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.

Challenging the Status Quo

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

Status quo, often in martial arts directed toward a specific style, a specific dojo and a specific sensei, sempai and kohai as to the doctrine of the style as well as that of the dojo and sensei. It becomes so ingrained that sensei is put on a pedestal and his doctrine becomes immutable, irrefutable and just dogmatic in its beliefs, culture and perceptions. 

If you dare to question the beliefs and culture you will meet with a vehement and often angry response even when you provide irrefutable factual proof, not conjecture, theory, idealogical or first person memory driven interviews. They will immediately other you as an outsider of the tribe or clan, as a traitor to the cause or provocateur. Once you become an “Them or Other” vs. “US or group member, etc.,” then it is easy to disregard any and all things you present even as stated when irrefutably true, relevant and proved through a variety of means acceptable as scientific, factual or researched proof especially if from two or more different resources. 

Once this takes hold then no matter what lines of communications outside of their own echo chamber rhetoric reasonable work and data and facts will just not work to change the status quo of the group, tribe, clan of dojo community. I have personally witnessed truth proven be refuted with unsubstantiated information simply because it was, “My sensei tole me,” and “The Master said it was so,” responses. Not even for the sake of argument and discussion is such blasphemous information allowed and that is a shame. 

What it comes down to is active listening to foster amenable and beneficial communications so topics can be discussed, analyzed and synthesized into proof positive or even something new and relevant to the situation, the times and the experiences of all involved. When listening one listens to any question, any answer, any response, to the exchange of disagreements regardless so as to find and dig out the truth, the facts and the end validations necessary to make the way, the path, a good one. We don’t shut down others, their comments or their efforts but listen with a mind toward the possibility that what they say is true and then ferret out what it may be true of - analysis. Noting on either side is the unquestionable and irrefutable truth. 

Even when the truth is found remaining open minded to the fact that as change occurs in each moment and with each situation that truth then is changed and synthesized into ta new relevant truth to the situation and moment. 

It has been said and I quote, Listening includes asking for reasons, facts and perspectives. It does not mean accepting conclusions or disregarding your reasons, facts or perspectives. Communications is about listening actively, exchanging each’s reasoning of their facts and perspectives and perceptions; accepting or discarding conclusions until the group arrives at a mutually agreed upon conclusion. 

Challenging the status quo is the law of the Universe, of nature, where change is normal, inevitable and natural. Everything changes in every moment and to refuse to change is damaging to the self, to the dojo, to the dojo mates, and to sensei’s regardless. 

Challenge everything, even if you are told you should not challenge the teachings of your sensei, the styles master or other luminaries on the martial arts community. Mastering and being an expert means you have embraced the cheng-n-ch’i methods, the analysis and synthesis model and seek the path to knowledge and understanding no matter the obstacles. It is about doing rather than being, think about that one. 

“If you dare challenge, they’ll turn their fury on you. They’ll blame you, accuse you of being a traitor to the cause, a sell-out and do everything in their power to silence you or get the group to turn against you. This rat-packing and bullying is a very real factor inside groups.”

“They quietly self-isolate inside their group where they can stick with their interpretation of what the cause is about. Thus creating an “Us vs. Them” environment.” 

The question begs, “Ok then, what can you do?”
  • Find some commonality between the two disparate parties and open a line of communication through that channel. 
  • Moderate, make sure you can find reasonable and willing parties willing to work with other people.
  • Be an active listener by accepting what others say and find what is true about that.
  • Avoid extreme tactics, i.e., automatic urge toward disagreement, etc., as they are excuses to attack or bully.
  • To foster mutual communications while actively listening ask speaker for reasons, facts and perspectives without biases.
  • When disagreeing wait to hear actively the entire perspective and perception, stop and contemplate and then ask more questions for clarity, what they mean according to their beliefs, etc., and why they believe it to be so.
  • Look to find what the persons perspective is that they look from.
  • Avoid using your own beliefs through filtering what is being said according to your perceptions, perspectives and beliefs - remain open as possible.
  • Understand the persons interpretations as to why it looks like that that person.
  • Once the person has expressed their point of perspective and perception then filter that information from your perspective and perceptions while maintaining thoughts of what that persons truth might be true of and try to synthesize your side and theirs through connected commonalities, etc.
(“Oh yeah, here’s a free tip about getting people to listen to you and something I touched on before. Don’t use the same lingo as the extremists are -- especially just before or while they are attacking. It’s that whole, people can’t tell the difference between you and extremists if you’re both using the same language thing.” - Marc MacYoung)

Bibliography (Click the link)

Hat tip to as the inspiration for this post.

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)



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