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.

Deescalation/Avoidance

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

Take into consideration the sub-principle of mind-body, i.e., the mind leads the body and the body effects the mind. A duality that works as a single symbiotic unit yet also has distinct individualized ways and processes. In both deescalation and avoidance it is often thought of as words, the words, phrases and sentences that result in a deescalation of conflict until violence is off the table and peace is achieved between people. 

Words, etc., matter and how along with what words can either exude danger, anger and aggression or they can promote peace, contentment and a non-aggression but such words don’t get the job done. In truth, the true beast of burden to avoid and/or deescalate is our bodies, body language. 

Body language is a most difficult study but one fact of research I can tell you about is that our body posture, etc., does feed positivity or negativity to our minds. It is also a fact of research that our minds using appropriate thoughts, feelings and words also feed our bodies as to how the body sets itself and is perceived in the minds of those we wish to influence. 

This thought and theory although factual and critical parts of deescalation and avoidance is one seldom taught directly and on a conscious level to individuals trying to learn self-defense. 

Now, to achieve such successes in deescalation and/or avoidance a practitioner must be able to perceive an unbiased view of the recipient so they can detect and determine what it is that will influence them in a positive beneficial way then apply such verbiage and body language that will successfully manipulate them willingly toward that more advantageous ending to conflict and possible violence. 

This is one of those traits and abilities that must exist as a part of the personality and character of a teacher, a sensei or mentor or instructor, etc., in order to properly, efficiently and effectively teach self-defense. 

More on Words:
  • Prior exposure to the violence-linked words, in studies, led to a 48% jump in selected shock intensity. Nonviolent language, replaced violence-linked words, of such words with menacing associations (target, beat) with comparable words that did not (goal, outdistance) diminishes such shock intensity and resulting violence prone responses. 
  • Violence laden language could lead to elevated, escalated, harm, achievement laden language could lead to elevated performance, etc. Subtly exposing humans to words that connote achievement (win, attain, succeed, master) increases their performance on an assigned task and more than doubles their willingness to keep working on it. 
  • Initial incidental exposure either to simple words or simple images can have a pre-suasive impact on later actions that are merely associated with the words or images. 
Humans all have different primary life goals that include learning, developing, and striving for achievement. Accomplishing those objectives requires a special openness to discomforting elements: demanding tasks, contrary points of view, unfamiliar people and owning mistakes and failures. “ - Cialdini, Robert B. PhD. “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.” Harper. New York. 2006.

Bibliography (Click the link)



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