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.

Situational Awareness (NAD)

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

Similar to MM’s remark you will read below, visit this link and read it and its associated links at the end of the article. In my mind, to understand SA you have to have a foundation of knowledge and understanding on which to utilize in every day awareness. There is a ton to read so to get started, go here: https://tinyurl.com/y4tdhxpo


Welcome back, that took some time so before continuing with your research take some time to absorb all that was written then come back and find out the additions I am passing along from a violence professional by the name of Marc MacYoung. Go on, take some time…


Mr. MacYoung’s word on the acronym N.A.D. or Normal, Abnormal, Dangerous. The normal and abnormal parts should be familiar by now because those terms were also used in the referenced book in my articles/posts. 


NAD’s (Normal, Abnormal, Dangerous)


Let's talk 'situational awareness' and why I have problems with how most people use the term.


At best situational awareness is a single wall of a larger building. You need to have a foundation for it to stand on, other walls and a roof. Without those, it falls down.


Too many people assume they have those when they don't. Worse, too many teachers try to teach situational awareness without having those other elements themselves. Without establishing some kind of clearly articulated base line 'situational awareness' floats off into la-la land.


What do I mean by a baseline? In our book "What You Don't Know Can Kill You: How most self-defense training will put you into prison or the ground" Jenna Meek and I introduce the concept of NAD (Normal, Abnormal, Dangerous)


What is 'normal' behavior for an environment? (Until you know this you CAN'T spot Abnormal, much less Dangerous, behavior.)


What is 'abnormal' behavior for an environment? (Hint, most abnormal behavior is 'known' and not dangerous.)


'Dangerous' behavior has unique traits. Traits that only combine when there is danger. (This includes when the predator is trying to hide them.)


NAD a foundational concept for situational awareness that most people either

  1. don't know
  2. may know, but don't articulate.

Instead they focus on collecting skills and tacti-kool terms. Terms they deem 'situation awareness.' Here's a question, can you 'defend' those terms? Believe me when I tell you that any term you use you'll have to defend against questions like "How did you know he wasn't...?"


Can you do that? If you have NADs under your belt you can. - posted on https://tinyurl.com/y2axvtez by Marc MacYoung


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Awareness, with specificity toward threats that pose a danger of grave harm and/or death. This is a primary goal of our training for self-protection. There are a few factors that one must understand and have the ability to apply efficiently to achieve situational awareness:

  • An understanding of the concept of the OODA, the loop created to achieve faster actions and reactions in stressful situations. (Observation, Orientation, Decisions and Actions)
  • An understanding of the principles of observation, i.e., kinesics, biometrics, proxemics, geographic’s, iconography, and atmospherics
    • these six principles if taken properly to their full measure in understanding and applying will give the most weight to understanding true situational awareness. 
    • I quote, “These six observational skills capture the most significant aspects of human behavior in simple terms that aid practitioners in establishing solid situational awareness useful in almost all situations and environments. 
    • Van Horne, Patrick. "Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps Combat Hunter Program." Black Irish Entertainment LLC. June 13, 2014. 
  • Comprehensive understanding of criminals, criminal activity and the threat these pose as well as the understanding of social violence, that which most face even on a daily basis because that is how our species expresses conflicts and violence compared to the more predatory asocial types of violence. 
    • used in a decision making process…
  • Comprehensive understanding of the legal system and the social ramifications and effects on conflict and violence as addendums to all other aspects of situational awareness because that brings to totality of knowledge and understanding to the practitioner that supports and feeds situational awareness. 
    • used in a decision making process…
  • Understanding as to how emotions are involved and effect situations (see observational principles above).
    • reading the overall mood of a situation as well as the emotional moods of the people and the individual who may be involved in the overall threat detected. 
    • moods and emotions are contagious especially the negative emotions, etc.

NOTES - About SW


Situational awareness + proactive identification of threats, the ability to read the mood of a situation is a part of that situational awareness. The ability to pick up on the atmospherics of a situation can be a life saver, like the customer who strolls into a convenience story and while shopping detects an anomaly that turns out to be a robbery in progress. Backs out of the store entrance, uses the cell and informs 911 of events as they unfold. 


Moods and emotions are first experienced subconsciously, in any given situation, where we have that "spidey sense" that something is amiss and that is our emotional signals telling us that something is an anomaly to our normal lives so being attuned to our own emotional responses in any given situation will increase the speed of our cognitive understanding as to what is actually going on.


MORE on SA:


Introduction to Situational Awareness 

The Totality of Awareness

Informed and Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness

Another Perspective on Situational Awareness


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

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