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: No One

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

One... a singularity... the way is believed and perceived as “one”... but is it? The true answer is NOT a simple yes -or- no answer.

All things begin wit one starts off with the self AND is merely the key to open our paradigm to allow everyTHING to be assimilated into the one, into our wholehearted way that is a collective of others.

No “one” is an island is true and everyone is an island is also true. The moment of birth begins a process is becoming a self and becoming one of many through the sensory system that feeds the one and trains the one the importance of the many.

We perceive, we are taught and trained and we are a collective that is one, the self and the influences of the group that makes us “one!”

Even the one that is the individual is not truly just “one” BECAUSE the individual is made up of the collective many, I.e., muscles, cells and atoms, oh my, and it is only the many that allows us as one to exist and function.

There are limits on the many. Families are sacrosanct, the group is limited on size and structure that allows it to survive and when the balance is tilted the group fails, society is the same way and is limited on its size ratio for survival. Like humans, when cells multiply, indiscriminately, the body begins to fail… this is sometimes called cancer. When social constructs become unwieldy they tend to seek the proper level of water, they seek that level that nature intended to ensure survival. Then nature takes over and the best way for nature to bring things back into balance is through attrition and sometimes removal of the entire social structure leaving behind those who understand the need to remain within natures guidelines for survival. In short, “all things (ALL THINGS) in moderation.” 

We need one another, we can still be individuals and the construct of that paradigm ensures our safety, security and survival. To ensure our individual survival we have to moderate what it takes to survive from our environmental influences, to our health and fitness and to our group structure and dynamics both below and above the immediate group consisting of family and often other families. 

A dojo for self-defense may be taught in a model that promotes the individuals achievements and that is a good thing YET to truly survive in a defensive situation it takes more than the individual. A dojo exist and survives when it has one or more of those who lead, one or more of those who would follow that lead and the many who work as a team, a group dynamic, toward achieving an objective in self-protection. Yet, when one is trained in the methodologies/techniques of self-defense is is almost exclusively one agains one or one against several, i.e., two, three and maybe four. It focuses on the “one” and even in a group attack against one, that one survives almost always on luck with a smattering of other factors also about luck, i.e., do they work or not work before, during and especially after? 

How many studio’s train two or more individuals to use group dynamics to achieve success? The argument may often be, but if we are in a group we are safe. Is that true, mostly yes unless another group sees some benefit from facing-off with your group. Another good example is about the mob, another great article out there inspired this thought. What if you attend a rally or a collective of others for some purpose even it only entertainment, do you train your folks to rely on those who attend with you. After all, in a group it only takes two or three to really infect the entire group one way or the other. What is your plan, have you trained with those who are with you how to survive a mob action and do you have both an escape and evade plan that you can use all of your group to achieve success. Does you training address how to do that both with those you know and those who you don’t especially those who you don’t train with? 

No one is an island and that is critical to understand when protecting and defending against conflict and violence. Don’t just address what YOU need to know and do as an INDIVIDUAL, take into account all the weapons your environment provide you, like bringing in the minds and hearts of others to get the job done.

Example, how you act, what you say and how you apply your skills can and will be used for and against you if you have to apply your martial skills in a violent way to be safe, secure and mostly unharmed, right? In this small way you are including those around you in an indirect way to support your perspective of the situation. You are bringing in, often unwilling, others to provide you with self-protection… especially the aftermath that follows. 


A perspective! 

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

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