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.

What and How You Wear the Uniform

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

When this thought crossed my meandering mind you can imagine how it triggered the old saying, "What your clothes say about you matters." What you wear, how you wear it and what that says to others really does matter even when you wear jeans, nice shirt and sandals, especially in our modern social realities. 

It says about you:
  • What kind of character you have;
  • What kind of personality you have; 
  • What your culture and beliefs are;
  • What kind and how much experience you have;
  • How it expresses your image, ego and life;
  • How others will judge you;
  • How confident you are;
  • How detailed you are in both action and deeds as well as in mind and spirit; AND
  • What kind of impression you convey to others especially in high stress situations like self-protection.
There is a reason why criminals dress so well when they appear in court. I suspect as you already know that if you use your skills in self-protection and then find yourself within the legal system; your attorney is going to tell you just how to dress when in court. 

The clothing you wear, how you wear it and what you wear is a lot like communicating through body language, your clothing will have an effect on another persons emotional reactions when the encounter you and clothes contribute to that a lot.

Most of us use the karate-gi in the dojo. What color is it, how well does it fit, is it neat and tidy, how long is the obi after tying it, and do the ends meet or are they different lengths, how long are the sleeves and pant legs and then add in your personal hygiene along with grooming. 

When you enter the dojo what you are wearing matters and provides impressions to those there, what and how you change does as well and what kind of uniform you put on and how tells its own story as well. Example, tying the obi:
  • What is its color?
  • What is the condition of it?
  • How do you tie it?
  • Does it criss-cross at the back?
  • Do the ends extend a certain length?
  • Do the ends extend the same length when hanging down after tying?
When you enter the dojo and if you are either sensei or senpai, do you think these impressions will matter to the others deshi? What do they feel and how does that affect their efforts and how they learn from that person?

Then, consider the other members of the dojo as to their culture, their beliefs, their perceptions and their social norms and then relate that to how they may infer feelings and attitudes to you, our dojo-mates, your system of karate and to the methodologies used in teaching? 

I can imagine, as you are now and already figured out, how many will say, “That kind of stuff doesn’t matter, what you do on the dojo floor is the only thing that matters.” Yet, respect is about perceptions and everything, even on the dojo floor, matters to everyone when it comes to respect. Sometimes those unspoken things do have an affect on the dojo floor because how we dress and maintain ourselves tells others about expectations of what and how one acts on the dojo floor. 

If you and your uniform symbolize a cocky attitude what do you think training and practice will be like when you are paired up with that person. Suggestions both verbal and otherwise do influence our minds, often subconsciously, toward certain attitudes and perceptions and it will come out later… ON THE DOJO FLOOR and worse, when you are articulating to the first responder why you did what you did in self-protection. You think the first responders and others are not going to use their impressions and emotions to judge you and then that will have an affect on how they decide to proceed, i.e., let you go or cuff you, etc.

Something to think about, right? If you want others to take you seriously then consideration about how you appear and your attitudes all are reflected by body language along with the body clothing added to what you say and how you say it… MATTERS!


All of the good intentions and the proverbial right to dress and act and do what you want are all about impressions and perceptions that in many cases don’t matter YET when it does, what you do the majority of the time will rise up to the top especially under duress and stressors found in aggressive and violent situations. 

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

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