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.

SA, An Introduction

Recently a lot has been written about this term, situational awareness. In the martial arts communities it has special meaning especially in regard to the role of MA in self-defense (a point of contention here is not many can actually explain it and not many can actually teach it). It is not an easy subject to write about and like Self-defense it is more complicated than most think. This post is my attempt to make sense of such a complex model, situational awareness. 

First, knowledge. If you don’t know what it is or what it involves then how can you have situational awareness? This is important and since my experience is very limited I would suggest reading the following posts by Marc MacYoung and Rory Miller:


Second, Applicability. You have to have the ability to apply what you learn, know and/or understand. Just reading about it is not enough. If you have not gotten the appropriate training and practice, reality training and practice, and if you don’t have the appropriate experience then how can you have true, relevant and applicable situational awareness?

Third, finding the way? All to often in my limited experience I have found, including my early years of teaching martial arts, that few actually know and teach situational awareness. You have to seek out those who are capable of teaching this and then find a way to apply it. I am not saying you have to become hyper-vigilant, that doesn’t work. You have to find a means of applying situational awareness in a manner that is more appropriate to you the individual. You have to know a lot about a lot of things and a good beginning is to study, learn and apply the information provided above and in the following:



Then there is one more pivotal book coming soon to an Amazon store near you by Marc MacYoung on the subject of self-defense that has what I have been informed as a ton of information you need that will be applied to situational awareness, etc. The working title as of now is, “In the Name of Self-Defense.” Look for it soon.

The reason I titled this post, “SA, An Introduction,” with emphasis on the word primer is because this subject, as indicated by the readings and by those professionals who are most knowledgable and experienced, is huge, complicated and difficult to learn, teach and/or apply. An introduction to get a start on studying this subject matter.  

With my limited knowledge and experience I can only provide what I have come across, studied and understand. I can at least provide the means or a key to open this door. A door that many don’t bother with in the name of commercialism, about earning the most bucks for the least bang. 

I can tell you that my library is not complete yet, it has a ton of materials on the subject of which SA is a part, an important part. Every time I consider that I may have reached the end I read just one more posting by professionals, thanks for the work they do, that just tells me one more time that I don’t know enough about this subject but it does tell me that this search will go on for a long time. 


In closing, in my opinion, I would tell anyone seeking out self-defense instruction and more importantly anyone teaching self-defense to take the time to make sure you are teaching the “full spectrum” of self-defense. For the novice, all the above is a great primer to you knowledge before seeking out a “qualified” teacher. 

Note: You can also get more by contacting Rory Miller, Marc MacYoung, etc. at their web sites for training sessions/seminars. These guys travel the world providing professionals, martial artists and self-defense students, etc thier training/seminars, etc. When you read the testimonials of those who have attended you know that the effort is worth it.

This post is just the tip of the iceberg :-)

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