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.

Challenge Pushups and Karate

It all began when someone developed what is called, "Chinkuchi Pushup Bars," that was contested (by me I think) due to some anomalies along with concern for the reality of what the bars accomplished and symbolized. This led to the "challenge pushup bars" I lean toward to accomplish a more realistic physiokinetic reality based objective and skill. 


First, the chinkuchi bars are hand made and cost about $300. Hm, that is pretty expensive and when you see a pair then get a bit creative you can make your own for about $30. Just because they have the titled that was awarded by a luminary in the Okinawan karate communities does not make it so and it also DOES NOT make in NOT so. (double negative in there somewhere ;-) )


Second, if you define chinkuchi then relate that meaning and understanding (by the way even one of the most experienced, knowledgable and expert karate-ka I know of today still cannot truly relate the concept soooo) of that to the chinkuchi bars and how they are performed you find some interesting pro's/con's as to their validity and viability. 


This is why, when I first created my own set of both the chinkuchi bars and the challenge pushup bars I began an analysis and comparison to my understanding of the chinkuchi principle. Most of my on-going collective understanding of all three, i.e., first, chinkuchi; second, chinkuchi bar and pushup; third, challenge bar and pushups, I began to relate chinkuchi to fundamental principles and the benefit of the bars to the "stability and stabilizing skills of our muscles, bones, tendons, etc., that contribute to the application of force and power of our bodies, particularly the fist, to an adversary or opponent (predator vs. competitor). 


All of this can be found in the following list of references found at the end of this article. 


So, the graphic I am including are the three sets of challenge pushup bars that can be made for less than $30 from any hardware store and can be used in order to achieve stronger stabilization of our muscles, bones and sinew to apply strikes and punches of the most effective and powerful kind and that is what we all want anyway, right.

  • Stage One: this set has a short single leg as seen in the graphic so that a beginner, not necessarily in karate or to physical fitness but rather to challenge pushups, can begin development of stabilizing musculature.
  • Stage Two: a medium length of the single leg as seen in the graphic that adds greater instability to challenge the musculature to maintain a stable pushup structure to build up the ability of the stabilizing muscles, bone, and sinew. 
  • Stage Three: this is the final set with the longest single leg as seen in the graphic and I have found this one the most challenging to date. This does not mean that a longer one cannot be made and used but I have found stage three to be sufficient to get the job done taking in the concept of diminishing returns often found in physics once you begin to apply the concept in the reality of nature, the world and our universe. 


So, last remark is a warning that one should use all the recommendations including a protective floor cover to ensure that accidents don’t happen that could result in sprains, etc. to the wrist or hands. You must be able to do standard regulation military types of pushups before even attempting the challenge pushups. DO NOT ATTEMPT using these without proper guidance and a good deal of caution. 


When you actually become proficient in challenge pushups you will see marked improvement in karate as to makiwara, heavy bag, and other types of practice and training. 


Using the Challenge Pushup Bars

Chinkuchi Pushup Bars or Challenge Pushup Bars Chinkuchi/Challenge Pushup Analysis/Research

Grip & Stabilization

Pushups

Homemade Challenge Bars

Challenge Push-up Bars...

Chinkuchi and Pushups


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