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.

The Art and Science of Self-Defense

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

Is there an art to self-defense? Yes!
Is there a science to self-defense? Yes?
What are they? 

That is the article that follows herein and let it be known that the caveat for this article is that I am not a legal professional; I am not a scientist; I am not a science professional; I AM a professional and knowledgable and experienced self-defense guru through my profession and expertise in martial arts with specificity toward Okinawan Karate, i.e., Isshinryu Karate of Tatsuo Shimabuku Sensei.

Yes, to science not specifically sciences science but a science all the same, because self-defense defense is an intellectual and practical activity that requires one use a systematic study of the structure, legalese and behaviors of both the physical and the psychological by and through not just observation but also hands-on training, practice and application as a result of experimentation and creativity using analysis of both training and experience to reach a consensus and concept through the system of synthesis, a group endeavor, that provides concepts, triggers and skills to handle self-defense as defense for using physical self-protection... assuming all avoidance skills are either missed or failed for what ever reasons. 

Yes, to the art of self-defense because the complex and complicated concepts, laws and social requirements along with the characteristics and variables of human beings as individuals and as a group wherein things like:
  • Individual character and personality traits of those who would sit in judgement as legal system persons and those drawn into that system to sit in judgement like jurors. 
  • Individual character and personality traits of the first responders:
    • their personalities;
    • their beliefs;
    • their mandates from department officials;
    • the mandates from the legal system;
    • their feelings for that day and that moment;
    • their cultural beliefs as humans as well as officials of the legal system;
    • witness perceptions as driven by experiences and influences of family, social structure and other variables like social venues of the Internet not to lessen the influence of various social media outlets like gaming, movies and other such things;
    • the ability of the compliance and influence disciplines, systems and presentations, etc., that will effect how others perceive events both factual and true and those created through the lens of all the above on each participant regardless; 
    • your actions and WORDS before, during and after a conflict with physical damage or even death as perceived by witnesses, the adversaries buddies in the witness arena and others through both statements and cell phone video’s.
    • Social media influence as perceived by statements of witnesses on air along with how others perceive the very video’s used as evidence both legal and socially viewed in news, etc.;
    • unpredicted variables that affect whether you are arrested, prosecuted or convicted to include:
      • personalities of persons making decisions about what you did
      • emotions of such persons at the moment decisions are made, 
      • societal factors such as recent heinous crimes shocking society,
      • societal factors such as hateful attitudes about what and how you were perceived in doing what you did, 
      • race, religion, national origins, sexual preference of the defender and/or attacker and/or victim. 
      • the very humanity of police, prosecutors, judges and jurors as fallible and easily making of mistakes, etc.,
If you get the wrong first responders, the wrong prosecutor and/or jurors you could be arrested, prosecuted and/or convicted. It is literally a creative art where by one’s training, practice and applicable skills MUST meet or exceed the standards, practices and concepts mandated through these variables that are all pretty much fluid and in a constant change of flux from moment to moment. 

I visualize in my self-protection the principles of yin/yang where both the use of a science approach along with the creativity found in the arts of the self-protection discipline are critically necessary to achieve success in the avoidance and/or defense against the before, during and after(math) of both the self-protection and legal-protection I would need to win in both instances a self-defense defense. 

In short, its complicated in its complexities and that does NOT have to be the end product BECAUSE the blood, sweat and equity of both in your efforts in self-protection will literally make the application of avoidance, self-protection and protection of the aftermath easy in its complex complicated concepts. 

Many in the martial arts, karate, communities who profess to teach realistic self-defense already know that to focus on the physical exclusively and give all else a glossing over type of teachings realized that most of the effort in self-protection is the art and science of not self-defense but to develop and focus on “Avoidance Skills.” Let the other stuff be provided equal and added emphasis after mastering avoidance skills and earn the full monty necessary to protect oneself and one’s family/friends from conflict and avoid the aftermath of the legal system entirely. 

Barry Eisler has a quote just posted on Facebook by the Safety Concepts folks who teach personal safety education for everyone where is wrote, Barry Eisler that is, the following:

“The two most important things to do for self-defense are NOT to take a martial arts class or to GET a GUN, but to think like the opposition and KNOW where you’re most at risk.” (emphasis of caps mine) - Barry Eisler

That tells me just how important our avoidance skills are in areas such as knowing your environments and having environmental intelligence in apply avoidance skill, “situational and environmental awareness.” 


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

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