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.

Ikken hisatsu [一拳必殺] and Principles


The characters/ideograms mean "one fist, certain kill." The first character means, "one," the second character means, "fist," the third character means, "invariably; certain; inevitable," the fourth character means, "kill; murder; butcher; slice off; split; diminish; reduce; spoil."

This term or phrase is used in Okinawan karate to mean one fist, blow or punch to kill. It is symbolic to the nature of training in karate during those early years on Okinawa, i.e. circa 1600's. It was during this time when weaponry were banned from the island peoples and the resulting development of karate or China hand provided a means to defend against weapon wielding adversaries be they Okinawan, Japanese or other nefarious individuals they encountered during shipping efforts or when said same anchored in the bay and stepped off onto the land, Okinawa. 

Ikken hisatsu can be achieved through karada kitae or body hardening. The most known method was the makiwara, i.e. a post a karate-ka used to develop hands and feet that were like steel resulting in an ability to kick, punch or strike with "one punch, certain death." 

In reality there is no known facts or historical data of a person dying from one punch or kick, etc. Usually when a person dies in a hand-to-hand conflict it is because of the fall rather than the technique. It can be said that the punch or kick caused the death by causing an adversary to fall and hit their head, etc. causing death. There are no records in any country that proves a singular punch or kick caused a death directly. Although possible, it is rare and seldom documented. 

This term or phrase is more symbolic of the times and the training necessary to harden the body for the rigors of civil battle. It is meant as a goal to reach for in training and practice to preserve one's own life in hard times under the rule of samurai and others. Even the nature, culture and beliefs of Okinawan's that are honorable and mostly peaceful still requires a means of self-defense against oppressions of the times. Even if truly unattainable the one strike model of training and practice takes the mind and body well beyond the norm and into the realm of the extraordinary.

Reading the quote tells us that we must develop our techniques in the same manner. Instantaneous victory is the meaning behind the term ikken hisatsu. Look at the principles as a more in-depth explanation of what you have to focus on to achieve martial effectiveness. Then add in a smidgeon of civil self-defense by a possible third trait that did not exist in ancient Okinawa, i.e. techniques should not harm the opponent - further explained by, "True expertise must include the option to not harm the opponent. In self-defense civilly speaking this is a must unless circumstances leave absolutely no other choice." We can thus take modern karate as developing the means by which we can stop the damage while limiting the damage to an adversary to that which would be socially and legally acceptable firming up a self-defense legal defense. 

In order to weed out those techniques that don't fill the bill of martial efficiency and legal and social constraints (compassion for an adversary, etc,) we must ask ourselves the following two questions per Steven J. Pearlman's book:

1. Given a reasonable level of proficiency, does the technique in question hold the potential for a smaller person to effortlessly apply it against the larger opponent?
2. Given a reasonable level of proficiency, does the technique in question hold the potential to instantaneously bring victory?

Maybe modern martial effectiveness means a new term, "Ikken teishi sonsho [一拳停止損傷]." Meaning "one fist stop damage."

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