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.

Friend of Water

 Mizu no tomo [水の友]


This is a deep theme in both Eastern philosophy and martial arts thought. The qualities of water have long been used as metaphor and principle in karate and other martial disciplines, both in Okinawan and Japanese traditions. Below I’ll break it down with references.


1. Philosophical Roots: Water in Eastern Thought

• Daoism (Taoism): The Dao De Jing emphasizes that water is soft and yielding, yet overcomes the hard and rigid. Laozi states:

“Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water. Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong.” (Dao De Jing, ch. 78)

This principle influenced Zen and by extension Japanese martial philosophy.

     • Zen Buddhism: Zen used water imagery to explain the mind—calm, reflective, adaptable. A disturbed surface represents a disturbed spirit; still water reflects truth.

     • Okinawan and Japanese Budo: Karate inherited these philosophies through cultural transmission from China to Okinawa and Japan. Teachers often used nature metaphors—water, wind, fire—to explain combative principles.


2. Water as a Martial Metaphor in Karate


a. Adaptability & Flexibility

• Water takes the shape of its container—just as karateka adapt to an opponent and situation.

• Bruce Lee (though not a karateka, but heavily influenced by Zen and Okinawan/Japanese martial principles) famously stated: “Be water, my friend.” This was rooted in the same philosophies.


b. Persistence & Power

• Over time, water erodes rock—symbolizing persistence in training and the inevitability of technique over brute force.

• In karate, this relates to the value of repetition (keiko) and patient refinement.


c. Dual Nature: Softness & Force

• Gentle as a stream, destructive as a wave—karate techniques range from subtle redirection to explosive strikes.

• In bunkai (application), a block can be soft (absorbing, redirecting) or hard (crashing, smashing), just as water can yield or strike.


d. Flow & Continuity

• Water flows without interruption. Karate movements are ideally continuous, blending offense and defense rather than stopping abruptly.

• The principle of nagare (flow) in budo reflects this.


e. Stillness & Reflection

• Calm water reflects like a mirror—just as a karateka’s mind should be calm and receptive, not clouded by anger or fear (mushin, “no-mind”).

• Disturbed water distorts vision, just as a disturbed mind impairs perception.


3. Applications in Karate Training

     • Kata: Movements alternate between slow/soft and fast/powerful—like shifting states of water.

     • Kumite: The principle of nagare (flowing sparring) embodies water’s adaptability—never rigid, always adjusting.

     • Breathing: Karate breathing (ibuki) is compared to waves—inhale softly, exhale strongly.

     • Defense: Redirection of force is likened to water flowing around an obstacle rather than colliding head-on.


4. Voices from Karate Masters

• Gichin Funakoshi (Shotokan founder): Emphasized adaptability and spirit over rigidity, echoing water-like principles (Funakoshi, Karate-Do: My Way of Life).

• Chojun Miyagi (Goju-ryu founder): His very style name means Hard-Soft School. The “soft” (ju) often equated with water-like yielding.

• Kenwa Mabuni (Shito-ryu founder): Taught balance between force and flow—water symbolism appears in his writings on adaptability.

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5. Summary: The Water Philosophy in Karate


Water teaches karateka:

     • To be adaptable (change with circumstance).

      • To be persistent (train continuously, refine endlessly).

      • To embody duality (soft and hard, yielding and striking).

• To maintain flow (continuous, uninterrupted motion).

• To cultivate stillness (clarity of mind and perception).


References

• Laozi. Dao De Jing, ch. 8, 78.

• Funakoshi, Gichin. Karate-Do: My Way of Life. Kodansha, 1981.

• Bishop, Mark. Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques. A&C Black, 1999.

• Nagamine, Shoshin. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do. Tuttle, 1976.

• Miyagi, Chojun. Writings on Goju-Ryu philosophy (see translation in Morio Higaonna’s The History of Karate: Okinawan Goju-Ryu, Dragon Books, 1995).

• Lee, Bruce. Striking Thoughts. Tuttle, 2000 (for comparative philosophy).



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