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 Should Be Effortless

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

I recently read a posting by a well known karate-ka who said, as a lead in to a video of a leading Isshinryu sensei, karate should be effortless. It got my ole grey matter a churning and it came to the forefront on my thoughts that karate by its inherent origins and traditions is NOT an effortless discipline. 

  • Yes, power is about effortlessness;
  • Yes, force is about effortlessness;
  • Yes, efficiency is about effortlessness;
  • Yes, effectiveness is about effortlessness;
  • Yes, I can go on but you, my reader, get the picture - right?

Observing karate and its practitioners it becomes very apparent that karate as currently utilized wastes a great deal of energy in its application in training and practice.


Tai Chi Chuan is easily observed as effortless but it seems like karate-ka are trying to force their methodologies and I know from experience, mine and others, this to be true. 


Americans can be fixated on what they think, and therefore believe something looks and feels strong while actually diminishing and depleting energy and force and power within without maximizing the power and force necessary for self-protection for self-defense. This is a major fault in karate because the fundamental principles that govern the manifest of power and force in a conflict tells us, proven by professionals with experience in violence, the application must feel and is effortless. 


Don’t get me wrong, at one time so very long ago karate, called “Ti (tea), was used effectively, so we have been told because there is little to no documentation of fact to that belief.


Karate does have its uses for training the mind and body and spirit YET it has been proven by professionals who are experts in conflict and violence that karate, in and of itself as a discipline, is NOT an effective skill for conflict and violence regardless of what the leaders of the karate community say, believe and teach.


First and foremost karate would require major adjustments to become an effective tool for self-defense. It’s methodologies and methods, yes there is a difference, would need an overhaul few will do and dissonance along with biases as well as setting aside certain beliefs are huge roadblocks not to forget the commercial influences one would have to overcome to get karate where it becomes effortless for the benefit of self-defense for self-protection for the reality of conflict as well as its violence.


Karate is not effortless; it is not effective for defense and protection; it IS a form of entertainment much like membership at a gym for health and fitness. 


Going back to those two professionals, watching the video you see dynamic tensioning, etc., including that participants stand toe-to-toe while practicing and maybe movement forward and backward using unnecessary effort of muscling it to perform/practice the drill all the while explaining how it all must look effortless and failing while doing it. 


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

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