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.

Respect, Honor and Morality


The great three in martial arts. The great three in life. This is all to often second fiddle to today's drive toward egoistic pride and power driven life practices. We tend toward our personalities and often leave true character, character built on respect, honor and morals, in the closet collecting dust and turing into a dried out and rotted thing.

Recently I was exposed to how some high ranked karate-ka act. This action is the exact opposite of what they tend to preach. I remind myself that sound bites are a good teaching tool as long as they are backed up by action and deed. If you preach one thing then do another your a hippocrite. If you have beliefs you must live those beliefs or they are not beliefs. If you want the qualities that embrace respect, honor and morality then you have to act with respect, honor and morality. 

If you merely pretend to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards then do not live them and display them in all you say, do and write then you are a hippocrite. Your professing a belief system but you actually do not hold true to or possess those beliefs. Your falsely claiming a belief system with its positive characteristics but actually putting forth a false false of hippocratic beliefs, false beliefs. 

Today I lost respect completely for a person I once held in high esteem. I came into facts that say this person and many of his disciples are hippocrites. They have a belief system that is honorable and morally right on its surface but they do not act accordingly in what they say, do and write about this belief. The belief retains its honorable essence but the followers have fallen into a hippocratic, disrespectful, dishonorable and morally corrupt state. 

I actually wished that I had taken the opportunity to train with and under this person but instead realized that I am now actually glad I never did for a person who fails to retain their belief system within themselves is not a person who I would respect, honor and believe in. This person and their following, most, have failed to live up to the ideals, culture and belief system that drove the creation of the system/style - its Isshinryu founder and creator Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei. 

I am not disheartened in Isshinryu, merely disappointed. I try to live and breathe a philosophy and belief that encompasses the practice of Isshinryu. When I fail to live up to that level I don't ignore it but embrace the mistake and make every effort to correct it and live up to my belief system. I act accordingly, I perform deeds accordingly and my moral compass follows the path of that belief system. That system was influenced greatly by my Sensei, my life and the practice of martial arts. 

This is why the more esoteric aspects of training and practice of any discipline should be tempered with a belief and philosophy that tempers and forges a respectful, honorable and morally right belief. Giving it lip service is like doing kata without intent, its just a dance and not a very good dance either. 
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1 comment:

Rick Matz said...

The first thing about Budo is: you have to mean it.

5:58 PM

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