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.

Bon-kura [盆暗]

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

The characters/ideograms mean, “Stupidity; idiocy; blockhead; idiot; dimwit; mediocrity.” The first character means, “Basin; lantern festival; tray,” the second character means, “darkness; disappear; shade; informal; grow dark; be blinded.” 

Let me begin by saying that I am always amused by the definitions of those characters/ideograms that make up a term or phrase. The two above don’t seem to have any relevance to the overall definition of stupidity, etc. but what the hey, that is how this stuff works - right?

Anyway, I decided to find a term in Japanese to write an article about, “Stupidity.” We, as a species, often are pretty darn stupid about certain things such as, “Our rights,” as well as “Our Abilities,” and other such things. Stupidity is the one where someone deliberately walks into a dark and secluded area late at night, say around 1 or 2 am, by themselves while assuming they are safe and that no one would dare do anything to them. 

When I have mentioned this scenario to self-defense students almost all say, “I have the right to go where I want, when I want and I have the right to do so unmolested!” They often preach this with extreme vehemence as if it is some unwritten law somewhere that they should have the unalienable right to do what ever regardless. Now, this is extreme bon-kura - STUPIDITY!

I often wonder if stupidity is a lesson taught in any educational circle let alone in self-fense. Yes, you have rights (but, those rights are not what you think) and you SHOULD be able to go where you want and whenever you want regardless. Yet, intelligence tells us there are predatory people out there just looking for an excuse to make you their victim, to provide them with either a resource or satisfy a process that they want. Yea, there are folks out there and guess what, “They can give a shit about your rights and privileges!”  

Don’t be stupid, your well-being and health are often the stakes when you do things that are not smart. This is where awareness comes in, knowing what is out there and the dangers involved so that you can make an, “Informed Decision” as to how you will act and what you will do - your life even depends on it. 

We, as a species, are special in that we have a brain, a mind, that can think in a variety of ways. First, emotionally for survival instincts with the caveat that through knowledge, understanding and awareness it is a mature emotional state of mind. Second, we have the deep mind, the instinctual mind, that provides us the spidey sense that helps us in survival but that one needs tweaking for the more complex modern environment we live in today. Then the more recent evolutionary outgrowth of human existence has provided us the third mind, the logical mind. Yes, it is the slowest of the minds but the most critical necessary for analysis and synthesis when circumstances allow, i.e., when time allows us before grave bodily harm or death rear their ugly heads. This is the time where one has a moment to deliberate and decide to act by avoidance or making for proper communications toward a goal of deescalation. 

Being stupid is allowing our emotionally immature monkey brains to hold control and sway over what we do, say and how that affects others in actions where conflict and violence are present. 

In a nutshell, don’t be stupid for stupid is as stupid does says one very smart mentally deficient dude. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

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


No comments: