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 Shadows

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

First, a quote... "We humans have an uncanny ability to deceive ourselves and sometimes go through wild mental gymnastics to justify our opinions and actions." - (Wims Blog) Second, what is the shadows? It is that place in each human where resides the beast and we all have it regardless. We simply, through social conditioning and other acts both internal and external, build a wall that separates us from the shadows. On occasion through things like mob mentalities and mob emotional effects and transference that wall comes down and we do things that observed from the sidelines would make us sick to our stomachs. 

Let me say again, we all live with the shadows just on the other side of the wall we build to feel safe, to avoid dangers and to avoid letting loose the dogs of war, the beast, that resides in all of us. I know it is there because as a military person, currently in an inactive duty status, I KNOW that all of us can do things we feel before that experience we would never ever do yet... we can and will do them. We just have to have the proper psychological tools to chip away at the wall to enter the shadows. 

The dangers of modern society is that we forget that the wall is there and that the shadow world that is violent sometimes in the extreme is just sitting there a mere wall thickness away and that thickness varies to each of us and that wall is not impenetrable. Remember that, "The WALL is NOT IMPENETRABLE!"

The danger in modern society is that we are conditioned and come to believe that there is no shadow world, not in us as a "good person" and not in others "because those others would not dare to expose me to there shadow worlds!" The danger in modern society is that we are petrified of that shadow world, we are fearful of fear so we deceive ourselves and tell ourselves fairy tales that support and bias us to ignoring that the shadow world exists and that "others" will keep us safe. 

The shadows are where the dangers lurk, the beast sits patiently and awaits the moment where either we, ourselves, or others chip through that wall and let loose the beast within us all. There are those who find themselves subject to the whims of the beast and end up saying, "Someone else made me do it; I am not a bad person; and It isn't my fault!" All the while others whose wall is still intact, their beast sitting in the shadows and with their stories telling them it wouldn't happen to them sitting in that chair, judging you and your beast regardless of the wonderful peaceful and non-violent life you led all the way up to that point the wall dropped. 

Think about it, think about the wall, find out the walls construction and remember just on the other side resides the beast sitting in the shadows waiting patiently to be let loose, it is there within you just don't refuse to believe that you, like all humans, have that ability within you. Take control, do the things that make the well less breach-able and avoid letting loose the dogs of war sitting just a smidgeon away on the other side of the wall to the shadows of man. 


“An important part of self-defense is prioritizing and accepting risks that are inevitable. Living on this planet is risky by default. You do what you can to avoid everything nature has to offer that can wipe you out, but you know there is always a possibility for disaster to strike. Self-defense should be the same: do your best to avoid danger, but keep on living your life to the fullest despite knowing it is impossible to avoid everything.” Wim Demeere “You are surrounded by killers…

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

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