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.

PERSPECTIVE: To Temper the Male Voice in our Heads

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

The following quotes from an article about the differences between males and females, not vetted as truly scientifically tested and validated and not checked as in “fact checked” means this may be bogus and yet, dissonance and biases involved, feels like it is true even if it is originally socially engineered as we grow up in the social systems like schools, etc. 

The following, if truly accurate as to males and females, provides us with a lot of possibilities that effect how we perceive, learn, train, practice and create both in our selves and outward when manifested in social interactions. 

In order to learn and monitor and challenge ourselves as to dissonance and biases as we travel through this most enjoyable and difficult life when we encounter situations and environments and cultures and beliefs that clash with what we believe then we have better capabilities and tools to manage those dissonances and biases even when the lizard brain triggers it long before our consciousness perceives and sees what is happening hopefully providing a split second to change directions so the outcome is more… positive in nature. 

Boys Play Differently:
  • larger play groups (think group survival dynamics for instance)
  • they focus on the game itself (focus is a survival trait and when you consider humans going through the loop to achieve survival then we see how that coincides with dissonance and biases, etc.)
  • rough n' tumble (we have to experience those things that will involve our survival, don’t we?)
  • very competitive (everything in life is about competition in essence and most of that involves types of conflict hopefully so that our species when confronted with that level opening grave harm and death we are able to act and react in a way that assures their destruction and our survival)
  • confrontational (there is no way we as a species can learn to survive unless we face off with the very crux of that survival in conflict, aggressions and violences with grave harm and death as viable options with others)
  • establish dominance & test hierarchies (it is hard for modern society to understand that dominance and hierarchical systems are necessary. Yet, we fail to associate certain types of dominance and hierarchical systems to modern business and politics, for example, because we have been socially conditioned to separate that from the types involving aggression and violence as if they are… separate; to survive there is ‘naturally’ those who lead, those who follow and the cultural beliefs that are like kind that bind the group and create the dynamics necessary for the groups survival; it is as natural as nature and if we look to nature we see this to be true and UNDENIABLE)
  • claim territory and monopolize toys (nothing has changed since we oozed out of the muck and walked for the first time on land, holding territories that best fed and protected the group required monopolization of group or groups up to a point that balanced resources to consuming humans and when it exceeded sustainability then the group has to make choices to survive often leaving aggression and violence as a means to maintain the status quo)
  • show off their physical strength (if we think of the competitive aspects as well as other traits discussed then we see how ‘posturing’ is a way to avoid, deescalate and demonstrate will and power and skill to survive hopefully without harmful violence while maintaining that if push comes to shove, violence is and will be an acceptable venue to achieve survival; depends on the need and willingness of the parties/groups involved)
  • struggle for social rank (ranking establishes the control of the group for the survival and betterment of the group with expectations and skills established by that hierarchal system supporting one another so that efficiency and ability and camaraderie, etc., interconnect and support the very survival of the group and its members; example in these modern times are the military and police and other violence professions and don’t think that the same needs and requirements, although established and mandated and configured to fit the group as in family or neighborhood of civilians, are not required at some level to maintain and survive; can you play football without coaches and team captains and the various positions within the team; would the team succeed without those traits, etc.?)
  • and are more likely to use threats (think posturing and articulation as a means to avoid conflict with grave harm or death; this works to protect and defend and BECAUSE of this the necessity to learn, understand, accept and be willing to apply grave harm or death as appropriate to survive still matters even when governed by social standards and societies legal system)
Consider this apparent research result, “A male’s survival is linked to his rank, dominance and power, and these things, even today, can be attained by physical confrontation.” Note: in many situations the psychological interaction and confrontations tend to mandate how we survive in work or work environments and BECAUSE self-protection for defense means we have left the safety of that social enclave and entered into one of aggression and violence for both criminal processes and/or resources used by them for survival we still must maintain the ability to handle those situations even as rare as they are in modern times… mostly. 

By the time boys are in first grade they get a dopamine rush when they display their power, and some studies have indicated that unanimously agreed upon hierarchies will form in nursery school, and stay stable for at least 6 months. And the boys at the top are not necessarily the biggest; they're the boys who are least likely to back down during a conflict. (Brizendine. “The Male Brain”  22-24)

It is believed, yet suppressed through social conditions and conditioning, that, “But aggression isn't necessarily bad. Males are also the valiant defenders of their tribe, their land and their family; these things all need physical acts of violence.”

These are the things we as sensei, teachers of protection and defense for every day life, must address for those who follow us as leaders and experts BECAUSE the things that lead and result in aggression and violence still exist and like the air we breathe, the sky above us and the planet that spins through the universe below our feet humans have and will always be maintained through some form of conflict, aggressive behaviors and possible violent actions especially when all other venues, actions and deeds fail. 


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

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