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: Informed Decisions for Self-Defense

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

We in the martial arts who profess adamantly that what we do is self-defense must first and foremost become informed because to make decisions in such a volatile and dangerous situation, self-defense, we must make informed decisions, i.e., basically a decision based on facts or information AND understanding of the facts or information AND understanding our personal and professional threats via our threat assessments AND the threat assessments based on facts or information and understanding. 

I often write and speak of threat assessments and those articles, posts and comments are available on this blog and wall. I also speak and write to the type of things we need to look for as to facts, information and other pieces of data that must be understood in order to make a valid, effective and viable threat assessment. You really have to know the threats out there you may face and that means you have to KNOW what to look for; be prepared to discover and look for what you DON'T KNOW and then be prepared in the event that something you DON'T KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW to pop up suddenly and with utter surprise. 

Lets talk about one small aspect of both martial arts and its effectiveness in self-defense, i.e., the type of self-defense critical to effective self-defense and defense, i.e., what you do and use out there if attacked and what you do, say, feel and present especially as to character and personality along with skills when you are under attack by the legal system of self-defense defense. Being properly armed, your armament for every day use while out there or in your own home IF your threat assessment dictates certain arms, armament, necessary to maintain your safety and security (YOUR as in YOU, FAMILY and POSSIBLY OTHERS). 

If you live and work in an environment that has higher levels of danger then you need to address both those and how the legal system in that area responds to threats and conflicts BECAUSE those along with the TA (threat assessment) will dictate not just what weapons or weaponless armaments you will take with you. Lets also address that part of that assessment is not just the criminal communities but also the legal communities and the social structure that influences your assessment. If you live in those area's maybe having a weapon on your person is necessary assuming we are all able to AVOID or ESCAPE-n-EVADE socially driven conflicts and violence. 

If a weapon is necessary, lets say a knife in this case, then you have to be able to make an informed decision as to what kind or type of knife will get the job done while getting the job done when the legal system rears its head to take a bite out of your self-defense defense. The cool tactical combat knife may be what appeals to you viscerally and emotionally but how will it be perceived by the legal system, society and those who sit in judgement from the first responders to the prosecutor to the court system itself. It matters when the rubber meets the road in the legal system AFTER what you used is USED

Should you go weaponless if the TA indicates that is the best choice then it comes down to perception of all the training you take to get the job done. It means that if perceptions of both the psychological and physical seem combative in nature where both the verbiage and actions taught can be more aggressive and possibly over the top as to appropriate force then maybe it is not a good way to go. For instance, knowing when to go; knowing when to no-go; knowing when to avoid; knowing when to escape and evade is really a great strategy to know BEFORE you resort to those military special ops types of techniques or methods you learned in your cool tactical secret Ninja dojo. 

Informed decisions then becomes a critical part of what, how, why and when you start your self-defense program be in martial or other in nature BECAUSE it is the whole and not just the fun parts that make up self-defense and self-defense defense. 

Something to think about; something to mull over; something to consider and something to make sure exists as part of the program when you take self-defense training. 

Note: this is not all inclusive but merely a taste of the possibilities so do the research, study the materials and then make... "INFORMED DECISIONS" BECAUSE your LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT!


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

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