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.

Honoring the Master

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

Honestly, I hold a great deal of regard for Tatsuo-san not because he created a system and not because he taught it to U.S. (pardon the pun and symbolism but he did teach us, from the U.S., right?). I hold him in high regard because he was willing to step outside the norm of his culture and society especially in the arena of Okinawan Karate. 

I hold him in high regard but I do not exalt, glorify or praise him in the manner some practitioners do then and today. Tatsuo-san earned the respect of his pears and our respect for his innovative inspiring creative mind-state that resulted in this, what we perceive as practitioners, unique way of learning, training and practicing karate - Isshinryu. 

I commend him philosophically, by word of mouth and through my writing about him in my blog articles, etc. I wish I could have met him personally but I am not young enough because by the time I was able to get stationed on his home island he had already passed away. 

Many Isshinryu’ists have placed Tatsuo-san on a pedestal and have hold him in such high regard and respect that they have transferred that belief into the how, what, when, where and why of teaching Isshinryu in a dogmatic highly restricted way (although a good many Isshinryu’ist today now enhance the teachings to include much more than originally taught by the first gen’s). 

This high regard and pedestal position put upon the memory of Tatsuo-san brings about some questions that came to me reading an article about another great American pioneer of martial arts.
  • Did it occur to those who have placed Tatsuo-san on that pedestal that he may not have wanted us to do that and that his original intent was for us to go further - much like he did in the fifties and sixties to create his system and art of Isshinryu?
  • Did anyone ask him prior to his death about holding his teachings and practices in a state of stasis, unchanging and unchanged, before assuming we all must honor him by our effort to keep Isshinryu in that state?
  • Did anyone ask him as well if he wanted the notoriety we have bestowed upon him since his death?
  • Did those who profess honoring the master consider that it may not be an honor but an obscenity to one who is unable to express their true feelings and desires especially with such a vast divide of culture and language obscuring truth, justice and the way?
  • Are those honoring the master really honoring him or is it about satisfying their own fantasies and achieving their own goals in his name?
  • Did anyone even consider that to simply, personally and privately honor his or her memory is a mark of true respect and may have been what he wanted to begin with?
Personally, I can see honoring the man who created and taught us the system/style in a personally private way during mokuso before and after each session, in our hearts - wholeheartedly. To make it a public exhibition and to broadcast it in media is pimping off his name, an obscenity.

It is interesting to note that all this came about mostly after his death and that he could not either acknowledge and approve or not acknowledge and disapprove this way of training, practice and application of HIS Isshinryu. 

Now, taking the position of advocate, it may be that someone or somehow Tatsuo-san let it be known that he wanted the notoriety, fame and accolades not just when he was alive but long after he is gone. The thing is, since he is dead and since he left no indication other than maybe the word and memory of others that I may be way off base here and all this was his intent … BUT …
  • He was known for his consistent change in even how he performed kata even in the same training session.
  • His studies and professions include referencing a few Chinese classics including the very Book of CHANGE called the I Ching.
  • His demeanor and manner as conveyed by the many who studied under him and his teaching all describe a person who, it would be perceived as a humble, honorable, quiet and private man. 
  • He was known to present not just rank certifications but a document that is or was derived from a more philosophical belief, the ken-po goku-i, so that each recipient would go beyond what Tatsuo-san and his senior students taught the individual and that I Perceive as saying, “take my teachings and take them forward in your own way using these gifts as your guide, etc.” 
It would seem from my research and studies that maybe Tatsuo-san wanted us to act this way in his name and maybe Tatsuo-san DID NOT want us to act this way in his name. But, since he is dead and with the belief systems and sources who profess this belief and way cannot be refuted by any sources from Tatsuo-san who knows if he did or did not want things the way they have come to be?

I have deviated a great deal from his original teachings as they were passed on to me and yet I have a high regard, respect and admiration for the effort, work and results of Tatsuo-san’s karate and I give him that credit willingly and respectfully … BUT …

p.s. I can also see influence principles involved here, i.e., authority, social proof, likability and a lot of scarcity. If you are curios about that perspective let me know. 

Bibliography (Click the link)



No comments: