so you won't hesitate and freeze because you suddenly become worried that the group gathering with their phones out and running are going to be used against you. Train and practice so you will be confident that the video will support your actions and explanations toward self-defense. If you don't train and practice this kind of stuff then those videos will be to your detriment, i.e. used as proof that you were fighting - you are the aggressor. 

Listen, I am not the professional on this stuff and my ideas are just ideas for testing and analysis but I believe there is some benefit here for anyone who is training for self-defense. Go back above to the link to Wim Demeere's post on the preemptive strike as there is, in my humble opinion, great information to use in finding a good SD program and enhancing your SD program, training and practice. 



Note: It would benefit your self-defense training, as an aside but a thought occurred spurring this post, if you have or could get a police representative to give a talk on how they would handle a situation regarding self-defense, etc. Then again, go schedule a seminar with Marc MacYoung and Rory Miller. 

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