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.

Asian Sources

In martial arts the Western mind gives a good deal of credence toward sources that come from Asian sources. Because martial arts come from and have in-depth historical history the westerner has come to rely on the “Asian experts.” In a nutshell they give Asian sources a level of acceptance and validation without truly making sure that the sources are being factual, straightforward and truthful. 

It is a bit like giving a lot of credence to history as it is written in any culture or society. When you are given the quote that history is always written by the victors then you have to wonder, is that history true and accurate or simply the viewpoint, perception and beliefs of those who conquered that society and so on. Makes me wonder. 

In my past posts I have addressed a perception that a lot of what westerners have gathered regarding martial arts may be flawed by the actual cultural system that the source lives under. As I pointed out by my studies often Asians when asked and don’t answer are faced with the western minds need for answer by a consistent push results in the Asian saying and doing what ever is necessary to keep harmony. It is also, from my studies, often a way that even within their own society results in half-truths and sometimes out right lies in the need to keep harmony among one another. Often times even within their own groups they must enter into a specific atmosphere and take certain steps so they can actually feel comfortable enough to express truth that may disrupt a harmonious setting. That atmosphere is a night club and that step is the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. 

While studying Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Golemen it was “kind of” confirmed that maybe my theory is correct and that a result is that some or most of our information and concepts of Asian Martial Arts is flawed at best and an out right fabrication at its worst. 

“A third (the discussion has two other thoughts on this subject with this one being the last, i.e. the rules of emotional display) is substituting one feeling for another; this comes into play in some Asian cultures where it is impolite to say no, and positive (but false) assurances are given instead.” - Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

In the realm of karate from Okinawa it may be that many of those early pioneers who studied in the fifties and sixties in their fervent pursuit of knowledge about the system and the systems creator may be flawed. It does not mean that some are not actually telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth but if a westerner asks for information and either receives a no or no answer at all they tend to persist - after all, it is very important to the westerner. When push comes to shove, for the sake of harmony, the Asian then may defer to some positive (but false) assurances that could be true, part true or not true at all - whatever the questioned perceives as keeping harmony among the group. 

It has only been in recent times, mostly due to the plethora of information on the world wide web, that more truth is coming. Even those Asian sources, the upcoming younger generations, may be doing the research and putting forth more accurate data but that is also flawed because except in rare circumstances and a lot of analysis and hypothesis are certain types of information are created and assumed. The why is that as to facts and history in these smaller and somewhat perceived lessor historical stuff were not documented or documentation is small, sporadic and creative. Then again, it may be written by the hands that conquered. 

It may be that what we have is all we have and unless someone creates a time machine that can take us back to witness reality we will never truly know the history. So, we have to accept what we have and hope that it is accurate. In the end, and only to those interested in the past and the connection to the present and future, it is a moot point. 

Face it, every single human being on this planet is going to say and do what they deem necessary to support their belief systems and that includes martial arts. If they cannot find truth supported by facts, details, factors, influences and other complicated stuff (courtesy Marc MacYoung on beliefs, etc.) then they will do what ever they can to find something then make it appear as factual without proper assessment in support of the problem creates an acceptable solution even in the face of refuting information, questions, facts, details and perceptions from any other valid, as valid as valid is acceptable to the whole, sources. 

As also stated by Marc MacYoung and I accept, “Beliefs are not facts, much less truths.” Adding in unsubstantiated sources that cannot be validated or refuted along with the cultural system as posted in my above comments means it is questionable at the very least and just plain bullshit at the very worst. 


I quote, “This becomes important when someone insists on a solution to a problem based, not on facts and the actual dynamics of a problem, but on belief.” - Marc MacYoung
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