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.

Flow: The Zone

Nagare [流れ] The characters/ideograms mean, “Flow; current; stream.” The firs character means, “Flow; forfeit; current; a sink.” 

Flow, what is it and how does it help us achieve mastery in our discipline(s)?

Flow, as some call, “The zone,” is a state of present moment mindfulness that fosters an effortless mind of no mind state of immersion that is flow. “Flow is EI at its very best; it represent the ultimate in harnessing the emotions in the service of performance and learning. Flow is EI is positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand.”

It is that something where the mind is in the present moment without distractions or disturbances of the mind that flow out into the body as it performs along an inter-connectedness of mind and body with strong spirit. It becomes the reward for the effort and dedication one takes in any discipline. 

Flow is focus, a focus that is immutable and results in a focused awareness of a narrow range of perception related to the immediate task, the practitioner loses all perceptions of both time and space. It is not a result of adrenal stress flooding. 

Flow as in present moment awareness removes all worry and rumination. It is being absorbed by the discipline where encoded actions, etc. take control leaving the mind to simply be in that moment. It is that state that allows one to lose all distractions of the mind, and thus the body, removing obstacles such as being self-conscious or being pre-occupied. It is about achieving a state of egoless ego. 

True masters of any discipline achieve this flow, or the zone, allowing control to be a mastered control of what they are doing at any one moment, moment-to-moment. Once a master locks in to the effort of the discipline, it takes on a life of its own removing or providing relief from emotional disturbances thus making the actions effortless. 

It is a balance of the mind, both emotional and physical, where one is neither bored or suffering anxieties that tend to come with a lack of mindfulness. Once you achieve flow you enter into a state of pleasure, grace, rhythm, and effectiveness that are the direct opposite of things like mind chatter that results in “emotional hijacking,” i.e. the limbic surges that usually take control of your mind when you need mindfulness the most, the flow. 

To achieve flow you also have to have a mind or mindfulness that is highly focused while being positively relaxed. It is such flow that makes a master, a master, who is often perceived as performing at levels that seem “Easy, natural and ordinary while making the mind-state appear cool, calm and in the moment. It results in a quiet mind and a quiet mind is easily held in the moment. 

Flow, mastery, is achieving a state of action that is efficient, proficient, requires a minimal of mental energy while displaying well-practiced moves. 

Flow is about challenging oneself to develop, train and use their capacities to the fullest so that skills that increase tend to take on a higher challenge to get into the flow. A means to develop flow while developing the mind, body and spirit both inter-connected and building on one another to reach higher levels of expertise and mastery. It is a master of a discipline that is supported and development as created by the experience of the flow. It is a tool of motivation, a motivation to reach higher and higher. It is reaching beyond the moon and out into the stars themselves. 

The flow is about the creative of the discipline through a single-minded immersion in the discipline, it is that some call, “The Way.” Look at flow as a prerequisite for mastery of the discipline, such as karate - martial arts. Flow is a keystone of traditional mastery of the “Do (doah) or Way” that is martial arts. 

The flow results in those who train, practice and apply a discipline tend to study their art to do better. It is the unspoken principle underlying the Way of the Empty Hand. 

Bibliography:
Goleman, Daniel. “Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition [Kindle Edition].” Bantam. January 11, 2012.
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