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.

Karate Koan: “How Many Sides on a Circle?”

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


The overall answer to this one is, "It depends." That is where the conundrum comes into play because it does depend on circumstances along with beliefs, philosophies and both perceptions and concepts. The question alone can trigger a mind boggling set of answers all dependent on, "It depends." 


The overall answer to this one is now, “What limitations are you going to put on the answer?”


It can be said a circle, closed, has only one side and that is the side on the outer aspect that makes a circle. Some may assume that inside a circle does not exist but if it does then there are two sides to a circle. 


It can be said that a circle is made of of degrees and that if we conceive each degree of the circle is a place holder for a person to stand than each degree becomes a side so there are 360 sides to each circle and if that is possible then each degree on the inside of the circle gives us 720 sides. 


Of course if you use the four points of the globe, i.e., north, south, east and west, much like in the ancient classics then you have only four sides to that circle and there are not inner sides because the four points of north, south, east and west would not exist making the inner part of the circle - void. Thinking this way one who applies martial skills and methodologies does not have a way to apply those skills to the inner part of the opponent unless you can allow the inner part of the circle to have substance, i.e., likened to one’s psychological side of the mind then one can apply certain psychological princples and methodologies to an adversary’s mind to enhance those outer physical skills and methodologies to defeat the opponent in the conflict often coming with violence - both physical as the outer circle and mental as the inner side or sides of the circle. 


You see, so far, that without any additional qualifications to the question thereby narrowing down all the possibilities there is often no end to the responses you can provide when applying thought and creativity to a karate koan such as “How many sides on a circle?” If you don’t qualify it like this, “How many literal sides are on a drawn one dimensional circle?” Then you have limitations and obstacles and restrictions to guide you toward a more direct and literal answer. 


This once again adds to the last answer because now we know that depending on things this circle now has multi-directional capabilities beyond a singular, one dimensional drawn circle so that 360 degree now also has 360 more degrees at every original degree mark leaving us with an almost, seemingly, infinite set of sides or possibilities making the basic concept of, “It depends,” even more complex in its simplicity. 


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

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