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.

Awareness

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

Four pillars of awareness toward survival:
  1. Mind-set/Mind-state: The three “P’s” or “Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare!” 
    • Addendum: Mind-set + Mind-state are absolutely critical to self-protection/survival in our modern world of “social reality.” One must achieve a mind-state that feeds our mind-set in many ways with none more important, as you can imagine, then our psychological and emotional intelligence and maturity. In this I point us to what you already know to be the very human condition of “dissonance and biases.” 
    • Dissonance and Biases: the very deeply imbedded “instinct-like survival mind-states” that we all have to deal with. The mind-state that is hidden from us in order to function as nature intends/intended. To achieve awareness of the concepts as well as our own dissonances and biases is that critical mind-set/state necessary to achieve greater success in self-protection.
    • Practice Dissonance and Bias Awareness: think baby steps, think about how we can practice before we are inundated by stresses and dangers of violence and consider just being aware of dissonance and biases and work to detect it in yourself when it comes up. You really do have to practice this one every day so that you train your mind to recognize it when it happens and then consider alternates to to each situation, event and issue. 
  2. Risks or Risk Assessment: Do a risk assessment of yourself and your family; do a risk assessment of your home, neighborhood and work environments; do a risk assessment of area’s you visit on occasions. Know risks, prepare for eventualities when in the risk-zone and know what you know, don’t know and don’t know you don’t know and prepare, prepare, prepare!
  3. Knowing your options: To make good, efficient, and proficient decisions you have to know your mind-set, give yourself permissions, know the risks involved and then prepare, prepare, prepare; those strategies and tactics necessary to achieve proper, appropriate and socially legal objectives to “get ‘r’ done.” 
  4. Having objectives: You just can’t tell your self ‘survival,’ because that is too broad and does not take into considerations all the above. Survival depends on what situation and environment and adversaries you face in any given moment. This brings together all the above three so when you face things you can then decide on appropriate actions whether it is to simply turn around and leave; avoidance once closer to the situation; escape and evade if too close to the situation; and/or to take appropriate legal and socially responsible actions to defend and protect if things get physical. Objectives must involve proper mind-set/state, a thorough set of concepts derived from risk assessments, the development of options or what some refer to as rules of engagement or rules of how you engage in actions from avoidance to actual actions after the immediate incident is resolved when first responders start to arrive. 
Your number one priority should always be about your safety and security then the safety and security of family and if possible the public be they neighbors, friends or strangers in the vicinity. If you are not in a position to remain safe and secure then you are NOT in a position to provide that to family and so on, just like first responders, or the law enforcement officers, where establishing security and safety for themselves first; then follow for all others in the environment they would be unable to do their jobs. 

Stay safe, stay secure, be of proper mind-state, know the risks in life, have options and don’t forget giving yourself permissions to carry out those options; followed in tandem with objectives of the appropriate kind. Failing to account for any one or more of these four pillars means no-success resulting, in some situations, in grave harm or even death. 


Note: the four pillars are my perception and created concept from the email sent by Alain Burrese in his Sunday email safety tips. Mr. Burrese and his site/emails are a huge source of information, idea’s, theories and other facts of life about self-defense, well worth the effort to join in and up with…many of my articles, etc., come from how such folks as Mr. B present their concepts and perceptions, you just have to absorb it for what you need. 

For reference and sources and professionals go here: 
Bibliography (Click the link)
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