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 Articulation Game

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

Rory Miller's Chiron Training post: 
  • "Ending a pregnancy vs killing a fetus"
  • "A ball of cells vs an unborn child"
  • "Invading Iraq vs liberating Iraq"
  • "Redistributing wealth vs confiscating earnings"
These statements all represent the same facts, the only difference lives in how they are construed (perceived/interpreted) by individuals. For those who have played the articulation game, this will be a familiar concept. Same facts, with profoundly different explanations.


Words matter, something to which I write about frequently BECAUSE the words one uses that influence and manipulate others as to what they accept in their perceptions will effect greatly your self-defense defense. BECAUSE each individual will interpret and understand what transpired by the words and phrases used coupled with sometimes evidence that only has weight when coupled with said words. 

How we talk, the meaning we convey through those words and how that is fostered and supported through our body language all contribute to what others think, feel and most of all… BELIEVE, because “our reality is our beliefs!”
  • How do you articulate the materials you teach for self-protection?
  • How do you articulate your training methods that are applicable to self-protection? 
  • How do you articulate answers to questions from your students?
  • How do you train to articulate things during a heated, stressful, encounter regardless of whether you are in the physical part or not, i.e., for avoidance and deescalation efforts? 
  • How do you teach your students to articulate their skills and actions when questioned by first responders in a self-defense situation?
  • How to you teach your students to articulate their actions in the interrogation/interview process?
  • How do you teach your students to articulate their actions to their own attorney because you have to convince your attorney as well that you properly applied self-defense oriented actions according to that legal requirement? 
As you already know the self-defense industry seems to be caught in a cognizant dissonant and biased space where this part of the self-protection teachings gets little or no time on the dojo floor. Articulation/communications are a very critical aspect of overall self-protection because failing to address how you talk and the body language that conveys your meaning in support of your words can literally leave you in the lurch as to your defense of self-defense. 

To properly play the game one must also, just like the skills being encoded to an auto ingrained instinct like ability, train and practice and apply articulation skills not just when learning how to protect and defend but also in every day life because as you already know from experience what you practice is what rises up like cream in milk when stressors and adrenaline hit your mind and body. 

Many of you already video your training sessions so use that to analyze all the words used in the teaching and practice of those skills BECAUSE as you are already visualizing in your mind at this moment begin to see how those spoken words and phrases may be used against you in a court of law. Remember also, you know this already, that all those recordings may be gathered by the prosecutor to win his or her case against you to include every single thing done in the dojo, on your blogs and in every social media source you are a member of and that is perfectly legal because, apparently, that letting loose upon the social platform makes it cannon fodder for the prosecution mostly without a warrant, etc. Think about this…

Words matter; how you use those words matter; even words used in every day parlances can be used to support prosecutorial efforts so start training your mind to take those words and reform them into a manner that BENEFITS YOU because otherwise the price you pay IF you have to apply your skills in protection will be affected a lot by those very words. 

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