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.

Technically right. Tactically stupid.

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

Technically, in all martial arts and karate dojo the Sensei is likely to have all the technical parts of the teachings right but a lot of his or her philosophical teachings of the what, when, where and how not derived from hands on experience, and even then it is still a maybe, don’t equate to reality leaving that part just plain stupid. 

Tactically, whether you avoid, deescalate or go hands on depends and it is solely up to you regardless of what your sensei teaches you. Teaching the physiokinetics is often technically right while the mind-set, mind-state and distinctions often taught as self-defense make it all pretty stupid and highly susceptible to legal, moral and social ramifications. 

When you see something going down and you decide you have the skills and step in to combat the situation, did you consider as you approached and observed that although a righteous move that in the end it could be a tactical mistake? If you didn’t consider that part then tactically you may be making a very stupid mistake. 

I used this as an example to the person who posed the question or rather made the statement, “Technically right, tactically stupid.” "The guy who feels he has the right to go into a biker bar and do what he pleases but the bikers have a different perspective on that kind of action." He does have the right yet to do so would be just plain stupid?

I tend to think about such things now days because in truth what is in your mind when you act makes a huge difference. If you think the technical parts alone are enough then you haven’t considered how the psychological will manifest in your actions and later in the effort to articulate to the authorities, i.e., the LEO, the Prosecutor, the LEO’s leadership and to society in general all the way from elected officials to the poor souls sitting in a box on uncomfortable seats being subjected to stuff they dislike and missing out on other events and goings on they would rather be at then where they are currently. It matters. 

I kind of wonder sometimes if there is a way to successfully teach how to avoid stupidity. I guess it is a combination of various teachings that when brought together in a holistic manner provide enough to help one avoid stupidity, at least mostly. I know that in all the years I spent in the dojo learning martial arts and karate for self-defense not one person ever mentioned stupidity or stupid stuff and I can say now, after forty odd years, that there was a lot of stupidity in what I was taught. 

My goal is to be both technically right and tactically smart. I now advocate learning and teaching those more mindful things leading to avoidance at the top of my list with deescalation and running the other way rather than the macho egoistic advocated mind-set of beat the shit out of the asshole who dared to make you late for your appointment or other endeavor. You just gotta get the mind right and that must be first before you ingrain stupid shit and make tactical mistakes. 

Then there is the other question, “Is it functionally right?” 

Hat tip (Ritsu-rei) to <Mr. Marc MacYoung at MacYoung’s Musings Blog> and No Nonsense Self-Defense Site> as the inspiration for this post.

Bibliography (Click the link)



at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)