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.

Homemade Challenge Bars

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

Yeah, finally finished the challenge bars I have been writing about for these past months. A few glitches but in the end they came out well enough. In lieu of threads in the handle-bar I had to go with two nuts and a lock washer to make it stable and solid in construction. 

Notes:  the challenge bars, see below snapshot, are a single leg device that actually goes better in strengthening the hands, wrists and forearms for stability, a stability necessary to ensure proper forces are applied when using the hands for self-protection. 

Notes: with a single leg, vs. the double leg of the chinkuchi bar, provides a multi-directional effect on the hands and wrists and forearms. The chinkuchi bar stabilizes so that only two directions are effected, i.e., either the wrists buckles to the outside or to the inside while the challenge bar with its single leg actually stresses the hand, wrist and forearm in all directions covering a complete 360 degrees. With a 360 stabilizing effect no matter how the hand or fist lands there is a greater possible stabilizing effect with the results of using the challenge bars in exercise. 

Notes: The way the current challenge bar is utilized it further restricts its benefits due to its placement, i.e., parallel to the body, close in and with elbows close to the body as well, that leaves all other directions being left out of the exercise and benefit. It was suggested to try out moving the bars to a more vertical to the body position with the elbows out 90 degrees, etc., to see how they work and other then myself no one has demonstrated or commented on this position.  With the challenge single leg bar one can position the arms and bars at any position where the 360 effect remains stable in and of itself as the exercise is performed for an apparent all-round effect of strength and stabilization of the hand, wrist and forearm. The ability to adjust positions, as you already know from other forms of the pushup exercise, provides the most bang for the buck as to pushup’s of a challenging nature. 

Notes: now, as to the challenge pushup bar I made certain decisions as to their construction for very solid reasons of which one is safety. The chinkuchi pushup bars are all made to specified specifications, or so it seems from the few demo’s seen. What I did was take into consideration the material first, i.e., such material that provides a slight improvement in grip. One, a larger diameter bar to fit the hand properly. Being able to make them to specs of the individual matters for safety sake. If the diameter is too small along with the material of the bar being apparently slippery is not a benefit because even the most adapt of us when sweaty palms become involved with lose a great deal of ability to hold the device. I suspect that is why most performances are on grass so if they slip the hands and wrists will not suffer injuries. 

Notes: Since the challenge pushup bars are single legged that grip ability is crucial since one can lose it in any point along that 360 degree’s. I would suggest adding athletic tape to the challenge bar especially, as you can see, since there are threads involved on the single leg because you don’t want to slice the fingers once the bar is grasped. Since I had to add nuts and one washer that also is about protection/safety. 

Notes: Now, when using the challenge bars as constructed in the snapshot provided it is also crucial for safety’s sake that where you perform the pushups matters. I use, seen next snapshot, a fairly thin piece of felt so that, one - the head of the bolts has something protecting the floors so that you can do it anywhere. Two - if your hands slip at any time in training with the strength you should have before making use of them means your wrist will be stable so when the hand hits the felt the wrist won’t bend and strain and the skin of the hand will not be abraded or cracked or even bones will not break. Those who train makiwara and heavy bag can consider that enough to use the bars in practice until you develop the challenge bar technique. 

Notes: The reason I chose the type of head on the bolt because I wanted it slightly rounded so it would move without causing glitches and only the very smallest part of the head of the bolt would be touching at any time no matter how the bar, hands and bolt are moving during pushups. 

One of the major benefits of the challenge bar in relation or comparison to the chinkuchi bar is its greater versatility in strengthening and stability of the hand, wrist and forearm that also adds benefits to any method including the primary one in karate of striking or punching. To my mind, chinkuchi, to be chinkuchi means that the body must function at maximum efficiency and effectiveness regardless of position of the body or any body part. To be beneficial in self-protection where injury is compounded due to stressors and adrenal effects and the other guy is much, much, much higher that the more you can train the body for facing those situations the better and that is why the challenge bar, in my experience and view, is more suited to the definition and manifestation of chinkuchi not in the actual pushups themselves but as to the benefits in method application under duress and danger of grave harm or death apply. 

As I progress in using the challenge pushup bar I will return to make addendum comments on it as benefiting karate and martial arts because I already perceive how its use provides stability and strength in avoidance through the types of methodologies like restraints and manipulation of joints along with the ability to twist, takedown and compress, etc. to get-r-done when verbal self-defense for avoidance fails, etc. 

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











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