Empty Your Cup and Fill Your Tool Box

From the blog of SEAMOK: I have taken several of the parts out for inclusion here. For the whole article, please visit them at http://thesilverbackchronicles.blogspot.com.

"Within the world of self preservation through the usage of force you will find various opinions stemming from the many characters that make up this realm. On one hand you will have the firearm guys, on another you will have the martial arts guys. Both will come with a plethora of reasons why what they do is best.....

I am a firm believer in the tool box mentality when it comes to self preservation, the right tool for the right job. Where the problem lies with both the afore mentioned mindsets is in the lack of well roundedness. One must be able to perform at a high level in all aspects of self preservation through force continuum. For example, how does the individual with no empty hand combatives experience or training obtain his firearm (pistol) under duress? ....

"The rules of street combat apply here.

1. The attack is ambush oriented
2. The attackers intent is violence first
3. The attacker is not alone
4. The attacker is potentially armed
5. The attacker will not stop

If one truly understands these 5 rules he or she will be able to construct an empty hand curriculum to help complete their toolbox, giving them a better chance of survival when it all goes south.

To fix this mess one must have the ability to shelve ego and start anew. I have done it as have many of my piers. To me it only makes sense. We are living in a time where people fly planes into buildings and attack innocent people just to build their credibility within their own ranks. 

Whether your a gun guy, an empty hand specialist or a knifer you owe it to yourself and to your family to build a better you and by doing so you will find that in essence it is all the same, just a different tool. The truth lies in the understanding and training of principles over technique. If one truly understands the principles of movement and motion technique will become infinite.

Do yourself a favor, become complete in all avenues of combatives (Edged, Impact, Projectile and Empty Hands)...by doing this you will find that no matter where the fight may go you are ready and by being ready survival now becomes a much easier task to fulfill.

Survival, its your right!

Mike Blackgrave

SEAMOK Tactical Solutions

Simplicity With Intent'

Targeting, revisited

From the Self Defense Company - a short primer on targeting.

Basically, one of the aspects of self defense (or offensive actions taken in defense of self) is to hit hard and the strike vulnerable areas of the body.  You don't have to be a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon to figure this out.

If you are going to study to be a 'Master', then the knowledge of how, what happens and why medically of the target is important. For usage right now, a basic level of knowledge will suffice. It is more important to put the time into learning how to deliver the strikes to the proper areas with effect, and that is best done with actual practice time - time on the mats (ala the Target Focus Training methodology), banging at the Mook Jong and heavy bags, Muay Thai and Boxing pad work, etc.

In depth study (correlating acupuncture points to nerve plexus' and such) will enhance your knowledge and may  enable you to converse with like minded friends - but the bottom line is to hit the vulnerable areas hard. And as often as necessary.

I have been neglecting my Internet research as of late - no cool target graphics - so I'll leave you with this photo...

Omei Bak Mei DVD 1 now available!

From the folks at YKM Sweden in conjunction with Sifu Garry Hearfield. Saw the preview, and it looks good. Will review it here when I get a copy.

Improvised Weapons

Improvised Weapons: Rethinking the Paradigm for Improvised Defense

An article by George Mathies, posted on ITSTactical.com.

One notable quote - "My thought was that too many people have watched the Bourne movies."

Almost any item can become a weapon, although some items (say jello, for istance) maybe not as effective as others (a hammer). The real heart of the matter comes down to mindset and will to use whatever is at hand to prevail. Think a mom in defense of her kids will hesitate to use the nearest object to pummel the attacker?

With improvised weapons, before actually picking up a hairbrush and practicing with it, take a look around. What items do you see, and how can you use them? How accessible are they? Would it be more efficient to attack the asshole/criminal with your natural (fist, forearms, feet) weapons first, and then try to access the comb you have shoved deep in your pocket for defense?

Just suggesting that the subject can be deeper than 'how can my credit card be used to disable the attacker'?