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 MAO-A Gene (The Warrior Gene)

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

Yes, as I write the next sentence I fully and completely realize the reference is from a dramatized entertainment view of a certain type of person. In a recent replay of a favorite show the subject of a serial killer’s defense came up called the MAO-A gene or what is termed as the “Warrior Gene.” It actually, when defined, provided some interesting information on humans, their resistance to committing harm to other humans and to the concept of othering to achieve violent goals especially in combat. 

The show used the gene as a reference toward the inability to be judged guilty of some heinous crimes because that gene meant the person had no control. The counter argument was given that a person with the MAO-A warrior gene who suffered the same trauma’s could still be a productive and non-violent contributor to society as well. It turns out that the gene does exist and its effects on any one person depends. 

There are actually some traits that can be bumped up a notch if certain things are introducted and induced in humans to achieve a warrior like effect with or without that gene’s involvement. Here are some of those - things:

  • Specific kinds of training and pressures are applied to encourage people to indulge in violence and violent behaviors.
  • Group dynamics with a certain cohesive connectivity also promotes a willingness to do violence. Teaching the group to feel its superiority and other groups as inferior is one way to achieve this goal.
  • Introducing training to create higher levels of group commitment. Training to create and strengthen the groups and individuals commitment and investment, i.e., band of brothers mind-set, leads to a greater willingness to do violence.
  • Seeing the others, as others using terms and derogatory labels to lesson their humanity and humanness in the groups mind-state.
  • Create negative cognitive images of the “Others.”
  • The hierarchy and status of the group so that certain members have authority over the group leading to a strong need to obey and follow orders.
  • The use of realism or adrenal stress-conditioned reality training to condition the mind toward a more acceptance of violent behavior. One authority actually believes the realistic and realism of video games can desensitize humans toward violence and handling high stress situations, etc. Reducing inhibitions and improve reactions, etc.

Does this mean that to apply any type of self-defense it might serve the practitioners to use such conditionings to allow them to apply, when no other choice is left them, the more violent physical applications to adversaries? 

I would add in that if this is possible and desirable then we also have to add in a certain amount of restraint. When we practice to verbalize things for training sometimes those verbal ways can be perceived as aggressive and inappropriate so caution toward what and how we train such things becomes just as important. 

I propose that all seven bullet points would be good tools to train the mind-state and mind-set as long as it is done appropriate and within certain guidelines to also survive repercussions later. 

As I have written about in previous articles I see this as the creation of “Triggers.” Triggers are those cognitive mind-states when encountered tend to trigger the appropriate abilities to act in appropriate defensive ways. It is about creating triggers that will bypass social conditioning to allow a person to defend and avoid grave bodily harm. Triggers are those permissions we encode in our procedural zombie sub-routine/functions memory so they act in an instinctive manner opening the gate to other appropriate procedural sub-routines. Triggers that are not often taught in self-defense karate and martial arts dojo, much like the absence of adrenal stress-conditioned reality based training programs. Triggers that will allow our warrior genes to act, quickly and decisively and appropriately. 

Bibliography (Click the link)


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