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.

Traditional Karate, Really?

Westerners tend to “Think” they are training and practicing a “Traditional/Classical” martial art but are they? Lets narrow it down to the Okinawan system of karate, or Ti (pronounced Tee). Today’s Okinawan karate has many aspects that are not original to the Okinawan indigenous form of “Ti.” 

First, the Okinawan’s have embraced many of the aspects now in karate from the Japanese changes in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, i.e. the dan-i system, the karate uniform as adopted from the Judo uniforms, etc. The language is also a part of Okinawa now, i.e. Japanese over Uchinaguchi/Hogen dialects and the form and function of karate has been expanded using the “Educational Versions” instituted for the betterment of the Japanese efforts up to and into World War II. 

So, just how much of the Okinawan karate is actually Okinawan karate. It seems to me more of a blend of Japanese, Chinese and Okinawan influences than Okinawan in a traditional way regarding the actual cultural societal influences before the 1500’s or so. 

When you look to today’s Okinawan karate community you begin to see influences from the westerners who were stationed there in the fifties, sixties and all the way up to today. I would venture to say that many of those influences are actually indicative of today’s Okinawan karate and that the only thing that Okinawa can claim exclusively is the birth of karate, while actually given credit to Funakoshi Sensei while in Japan, provided the framework that led to modern karate whether it be Japanese, Okinawan, Western or European. 

I understand Okinawa wanting to get credit for and become the father of modern karate as they well should since karate, even seen in its many forms and functions today, is actually the grandchild of the Okinawan empty handed Ti. It kind of ends there when you begin to understand all the influences especially in the 1600’s and finally at the end of the 1800’s and on into the early 1900’s. 

True karate from its source of Ti disappeared, mostly, when it was implemented through the water down effort to the educational version meant for young children, due to the devastation of the World War. All attempts today to regain the true essence of “TI” are from the base of the educational karate since most, if not all, Ti masters died during the war or just before as they aged. 


In a nutshell, from my perceptions and perspective, true Okinawan Traditional karate does not exist. It is a combination of many influences starting with China, the Japan as well as other Asian influences including Korea. It seems that the empty handed martial arts of the area, Asia, are a collection of many systems to individual cultural systems of the receiving country or nation or society or culture, i.e. Japan, Okinawa, Korea, China, etc. It is a bit like the good ole USA, we are unique in our own way but are we not truly a mixture of many cultures and belief systems that make us what we are? 

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