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.

Creating a Foundation of the Mind

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Mind-State

State of mind; frame of mind; state of one’s cognitive processes; cognitive state; where one has an interestedness; a state of readiness; a state of consciousness; a state of certainty; a mental condition, a mental state, a psychological condition, and a psychological state where one’s mental condition in which the qualities of a state are relatively constant even thought the state itself may be dynamic. 

One can have a mind-state the triggers and applies trained cognitive processes, i.e., mental abilities and processes according to one’s mindset (see next entry). It is related to the accumulation of knowledge: attention, memory, working memory, judgement and evaluation, reasoning, problem solving and decision making, comprehension, etc. It all depends on various disciplines as further mentioned in mind-set below. 

Mind-Set

A set of assumptions or methods a person uses to establish and create a powerful incentive to continue to adopt or accept behaviors, choices, or tools. Sometimes referred to as one’s “Mental Inertia.” It is a paradigm and often difficult to counteract its effects even during analysis and decision making processes. A mind-set is also a person’s philosophy of life, i.e., in martial arts self-defense it is a mindset of a martial artists of self-defense. 

You can have a normal life mindset that is used to work, live and play outside a realm of conflict and violence, somewhat, creating social connections to achieve stronger connections to group dynamics involving survival, etc.

You can have a martial arts self-defense mindset; you can have a martial arts competitive mindset; you can have a martial arts combative mindset; you can have a mindset of a fighter be it martial arts or some other combative discipline like boxing; you can have a military mindset; you can have a police mindset; you can have a bouncer mindset and you can have many other mindsets. The importance is the distinction between each, how one trains for each and how one triggers each according to any one situation towards its appropriate application in the moment.

Often one assumes that mindset covers all that is required to achieve proficiency and mastery over martial arts especially when it involves self-defense. Mindset is the one term covers all terminology and that is just fine as long as the practitioner makes the distinctions between what makes up mindset along with mind-state.

Mindset and Mind-State are the yin-yang of the mind. Our minds are our greatest tools to combat conflict and violence while also being our greatest weakness against conflict and violence. As you study the two you come to realize all the critical interconnections that make it a whole in the realm of self-defense (martial arts oriented or others). 

You have to perceive something to make it cognitive where you are able to conceptualize and recognize and that requires the creation of incentive to adopt and accept things especially when it comes to conflict and violence. Digging one’s head into the sand does not accomplish this and ignoring the truth of things fails us completely. 

Create a solid foundation of mind by training, teaching, seeking knowledge and understanding, practicing and applying a mindset and mind-state. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

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