I’m going to explore some of the different mindsets of violence. In addition to the social classifications, there are three asocial types that I want to hit: the severely disturbed; those in great need; and those who enjoy acts of violence. These mindsets are important to understand. They are not like the way that most … [Read more…]
There will be some scientific details in what follows. Feel free to ignore it. Unless you are doing research, the background science is not important. The concepts are. And you know what? I’m not a scientist, so don’t take my word on anything. Again, like Maslow, this is a model, not a theory. Many models … [Read more…]
I want you to do a thought experiment. Relax, take a deep breath, and answer a few questions. First, imagine that no one is going to help you and your children are in danger of starving. What would you be willing to do? Would you steal food? Would you rob (use violence or the threat … [Read more…]
Quick Maslow recap:The basic idea is that there are five states or levels of struggle. Each level must be addressed in order. The most basic level includes survival needs: food, water, shelter and protection from immediate dangers. If any of these are threatened, you don’t really care about much else. The second level is security … [Read more…]
For the record, I have totally gone off the lesson plan. In seminars, I usually do social violence first. Oh well. And I am getting back to this because I don’t want to lose the thread, not because I don’t have other things to write about. Those will have to wait, though. Let’s get started. … [Read more…]
Violence serves a purpose. Multiple purposes, actually. And the purpose it serves, the goals (and parameters) will drive how the violence occurs. The threat who wants money for drugs will approach differently than the drunk college kid trying to impress a girl and neither will be quite the same as the person from a violent … [Read more…]
Lots of comments on the last post (Martial Mistakes) and some of them require more thoughtful answers than I can do in a short space. Preamble, though: there is a reason why SD and martial arts are so ripe for misinformation. One, of course, is that so little of it is tested by so few … [Read more…]
When it comes to self-defense, many people want one-stop-shopping. Man, if they know this one ultimate martial art style, it’s is all they need. I hear this a lot. Usually in the form of being asked, ‘which martial art style is best for self-defense?’ Or ‘what do you think about (fill in the blank) for … [Read more…]
Why effective Techniques and Tactics don’t necessarily create effective Strategies. There are basic TACTICS that people use in response to confrontation and conflict. These responses are the sum of (1) their instinctive behaviors, (2) behaviors that are learned and conditioned from being a member of society, and (3) behaviors that are learned and conditioned from … [Read more…]
HOW THE MULTI DIMENSIONAL PARADIGM BENEFITS YOU: “A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step” – Lao-tzu And that is how most people start learning self-defense, they just start stepping with no idea where they are actually going. A journey of 1000 miles actually needs to begin with a road map. The Multi … [Read more…]