Why I Study and Write about Dark Subjects — And What They Teach Me About Self Defence

People often ask me why I spend so much time studying things like criminology, serial killers, the Nazi regime, and the psychology of evil.

They wonder why a karate instructor — someone who teaches discipline, respect, and balance — would choose to explore such dark topics.

The answer is simple: I study darkness so I can better teach people how to face it.

Understanding Darkness to Protect Against It

To teach real-world self defence, you have to understand what you’re defending against.

It’s not enough to learn punches and kicks. Real self defence begins with awareness — of danger, of human nature, and of how violence actually works.

That’s why I study these subjects.

When you read about figures like Adolf Hitler, or people such as Josef Mengele, you begin to understand how entire systems can become instruments of cruelty when morality disappears. When you study killers like Ted Bundy or Peter Sutcliffe, you see how manipulation, confidence, and deception can be far more dangerous than strength.

Understanding these people — not to glorify them, but to learn from them — teaches one crucial truth: evil rarely announces itself. It hides behind charm, authority, or normality. And that’s exactly why awareness is everything in self defence.

Knowledge Is a Shield

Most people think self defence is physical. It isn’t — it’s psychological first.

The body reacts, but the mind decides.

By studying how violent individuals think, plan, and choose their victims, I learn how to teach prevention — how to spot danger early, how to read intent, and how to react decisively when needed.

Bundy’s charm, Sutcliffe’s unpredictability, Mengele’s cold detachment — they all reveal the same pattern: a lack of empathy mixed with a sense of control.

Self defence isn’t about matching that darkness — it’s about staying one step ahead of it.

Knowledge protects you. Awareness gives you time. Discipline keeps you calm.

What History Teaches About Morality

The Nazi regime remains one of history’s greatest warnings about obedience and morality.

Adolf Hitler didn’t act alone — millions followed, because they allowed authority to replace conscience. That’s the lesson I carry into both life and teaching: never act without awareness, and never let obedience silence your judgement.

As a sensei, I teach my students that discipline doesn’t mean blind obedience — it means conscious control. You follow guidance, but you also think. You train your body, but you also train your conscience.

That balance — between power and ethics — is what separates martial artists from fighters.

How My Work Shapes My Teaching

Studying criminology and working in real-world environments has given me a different way of thinking about self defence.

I don’t just see techniques — I see behaviour, cause, and effect. I see how fear, emotion, and hesitation affect decisions in moments of crisis.

That insight changes how I teach.

I design drills that challenge not only movement, but mindset. I push students to stay calm under stress, to think clearly, and to recognise danger long before it turns violent.

My studies remind me daily that self defence is not about violence — it’s about survival, awareness, and control. It’s about preparing people for a world where not everyone thinks like you, and where strength without restraint can be dangerous.

Why I Continue to Study These Subjects

I don’t study evil because I’m fascinated by it — I study it because I refuse to ignore it.

I want to understand how violence begins, how it spreads, and how ordinary people can lose their humanity — so I can teach others to never go down that path.

Self defence isn’t just about surviving an attack; it’s about building a mindset that refuses to harm others, even when capable of doing so.

It’s about clarity, calmness, and moral awareness.

That’s why I study darkness — because I want to teach people how to face it without becoming it.

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s the manipulation of Ted Bundy, the cruelty of Josef Mengele, or the blind obedience of the Nazi regime, all of it points to the same truth: the greatest danger in the world isn’t strength — it’s ignorance and apathy.

That’s why knowledge is part of training.

That’s why I write, research, and teach.

And that’s why self defence is not just a skill — it’s a mindset.

I study darkness so that others can walk in light.

Because the ultimate purpose of martial arts is not to fight, but to protect, prevent, and preserve life — with awareness, courage, and control.