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.

Be Polite

Well, once again the obvious is slapped up side my head and I gotta say, being polite is not what I would expect to be a tool in self-defense and yet thinking about it at this moment it does make perfect sense. I believe it is difficult, in most circumstances, to engage in a conflict and/or violence it you are “being a polite” person. 

You know that being polite is but I will provide my views here just the same. Knew I would, didn’t you? When a person shows another person respect and consideration they are being polite. When you relate to others civilly, courteously, respectfully, graciously and so on you are being polite. I also believe being polite is also about how you perceive others as well. Just acting out these traits is not enough.

When you live and breath good manners or proper etiquette you are being not only polite but respectful to that persons cultural beliefs. This is where polite gets a bit difficult because your perceptions of polite must be tempered with a knowledge and understanding of the other person who may not be of your tribe, your culture and your belief systems. 

When do you find yourself in conflict? Usually when you are inconsiderate, rude and/or negative in both language, tone and body language. So, if you want to convey through the mediums of body language, verbiage and tone-rhythm-cadence of the spoken language you have to believe in it, live it in all you say or do and then display it through example. It is also an awareness that comes along with social, environmental and personal awareness. It must be one of the self-conscious actions done instinctively.

Now, this does not mean that you won’t need SD but it goes a very long way toward “avoidance.” It is harder to be angry with someone who is wholeheartedly and truly a polite person. I am also not saying that one must be perceived as an easy target because of the politeness as I believe you can still convey a hard target while being polite. As a matter of fact I feel it is critical in being perceived as a capable person while showing politeness. It is like those displays that tell a predator that you are not a good target but to many you appear to be a capable, independent, confident and nice-polite king of person. I think that is possible and should also be an intricate part of any SD training and practices. 

It becomes a part of the EI (Emotional Intelligence) I have been studying of late. It is about identifying emotions, especially those that lead to conflict and violence, and providing a tempering of steel in directing those toward one’s more conducive of controlling our monkey brains. I also want to stress that there is this thing Marc MacYoung calls the “monkey slide” we, as humans, have to deal with and firmly believe this polite thing will go a long way toward not losing to the slide, at least not so much or if you do maybe it will be one of those non-physical violent slides. One of my goals, to recognize anger and dip it in the cool waters of tranquility. 


So, be polite. Train and practice being polite. Make politeness a part of avoidance SD training and practice. If you find yourself saying, “Hey, no way dude, that is for sissies,” then recognize that your monkey is driving you toward your doom, arghhhhh.

Hey, if it helps look at it as a similar method dramatized in the movie, “Road House,” with Patrick Swayze, “Dalton: I want you to be polite until it's time to not be polite.” (I changed the word “nice” to “polite.”) And just for the fun of it, “Dalton: All you have to do is follow three simple rules. One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless it's absolutely necessary. And three, be polite.” (nice to polite again my doing)


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