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.

I am an Asshole


In past posts I have felt that I was removed from being an asshole. At least removed enough to where I was an asshole only a very infrequent amount of times. i.e. in other words I could be an asshole but was able to work harder and not be an asshole except in very rare cases. Well, I am an asshole and I have been an asshole more times than I like but only discovered that I was covering up my "asshole-ness" using tactics that still meant I was being an asshole. 

So, the question is, "How do I get myself to stop being an asshole?" In the recent book by Rory Miller I believe just one item may be a true litmus test as to whether I am in an "asshole mode" or not, checking to see if I am working from my Monkey brain or Human brain. I am not going to try and provide what it takes to determine between the two but I have my personal criteria that when I am able I will use to say to myself, "Am I in the Monkey mode? (meaning, Am I being an asshole?)" 

Just as an example, I will use just one trait, emotional context. If I can, and I mean that because as Mr. Miller says in the book the Monkey and emotional stuff usually hits you before your Human side can even think, I will try to determine if what I am doing or saying is from the emotional side. If it is, then I will try hard to bring my mind back from the Monkey antics into a more Human, logical, side. I have to learn not to cover up being an asshole, or in the Monkey stuff, with something that is simply camouflaged as logical or Human.

It is a bit like the post from Wim Demeere this morning where he mentions simple vs. complex and easy vs. difficult. The concept is simple but it is also what I perceive as the most difficult thing I want to learn. 

It occurs to me that the old adage that one who reacts emotionally should count to ten before charging ahead with words and/or actions is true. But just counting is not enough. Maybe counting allows you to lessen the effects so you can actually see yourself being an asshole and then deescalate your emotional Monkey brain so you can see, feel, hear and act using the Human brain. 

If all this is a bit strange then maybe you could find out what both these guys have posted/written, just saying. Maybe, I have hope, this will allow me to get a better handle on my Monkey brain and reduce my "asshole-ness." 

To keep with the purpose and spirit of my blogging I would say this has value with self-defense and martial arts because to use either one effectively you really do have to take control of the Monkey brain. If you want to know more, see Rory Miller's, Wim Demeere's, Kris Wilder's, Lawrence Kane's, Marc MacYoung's, etc. materials, i.e. video's, books, blog articles, and training offers. "The information is out there,  you just have to let it in (Luther 'Suitcase' Simpson, Jesse Stone Series)."
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