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.

GAVSD & Influence Principles

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

In a recent email from Mr. Alain Burrese he stated:

“Nearly every physical attack is preceded by a mental assessment (him sizing you up), and then a verbal exchange. This stage of Violent Crime is called ‘The Interview’, where your attacker will decide if you are safe to attack. This is a crucial phase, and most trainers barely even acknowledge its existence, instead focusing solely on physical techniques.” - Alain Burrese

and that immediately got me to thinking of a set of books I first discovered as reference material to one of Rory Miller’s books, the “Gentle Art of Verbal Self-defense,” By Dr. Suzette Haden Elgin. Her books are:
  • Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1993.
  • Elgin, Suzette Haden, Ph.D. "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Prentice Hall. New Jersey. 1983.
  • Elgin, Suzette. "The Last Word on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1995
  • Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Written Self-Defense" MJF Books. 1997
  • Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Self-Defense at Work." New York. Prentice Hall Press. 2000.
  • Elgin, Suzette. "Staying Well with the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." MJF Books. 1990.
Alain Burrese is helping another professional, Scott Bolan, promote a set of training video’s, etc., on what he is terming as, “Verbal Warfare.” I have not, as yet, purchased and downloaded these training modules but if they are even close to what I have gleamed from Dr. Elgin’s books then it is going to be awesome (I will add them to my library and comment once I get a copy later). 

Now, in recent months I came across another author who presents two books that speak to the hidden influencial principles that affect us in every facet of life and will simply amaze you and trigger that “Oh Crap” paradigm mental shift when you learn how easily “Compliance Professionals” use these traits to manipulate you into complying with their requests, efforts and sales crap. Know this, although it speaks to how we are manipulated by them through “Mad Men” you will begin to make the connections as to how this also connects to the GAVSD program of Dr. Elgin. It will help you understand the how and why Rory Miller used these same teachings to do what he does as a professional. 
  • Cialdini, Robert B. PhD. “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.” Harper. New York. 2006.
  • Cialdini, Robert B. PhD. “Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade.” Simon & Schuster. New York, 2016. 
I am still going through and studying these two books simply because knowledge is power and this kind of information leads us to one of the most ignored yet effective self-defense models, the art of avoidance. Alain Burrese also stated and rightly so, “This is a crucial phase, and most trainers barely even acknowledge it's existence, instead focusing solely on physical techniques.” I can attest to this because it never occurred to me in my early years of karate and self-fense until I read the book by Marc MacYoung, “In the Name of Self-Defense.” 


It’s the efforts of such professionals today that bring about such warranted, necessary and critical changes to the martial arts, karate and Self-defense communities, information and change necessary to make it all realistic, accurate and effective. 

Also, don’t be surprised when a little light bulb goes off in your head and you find yourself saying, “Oh crap, why didn’t that occur to me?”

Bibliography (Click the link)

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

p.s. just learning and understanding such things lets you recognize them when they are used and allows you the opportunity to STOP your monkey brain and emotional responses so you can logically make the decision to avoid and deescalate over using those awesome karate defense/offense teachniques :-) !


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