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.

Natural Anatomical Armor

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

Natural armor, not the manufactured kind but the kind you create through training, practice and experiences. Karate-ka today and in the past all work out hard, use various pieces of equipment (hojo undo stuff or weights or what ever is in the gym) to build up the muscle mass similar to what folks do to build up a "body builders" physique. 

Yes, size matters but it also depends. For instance, building muscles up larger than nature intended for the size skeletal frame you were born with had both benefits and obstacles to its use especially in violent situations. Yes, mass as to weight also matters and again it comes down to height and frame size as well because as with all things there is a balance point, think the middle of a yin/yang principled trait/concept. 

Moving mass and applying methodologies in a principled based efficient and effective way to maximize power and force is better than the perceived benefits of body building, etc. I think you get the picture and one important part of that picture is knowing your body and mind so you can achieve balance in strength, mass/size and efficient/effective application of the physical/mental as already described. Exceeding or falling short in any of the area's that achieve balance may have a benefit but as with nature, it always has a detriment so finding that out and finding its benefit/detriment ratio to your objective and goals in karate, competition and/or self-protection for self-defense will influence how, why and what you achieve in your regimen toward that goal or objective. 

It would also be best understood that mere muscle mass and strength, although excellent body armor in general, it not the best for self-protection where strong muscle development that fits one's frame and height with a balance of muscular strength and muscular stabilizing strength is solid. Development of this type of body builds mass that fits the frame and height size allowing a person to utilize it in ways that protect the body through both movement and muscular development. It maximizes the ability to move, to apply speed and also protection. Remember that we have no information/data on who, when, where and how a predator is going to attack. Remember that we have no information/data on our awareness simply because if they choose us as targets it is often because our awareness is low or gone resulting in a state of non-readiness leaving us surprised, off balance and exposed to rapid damage and an OO bounce state of mind. 

Having a well rounded body-mind state of being as it goes toward health, fitness and mental stability means creating a mind-body state that is able to deal with maximum efficient, effectiveness and ability/durability to stop such an attack, regain advantage, stop the damage and end the encounter.  

Remember, even the best strategies, tactics and abilities will not provide full and complete protection because that is NOT the way nature made us. That is why there are certain methodologies that will unbalance, kills structure and balance regardless of how superior we develop the body and mind. That is why natural anatomical armor development and maintenance depends on other factors, concepts and traits such as movement, i.e., when others target certain vulnerabilities our movement, dynamic, will change things resulting in deflection of just plain missing the target. 

How best to develop a solid, effective and natural anatomical armor of our bodies. First and foremost, avoidance along with escape-n-evasion are still your best defense. 
  1. Know your frame size.
  2. Eat nutritious and healthy foods and drinks.
  3. Strengthen your muscular system to its maximum according to your frame and height.
  4. Diversify your strength building toward stability strength along side regular physical strength. 
  5. Learn fundamental principles with emphasis on physiokinetic's. 
  6. Learn how to remain in the now, the present moment. 
  7. Train, practice and experience those reality-based adrenal stress-conditioned methods, tactics and strategies. 
  8. Train, practice and experience applicable movement while applying methods, etc.
    • movement is critical because those vulnerable parts of the body unprotected by bone or muscle can only avoid damage, etc., by our movement, i.e., moving the body and body part out of the line of attack so the method misses, etc. 
  9. Develop the mind toward understanding those things that drive conflict and violence. 
  10. Make sure you are having FUN while doing what it is you do. 
  11. Enhance stability through heavy bag work, challenge pushups, makiwara and karada-kitai (body hardening/conditioning regimen). 
Understand that movement is a critical concept and method to avoid damage whether you move to avoid it altogether or you move so that the method fails to hit its target. Kata, in and of itself has a ton of things to teach us but one area it fails in is movement where the system of kung-fu tends to teach movement very well while applying a flurry of method and methodologies. 

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

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