I agree, good analysis. Hope your family is doing well and healthy.
Thank you for posting this.
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Thought for the day:
Even if you are just a casual student of combat tactics you will be remiss in your education if you have never read anything by Mr. Fairbairn. A true pioneer and his tactics were way ahead of his time. I know they are now dated, but, well worth your time to visit a bygone era.
William Ewart Fairbairn was a British Royal Marine and police officer. He developed hand-to-hand combat methods for the Shanghai Police during the interwar period, as well as for the allied special forces during World War II. He created his own fighting system known as Defendu
Training: over the last two days: ruck on a National forest trail, kettle bell throws and sledge hammer swings, slingshot and hawk throwing.
Question of the day:
Have you read: No Second Place Winner by Bill Jordan?
Assuming by ‘kettlebell throws’ you are actually tossing your bells for distance or height? I’m sure you are doing this on grass/dirt anyway, but make sure you are on somewhat spongy ground. Had some guys drop kettlebells during a swing hand transfer and the handle broke off. Probably depends on brand, who knows.
Wonderful stuff “and finish him off with the business end of the boot” 
Edit: scroll about 8:30 in to get to the action
Yes, old football field that is no longer being used. I try to toss them around with a two handed grip, one handed grip, side to side and over my back. Good workout and surprisingly good cardio. Just a word of caution, swinging them around like an Olympic hammer throw, tends to really strain the shoulder socket. I don’t do those anymore. If that makes sense.
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Thanks for posting this.
No bother Idaho. If you don’t mind me mentioning, you might like reading up on Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Mayne DSO and Three Bars, the most decorated allied soldier of WWII and founding member of the SAS and still the measure for SF soldiers. You probably know his story so forgive me for bringing him up. He was an incredible man, just incredible. A man so superior to everyone around him in everything he did.
Nothing to forgive, HA, I was going to mention him at a later date, you are correct, an incredible warrior.
Thought for the day:
“Violence doesn’t care”
When I first started reading the Combat Forum years ago, the primary conversations centered on “What’s the best martial art for the street? Or, “What’s the best fighting style to kick ass “or, one of my favorites was “karate vs boxing”. Lively and passionate debates, sometimes resulting in open internet “challenges to fight”. LoL. I don’t see those topics much anymore.
I believe the growth of MMA put a lot of reality on the table, especially the explosion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, but, the death of “Karate” hasn’t changed the fact that violence doesn’t really care what style you train, from Judo to Tai Chi, when the wolf comes calling, you had better be ready. Here is humble opinion:
Situational Awareness: is best defense against any street attack. Keep your head out of your ass and be aware of everything around you. If something does not feel right, it usually isn’t.
Physical fitness: No, I am not talking about SF shape, I am talking about being in enough physical shape to run 4 cities blocks getting away from some gang or simply avoiding a fight. Can you pull yourself over a fence 5 feet high? Or even swim a hundred yards? Based on the average citizen, I see buying groceries, the answer is no.
Martial Arts: What is the best art for kicking ass? I have been involved with martial arts since the age of 6. I have taught traditional classes, striking classes, involved in teaching the Army Combative and Marine Corps martial arts programs, so, I have a little experience.
Here is my answer, there is no perfect art. The best in my opinion, is a combination of striking and grappling, have several years in each field, be in reasonable shape, and you will be a tough individual to deal with. However, the best thing overall is enjoy what you train in. If you hate it or think it is stupid, you will not train. I thought after 6 months that Aikido was basically stupid, so, as a result, I sucked at it. Hate striking? Love Judo? Train Judo. Hate grappling? Train in boxing or Muay Thai. Just find something.
Weapons training: This is your personal decision. I am not telling you to run out and buy a gun, however, just like learning the basics of striking and grappling, you are leaving a severe hole in your survival game, if you don’t learn the basics of using a handgun, carbine, rifle, or shotgun. IMHO.
Training: heavy bag, speed bag, got access to an old football lineman sled / prowler and pushed it around the field until smoked.
Question of the day:
Are you familiar with the Tactical Athlete Games? If not, check it out.
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This is why I hate when colleges do some take back the night bs. Criminals don’t care about your right to walk alone at night. It’s dark. You can’t see well. You’re alone. Well, you should be aware that that is not a good situation. I think Rorion Gracie, on the topic of women’s self-defense, said something to the effect of, it’s hard to teach women because they don’t like to be told not to do stupid stuff. They want some magic technique that will disable a man and he’s telling them to not go out to bars alone.
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HA, In this PC culture, I bet he caught some flak for that one:)) Flak or not, and not just limited to women, the “magic technique” is alive and well in the shooting classes. A of of men attend training , thinking that something taught is going to turn them into the next John Wick. Instructing them in the basics that is foundation for everything is just not sexy enough.
Speaking of Mr. Rorion Gracie this is my favorite quote from him:
"Self-defense is not just a set of techniques; it’s a state of mind, and it begins with the belief that you are worth defending".
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Thought for the day:
Below is an exert from Quarantine Contemplation’s by Mr. Cody Ford.
It is a long and thoughtful article that crystallized some thoughts I have been having myself. I am scheduled to go back to work around the middle of May and will be glad to get out and try to do something productive again, however, I got to do more in the future besides training agents to think, shoot and move. Sounds sexy and alpha male, but, really, am I really doing anything that will last? I think after about two days, most go back to their beers and old habits. I am sure regardless of much you love your work, serve your community and country, there has to be something more, anyway, just some thoughts this morning.
I was certainly no hero in the military and in the grand scheme of things my influence on the Global War on Terror was extremely minimal. But the sense of purpose, mission, and brotherhood that you possess while serving is a feeling that is difficult to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves. It’s a dopamine hit that I’ve been searching for since getting out and have not quite been able to find. I have a sense that those who are out on the front lines of this pandemic battle are experiencing some of that same purpose, despite all the stress and trauma that inevitably comes with it.
Personally, I’m not content with being considered a “non-essential” employee. While I’m thankful to have the ability to work from home, it doesn’t feel great to sit on the sidelines and have zero influence on the game being played with my family’s well-being on the line. It feels selfish to sit inside my suburban home and day drink while I watch the numbers climb on the news and see good people suffer. Someday I’ll have to tell my grandchildren that my only contribution to society during this time was that I stayed home as much as possible in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I’m not sure if that will be something that I will be proud to admit.
My assumption is that many will have similar thoughts. The world has slowed down, giving us extra time to think about what is and is not important in our lives. Some may enjoy the time at home and the ability to catch up on Netflix and sleep, and that is okay. But many others will reflect on what is happening and hopefully it will spark a desire to do more and to live more purposefully and outside of the self-absorbed mindset that our world has become.
If we come through this without any changes then I think it will be a missed opportunity. I don’t know what the other side of this will look like for myself. But I do know that I will find a way to be more intentional in my actions. For one, I will find ways to be more self-sustaining and self-reliant. But more importantly I will find better ways to serve and help. That is something that we all should be looking forward to doing, whether we are fighting a global pandemic or homelessness or veteran suicide. There will always be suffering in the world. Don’t allow yourself to live your life in a cage, waiting for your soul to die. Embrace the world and its inherent risks to make a difference.
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When I was 13 or so I was studying Lau Gar Kung Fu under a European champion called Denis Davis. A friend of mine was studying fighting under his big brothers at home to protect himself. He said to me one day “ok take up your Kung fu position and hit me” I duly take up fighting stance, he distracted me, kicked me in the balls and pulled me by the hair onto my knees and showed me how he could freely kick me in the face and there was fuck all I could do about it.
Lesson learned.
Thought for the day:
I not sure, I entirely agree with this. I feel that a lot of people either choose to ignore that violent predators exist or just simply too naive to believe that mankind can be violent toward them.
Training:
A gentlemen was kind enough yesterday to let me use one of his back pastures for this basic drill. Train the basics always, there is no magic bullet ( pun) that will turn you into professional shooter.
Question of the day:
Are you doing any dry fire practice?
I would agree if he changed “is one of the longest running concerns” to “was.” I’m sure that for most of our history we were worried about predators (the wild animal type) and then later human predators. Humans, as physically weak as we are when compared to other animals, managed to make it this far because we had survival instincts that we relied on everyday.
Now we have people walking into traffic because they are fixated on their phones.
Hello all Too many idiots walking around with their head down looking at their phone oblivious to everything. I live in NYC and too many times these same idiots cross the street without look up.
Anybody else use the Raven Concealment Vanguard 2 holster? Fits over the trigger guard. I have it for my 43 and I forget I’m carrying it most of the time. Only drawback is you have to pull it off your belt in order to re-holster. Would recommend.
I switched from CrossBreed IWB at 4 o clock-ish to a Tennecor appendix a few months ago, and love it. Not hard to conceal, super fast on the draw. Hooks over the belt, and the clips are strong as shit - borderline too strong, as in a bit of a PITA putting it on and off. Holster grabs the slide, so can be used with a light or without. Not as comfortable as the CrossBreed was, but not horrible.
Yes, I agree. I have seen so many dumb things people do with cell phones, it would take writing a book to list them all. Welcome back, don’t be a stranger.