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.

Emotional Maturity

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

Emotions and Moods are “contagious!” It is imperative that one’s emotional skills are included in our effort at self-protection. Not just the most serious of situations but in all situations that trigger emotions and moods, especially those negative emotions. With that being said…

Another skill to speak to that seems to take a back seat to other more fun things in karate for self-protection is, “Emotional Maturity!” Emotions are the cornerstone of everything that happens to our species in every facet of life. Emotions are ‘honest’ and they speak to another perspective of emotion, that being “mood.” When people seem anxious, tense, angry or afraid, it is likely that something has occurred or is present that is making the person fell and act in certain ways. 

Emotions/moods are honest because they are driven by “autonomic and subconscious processes” in the brain. The part of our brain responsible for our emotions and those of other people is the amygdala. The amygdala is part of our limbic system. It is also that part that detects potential threats and dangers and then triggers the adrenal system that prepares our bodies for freeze, fight or flight, i.e., triggers the physiological responses to support our actions. 

Because emotions and moods are first experienced unconsciously we all will first “feel” that something is amiss or happening before we become consciously aware. This is where our heuristic intuition skills come into play. Those HI skills must be trained and practiced to attune us to our emotional responses that are triggered, think gut feelings, that trigger the chemical/adrenal dumps resulting in greater speed at which one cognitively understand that something hinky is going on. 

This is why we must understand our nature, human nature, so when we feel emotional and mood altering effects often from the behaviors of others we must listen, become aware and then process it properly to act or not to act. 

Emotions and Moods are “contagious!” This warrants repeating: Emotions and Moods are “contagious!” They pass from person to person subconsciously through mimicry and other means. It is nature’s group survival dynamic and we must be aware of it and understand it and its effects. When involving ‘negative emotions in particular’ we need to accept that the passing of negative emotions is more influential because of the group survival dynamic. One person with a negative emotion (anger, anxiety, fear, etc.) can infect a much larger group. People mimic others in their immediate vicinity: others will copy that behavior by experiencing that persons emotions and moods. 

Negative Moods and Emotions:
  • fear; 
  • anger; 
  • hostility; 
  • contempt; 
  • anxiety; 
  • sadness. 
Training and practicing and applying skills in regard to the group survival dynamic is when we develop skills through training that  are part of and participating in a situation comprised of two or more people, we will reason first from “feel,” then confirm our assessment based on observable, appropriate and justified indicators to achieve understanding followed by legal, appropriate and justifiable actions/behaviors. This is a process of achieving emotional maturity whereby we understand the how, why and what-for of emotions and moods so that we can resist the group survival dynamic from emotions and moods so that we may act in a way that deescalates a group dynamic from its more negative aspects. 

Collective Mood/Emotions:

The concepts are a concrete reality. Believe it. A combination of individual moods and emotions in any environment and situation  creates this collective mood-n-emotions. When people feel fear, anger and aggression, it is likely something has occurred or is present that is making them feel this way and to act the way they do. 

Emotions and moods are driven by our limbic system, our brains. This occurs out of sight, sound and touch of our consciousness. The amygdala is responsible, also for the detection of threats and also for preparing the body’s psychological and physical response. 

This why we get that gut feeling, the one we should ALWAYS  listen to. Being tuned in to your own emotional responses, emotional maturity, increases the speed at which you cognitively understand what is going on leading to properly trained and practiced and experienced responses - faster. One of the many ways we learn to bypass the OODA loops processes. 

When we feel emotions from others with emotional maturity we can detect and perceive how that effects us so when our cognizance realizes this, fast, we are still at a point we can control it so we don’t become infected leading to incorrect decisions and actions. 

It seems that the negative emotions effect us with greater force and power than our normal friendly loving emotions so we must become aware of and understand when those negative emotions and moods begin to influence us. 


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

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