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.

test our techniques on the dojo floor (a meme?)

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

You know what a “mantra (or a meme)” is, right? In a nutshell, for my edification here ya see, a mantra (or a meme) is a word or sound or statement or slogan that is repeated frequently as an aid, i.e., in some disciplines it is a repetitive sound or word or phrase used to aid concentration in meditation. Look at martial arts as a form of moving meditation but remember that to adhere strictly and dogmatically to a mantra (or a meme) like this one over time will actually stifle and stunt progress rather than merely promote it. 

One of the most egregious mantra (or a meme)’s I have heard in the last decade or so is the one whereby practitioners are told emphatically, “Test your techniques on the dojo floor” to ensure they work. In some circles this is appropriate simply because those who use this mantra (or a meme) actually test things out in a variety of ways in and out of any type of training all. A good example is one professional with a huge amount of experience, knowledge and understanding tends to teach in areas that actually experience violence and conflict like bar room halls. 

Then there are those professionals who train in a more cerebral hall, the hall of the mind where the actual locations matters not at all but rather what is trained of the mind, i.e., reality-based training that exposes the practitioner to the threat and stresses of the adrenal flood. A unique kind of training that is a mind-state and mind-set thing where the location be it a dojo floor or the floor of a bar room is less significant. Combining the two really is a grand idea too.

When most say, “test technique on the dojo floor” with the meaning and intent of making sure it will work often use verification and validation a matter of what one “Feels” like it will work. Here is the inexperienced teacher and student whose only exposure to conflict and violence is in all probability the type found in fictional stories told through print, video, movies and television. It is easier, it is testable and it promotes the type of training that makes money but does not provide defense in self-defense. 

There are a lot of assumptions and expectations goin on there on that dojo floor. It is a shame that the thoughts of some professionals toward such martial arts is tainted by the majority yet they will tell you straight up that if one were to add in the right stuff their martial arts would excel in providing for self-defense. Ain’t that a kick in the pants?

Where it really goes hinkey is when someone who trains in one of those dojo actually has to defend themselves and they get lucky and things work. They then assume that the experience “Proves without a Doubt” that it all works. That just ain’t true, even the pro’s will tell you that what works once may fail the next go-round. Nothing about conflict and violence is set in stone, no such trick in martial arts will work each time, every time or even the first time. 

There are many benefits but there are just as many obstacles, trip-wires and booby-traps on the other side of that coin, Tread carefully! There is so much more than simply, “testing our techniques on the dojo floor!”

Bibliography (Click the link)


A meme, i.e., an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by non-genetic means, especially imitation; a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc. that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.

No comments: