My Personal Martial Philosophy: May 2015

Please take a moment to read this post first, i.e. "A Different Perspective," before diving into this blog. Your comments, suggestions and participation are greatly appreciated.
Please take a look at Notable Quotes, enjoy.
Please take a look at the bibliography if you do not see a proper reference to a post.

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.

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.

“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

Friday, May 29, 2015

Belonging

Caveat: 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.

This article is mine and mine alone. I the author of this article assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and/or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this article. (Everything I think and write is true, within the limits of my knowledge and understanding. Oh, and just because I wrote it and just because it sounds reasonable and just because it makes sense, does not mean it is true.)

“The urge to belong is powerful...but it’s not always healthy!” - Michael Clarke Sensei, Shinseidokan Dojo

Humans survive in groups and these groups survive by the humans that belong to that group. This creates a strong pull to belong regardless of which group. We naturally and instinctively seek out groups where we may fit, fit somewhere in the hierarchy of that group. Humans gravitate toward like-minded groups or groups with like disciplines such as martial styles in dojo’s.

As long as that group, or dojo, have a healthy group dynamic it tends to flourish to the groups mutual benefit. There is a point when a group such as a martial art dojo pass that healthy point into the realm of unhealthy. That point is not always obvious, it can be muted by a gradual morphing of the groups dynamic and that is important to the group and its leadership, the ability to detect, see and react to such points.

One of the traits of a group that has passed beyond the healthy point is one that vehemently and sometimes violently resists any type of change or even questioning of their beliefs and belief system. Even when presented with irrefutable proof they disbelieve and resist violently. Another “tell” a Sensei must observe and defend against to maintain a healthy group or dojo.

Humans lie, it may be a whopper or it may be what some term as a “White lie.” How that works is also complex but most often those while lies are considered truths and we humans will do what is necessary to promote that belief especially toward ourselves. We adamantly lie to promote the very fact that, “we (or I) don’t lie.”

Belonging is a very powerful drive in all of us, it results in conflict, violence, violent conflicts and all the lies we tell to children to promote, support and ensure survival of the group and its members. This is a drug especially for those who lead such a group. The loss of that status can drive humans to do things they would insist, normally, as impossible. Healthy? Not Healthy?

Such things may even be the sounding bells toll of group demise. There very essence of group importance toward survival is the one most familiar we all call, “Family.” Wars have been fought over family issues, both internally and more socially in the larger groups called, “Countries.” No where will you find humans gathering that groups are not dominant and necessary.

Humans have the drive to collect this way because it is human nature to connect and socially participate in groups, can you say neighbors and neighborhoods. Start to see now how dojo’s connect to honbu dojo that gave birth to dojo groups often referred to as “Associations” and so on?

When a style of martial art divides into separate tribal like factions it is not due to that style itself but rather a divide with one or more of its members. When there is discord that cannot be resolved then those who are in discord tend to gravitate apart forming new groups (this can be attributed toward the creation of styles itself) leading to changes indicative of that persons beliefs thus creating a whole new belief system that supports that new group or tribe or dojo or association. This occurs due to human nature and has nothing to do with the true essence of combative disciplines, the system that supports them and transcends such human needs.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Style vs. System

Style: a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed; a manner of doing something; design or make in a particular form; designate with a particular name, description, or title.

System: a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole; a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method.

It should be noted that I have used both style and system somewhat interchangeably when writing articles. In essence that is incorrect. I used them interchangeably to describe things in martial arts. That was inaccurate and incorrect.

In truth, a style of martial art is how someone or some group designates and distinctive manner of performing that form of martial arts, i.e., be it karate - a striking style vs. kendo - a sword or weapons style. A system in martial disciplines is that underlying method that is a set of principles, i.e., such as the fundamental principles that drive how one strikes or kicks through physiokinetics, etc.

When I refer to a martial system I am trying to get practitioners, readers, to focus on those underlying foundation of all styles, the principles that make any one style work and actually transcends “Styles.” I don’t think I actually explained that to this degree and find my articles needed the clarity.

A style therefore, from my perspective and perception, is more about the individual personal rendition and practice that makes it unique to that individual and/or group such as the hard style of goju-ryu over a softer style such as shorin-ryu. They both rely heavily on principles, the same in both, yet the individual expresses them through the individualized distinction of the created style.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Emotional Self-Control

Caveat: This article is mine and mine alone. I the author of this article assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and/or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this article. (Everything I think and write is true, within the limits of my knowledge and understanding. Oh, and just because I wrote it and just because it sounds reasonable and just because it makes sense, does not mean it is true.)

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

Wow, another one that just didn’t occur to me like my early days of learning self-defense-martial-arts, doah - avoidance and deescalation - doah. I have studied this for a while now and every thing I have studied always, always mentions some emotional issue leading toward conflict, violence and violent conflict. Wow, let me say that one more time, Wow!

I think back and find that I can relate almost all my conflicts to some emotional loss of control, in myself. Rory Miller calls our emotional side the monkey brain and I can understand that the monkey gets us into a lot of trouble or if already there exacerbates/escalates that trouble toward more - damaging ground. Ain’t that the shits?

Well, I was once saying that avoidance was a real big deal in self-defense and now I can, at the very least, add emotional self-control in there maybe higher or at least equal footing in the self-defense practices. Maybe look at all three as floating abilities that can be implemented according to the situation you face at any given time for any given moment - emotional self-control/avoidance/deescalation.

More on Self-Defense Martial Arts

We are socially conditioned. The conditioning I refer to is about conflict, violence and violent conflict. That distinct human form of communications, i.e., what the social survival groups we gravitate toward use to establish status, hierarchy and the rules, etc., necessary for that group or tribes survival. It appears to me that groups of folks who were educated by various media such as television, movies and now the socially driven monkey governed media that uses phones to frame certain agenda’s and so on.

“Almost all of society is set up to perpetually brainwash them so that they never remember their own power.” - Rory Miller, Chiron Blog “Convergence dtd Thursday, May 21, 2015

As I understand tho, there are many groups in the world that still understand our human nature in this regard and still govern accordingly. Not the news media dominant ones we are currently conducting violent actions with such as Iraq and/or Afghanistan, etc. but ones that are not exactly on our rader - at least not yet but who knows when their way will inflame our senses or scare the piss out of us.

In a recent article I read it was explained, and I accept, that it is not all that hard physically to do others damage or even kill them but it is about that social conditioning from our society that stops conflict and violence at all levels or at least tries to discourage what society perceives as unacceptable forms of conflict and violence. It is all a matter of perspective according to knowledge + experience = understanding of such complex issues, etc.

How do we bridge that gap so that we can apply appropriate physical actions in self-defense, especially in the preferred model of gaining a preferred and safer distance and orientation from a duel type model along with all the adrenal charged stress conditions, i.e., chemical dump with its emotional monkey driven parts?

Most martial arts systems of self-defense fail to address, as I have posted many times, those issues necessary to actually and properly teach self-defense. In addition to all that has previously been written here there are a few other issues to address, thanks to Rory Miller for pointing them out, such as how we drill self-defense techniques, i.e., making the “Attacks to be attacks with speed, commitment, intent, strong, etc. (for more read his latest, Convergence here: http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/2015/05/convergence.html )

It is not about just “Fighting very hard,” but far more, more than what is taught in self-defense martial arts - mostly. The good thing is that this kind of stuff is getting out there and influencing how things are done. At least in my mind for those who are not just giving lip service to learning self-defense for ego esteem boosting reasons but for real life applications. This is exciting stuff.

Read Rory Miller’s post/article, I found many parts extremely relevant to self-defense in martial arts training.

Bibliography:

Miller, Rory. “Convergence.” Chiron Blog. Thursday, May 21, 2015: http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/2015/05/convergence.html

Friday, May 22, 2015

Knowledge + Experience = Understanding

To understand you have to have knowledge. Knowledge cannot be achieve without experience. Experience tempers knowledge that leads to understanding. Then we ask, “What level of experience must be acquired to temper knowledge properly so that its blade and edge will endure, build and foster understanding?” When will the knowledge we seek and acquire achieve its proper level toward understanding?

It is felt that to understand something you have to acquire knowledge about that something but to reach to the highest levels of understanding you must experience that something first hand. To gain experience then means you have to spend enough time in that something so that you experience as many facets, levels and true depth of something to effect and change the knowledge to relevancy and validity building understanding.

Knowledge is the easiest part of understanding something, one can accumulate many things in an academic way but that alone does not lead to understanding. What level of experience then is necessary to morph knowledge into understanding and does both experience and understanding require what level of knowledge.

Does this even make sense and if it does how does it contribute to knowledge and experience so that I understand?

Take Self-defense martial disciplines that claim to teach reality self-defense, is that model one of proper knowledge? Proper experience? and do those who participate in such programs truly understand self-defense. In SD-MA the focus is on the knowledge of physical application of techniques, is this enough knowledge and experience of practice to achieve understanding?

What would be a minimal level of knowledge?

What would be a minimal level of experience? What kind of experience would reach a minimal level?

What would be a minimal level of understanding so that application would be appropriate from knowledge and experience?

Ain’t life a hoot, ain’t knowledge, experience and understanding a hoot too? One thing I am absolutely sure of, if you wish to understand something you have to be open to a vast amount of knowledge, be willing to experience a great deal and then you must work diligently to understand it all so it will apply to life (especially if life is about all levels of conflict, violence and violent conflict.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Finding Balance in Martial Practices

I practice both “Chi Gong,” and “Tai Chi Chuan.” Both have contributed heavily toward my martial practice. It comes down to “How you practice kata.” There is no one way to use kata. Like the softer practice of shorin kata vs. the harder sanchin like practice of goju kata. It all depends.

You mention kata as a balance exercise, that too depends on what you mean by balance. In a literal sense not but two short years ago I was struck down with a “Vertigo” attack. Man, that vertigo was really bad and it took me another two years to get my balance back (very close to back to the way it was but not totally back). I can tell you that my kata, my tai chi and my chi gong exercise/practice are the only reason I got 99.9% of my balance back.

You see, when such things happen it changes your brain so I had to reboot and reprogram my brain and body to reacquire my physical balance.

Now, if you are talking about a balance of mind, body and spirit then that discussion needs about a book or two to just get out the fundamentals. When I think of balance I think of how I balance out many different things especially in martial disciplines such as balance out my attitude with the encountering of conflict, violence and violent conflict. You see, in those areas if my balance is heavy toward the pure physical I might prevail while failing, i.e., win the fight but end up in jail and all that entails.

If you do a little more research you will find that the traditional masters tended to use kata along with the tools of hojo-undo, etc. to build heath, strength and well-being (all balanced). So the answer is “Yes and No” because they all used other disciplines to maintain strong and capable bodies, mind, and spirits.

Another balance I can think of is the implementation and execution of martial techniques through a balanced, as in proper proportions as dictated by each unique situation in self-defense, application of physiokinetics. Take that a bit further in the striking arts of karate where we tend to train ourselves out of balance for defense with the focus on the strikes, i.e., the use of the fist to hit or be hit. We tend to lean heavily on our fists because that is what we are and were taught. After all, karate is about the empty hand. The balance is skewed even with the empty-handed reference where we forget that the open-hand strikes are actually superior to the closed fist and so on.

Balance is one of those things where overall if we don’t achieve balance in martial theory, physiokinetic, techniques and philosophy then we skew our application of it in defense and thus in life. In the last forty years or so I have come to believe that the true nature of our existence is to find “Balance.” You know, a bit like “Yin-n-Yang or better Yin-Yang.”

The “Art” of Karate (Martial “Arts”)

First, this article is inspired by a short video made by Jesse Enkamp of “Karate by Jesse” fame, here it is give it a listen:

I found that Enkamp Sensei spoke well on the subject of what it means to him when he labels his karate an art. A key feature here is learning and change, the acceptance of both as something intrinsic toward the practice of an art.

In my article today I am going to go a bit further in how I explain the “Art” of karate or any Martial “Art.” To study and practice an art is an art unto itself simply because it involves so many concepts and attitudes of being a human “Being.”

Art is literally, “An ‘Expression’ or ‘Application” of human creative skill and imagination. It is most often expressed in a visual form such as a painting or sculpture but for the art of a martial discipline it is expressed in things like “Attitude, Demeanor, Skill (Physically, Mentally and Philosophically), etc.”

What makes such expressions and applications unique in a martial discipline like, “Karate,” is that it inter-connects mind, body and spirit through actions, thoughts, and deeds along with those expressions and applications that result in byproducts such as health, fitness, well-bing and that intrinsic ability to apply that expertise for that human condition in all things concerning conflict, violence and violent conflict - especially those that are about human communications, etc.

The branches of “Art” most are familiar with come as creative activities that produce concreter forms such as paintings, music, literature and dance as can be readily observed and studied through Okinawan cultural dances that inter-connect with martial practices such as karate. The biggest difference in martial disciplines is the product or expression and applications go beyond mere presentation observation and into actual action that permeates every facet of one’s life, not just dojo life.

Art is also personal expression and application of one’s culture and cultural beliefs of a esoteric kind that permeates the art of martial discipline. It is that expression and application of things like, “Self-awareness, Self-discipline, Self-analysis, Personal Growth, ability toward acceptance and change, etc.” In other words an ability toward flexibility and acceptance of the impermanence of life and therefore that of the art itself where growth and enlightenment is a product of the practice, training, expression and application of the discipline of choice.

A Martial “Art” allows the distinction and differences of systems upon which princples are used as foundation so that each systems expressions and applications although different still remain steadfast to the underlying principles so that all forms achieve efficiency, proficiency, expression, application toward all of life’s situations, etc.

When we express our application of martial disciplines we achieve group inter-connectedness that fosters societal cultural cohesion that literally expresses an individuality with others making for a unique and surviving social belief system that benefits the entire group.

This and many other personal aspects lead toward what makes martial disciplines an “Art” while retaining and maintaining the system or disciplines traditional origins of defense, fighting and combatives. The art allows us to achieve more while the origins or essence provides us the tools to combat life’s obstacles of conflict, violence and violent conflicts - that permeate every facet of living as humans.

Blind Acceptance

When does one’s training, practice and study of martial disciplines become “blind acceptance” of everything being taught? There must come a point when a student/practitioner steps into the twilight zone of blind acceptance followed closely by stagnant dogmatic belief. Is the point where even teachers, instructors and sensei begin to believe in things impossible such as the projection of “Ki Energy?”

I speak from experience because in many facets of my life that includes my martial practice and teachings where I thought that what I was “Preaching” was actually true and irrefutable then one day I started to see, listen and feel something amiss. I would find that things didn’t actually work the way I thought and that many of the proverbial “Facts” I had didn’t actually pan out as true or even possible. Then I began to “Question.”

Questioning is a good thing. It is always good to validate, verify and use several sources to achieve a better understanding of things. This is the rub with this as well, this model can also lead you to blind acceptance because I have also learned that even with this type of effort things change. Things change making the previous fact no longer a fact, true or even relevant because of changes in our environment, our society, our cultures and our beliefs.

Remember that at one time people believed to the point that they would act violently to keep that belief of the world being flat until one day an accumulation of evidence finally showed beyond a doubt that our world is actually round (actually it isn’t round but more egg shaped but who wants to split atoms, ops hairs?).

In martial arts and disciplines blind acceptance can also actually lead to one’s death or at the very least great bodily harm. Then we can compound that with legal issues, jail time and family destruction and dissolution.

In my view this means martial arts and discipline training, especially that of self-defense, must remain self-aware of blind acceptance. I advocate relevant questioning when doubts rise up. I also advocate questions when you feel something missing even when you understand. Self-awareness of our lizard brain when it tickles your alarms, that spidey sense tingles, you should ask questions even if they are asking questions to yourself. Do this before you encounter conflict, violence and violent conflict.

Note: Even with understanding this I still have to work hard not to remain blindly in acceptance of those things I believe.

Primary Bibliography of Self-Defense (Some titles have RBC drills included):

MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.

Miller, Rory Sgt. "Meditations of Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence" YMAA Publishing. 2008.

Bibliography Articles on Self-Defense/Conflict/Violence

The Players in Self-Defense http://ymaa.com/articles/2015/1/the-players-in-self-defense

The Practical Problem of Teaching Self-Defense http://ymaa.com/articles/2015/1/the-practical-problem-of-teaching-self-defense

I.M.O.P. Principle—Intent, Means, Opportunity and Preclusion http://ymaa.com/articles/2014/10/imop-principle-intent-means-opportunity-and-preclusion

Account for Adrenaline http://ymaa.com/articles/2014/09/account-for-adrenaline

Common Sources of Knowledge About Violence http://ymaa.com/articles/2014/03/common-sources-of-knowledge-about-violence

The Victim Interview http://ymaa.com/articles/2014/02/the-victim-interview

The Ground. The Dirty, Filthy, Dangerous Ground http://ymaa.com/articles/2013/04/the-ground-the-dirty-filthy-dangerous-ground

Lethal Force: Firearms - Part 1 http://ymaa.com/articles/2013/01/lethal-force-firearms-part-1

Lethal Force: Firearms - Part 2 http://ymaa.com/articles/2013/02/lethal-force-firearms-part-2

Level 6-Lethal Force http://ymaa.com/articles/level-6-lethal-force

Introduction to Violence: Scale of Force Options http://ymaa.com/articles/introduction-to-violence-scale-of-force-options

Interacting with Law Enforcement Personnel http://ymaa.com/articles/interacting-with-law-enforcement-personnel

An Introduction to Force Decisions http://ymaa.com/articles/an-introduction-to-force-decisions

How to Evaluate a Force Decision http://ymaa.com/articles/how-to-evaluate-a-force-decision

Counter Assault: Surviving Attacks http://ymaa.com/articles/counter-assault%3A-surviving-attacks

Saving Yourself in a Crowd http://ymaa.com/articles/saving-yourself-in-a-crowd

Facing Violence: The Unconscious Stuff-Finding Your Glitches http://ymaa.com/articles/facing-violence-the-unconscious-stuff

A Plethora of Weapons for Self-Defense http://ymaa.com/articles/a-plethora-of-weapons-for-self-defense

Violence Dynamics http://ymaa.com/articles/violence-dynamics

More About Violence Dynamics http://ymaa.com/articles/more-about-violence-dynamics

Self-defense: Down and Dirty http://ymaa.com/articles/self-defense-down-and-dirty

The Seven Aspects of Self-defense http://ymaa.com/articles/the-seven-aspects-of-self-defense

Violence: What Everyone Needs to Know About Fighting http://ymaa.com/articles/violence-what-everyone-needs-to-know-about-fighting

Never Surrender http://ymaa.com/articles/never-surrender

Meditations on Violence http://ymaa.com/articles/meditations-on-violence

Secondary Bibliography of Self-Defense (Some titles have RBC drills included):

Ayoob, Massad. “Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self-Defense”Gun Digest Books. Krouse Publications. Wisconsin. 2014.

Branca, Andrew F. “The Law of Self Defense: The Indispensable Guide to the Armed Citizen.” Law of Self Defense LLC. 2013.

Goleman, Daniel. "Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition [Kindle Edition]." Bantam. January 11, 2012.

Miller, Rory. "ConCom: Conflict Communications A New Paradigm in Conscious Communication." Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 2014.

Miller, Rory and Kane, Lawrence A. "Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision-making under Threat of Violence." YMAA Publisher. New Hampshire. 2012

Miller, Rory. "Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide." YMAA Publications. NH. 2012.

Miller, Rory Sgt. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publishing. 2011.

Miller, Rory. “The Practical Problem of Teaching Self-Defense.” YMAA. January 19, 2015. http://ymaa.com/articles/2015/1/the-practical-problem-of-teaching-self-defense

Elgin, Suzette Haden, Ph.D. "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Prentice Hall. New Jersey. 1983.

Elgin, Suzette. "The Last Word on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1995

Morris, Desmond. “Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior.” Harry N. Abrams. April 1979.

MacYoung, Marc. “Writing Violence #1: Getting Shot.” NNSD. Amazon Digital. 2014.

MacYoung, Marc. “Writing Violence #2: Getting Stabbed.” NNSD. Amazon Digital. 2015.

MacYoung, Marc. “Writing Violence #3: Getting Hit and Hitting.” Amazon Digital Services, inc. NNSD. April 20. 2015.

Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1993.

Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Written Self-Defense" MJF Books. 1997.

Maffetone, Philip Dr. “The Maffetone Method: The Holistic, Low-stress, No-Pain Way to Exceptional Fitness.” McGraw Hill, New York. 2000

Strong, Sanford. “Strong on Defense_ Survival Rules to Protect you and your Family from Crime.” Pocket Books. New York. 1996.

and more … see blog bibliography.

Jahn, C. R. “FTW Self Defense.” iUniverse. Amazon Digital Services. 2012

Jahn, C. R. “Hardcore Self Defense.” iUniverse. Amazon Digital Services. 2002.

Bibliography of RBC Drills (Some titles have RBC drills included):

MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.

MacYoung, Marc (Animal). “Taking It to the Street: Making Your Martial Art Street Effective.” Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1999.

MacYoung, Marc. "A Professional's Guide to Ending Violence Quickly: How Bouncers, Bodyguards, and Other Security Professionals Handle Ugly Situations." Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1996.

Miller, Rory. “Drills: Training for the Sudden Violence.” Amazon Digital Services, inc. Smashwords. 2011.

Quinn, Peyton. “Real Fighting: Adrenaline Stress Conditioning Through Scenario-Based Training.” Paladin Press. Amazon Digital Services, inc. 1996

My Blog Bibliography

Chiron: http://chirontraining.blogspot.com

Cornered Cat (Scratching Post): http://www.corneredcat.com/scratching-post/

Kodokan Boston: http://kodokanboston.org

Mario McKenna (Kowakan): http://www.kowakan.com

Mokuren Dojo: http://www.mokurendojo.com

McYoung’s Musings: http://macyoungsmusings.blogspot.com

Martial Views: http://www.martialviews.com

Shinseidokan Dojo: http://shinseidokandojo.blogspot.com

The Classi Budoka: https://classicbudoka.wordpress.com

Wim Demeere’s Blog: http://www.wimsblog.com

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The Human Body: A Deadly Weapon

In one of my blog articles I wrote about a moral code written in the mid-sixties that stated martial artists, under the law, must keep in mind their hands are considered deadly weapons. Well, I did some research and found that in some instances and in some states the body, to include hands and feet, MAY BE CONSIDERED deadly in some circumstances.

The overall consensus is that the human body is not considered a deadly weapon. When in a legal sense it is that determination comes from a variety of factors all done on a case-by-case basis by the legal authorities prosecuting. Where I live in California, “The body can’t be a deadly weapon in the context of assault with a deadly weapon, even though it may inflict deadly force. Rather, deadly weapons are objects external to the body. (People v. Aguilar, 16 Cal.4th 1023 (1997).)”

As you can see California sticks to enhancers, i.e., external objects, as weapons but there is more, “Courts (courts as in all states rather than California, etc) have found that various parts of a body can be weapons, including: hands, feet, teeth, the mouth, and even elbows or knees.”

Also, in general: “In deciding if a body part is a deadly or dangerous weapon, courts will consider the following factors: the manner of blows, hits, or kicks, the degree of force used, the number of times the defendant struck, kicked, or bit the victim, the extent of the victim’s injuries, and the location of injuries on the victim’s body. In states where human body parts can be deadly weapons, courts determine whether they actually are on a case-by-case basis. Normally, an assault involving punching wouldn’t make the hands deadly weapons. But if the punching was repeated, extremely severe, and caused permanent damage, then a court would be more likely to rule otherwise. Courts have also declared hands to be deadly weapons when the attack involved strangling, suffocating, choking, pushing, or dragging.”

There are some states that actually look at one’s martial arts training but in general, like common household tools, can be perceived as deadly weapons but again this all depends on circumstances, legal issues and so on ergo why it is necessary to always seek our legal advice from a legal professional. The is the one example use to indicate a perception of the body or hand or foot to be a deadly weapon such as, “The more severe the attack and injury, the more likely it is that a court will rule that a hand or foot is a deadly weapon. Courts have found body parts to be deadly weapons when the victim: was rendered, unconscious, suffered brain damage, or had a fractured skull.”

Here is the rub, in all the research available nowhere is there a law written, like many laws in some states that gets down to particulars by identifying specific tools, etc., and weapons as illegal (try California for one example), that says the hands are deadly weapons. None actually make any reference to the hands as deadly weapons if a martial arts expert either. No where do I actually see references to legal issues naming martial arts that can be found in the current sources but again I have not exhausted review of all the sources that may or may not be available to me.

I have the theory that the quote to deadly weapons of karate hands came about as a sales gimmick. When the early pioneers of karate started teaching many, if not all, had exposure to the makiwara as a training tool that resulted in the development of the large calloused knuckles that when the uninitiated/ignorant novice observed them in their sensei they assumed the quote came from that practice. What young male full of testerone or subjected to bullying would not want to learn a system that made your hands deadly weapons to fend off said bullies, right? I know in the early sixties I fell for that line hook, line, and sinker.

Now, add in the information you will learn from another reference on hitting and being hit, i.e., the punch and strikes of karate apply, you find out that many factors actually make the hands when used as fists for striking are the least of your worries in self-defense, combat and/or fighting. When you understand about the art of hitting and being hit you begin to understand that the hands cannot except in very narrow situations and circumstances could possibly be or become “Deadly Weapons.” (note: see references/bibliography for source material on hitting and being hit)

The deadlier of the two, i.e., the fist vs. the open-hand, saying that your hands striking with a whip-like-crack against an attacker toward certain spots or targets are deadly may get more guffaws then serious consideration but in a lot of cases the open-handed type of strike does more damage and is more effective than the fist strike - basically.