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.

Martial Quotations for Teaching

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

Quotations, meme's, aphorisms and simile's, etc., serve a purpose and like most things have dual "sharp" edges all dependent on how they are used. They are a way to simplify, sometimes over simplifying things, to gain the attention of students then, hopefully, get then to take the information and start digging to find, "the rest of the story." 

The downside is that such soundbites, cliches and gross over simplifications although sound good in and on the training hall floor often are just egoistic efforts of the uninformed who are passing down that which they got from their teachers rather than lead-in's, prerequisites, to additional training, knowledge and understanding that literally mean the difference between grave harm or death depending on so many factors that it isn't very funny. 

One professional of violence and aggression said, "soundbites, cliches or gross over-simplifications that sound great in training, but will get you killed or put into prison if you use your training." 

No where in the last forty years have I ever encountered a sensei, senpai, kohai or other karate-ka or budo-ka who could adequately inform and instruct students on the very soundbites, quotes, aphorisms or simile's with authority and useful information. My experience has shown that when using such martial quotes that the person is often trying very hard to impress others and raise their status in the dojo and in the eyes of those very same students. This is not saying that the person is bad in this and it is saying that what they were taught was pretty much the same and nothing has risen up to bite them causing a shift and change in thinking and therefore understanding. 

When teaching one uses the wisdom of the ancients to inspire and inform of what that "time period, culture and environment" experienced so that today's professionals can analyze, synthesize and create relevant and changed skills and understanding to fit this time, this culture and this environment in this moment to inspire and create and inform relevant, efficient and valid methods and skills that work today, not yester-year. 

When things sound very, very cool...hesitate, consider, contemplate and then "Question, question, question" it to find the gold hidden in the dust of years past. There is always gold in them their hills and you really do have to dig for it. Panning for gold often involves a lot of hard word, sweat equity and considerable effort where constant vigilant removal of debris is removed so the gold appears at the bottom of the pan gleaming and triggering a type of satisfaction that only solid hard training, practice and "research" can provide. 

 “Be wary, be very wary of soundbites, quotations, meme's, aphorisms and simile's !” The bite is often very bad when misunderstood and applied in training, practice and applications. 


Bibliography (Click the link)
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