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.

Rank/Belts

Dan'i [段位]


http://the-martial-way.com/history-of-belts-in-kyokushin-karate/


It was to be the beginning of a very humid and hot summer as my plane landed in the Naha airport where I was beginning my tour of duty on the island of karate, “Okinawa!”


After processing through customs 🛃, and a strange ride on the proverbial wrong side of the road I reported in to my command at Camp Hansen, just outside the village of “Kin” or what we referred to as Kin-ville.


I was assigned as the Motor-T licensing SNCO of Truck Company, 3rd FSSG, Okinawa Japan. 


It was to be, in about two weeks later, that our new Company First Sergeant would report in and at our introduction find out he would become my Isshinryu Karate Sensei. He started a dojo through special services in the Camp Hansen gym.


Over the years, 1968 to 1975, I had trained in various martial arts in a more or less sporadic way but First Sergeant Henry would inspire me into a life long practice and study of the Okinawan karate called Isshinryu.


Isshinryu had and has a very intimate relationship with the Marines because many of the pioneers of American karate were first-generation students of Isshinryu’s creator, Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei. Our history with isshinryu began in the early to mid-fifties. First Sergeant Henry was one of those pioneers who also trained with isshinryu pioneer Don Nagle.


Ok, now that we have set this story fundamentally, I want to discuss the belt or rank system I was led to understand from Henry Sensei.


At the start Okinawan’s didn’t have the dogi or karate-gi or the belts. In Tatsuo’s honbu dojo it was the generosity of his American students who brought in the dogi and belts.


As Henry Sensei passed to me, the early pioneers had the white belt, green belt and black belt. A few months later the brown belt was added.


It was also felt by the early pioneers that Tatsuo-San, known as and referred to as, “Papa-san,” deserved to be rated “master” of his new system, style, of Isshinryu karate-do (and kobudo). 


Now, as to the accuracy of this I would say it depends as most historical data of karate is all word of mouth. 


As to the rank or grade system of karate, the following article feels to be the best explanation of its history.


White beltLevel of purity and potential

Orange BeltLevel of stability

Blue BeltLevel of fluidity, adaptability

Yellow BeltLevel of assertion

Green BeltEmotion/Sensitivity Level

Brown beltPractical / creative level


http://the-martial-way.com/history-of-belts-in-kyokushin-karate/


Go Game


Traditionally, the level of players has been defined using kyu and dan ranks. Kyu ranks are considered student ranks.


Dan ranks are considered master ranks. Beginners who have just learned the rules of the game are usually around 30th kyu. As they progress, they advance numerically downwards through the kyu grades. The best kyu grade attainable is therefore 1st kyu. 


If players progress beyond 1st kyu, they will receive the rank of 1st dan, and from then on will move numerically upwards through the dan ranks.


In martial arts, 1st dan is the equivalent of a black belt. The very best players may achieve a professional dan rank.


Origin


The first Go ranks were given in 2nd century (CE) China, when Handan Chun (Chinese: 邯郸) described the 9 Pin Zhi (九品制) ranking system in his book Classic of Arts (艺经). From the early 17th century, the Japanese formalised the teaching and ranking of Go.[5] The system was later used in martial arts schools; and is thought to be derived originally from court ranks in China. It is thought that the fact that there are 9 professional dan grades finds its base in the original 9 Chinese Pin Zhi grades.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_ranks_and_ratings


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