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.

Breathing for Stress Training

I believe one of the most important training techniques one can do for learning to control the stress chemical affects is breathing. Not just the normal fast shallow breathing many do when physically, mentally and emotionally stressed but that type of breathing used to control such things. The breathing method I am aware of is to control your breathing by taking in a deep, diaphragmatic deep, breath to the lower diaphragm through the nose, hold for a three count, the exhale slowly through the mouth, hold for a three count and repeat for a minimum of three repetitions. Then frequently perform a single of double breath in the same manner until the event is done. Even when done, continue to breathe in a controlled manner until the body, mind and spirit are relatively back to a normal level. 

So, how do I train for this. I will use a simple example that I train with daily. I like to do Chi Gong, regular exercises, tai chi chuan form and kata then I go to stairs and go up and down as quickly as I can, five flights at least five times. I breathe as normal as I can but when I feel myself entering into a faster breathing mode that can be shallow I notice then focus on breathing the combat breathe. I do this only when I get to the top of the five flights and on the way back down my first six breaths are the type I describe above. 

I feel like I am struggling to breath but after a time my body adjusts. Noticing this struggle is also important to overcome or at least learn to ignore. The breathing method does help with this but the first dozen times are interesting to say the least. I can do it pretty well now after some time in practice.

The idea is to push your body to where breathing is rapid then control it in a short period to achieve the ability to implement the combat breathing when you notice the rapid breath that comes from the stress of exercise. It is a beginning.

Now, later you can implement a conscious effort to do the combat breathing method when in the middle of fight training, kumite, competitions if that is your direction as a training tool, and other stress situations. You can even begin to notice when you come under stresses in everyday life to stop yourself, breath in the manner indicated above and get some control back in your body, mind and spirit. 

This is just a means to get started and there are many other ways you can achieve training and practice to bring your breathing under control because when you do that the breathing method will release the more beneficial counter chemicals into your body that will counter most, if not all or at least some, of the affects from a chemical (called incorrectly adrenaline dump) dumps from stress induced fight or flight type affects. 

Then you should work that into your “realty based” Self-defense training and practice because the only true way to train and practice in reality is to work in a discipline that frequently exposes you to such situations and that means expose you to violence, violent people and violent physical, mental and spiritual scenarios, environments, etc. 

I write this to expose readers to the idea or the conscious thoughts of breathing properly for practice and training. The benefits far outweigh any possible detriment. Also, it is healthy, promotes fitness,  and physical and mental health.

Let me know how it works for you. Remember that once or twice in practice is not enough to either validate or disqualify this method. 

Note: Are you doing controlled breathing when you perform kata? Basics? Fundamental drills? Are you doing deep diaphragmatic breathing in your practice? How about when you do shugyo training, etc.? This should be something you do daily and in this post I mean to bring that out from the “automatic I don’t have to think about it mode to a mode of consciousness at least while training.”


When you look at, study and implement fundamental principles of martial systems breathing is there, right? (Physiokinetic principles first sub-principle is - wait for it - BREATHING! WhooWho :-)

Note: Isn’t breathing a key for Chinkuchi? :-)

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