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.

Sparring & Self-defense

A good question: “Does one need to regularly spar with a partner to be able to defend oneself in the street?”


Fense in the street come in two forms of either “social” or “asocial.” Most tend to learn how to deal with the social violence because that seems to be the one most encounter - mostly. The asocial type for most, is rare, and it often comes after you have failed “the test” which means you are already vulnerable and then the attack will be a total blitz like flurry of violence few can come back from for fense.


Before I continue you also have to deal with legal, civil, social and moral repercussions and consequences. For instance, in some systems certain methods are taught as self-defense, like groin attacks, eye gouged, biting, and others of similar nature, are actually not legal or fall into a category of perception used to sway a jury to convict.


In short sport oriented sanctioned fighting in the street are illegal! Know that there is a huge chasm between “fighting” and “defense.”


Add in attitudes created through training, practice and competition along with what terminology is associated with training that the systems will use to put you away.


For instance, using “combat” in your description of defense are interpreted by the uninitiated, tell them you are an aggressive fighter who broke the law.


Words matter: methodologies matter: methods matter: you actions before the encounter matter: your word and actions during the encounter matter: your go-nogo actions matter as the line is narrow and in constant motion: your words and actions after the encounter matter: perceptions of first responders on scene matter: perceptions and interpretations of the law matter: perceptions and interpretations of witnesses matter: media usage before, during and after matter because all this and more will be used by the system to win their case in court …


Now, to directly answer the question, NO regular sparring has its benefits but it is NOT conducive to street defense!” 


Imagine you have been scoped out by a predator and you failed the test. He knows he’s got you. Suddenly, a complete and total surprise, he attacks you from behind totally surprising you, your brain locked up in the first half of the loop, orienting, and due to the flurry of blows to the back of your head and neck you body refuses to respond. (He has done this a lot to other victims and has been successful every time because any sense it won’t be successful means he won’t target you anyway - they only attack if they are positive they will win - lots of easy prey out there)


In 99.9% of such attacks seldom does the victim recover and successfully defends themselves! It takes a unique and special person to successfully defend against these types of predatory attackers. 


Seldom does anyone train successfully to defend against such things. The ones that do read the road signs long before targeting ergo the predator tends to choose another target meaning, “train in awareness, detection, decide to avoid or escape and evade or to convey proper unspoken language that signals to the predator you ain’t so easy and today ain’t his day to attack you - just too much damn trouble 😈 


Yes, there are a ton of good teachings one can achieve in dojo sparring but for defense it’s a whole other ball game that just ain’t taught in most martial systems defense lessons.



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