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


“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

What are Fundamental Principles?

The fundamental principles of martial disciplines or karate disciplines or fighting disciplines are those principles underlying all physical activities be they fighting, sport competitions, combatives or self-defense. Principles are those things that make them work regardless of styles or systems. The blog will be about those principles as they apply to my studies, practices and experiences as a karate-ka.


My list of principles as discussed in this blog originate from the fine publication written by Steven J. Pearlman, “The Book of Martial Power.” I have added two new categories, principles, to this list and I have modified his original principles and sub-principles to better suit my perceptions, perspectives and distinctions regarding karate and self-defense. Nothing I have created or changed, none of my perceptions, etc., herein are from Mr. Pearlman, his work was the inspiration toward this end.


I firmly believe principles are the substance that makes karate and martial arts work. In reality, they span all forms of physical activity regardless. My focus with this blog will be karate and self-defense. Take these posts as an academic form of writing and take note of the associated caveat and bibliography that will be present in each post.


Enjoy and don’t hesitate to join the followers and don’t hesitate to make comments, suggestions or present your views in any subject.

PRINCIPLE ONE: PRINCIPLES OF THEORY (Universality, Control, Efficiency, Lengthen Our Line, Percentage Principle, Std of Infinite Measure, Power Paradox, Ratio, Simplicity, Natural Action, Michelangelo Principle, Reciprocity, Opponents as Illusions, Reflexive Action, Training Truth, Imperception and Deception.)


PRINCIPLE TWO: PHYSIOKINETIC PRINCIPLES (Breathing, posture, triangle guard, centerline, primary gate, spinal alignment, axis, minor axis, structure, heaviness, relaxation, wave energy, convergence, centeredness, triangulation point, the dynamic sphere, body-mind, void, centripetal force, centrifugal force, sequential locking and sequential relaxation, peripheral vision, tactile sensitivity, rooting, attack hubs, attack posture, possibly the chemical cocktail, Multiple Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc. are best for stopping a threat]???see below)


PRINCIPLE THREE: PRINCIPLES OF TECHNIQUE (techniques vs. technique, equal rights, compliment, economical motion, active movement, positioning, angling, leading control, complex force, indirect pressure, live energy and dead energy, torsion and pinning, speed, timing, rhythm, balance, reactive control, natural and unnatural motion, weak link, non-telegraphing, extension and penetration, Uke. Multiple Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc. are best for stopping a threat])


PRINCIPLE FOUR: PRINCIPLES OF PHILOSOPHY (Mind [mind-set, mind-state, etc.], mushin, kime, non-intention, yin-yang, oneness, zanshin and being, non-action, character, the empty cup.)


Principle’s One through Four:

Pearlman, Steven J. "The Book of Martial Power." Overlook Press. N.Y. 2006.


PRINCIPLE FIVE: PRINCIPLES OF SELF-DEFENSE (“Conflict communications; Emotional Intelligence; Lines/square/circle of SD, Three brains (human, monkey, lizard), JAM/AOJ and five stages, Adrenal stress (stress induced reality based), Violence (Social and Asocial), Pre-Attack indicators, Weapons, Predator process and predator resource, Force levels, Repercussions (medical, legal, civil, personal), Go-NoGo, Win-Loss Ratio, etc. (still working on the core sub-principles for this one)”Attitude, Socio-emotional, Diplomacy, Speed [get-er done fast], Redirected aggression, Dual Time Clocks, Awareness, Initiative, Permission, multiple attack/defense methodologies (i.e., actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc. are best for stopping a threat)


Principle Five:

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

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

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

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

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


PRINCIPLE SIX: CHEMICAL COCKTAIL: (Attacked Mind, Train It, Breath It Away, Visualize It Away, Sparring vs. Fighting, Degradation of Technique/skills, Peripheral Vision Loss, Tunnel Vision, Depth Perception Loss/Altered, Auditory Exclusion, Weakened legs/arms, Loss of Extremity Feeling, Loss of Fine Motor Skills, Distorted Memory/perceptions, Tachypsychia (time slows), Freeze, Perception of Slow Motion, Irrelevant Thought Intrusion, Behavioral Looping, Pain Blocked, Male vs. Female Adrenaline Curve, Victim vs. Predator, The Professional, Levels of Hormonal Stimulation, ???)

Search This Blog

Friday, April 1, 2016

PHILOSOPHY; SUB-PRINCIPLE: Mind

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

The mind, mind-set and mind-state, about our ability to deal with conflict and violence. Conflict and violence, regardless of societies stand on it, is a part of the human condition and we deal with it at one level or another in our daily lives. Everything about life is about our mind, how we deal with things is about our mind and to handle conflict and violence is … wait for it … about our minds. To train the mind is to train the body is to train the mind. The mind-body connection is to be connected by a philosophical sub-principle of yin-n-yang. Not as to separate and distinct things but two things that are one. 

When it comes to self-defense karate and martial arts it becomes physical and it is that physical most consider the root to martial arts but reality will tell us that it is all about the mind. The mind-state-n-mind-set we acquire, build and harness is what will take us through all conflict and violence. 

One person of professional status said something that most fights end when the person gives up, a mind-set or mind-state. It is not about a greater physical ability but rather how we perceive things as they get physical. If one has a strong, resilient and powerful mind then no matter of the physical prowess, i.e., a larger, stronger adversary for example, of an adversary the person with the strongest mind will prevail.

Therefore, creating a mind-set/mind-state becomes extremely important in self-defense. That means a practitioner must open the mind to all aspects of conflict, violence and self-defense (why self-defense was added as a principle). If you don’t know what you don’t know then how can you create a strong and resilient mind-set/mind-state?

Some speak to intestinal fortitude but that is just another symbol of the mind-set/mind-state. Exposure to conflict and violence allows a practitioner to accept it and to build a mind-set/mind-state that will prevail even when they are attacked, placed at a disadvantage, exposed to pain, damage and a close in adversary who is hell bent on dominant position  while causing your brain to lock up who may also be using a weapon with damage coming fast and furious holding you immobile from acting leaving you in  a position without power to apply effective defense and so on. You have to know this, accept it and then make the moral and legal distinctions while choosing the appropriate actions to achieve self-defense. 

I.e., your mind contends with the following:

If you have been targeted for a blitz attack you will find yourself in the “losing column.” It is a full fledged head on assault with aggression, surprise, pain, fear, and it will be sudden, i.e., hard fast and close. It will NOT be like sparring no matter how hard or intense you spar and no matter how intense and hard any competitive match may seem. In all likelihood it will be way out of your comprehension. The following are taken from the book Scaling Force by Rory Miller just to give you an idea of what you are up against in the study of self-defense martial arts (emphasis added by me).

  • In the attack everything feels all wrong.
  • The adversary/attacker made sure to set things up so you would be at a disadvantage - big time or he would not have attacked.
  • He will be close and fast.
  • Pain and damage are coming in fast and furious.
  • Your brain will be locked/frozen in the OO bounce as the adversary hits you four times before your brain registers, decides and, hopefully, acts.
  • If attacked by someone with a weapon, the speed remains fast and furious but the damage just increased - a lot.
  • Your mobility will be hampered, the attack close.
  • All your self-defense strikes must be effective at that close range.
  • You just got blitz attack, in most cases, from the flank or rear. 
  • Your targets and power must be adaptable to different ranges and positions, you need to know how to damage someone behind you.
  • Expect your body to be controlled.
  • Expect it to happen in an enclosed space with bad footing and limited visibility.
  • This level of force is considered a desperate situation and the damage ugly.
  • You may have been shoved against a wall or vehicle, unbalanced, awkwardly twisted, or falling.
  • You may be reeling from a punch or kick.
  • You may be stabbed or shot.


In the end, your self-defense must be able to fight effectively in all the above conditions along with injuries, etc. This is what your self-defense training must address and consider this a short, terse, not comprehensive list of how an attack happens. Assume as well that all the above will also be compounded by your adrenal flooding with those physical effects to deal with as well.

Then and only then does one take on the actual karate and martial arts practice and discipline. Taking karate and/or a martial art for self-defense without such reality based knowledge, training, practice and experience makes that marital art merely a method of health and well-being. Making the mind strong, steeled to the dangers of conflict and violence allows us to act, to give ourselves permission to act while maintaining the self-defense square’s integrity. 

Bibliography (Click the link)



No comments:

Post a Comment