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.

Close -n- Twist

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

Close you eyes in seiza Mokuso and occasionally twist at the waist. Closing the eyes turns off your connection with the world and the twist opens the chi pathways for the flow of energy from and between the upper to the lower as symbolized by tai-chi and I-Ching of heaven through man to the Earth. Coupled with proper deep diaphragmatic breathing, twisting the body gently one left and once right helps rid of us of random thoughts, it relieves the stiffness of sitting seiza and still, and it improves the flow of energy in the body and mind while relieving sleepiness. 

Closing of the eyes is used by our species to disconnect the mind from the stimuli of the work around us allowing us to achieve a meditative state of the present moment.

Closing the eyes, being a major input sensory of our species, literally placed a barrier, like a light switch to darken a room, between the mind and the environment. 

Sight sense, for the majority, is a dominant sense usually supported and enhanced by the other sense systems of hearing, taste, smell and touch. Even those with other dominant sense, not sight, tend to still rely on sight due to social conditioning and conditions.

Mokuso comes from the art of Zen Buddhism and has been adopted for martial arts and karate. Seiza, the art of sitting, also comes from Zen.

Through Seiza Mokuso, the eyes  are a form of cut off from stimuli so that the other senses can be reduced to level often unnoticed in the mind allowing free flow thought patterns to emerge, drift into the moment then float away as if riding a soft summer breeze.

The goal is to separate the overwhelming stimulation of the world outside the dojo so it drifts away to allow room for the dojo to occupy the mind just within the microcosmic world of the martial art dojo.

Human thoughts age sifted and separated accordingly to the focus of the present moment.

Such practice teaches us to separate our thought so the deep mind can create appropriate responses, to put up filter barriers to block out distractions, and allow us present moment awareness and focus in the dojo.

In this process it is critical to add in the art of the breathe, breathing along with seiza and mokuso is deep, diaphragmatic and rhythmic and focus is gained by one observing and sustaining our focus on each single breath. Coupled with the closing of the eyes and the twisting of the torso as described sitting mokuso before and after dojo training and practice holds more meaning, a connection to the actions or moving meditative aspects of martial arts and karate as well as provide present moment focus and awareness that transcends the dojo and provides benefits for every moment in one’s life. 

The goal is best described from Zen practice as believed by Kido Inoue Sensei, “Before long, the mind chatter/scattering mind calms down. You are not taken by thoughts even if they arise, leaving them as they are. Around this time, you can trace the instant when thoughts and consciousness begin to rise. Then you begin to see the source itself of cutting off thoughts, where nothing exists. And it is possible to be clearly conscious of each moment throughout daily activities. Your mind is no longer easily distracted. But it is still necessary to remain on guard, not allowing your mind to be stolen by senses and perceptions, because random thoughts do continue to rise.”

Bibliography (Click the link)

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



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