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.

Small vs. Large

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

Small attendance vs. the large attendance that seems to drive the dojo teaching models. Much like our school systems that have large student members per classroom the dojo tend to have larger practitioners to the instructor, teacher or Sensei, i.e., often ten to twenty or so per. This is not optimal to teach, learn and apply martial art skills especially for self-protection. 

In the school systems they end up having no choice except for the schools that work on tuitions and fees that literally support the proper teaching to learning ratio’s. Because so many of us who now teach martial arts and karate have only the experiences of our own school systems that rely not on quality but teaching large quantities we tend to believe and assume having larger student bodies to instructor is normal. In one sense, it is but it is NOT optimal to teaching, learning and understanding subject matter especially when it requires the physical manifestation of the subject. 

In general, professionals who have done the research say the max ration of teacher to student is one teacher for every four students. This is pushing it but is still doable. 

So, in that mind-set I have made the following recommendations as to teaching a martial art in the dojo. 

1 Sensei/Senpai to every 4 practitioners = mini-group.
Mini-groups:
  • MG-1 for basics and beginners.
  • MG-2 for kata one and two.
  • MG-3 for kata three and four.
  • MG-4 for kata five and six.
  • MG-5 for kata seven and eight. 
  • MG-6 for drills.
  • MG-7 for kumite.
  • MG-8 for self-protection/defense.
In this model it would be best that the Dai-sensei observe, guide and correct the other eight sensei/senpai in their efforts to handle each of the mini-groups. The rotation of each group as they achieve certain levels of proficiency is necessary and each mini-group sensei/senpai is also rotated in and out of each group over time. 

Note: Sensei must be of san-dan level or higher.
Note: Senpai must be of sho-dan and ni-dan level. 

Dai-sensei is the dojo sensei who is responsible for the teaching and proficiency of all the sensei/senpai who run each small mini-group. 

This would mean that the dojo would handle adequately 32 students; 8 sensei/senpai; 1 dai-sensei or dojo sensei for a total of, “41 members in the dojo.” If that begins to grow larger then adjustments must be made to ensure ratio’s are maintained - always. 

If you just opened your first dojo and it is just you, dai-sensei/dojo sensei, then you must restrict membership to just four practitioners who you want to guide through all the mini-groups until they reach sho-dan/san-dan levels the expand the dojo to embrace more practitioners to achieve proper ratio of sensei to practitioner. 

Here is an add-on, when and if one reaches full strength of 41 then begins to expand then one of those sensei/senpai must reach a level of proficiency and expertise to match closely that of the dojo (dai) sensei to branch it off into two complete MG-1 to 8 of 41 total making the dojo capable of handling up to 82 total members. 

Where most dojo go amiss is the desire to reach certain levels for status and ego reasons that weaken the system by increasing ratio’s beyond optimal levels. Much like the accumulation of rank, grade or levels of black belt many assume that their status is strengthened by making the membership much larger than can be adequately handles thus resulting in so many static teaching and “testing” models that actually weaken the dojo, the sensei and the style or system over time leaving watered-down weak systems that literally lose the very core of what made them martial arts and karate systems to begin with. 

For those who are fledgling martial arts and karate seekers of instruction this should be one of your criteria in finding a good, solid and proficient dojo, sensei and senpai model. Granted, that may not actually meet this standard but the closer you can get the better. Remember, many will respond to this need by saying something like, “If you want that, you will need to sign up for the personal training model.” Of course, that costs a lot more don’t you know. 


Bibliography (Click the link)

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