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.

OPINION PIECE: narrow view of strategy

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

I recently stopped by a local magazine and newspaper stand to take a look at the BB publication especially for the editorial/article by Dave Lowry. I always find inspiring things in his works, often illuminating as well toward the martial arts - in general. As I do with many of my studies I take extracts of things others present then go off on a tangent about the extracted quote (I write on the quote as if it had nothing to do with its origins in the article or the author’s work). Such things make me think, hopefully, outside the box that is my experience, perceptions, distinctions and beliefs. 

Today, I write about a view on strategies as I perceive the quote if it were applied to modern karate and martial arts. I think of strategies as those actions taken by a person in defense of self and/or others toward some form of conflict and/or violence. I see the following as a major ignored problem when it comes to applying martial arts and karate toward a very narrow aspect of the discipline, i.e., self-defense. Here it is:

“Many martial artists [and karate-ka] do not understand strategy [at this level]. They think of strategy only in contests. They think it’s nothing more than coming up with a plan for a fight or a violent encounter. This is a narrow view of strategy.” - Lowry 

Those who, in my humble opinion based on nothing at all, take this perspective of self-defense utilizing martial arts and karate self-defense technique-based models are putting their very lives on the line based on things that are not fully explored, trained, practiced and understood. Just read Marc MacYoung’s basic treatise on self-defense found here. He and other luminaries on conflict communications such as Rory Miller have tons of documents, books and video’s etc., on the subject one can study to one’s benefit (see my biblio link below). I am about to begin my fifth go round reading that book and have done the same for the other’s as well. 

The forthcoming arguments will be something like, “I have had self-defense encounters and I won so what you say is not true (I’m being kind in this statement for many will vehemently with colorful euphemisms would say something more colorful) but a bit more honest self-analysis would teach us all that every form of martial arts and karate or other discipline of the same goals will work, when they work, and will NOT work, when they don’t work. The issue in this article is, “Do you want luck to rule your health and life in such encounters simply because it works in competitions?” 

I don’t say this from personal experiences although those few self-defense encounters were successful but from the personal accounts of those who a violence professionals who encounter violence almost every day of their jobs. It is only such intense ongoing experiences that one can truly expect to understand what works and doesn’t and what might or might not work and how much is luck. In short, almost all of us including me have benefited from a good deal of luck by not encountering situations that led to grave harm, death or legal/moral/economical ramifications from using our martial prowess in the name of self-defense (pun and inference meant). 

Don’t believe me, don’t assume I know what I am talking (writing) about and still assume some reality and benefit exists in my efforts if for no other reason then getting you  to research and hone your skills to include such things - you won’t regret it!

Bibliography (Click the link)



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