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.

The Lesson

I learned a lesson the other night. I first learned of this lesson reading the book by Marc MacYoung, In the Name of Self-defense. It comes with the understanding you get from his stuff. You learn about violence and self-defense and you also learn that when your become involved in violence and self-defense others will take a different view of you even if you are immediate family or close friend. 

As an offshoot you will find that your new found knowledge will garner more aggressive responses from those caught up in the ill informed scripts folks take on violence. Mr. MacYoung explains his perspective on this issue as well and I believe his explanation trumps anything I can add here.

Here is the rub, a discussion came about due to some article read in a news source. In a nutshell it prompted a comment from a close friend, “If an intruder enters my house I am going to shoot him dead.” You can probably imagine that since I read the book that a lot of thoughts jumped into my head of which the “level of force” used in his example, without other qualifications, might be perceived as not self-defense and possibly murder. 

I mentioned that I believe that his use of force might not be acceptable in this instance without those additional qualifications he immediately and vehemently countered that the law gave him the right to shoot an intruder into his home. Considering his quick and emotional retort I once again ran through some thoughts that came from reading the book and I quickly shut my mouth, nodded knowingly and changed the subject. I would guess that his Monkey jumped the driver and took over the emotional train ride toward that belief. 

I then realized that unless a person is predisposed to such topics that regardless of whether or not I have it right or factual their beliefs will override their common sense and the monkey will assume the control taking them on a wild ride confirming their belief regardless. It drives home the fact that no matter how informed and knowledgeable and especially if there is any real experience involved that most people do not want to hear about it - ever.

Now, as an exercise, lets take that a bit further, “What if later this week some young intruder breaks in late at night thinking no one is home and my friend pulls out his pistol and as the intruder starts up the stairs he shots him dead.” Say, that this is perceived by police as out of the self-defense box and starts to process him for the prosecutor. Would my friend then be open to suggestions as to finding a good attorney, one who has experience or at least will listen to what Mr. MacYoung presents in his book to build a good defense? Not sure, to many factors but I suspect that he would not want that advice and would simply seek out an attorney and jump on the band wagon that he had the right to protect himself, his wife and his property. Would this be true and would it pan out as the process of the legal system went forward? Again, don’t know, not sure but for me it is about “taking those chances.”

Here is the lucky part for him and most people like him. The probability of being in that situation are remote at best and very unlikely at least. I believe this is how me and people like him go so many decades without incident and even now, as more knowledgable as I am now from reading and studying the book, etc., I would not encounter a situation like this and am confident that if I did I would be able to act accordingly, i.e. intruder entering house at one end, me and wife exiting house at other while dialing 911 on our cells that sit by our bed. I hope so anyway. 

So, lesson leaned, keep your mouth shut and test the waters before providing such information in such a discussion. Another reason is twice now my wife has asked me, “How do you know this stuff? and Why do you know this stuff?” Lucky me, my answer so far has worked, I am in martial arts and these things come up for self-defense training. She nods and says, Oh, ok. I think maybe keeping my mouth shut more often is more conducive to a peaceful and pleasant relationship with wife and friends, you think?

Bibliography:

MacYoung, Marc. “In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It.” Marc MacYoung. 2014.

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