- why present this article and subject?
- In a most general way it comes down to our personal belief systems, the very systems that help us survive and cope with obstacles thrown at us as we live our lives. Humans, sometimes unrealistically but still it works for us, will require a belief system for survival, status, and connected membership in a tribe like environment that all are based on nature’s survival needs. This one would need some additional research and study on the part of the reader because it is a large complex issue and subject but worth the effort.
- why do martial artists and karate-ka insist and resist the information and will go to war to refute it?
- First, humans have this need to not be wrong. When being wrong hits on a belief then our emotionally driven side will resist that vehemently up to actual violence. It takes a huge effort to see and realize when one has something incorrect and thereby make the change. It is also about our minds believing that if it works and it has not failed us that regardless of facts, truth and relevance now or toward the future we will naturally and with strength resist acceptance and change.
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.
1 comment:
I am really privileged, My sensei began his training in martial arts in the fifties much like other veterans who pioneered karate, etc., here in the states.
One of my teachers sensei was Nagle who also started in the fifties or there bouts. My sensei's brother also studied under Nagle sensei directly.
Hmmm, both, along with Nagle sensei, starting in the fifties bring to the table a combined experience of about 180 or more years; so if I am correct, correct me if I am not, I now have an accumulated 224 years of accumulated/combined experience and teaching, awesome!
I didn't realize it was even remotely possible to attain such experiences.
Naw, actually the only experiences I have are my own. My sensei has his own, his brother his and Nagle Sensei his as well (God rest his soul). I did benefit from the passing of such knowledge and experiences with only one caveat.
My sensei who trained with his brother and along with Nagle sensei experienced things at the same time and in the end my sensei's experiences are those he chose to assimilate from his exposure to Nagle Sensei, his students through cooperative exchanges, his brother through cooperative exchanges and with the knowledge that all that still trickles down to only that experience one can gain through their personal actions, studies and experiences all their own.
It would be impossible to take a persons totality of experience and express that in a teaching environment for to do so would need as much time as the original person spent in experiencing those experiences.
So, sadly, it seems that I can't claim to experience 224 or even 180 years of experience as benefiting me in my experience.
What I can say is this, "Through the effort, dedication, diligence and spirit of giving my sensei passed on to me what knowledge, wisdom and experiences he experienced as best he could considering the limits and limitations of being human and for that I am thankful."
No amount of wishing or wishful thinking or egoistic effort is going to add any more knowledge, experience or understanding to my knowledge, experience and understanding just because I think, believe or say that I benefitted from 224 or 180 years of combined experience or experiences.
Apples and Oranges are still applies or oranges. No matter how I collect apples and oranges; no matter whether I string them along side by side or arrange them in pairs or even try to blend them together they are still apples and oranges with the only exception that when blended they become something a bit different as to taste but in essence they are still apples and oranges.
YES, the ego is in this comment and it is a bit of a monkey driven emotionally driven thing but, "The truth is out there, you just gotta let it in Jesse!" No one said controlling and managing the monkey brain was easy. I am still a work in progress in that regard.
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