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, ???)

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Saturday, April 2, 2016

TECHNIQUE; SUB-PRINCIPLE: Indirect Pressure

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

Indirect pressure is actually, in my mind, a misnomer. It is an attempt to explain something that must be trained and practiced to achieve. It is about directing actions of the body from locations other than those connected to applied methodologies of an adversary attacking. Using the wrist grab, by the way not many attacks start with a wrist grab but will be found in dojo sparring and some systems drills for self-defense, as an example the mind of our adversary will tend to lock on his applied wrist grab and the recipient of said grab tends to focus the mind on the same. Where this comes into effect is when the recipient tries to break the grab, they tend to focus on moving the wrist and hand itself. 

Actually, it is best to redirect mind-state training to instinctively move other parts of the body and/or the body itself to break a technique such as a wrist grab. You can move optimally from the center in a way that using our entire body and mass to break the grab or you can go to the first level by using your elbow to move and break the grab and so on. It is not really “indirect pressure” and it is more about ignoring the target of the adversary’s applications and use our entire bodies to achieve the same results with greater efficiency and success, reaching our goal in self-defense. 

We also look to the sub-principle here of mind-body because to allow the mind to focus on a specific part of the body is limiting and an obstacle to success in self-defense. This also involves the appellation of other sub-principles involving the mind and body or mind-body/body-mind. Any one aspect if the focus of the mind locks the body into that same location or aspect. The truth of training is to achieve a whole body and whole mind-set/state that literally ignores the method of attack when it reaches what ever part of the body or mind or body-mind-body target. 

It is like the application of pain, if the mind is elsewhere the intensity and effect of that pain is diminished allowing for freedom of body-mind movement. It is about breaking the freeze and/or the OO bounce of observe and orient. 

Another way to apply this is addressing the application of methodologies to maximize power and force. It also involves many other principles and sub-principles to provide power that transmits and interconnects through the body, from the center, to the actual tool that hits its target. Taking the focus away from the mind toward the fist for a strike to moving from the center to generate and transfer mass in power, speed and force until it reaches the end of that pipeline and transfers, with chinkuchi, into the target, i.e., the adversary. Add in things like complex forces, i.e., the corkscrew punch, etc., for striking, and we can attain our goals in self-defense.


Bibliography (Click the link)

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