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.

Benefit of the Back Yard Dojo

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

Except in rare cases all my time on the dojo floor has been in the form of a back yard, garden if you will, dojo. As a Marine I always trained with other Marines whose martial expertise was made available to me both one-on-one and in a dojo-like environment, i.e., several of us would go out back of the barracks and practice. After my active duty as a Marine closed I began teaching and practicing in my garage, in other students garages, in parks or other venues of like kind that could be classified as back yard dojo. 

I would venture out to visit other dojo, both non-commercial and commercial, to challenge myself and those would would follow my lead. 

The major benefit I felt I got from teaching in a back-yard dojo, literally free for all parties involved, is we were able to leave a lot of the requirements of a commercial or commercial-like environment behind and focus exclusively on training, practice and gaining experience. Except for the black belt we focused on said efforts and removed the obstacle of belts, status outside the dojo and testing. Since we had no overhead we could remain dedicated to what it is to train in karate. 

Another benefit of the back-yard dojo is smaller groups of practitioners so that training and practiced remained at a student to mentor ratio of three or four to one, i.e., one sensei to three or four deshi/senpai. Larger groups tend to water down the efforts and force folks into a syllabus/lesson plan like effort. It loses the free spirit creativity found in smaller group environments. 

Still another benefit is that practitioners don’t get lost in the group setting and closer relationships can be developed that foster, support and build solid foundational relations that create the creative environment of trust and respect necessary to teach, train, practice, learn, understand and apply martial skills especially in regard to self-protection. 

There are even more benefits like the one that says with no overhead the practitioners save a ton of cash, they no longer have to have any anxiety over paying fees like dojo dues and seminar dues and association dues, etc. and then they are even left to choose whether they want to use a karate-gi or just gym clothes.  When you consider all the other ancillary costs to be in a commercial dojo along with what it costs for uniforms, weapons and other training stuff the overall costs are just what the practitioner wishes to spend. 

Because of my back-yard dojo efforts I can say I have spent no more than necessary to gain the expertise, efficiency and professionalism without incurring costs and obligations that often come with others like association dues, association dojo dues, associations testing fees, association rank fees and the list goes on when you do the way of the commercialized dojo.

Now, it must be said that I firmly believe that all those commercialized dojo can, and some do it well, achieve awesome results even with all the costs incurred and what I provide is the understanding that even when you achieve sensei qualifications status you are under no obligation to go that way on your own and can become a great back-yard/garden dojo sensei. 


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

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