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.

Group and Troop

Zoku [族] Butai [部隊]


“A troop is a group of a special sort set of by other group members by a closed and stable membership that makes it not just worth fighting for, but worthy of being labeled by a term of its own.” - Mark W. Moffett, ‘The Human Swarm’


“Despite traces of ongoing, even rapid human evolution in the past 10,000 years, the human brain hasn’t been restructured in any fundamental way since the appearance of the first Homo sapiens.” - Mark W. Moffett, ‘The Human Swarm’


Group: A human group is a social unit made up of people who share common interests or characteristics. These groups can range in size from small communities to large nations or even global organizations.


Troop: A human collective derived from a group that sets them off from said group that is of a closed and stable membership not of the original group that differs from said original. 


The military, in general, as a group while its individual services are troops within said group that differ in identity, beliefs and mission, i.e., Marines vs. Navy vs. Army vs. Air Forces, etc.


We see this in regard to what is called styles or systems that make up a singular martial discipline called, “karate.” Each style or system forming its own unique identity, i.e., Isshin vs. Goju vs. Shorin vs. Uechi, etc. They all adhere to the same fundamental principles yet each has its own identity, beliefs and philosophy. 


The group: Martial Disciplines

The troop: Chinese vs. Japanese vs. Okinawan, etc.

The sub-troops: Karate vs. Judo vs. Aikido vs. Tai Chi Chuan vs. Muay Tai, etc.


All of them have a fundamental connection in they deal with conflict and violence while doing so with a unique way developed or created by each groups creator or originator of unique identity. 


Limened to the quote, “All bottles are good, they all serve a purpose.” - Shimabuku Tatsuo, Okinawan Isshinryu founder/originator


Let’s get the names in order for the Marshall disciplines, I’m making group equal systems; and make troop equal styles.


A good example on how this works is the Isshinryu style. It was created from the major system of karate, by compiling and integrating style of Goju and Shorin, as well as the integration of kobudo or weapon into a new style, which in and of his self becomes a system.


Therefore, a system can give birth to an individual style that differs from the system as to identity and it’s uniqueness (yet retains a smidgeon of the original, i.e. Okinawan roots, etc.) thus forming a style under that system. As that style becomes unique and separate from the original system, it transforms into its own system under that system. This is why system & style are interchangeable, likened to the concept of yin/yang. 


This is the epitome of an example how the yin and yang concept works, being one system that interrelates yin and yang being two separate individual styles or systems that evolve into one new system.


This is also how you teach a style, by being rigid, yang; training, practicing and applying what is being learned in a rigid form until it reaches a point of transformation where the rigid becomes pliable through the application of creativity and various methodologies/concepts.


System & Style

Kei [系] & Yōshiki [様式]


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