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.

Finding Serenity

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

Sorry, couldn’t help the play on words but what I am aiming to tell you is in the self-defense world you truly have to know, believe and most of all fully understand what self-defense is and what conflict is and what violence is in order to see it when it comes. You have to know about that something in order to see it, to detect it and to take action in accordance with it. 

This goes further with the other senses, i.e., hearing is listening is hearing is listening but if you don’t about what that sound means especially in self-defense then how can you act when you hear that sound. 

If you don’t know the you cannot see or hear it when it comes at you but here is the rub, if you are not “Looking and Hearing” for that which leads to conflict and violence, i.e., putting your head in the proverbial sand (like putting in ear buds and texting), then when it comes you will have missed every opportunity to avoid conflict and violence. 

What is even worse is when you “Cherry Pick” what you want to hear or see and learn and understand leaving out critical parts then you still must overcome that deficiency to act accordingly - can anyone say, “Freeze?” Can anyone say, “OO bounce?”

Now, lets say you had to defend yourself but things don’t go real smooth when the first responder takes control. Lets say you now have to articulate what happened to justify your actions toward breaking the law, self-defense. If you don’t know it and if you have not trained it and you cannot articulate it then you are in a whole big shiny mess. You might just as well paint that huge target on your back so the system has something to focus aim toward - you and your pocket book and your freedom.

Look at this along with appropriate force in self-defense, if you don’t know what to look for and what you hear how can you determine the threat level and whether the attacker is going to either cause you to be crippled or even kill you? Do you even know the rules that govern how self-defense is perceived and adjudicated? 

Do you know what will be available for your defense and what will be excluded and why? There are rules to this game and there are lessons to learn and information to assimilate and they all mean the difference between freedom, economic stability, health and well being. It all depends on the distance you are willing to go and the choices you are willing to make and the commitment you are willing to accept and act upon.

Here is the rub tho, how can you “Go the distance,” how can you “Make a choice so you can Just Do-It,” how can you “understand and accept the type of commitment necessary to get-r-done both legally and with social morality,” and how can you “be willing do accept and act upon things never experienced nor understood nor training nor practiced?” 

As with a lot of self-defense, it takes a “Leap of Faith” to cross the barriers, obstacles and blockades you WILL encounter if you are faced with that decision, are you ready, willing and able?

“Truth: If we are not looking for something, we are very likely not to see it. If we are not listening for something, it is very likely that we will not hear it. Enough verbalization and physical action to cause a reasonable, prudent person to believe that the attacker manifested intent to kill or cripple? Remember, the witness can’t stand up and yell in court, “Here’s what you need to know!” He or she can only answer the questions they are asked.” - Massad Ayoob on Self-Defense


Bibliography (Click the link)

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