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.

Whole Foot

Balance, unbalance, changing directions, striking at the appropriate time, etc., stems from many things but today I want to talk about the fundamentals of “the whole foot.” 

So much relies on our feet. Stances, positioning, transitions, etc., all rely on how we use our feet. I hear how pivoting on the heel has this or that benefit while pivoting on the ball of the foot contributes to this or that. Particulars are fine and we learn a great deal from that kind of atomistic teaching, learning and practice. 

What are the fundamental principle of the whole foot? Basics are, “The whole foot in contact with the Earth results in solid steps and is anchors the body to pieces of the Earth. If you shift to the heels it tells your hind brain, the lizard, your about to hesitate. If you are poised on the ball of your feet that tells your hind brain, the lizard, you are about to run.”

That is it. You can speak up that this is not the fundamentals of using the feet in martial arts but we are not talking about the martial arts, fighting, self-defense or even combatives but how nature interprets the use of the foot or feet instinctively. What matters is understanding this aspect then training, practicing and applying said training and practice toward applications involving martial arts. 

It is then about learning the fundamental principles of martial systems. It is a basic of the fundamentals that allows for greater understanding of what needs to work and what needs to be changed with repetitive realistic learning, training, practice and application. Look at it like the art of joint manipulation, knowing the basics of how the body or part of the body works and does not work along with applying proper principles in the application of a manipulation teaches you how it works and how to make for effective and efficient applications. If you don’t know how an adversaries joints, etc. are positioned in a conflict along with your bodies relation to that position to take maximum advantage in applying the manipulation then you are in trouble. 

Understanding how the whole foot works fundamentally regarding the hind brain, the lizard, helps you to understand all the movements, positions and applications involving foot or feet positions, placements and movements to maximize applying the fundamental principles of martial systems to your style. 

Does pivoting on the heel actually move you forward or backward away from the target? How does that small movement change how your posture, structure and stability for the application of technique in the physiokinetic process? Is there a combination of heel vs. ball of foot for both or left or right foot movement and placement that will provide some advantage or as in principles allow us to lengthen our lines in relation to an adversary? Does the “slap step” become less effective if your lead foot drops down on its heel or on the ball of the foot or flat foot slap? Does the power remain the same regardless of which of the three placements are used in the slap step? 


All kinds of questions arise when you atomistically reach for understanding of knowledge as long as you can put it together into one holistic wholehearted application trained into or encoded as such that it is instinctive overriding natures instinctive responses to conflict. (phew, a mouthful there)

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