My Christmas Eve Story

Four years ago, I published a Christmas Eve story which seemed popular among my readers. It's a Christmas tale of war, a harrowing escape, a miraculous vision and the bonding of two very different kinds of warriors. I am linking back to it here:

The Combat Master's Christmas Tale

A Note to Modern Readers: The claymore in the story is a Scottish two-handed sword, not an explosive device.

An Announcement: This story is now available in print form as a booklet.

Click here if you may be interested in purchasing a copy for one of Christ's battle-weary warriors.

The Insane Warrior

David Watson, a missionary who has seen extraordinary church planting results has recently written a blog post entitled "The Insane Warrior" that gives great insights on warriors who battle on the physical as well as the spiritual planes.

The article begins:

Warriors, by necessity, are mentally imbalanced, when viewed by non-warriors. To put one’s self in harm’s way for another is not natural, regardless of politics, and requires a degree of insanity to do so. From the warriors’ perspective, the rest of the world lacks balance because it fails to understand the unique role of the warrior and what he or she has sacrificed in order for others to feel and/or be safe, often without even knowing they were not safe.

To read the rest, CLICK HERE.

Political Power, RKBA and a Hunger Games Fan Vid

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. -- Mao Zedung

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. -- Romans 13:3-4

The possession of weapons projects power. Thus, it appears as a symbol of political power not only in Scripture, but in history from the Etruscan fasces -- which reappeared in ancient Rome and again, in Mussolini's Italy -- to Chinese Communist leader Mao's famous quote.

Therefore, the right to keep and bear arms (RKBA) marks the difference between a citizen and a mere subject. Many American officials and not a few citizens seem bent on reducing the general populace to the latter category.

That's why I found the video below so refreshing. It's a fan video based on the characters that appear in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games novels and the movies based on them. As an amateur production, it's not only well done, but it distills an important message from the larger works into a strong and memorable argument for the RKBA.

In Case You Wondered . . .

I've posted a few of my fiction pieces on this blog about the Master of All Combat Arts, Ancient and Modern. In case you were wondering why I made him a Scot, here's just one example of the traditional Scottish warrior spirit.

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scots-war-hero-sir-tommy-macpherson-dies-at-94-1-3598468

"His most fearless act came during the same deployment. He confronted the leader of a 23,000-strong column of battle-hardened troops, led by an SS Panzer division, persuaded them they were outnumbered and outgunned by Allied forces, and forced them to surrender."

Homemade Body Armor?

Truthfully, I'd be a more than a little hesitant to trust my life to something like this, but I think the idea is fascinating. I'm sharing this here for informational purposes only.

Do not try this at home.



To see the inventor test this homemade armor plate, CLICK HERE.

My Barber Asked My Opinion

Whoa! My barber, whom I consider THE firearms guru. sent out an email to me and his circle of "gun people" asking our opinion on the FBI's proposed move from .40 cal to 9mm handguns.

Now, it's no secret that I'm a big fan of larger calibers, the .45 ACP in particular. However, I'm also an advocate of utilizing the handgun with which you can put the most shots on target. A .380 that puts all its rounds in the kill zone will serve you better than a .454 Casull that won't let you hit the broad side of a 40' storage container.

Anyway, my barber referenced an article on the LoadOut Room site by Mark Miller. The following quote from the article distills the FBI's rationale into a few salient points:

· Handgun stopping power is simply a myth

· The single most important factor in effectively wounding a human target is to have penetration to a scientifically valid depth (FBI uses 12” – 18”)

· LEOs miss between 70 – 80 percent of the shots fired during a shooting incident

· Contemporary projectiles (since 2007) have dramatically increased the terminal effectiveness of many premium line law enforcement projectiles (emphasis on the 9mm Luger offerings)

· 9mm Luger now offers select projectiles which are, under identical testing conditions, I outperforming most of the premium line .40 S&W and .45 Auto projectiles tested by the FBI

· 9mm Luger offers higher magazine capacities, less recoil, lower cost (both in ammunition and wear on the weapons) and higher functional reliability rates (in FBI weapons)

· The majority of FBI shooters are both FASTER in shot strings fired and more ACCURATE with shooting a 9mm Luger vs shooting a .40 S&W (similar sized weapons)

· There is little to no noticeable difference in the wound tracks between premium line law Auto enforcement projectiles from 9mm Luger through the .45 Auto

· Given contemporary bullet construction, LEO’s can field (with proper bullet selection) 9mm Lugers with all of the terminal performance potential of any other law enforcement pistol caliber with none of the disadvantages present with the “larger” calibers.

Notice the crucial point here. In an armed confrontation, the bureau has statistically established that law enforcement officers miss from 70 to 80 percent of their shots. This statistic has remained consistent over the years.

In 2007 I posted an article that cites an FBI five-year study which reports that while 70% of offenders in a shootout put at least some shots on target, only 40% of LEOs could hit their adversaries. Should we blame the caliber of  their weapons or their training?

I would consider myself remiss if I did not point out that the FBI switched from the 10mm to the .40S&W in 1997 for precisely the same reasons that they say they will now switch to the 9mm. Their agents did better at the range with the lighter load of the .40 cal. (see here)

Evidently, the bureau sees the poor performance of LEOs in actual gunfights on too much bang or too big gun. Hence the search for a magic bullet.

To be continued.

On Love and the Use of Force

While I don't condone everything that Francis Schaeffer stood for, I want to share the following quote about how love sometimes requires the use of force:

“I would say that from my study of the Scripture, not to do what can be done for those in the power of those who automatically and logically oppress is nothing less than a lack of Christian love. This is why I am not a pacifist. I am not a pacifist, because pacifism in this poor world in which we live, this lost world, means that we desert the people who need our greatest help. As an illustration: I am walking down the street. I see a great big burly man beating a little tiny tot to death – beating this little girl, beating her, beating her. I come up and I plead with him to stop. If he won’t stop, what does love mean? Love means that I stop him in any way I can including, quite frankly, hitting him, and to me this is necessary Christian love in a fallen world. What about the little girl? If I desert the little girl to the bully, I have deserted the true meaning of Christian love, and responsibility to my neighbor. …As far as I’m concerned, this is the necessary outworking of Christian love. The world is an abnormal world, because of the Fall it is not the way God meant it to be. There are many things in this world which grieve us, and yet we must face them.” – Francis Schaeffer

One Christian Martialist Uses LARP

Live Action Role Play (LARP) can provide an avenue of training for those whose economic state prohibits paid lessons in combatives. One long-time follower of WARSKYL wrote to tell me a little bit about how he approaches his foray into the world of medieval LARP.

As you read, see if you can identify training value he receives from his participation. My own observations will follow his comments.

I have a few light bruises from my medieval LARP group.  In the end, I don't mind at all (they are foam weapons anyway, so it takes a very strong swing to actually cause pain).  I have gone to practice with a strong headache now as well.  What's the point in only fighting when you are at your best?  What orc will not strike you when you are at your weakest?  

You can see here that I'm applying this in a martialist mindset.  I had no idea people actually got together to fight with safe swords, flails, spears, and shields.  You can fight, and no one gets hurt, and you all go home friends.  It is a wondrous thing to me.  I know it's far from say, judo, or something actually modern, but I'm intent on sucking every bit of value out of it I can.  The fitness is a major plus, and  also the fact that it is entirely free.  The most I will need to spend is when I need to get my own weapons and such and they are quite inexpensive ($20-$30 for a sword, for example).  This is a far cry from the expensive martial arts classes I used to take, and nobody minds if I knock them to the ground this time.  It is FULL contact!

It is wonderful a cardio workout . . . on the plus side I am not nearly so bad off as I had assumed).

A benefit I've learned was to not necessarily look at my opponents.  I've thought of this before, but as I'd never had the chance to try it out, I'd forgotten about it.  My mind dusted it off as I had the two against me at once.  I kept on swinging my head left and right to check each one of them (as two were united against me).  I disliked this rapid movement, and I was suspicious of it also making me appear to be frantic (I can see the merit of using that deceptively, but at least for now I'd prefer to appear intimidating).  So, my brain dusted off the idea and shoved it into my cognitive mind and I looked in between them, not directly at them.  I instantly could see both of them with my peripheral vision without any issue.

Other practices can be a bit of a chaotic battle.  One such practice recently ended in me losing most fights, and I got killed from the back many times.  This will be a good training program to watch all directions.  I know it's impossible to be perfect, and even the greatest warrior will always die, but it's still a good idea to try your best in training.  The most I got were three kills before my own death (I attacked some brand new members--weak points!).

Okay, it's not WWII combatives or Krav Maga, but I see some real training benefits here:

1. The opportunity to switch on the full aggression mode without actually killing or maiming anyone allows him to practice initiating and controlling the adrenaline dump in a socially acceptable manner.
2. The fitness training comes as an important side benefits of this activity -- not just cardio, but also muscle endurance.
3. Dealing with multiple attackers does not usually come up in most martial training at the beginning. In LARP, he has had to deal with the problems of multiple attackers in terms of tactics as well as his fighting skills. Switching to peripheral vision gave him the advantage that peripheral vision perceives movement much more readily than focused vision. To fully benefit here, he must continue to develop control over his adrenaline dump (see #1 above) to avoid tunnel vision.
4. He is getting at least a small glimpse of the chaotic nature of violence. No one is able to choreograph a violent confrontation. Learning to act decisively, efficiently and effectively in a chaotic environment will help him -- even in a small way -- to prepare for the real thing.

Those are few observations off the top of my head. I invite you to add your own observations in the "Comments" section below. I really want to hear about how you might use LARP to augment your training, if you had the opportunity.

P.S. I wrote about the European Martial Arts of America in a previous post. To read it, CLICK HERE.

Meditation on I Peter 1:13

Wherefore, girde up the loynes of your minde: bee sober, and trust perfectly on that grace that is brought unto you, in the revelation of Iesus Christ, (1Peter 1:13, Geneva Bible)

This passage should speak directly to you as a Christian sheepdog. I cannot improve on Albert Barnes's succinct and pointed comment comment on this passage:

 The meaning here is, that they were to have their minds in constant preparation to discharge the duties, or to endure the trials of life - like those who were prepared for labor, for a race, or for a conflict.

Oh, and if you have too difficult a time reading the quote from the Geneva Bible, perhaps that's a sign that you need to girde up the loynes of your minde.

By the way, here's a good, illustrated explanation of what it means to gird up your loins. It comes from an article over at The Art of Manliness.

Potential Epidemics and the Sheepdog

Sheepdogs protect sheep. You want to protect the judicially innocent in general and those you care about in particular. For this you have prepared yourself in terms of your physical skills (combatives, emergency medicine, etc.) and your gear.

At this point in time, the orcs that threaten you and your loved ones do not all walk on two legs. Some of them look like this:

I want to protect my family from the Ebola virus as much as you do yours. I have been praying to that end. In addition to trusting the providence of God, I have a couple of principles in mind. that I want to pass on to you:

1. Officialdom and the media will lie to you. Their #1 priority is to prevent panic, no matter how dangerous the situation becomes. Powerbrokers lust for control, and a panicky populace threatens that control.
2. Before society in general panics, you need to take steps in terms of "controlled panic". Map out your priorities and work toward them systematically.
3. In order to plan effectively, you need reliable information. 

In the interest providing you with info, I recommend two articles. The first deals with the CDC's inconsistencies and unanswered questions.

HazMat Suits, Ebola, and 100% Safe Air to Breathe

One of the most informative (and longest) articles that I have read about the Ebola phenomenon draws not only from a variety of news sources, but also from an off-the-record bioweapons expert and geneticist. Good, rational assessment and conclusions.

Ebola: First US Diagnosis of Ebola Amidst Growing Concern

I may publish more on preps that I'm undertaking, in the days ahead.

Extreme Warrior Fitness?

Okay, now I just feel totally inadequate.

More Comic Book/Combat Judo by Dr. Barney Cosneck

In a previous post, I discussed Bernard J. Cosneck's role in WWII combatives, his book American Combat Judo and his short-lived foray into the world of comics.

Today, I want to draw your attention to a page from American Combat Judo that illustrates the "Rear Pull-Down". It appears to have come from Cosneck's career as a college wrestler.

As such, it may have limited application as a combative technique for taking down a sentry, but it would definitely not fit into any but the most fantastic of self defense scenarios.

This same technique appeared in the Judo Joe Comics, and you can compare by going to the Comic Book Self Defense page and scrolling down until you come to "Rear Pull-Down".

Meditation on John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

A week ago, I was retching with the worst dry heaves I've ever had. They just would not stop. My body seemed at war with me.

I wished my body would find peace with itself, but it took from Saturday night to Monday morning before I finally experienced that peace.

Thank God for the peace of Christ, the peace that neither war, disease, trouble nor death itself can touch. Thank God for a peace rooted in the faithfulness of Christ and not the vagaries of my experience or feelings.

Interview with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

I read Grossman's On Killing not long after it was published. My barber said, "Hey, Bro, you've got to read this book. We're in it." I knew exactly what he meant when I got to the page that talks about sheepdogs.

Earlier this week, a man that has followed this blog since he was a teen sent me a link to Brett McKay's interview with Col. Grossman. McKay is the persona behind the online magazine, The Art of Manliness.

I have a couple of caveats. First, near the beginning of the interview, you will hear an extended discussion of sex as it relates to killing. Some of you will find it crude and offensive. Second, Grossman interprets everything in terms of a non-christian, humanistic worldview. The Christian Martialist will benefit most from this who has cultivated a strong, epistemologically self-conscious mindset.

THIRD, IF YOU ARE A YOUNGSTER, YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT LISTEN TO THIS PRESENTATION UNLESS AND UNTIL A PARENT HAS SCREENED IT FIRST.

Joint Mobility and the Christian Martialist

The Bible speaks of Christ as "the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands [ligaments] having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." (Colossians 2:19)

Do you find it interesting that God describes life and strength in terms of joints and connective tissue rather than muscle mass? The fact is that muscle mass will do you little good if your joints are not healthy.

Whether through disuse or misuse, over the years we tend to lose joint mobility. A couple of months ago, I tripped and fell, hitting my head and right shoulder against a building. The injuries to my neck and shoulder have restricted my mobility.

One of the things I've done to help restore range of motion and bring healing to my joints is that when my daughter and I watch a certain program (almost nightly), we do joint mobility exercises during the opening theme and the closing credits. I get my exercises from Scott Sonnon's Flow-Fit program.

The video below is beyond anything I can do [this week!], but it serves to show what can be done when you focus on joints and connective tissue rather than just building muscle mass.

You May Be a Terrorist If . . .

I wrote the article below three years ago but never published it. It's as relevant today as it was then, and I'm publishing it to remind you that just as anything you say to police can AND WILL be used against you, so any support you give to Washington's global war on terror will come home to bite you in the seat of your convictions.

If you have followed recent events, you realize that federal authorities have stepped up their war on domestic terror and potential terrorists.

In fact, a number of people targeted by the feds have registered surprise at the idea that they may be terrorists. Therefore, as a public service, Christian Warrior Online presents the following.

You may be a terrorist . . . 

• . . . if you are a U.S. military combat veteran (Link to Homeland Security Report)
• . . . if you vote for a candidate not approved by the Establishment (see Homeland Security link above)
• . . . if you oppose illegal immigration (see Homeland Security link above)
• . . . if you oppose the New World Order (see Homeland Security link above)
• . . . if you operate a lemonade stand. Even mainstream magazine Forbes has taken not of the recent crackdown by authorities on children who sell lemonade ("The Inexplicable War on Lemonade Stands")
• . . . if you make a video of on duty police officers (Link here)
• . . . if you want to eat healthy, unprocessed foods (Link here and here and here)
• . . . if you walk into an army surplus store and pay cash OR buy a "night flashlight" OR ask how something works OR witness to the clerk and he thinks your views are extreme (Link to article "FBI Wants Businesses Watching . . .")
• . . . if you subscribe to the limited government, constitutionalist views of the TEA Party movement (Link to "KUHNER: Tea Party Terrorists")
• . . . if you believe the Constitution's rule that gold and silver constitute lawful money

The Real Answer to Violence

I saw a blog post by Jay Adams on the Institute for Nouthetic Studies site. The author entitled the post, "The Only Real Answer to Violence".

The entry is short and basically says that God has given us standards in Scripture that should shape our behavior as individuals and societies.

I have no argument with Adams' post. I believe his premise, and I further believe that God will bring about such changes, in time. Obedience to God's Law represents the only ultimate solution to the problem of violence.

In the interim, we need not only disciples who live righteous lives but Christian sheepdogs who will stand against violence -- indeed, against evil in every form -- and protect the flock from the predators who lurk among us.

Adrenaline: Controlled Rage

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. (Proverbs 25:28)

Here's a video with Kelly McCann discussing controlled rage or, as he calls it, Rage with Reason. It's basically a little talk about controlling your adrenaline dump without letting it control you.

Warning: this video contains language that may not conform to the family standards of some of my younger readers. Minors, please have a parent preview this before you watch it. You're on your honor.

A Meditation on Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm27:1)

Do you ever wonder how you will perform in the moment of truth? Whether you'll take appropriate action or just choke in fear? 

Even if you've been there, done that, you may wonder if you'll be up to the challenge next time. This is why it's important that you, as a Christian sheepdog, to keep your motives anchored in your relationship to your God and King.

I like the way this Psalm begins, because it has the same theme as Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Whether you have to face an orc who threatens those whom you care about or just face another day of life in the swamp of moral decay, you can do so with the confidence that if you are on God's side, He will be on your side. 

Since that's the case, "Of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1 Sung by the Georgia Boy Choir 

JudoMaster Self Defense

I have previously written about the instructional pages in the JudoMaster comics which was published in the mid 1960's. Today, let's look at the comic's instruction for dealing with bullies.

To see the techniques illustrated on the WARSKYL comic page, CLICK HERE and then scroll down to the JudoMaster section.

In terms of practical self defense, I agree with JudoMaster. It would take years of practice to use these techniques effectively on the street.

Improvised Weapons Again

Recently someone sent me a link to a video on improvised weapons by Kelly McCann. I thought I might use it here on WARSKYL, but a quick check revealed that I already had.

But it was good enough that anyone who missed it the first time should have an opportunity to view it. Here's the link;

Improvised Weapons by Kelly McCann

Multipurpose Items for the Prepper (or Anyone Else)

You may or may not be into the whole preparedness movement, but whether you're a prepper, a survivalist or just an ordinary Christian Martialist (as if Christian Martialists were ordinary), you would benefit from looking over the article from Survivopedia that I've linked to below.

It lists a number of uses for common household items like resealable plastic bags, dental floss, and honey. Handy know for when you're in a pinch . . . or the end of the world as we know it.

8 Multipurpose Items to Use for Off-Grid Survival

Old Superhero: The Phantom

The Phantom has always been one of my favorites. In the comics, the whole Phantom persona gets passed down from father to son, through the generations. These pictures show us one Phantom who has evidently had trouble knowing when to let go.

Then again, maybe the old boy still has it. At least, we old duffers would like to think so.

My Concealed Carry Holster

For concealed carry, I use an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster. It's made by Crossbreed, and I'm very much satisfied with it.

The one pictured above is identical to mine in design. The weapon and holster slide inside the pants, while the clips remain outside, affixed to the belt. This arrangement allows the weapon to hug the body, while the leather back keeps the hammer and sight from digging into flesh. I find mine extremely comfortable.

The pictured holster differs from mine only in its black color. I ordered mine in natural horsehide. (Horsehide does not absorb sweat and body odors as readily as cowhide.)

Mark Craighead designed the holster. Although he has since died, he leaves behind a legacy of faith and customer service that looks a lot like the Biblical concept of servanthood.

1. Mark was often asked about the origin of the name CrossBreed® Holsters.  He was never ashamed to answer that, although there is some reference to the hybrid nature of his designs, the larger meaning behind his company’s name references the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice upon the cross which was made for all mankind. 
2. CrossBreed® Holsters raised the standard for customer service in the holster industry by offering a two week try-it-free guarantee and a lifetime warranty.  This service continues today with each and every holster that goes out the door. CrossBreed® Holsters’ customers are customers for life. (link)

I have no financial stake in Crossbreed holsters. I'm just a satisfied customer.

Concealed Carry in Georgia

When it comes to concealed carry, Georgia does not have reciprocity with South Carolina, so the last time I was in PA, I obtained a non-resident permit. I used it for the first time yesterday, when my daughter and I spent the day helping my dad move into his new apartment.

The hot day made the move rather tiring, but the concealed carry aspect proved completely uneventful. I don't believe anyone even noticed the full sized 1911 under my pullover shirt. Part of the credit goes to an effective and comfortable concealment holster, and the rest to the fact that I have become so accustomed to going armed that it feels totally natural.

P.S. We got the furniture and boxes of belongings into Dad's apartment, and made it safely back to South Carolina. 

P.P.S. In another post, I plan to talk about my CC holster.

The Case for Owning an Air Rifle

Last week, I posted a video that featured the use of an air rifle for training young people to shoot safely and accurately. Adults can find air rifles useful as well.

Air rifles today are not like the BB guns we used as kids. Many have respectable power and accuracy.

Here's a link to an article that gives you seven good reasons to own an air rifle:

Why Your Survival Cache Must Include an Air Rifle

Bernard J. ("Dr. Barney") Cosneck, Combat Judo and the Comics

I have written about Bernard J. Cosneck's book American Combat Judo here, here and here. Today, I'd like to give you a peek at some of the fascinating facts I've discovered about the author.

Cosneck came from Russian immigrant stock and gained prominence as a Two-Time Big Ten Champion intercollegiate wrestler for the University of Illinois (1932, 1934). He later performed in professional wrestling exhibitions as Barney Cosneck.

Somewhere along the line, in addition to wrestling, he picked up some instruction in jiu-jitsu and savate (French foot fighting). His boxing experience may have come from his association with heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey.

During World War II, he served along with Dempsey as an instructor in hand-to-hand combat for the U.S. Coast Guard. Together, they produced a manual of close quarters fighting for the USCG entitled How to Fight Tough.

Cosneck poses with Jack Dempsey for cover photo

Published in 1942, the manual bears Dempsey's name as the author (along with sports writer, Frank G. Menke). This makes sense because everyone knew his name as a heavyweight champ, even though the book contains no real boxing moves. The photos show Dempsey performing various grappling techniques on Cosneck. I surmise that Cosneck did most of the actual coaching for the volume while Dempsey supplied the name-recognition.

In 1944, Cosneck saw his own American Combat Judo published. It presented a lot of the material found in How to Fight Tough, plus much more.

After the war, he collaborated with Paul W. Stoddard to produce a comic book with the title Judo Joe. It lasted only three issues, and each issue contained instruction in self defense. Interestingly, the moves taught seem to have come directly from American Combat Judo.

Compare the technique below with the one I have posted on the WARSKYL Comic Book Defense page. Note my comments below.

What has always struck me about this illustration is how high he is when he enters the throw. Two different jujitsu instructors (and various judo and jujitsu books) have taught me to enter low, with my hips below that of my opponent. I'm not saying that what Cosneck shows won't work, but that it will take a lot more strength to complete the throw. In the comic book illustration, you see the same high entry. 

From the Barber's Chair: Basic Firearm Operation and Safety

I learned to shoot with a Daisy air rifle. I got mine as a hand-me-down from my cousin -- a Daisy pump. Unlike the slick lever actions the guys in my neighborhood used, my magazine held only 50 BBs, which I had to load one-at-a-time, while the tab of the spring follower bit mercilessly into my forefinger.

It took both patience and pain to load it, so I tended to take more care, aiming each shot. Not so with some of my compatriots who could dump a whole pack of BBs into their lever action models.

My barber brought these memories back to me this morning when he sent me the link to the video below. It's a training video by Crosman in story form -- a boy learning from his grandfather how to shoot an air rifle.

John (The Lawman) Russell plays the part of the grandfather. He died in 1991, so the film has a few years on it. Nevertheless, it teaches timeless principles: muzzle awareness, sight picture, trigger control . . . .

AND if you're a fan of 1950's TV westerns, the scene of Russell with the Winchester will make you smile.

Preparedness from a Christian Perspective

As a Christian Martialist you prepare yourself to defend those you care about from the orcs among us. Hopefully, you have a kit, no matter how small, that you have assembled for every day carry (EDC) to carry you through potential emergencies. Beyond, this, have you considered your level of preparedness  for longer term emergencies?

The Bible has warned to prepare for political disintegration -- doth the crown endure to all generations? -- as well as economic collapse -- riches are not forever.

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. Proverbs 27:23-27

Yesterday, my wife and I listened to an interview of Don Kobler, known on Youtube as SouthernPrepper1. If you are new to the idea of preparedness, I highly recommend this introduction from a Biblical perspective:

Prepping and God's Providence

He's a prepper, she's a prepper. Wouldn't you like to be a prepper, too?

Seven Tiger Moves

Kenpo Karate master, John McSweeney taught a series of dynamic self resistance exercises called The Seven Tiger Moves. They did not originate with him, but have existed in various martial arts for centuries.

Through his sixties and beyond, observers saw in McSweeney speed and power that martial artists decades younger might envy. He credited the Seven Tiger Moves for his incredible power.

I have used some of John Peterson's version of these moves in the past, but not in a systematic fashion. One thing I like about them is that they are super easy on the joints, especially if you begin, as you should, using no more than half of full effort.

At this point, I have a workout partner and a program for regular exercise that seems to be working for me, so the next step is to systematically work the Tiger Moves into my program. I will post more about the program if it works out as I hope.

In the video below, you will see John Peterson demonstrate these seven exercises along with an instruction in muscle tension and the importance of timed breathing:

JudoMaster Comics

From June 1966 to December 1967, JudoMaster Comics presented a character whose mastery of Judo gave him near super powers. Several of the comics included instructional pages which focused either on history or techniques of a traditional martial art.

The page below introduces the throws taught. You can find the actual instruction here. You may have to scroll down to locate them on the page.

Love Your Neighbor; Buy a Gun

In His Law, God commanded the covenant people, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus quoted this as one of many ringing endorsements of His Father's Law. (Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27)

If you love your neighbor, you will want him to come to no harm. Since it turns out that increased firearms ownership contributes to a climate that discourages violent crime, you should not only own and train with a firearm but encourage your friends and neighbors to do so, as well.

In addition, the proliferation of firearms discourages criminals from violent acts, which means fewer of them will get hurt or killed in the commission of crimes. Therefore, by increasing firearm ownership, you are also loving your enemy, thus fulfilling another command of Jesus. 

Weapon Check, 2

I'm happy to say that I'm not the only one who believes in keeping a weapon at hand (See Weapon Check). I met the author of the following and her husband at a theological conference earlier this year.

A man comes the porch and knocks on my door. I can see him through the window. And through the door which I keep closed--I inform him---due to the threat of home invasions, he asks if we have kids. He's selling educational info. I tell him no, and then he starts asking if this neighbor and that neighbor has children. He would like to save time by skipping houses. I share that I'm uncomfortable answering those questions, and nor do I feel my neighbors would appreciate my telling a stranger where their children live.

I do this all the while wondering if he realizes the black thing I'm flipping in one hand is the holster for the 9mm my husband insists I keep near me while he's gone, which I'm holding in the other. It would explain why he leaned back during the entire conversation. Perhaps now he'll think twice about approaching homeowners and asking residents about neighborhood kids

After I asked her if I could use her story on this blog, she consented and added,

 . . . we finally purchased firearms after hearing far too many stories about home invasions, including home invasions where men knocked on the door and then burst inside when the door was answered. My husband found a pistol I felt comfortable with and made sure I had the proper training, including monthly time on the range. We live in the country and have a constant stream of strangers knocking on our door. Only twice did I feel the need pull it out, but I felt far safer having it in my hand.

The lesson here is that when you and the perpetrator are at your front door, the firearm in your bedroom closet will do you no good.

Modeling, Observation and Mental Practice

Human beings learn through observation.

When I was a lad, I got hold of the book Combat Judo by Bernard Cosneck. I wanted to be able to defend myself against the bullies who tormented me. 

Most of the techniques in the book made no connection with me, but I found a couple that clicked. I studied the pictures of the rear naked strangle intently and said to myself, "I could do that." 

And, when the opportunity arose, lo and behold, I found that I could do that. My experience illustrates the effectiveness of something I've written about before: mental practice.

An email I received a few days ago from David Morris (Survive in Place and Urban Survival Guide) reminded me of the truth that mental practice can serve you well, even when you cannot practice physically. Here's a quote from that email:

When you watch someone do an activity with the intent to do it yourself, your brain will fire the same neurons that you'll fire as if you were actually doing it yourself!

Put another way, if you watch a firearms instructor perform a drill and you watch them perform it with the intent of immediately doing the same drill and copying their form, you'll actually be developing muscle memory both while you watch and when you do it yourself.

The more you watch perfect technique and copy it, the deeper, stronger, and more ingrained the neural pathways/muscle memory will become.

This can be good, if you're modeling perfect technique, or it can be very bad, if you're modeling Sabrina from "Charlie's Angels", The Lone Ranger, or other TV/Movie representations of gun handling.

If you're just watching passively, like you do with most firearms training videos, or if there's no opportunity to immediately practice the same drill that you're watching the instructor do, you don't get this benefit.  You just get head knowledge.

Weapon Check

Remember this old public service announcement? "It's eleven o'clock; do you know where your child is?" I might ask another relevant question: "If someone broke into your house right now, how close are you to your weapon?"

Over a week ago, I was trimming some branches from a tree that blew over in a storm. Unbeknownst to me, my wife decided to snap a couple of pictures of me on the ladder. 

That's my Ruger SR 1911 in the holster on my left hip. 

(I know the arguments against cross-draw, but the holster ended up there because of comfort and ease of carry. I do not use this holster or position when I'm carrying concealed.)

My point? If you own a handgun, you have no excuse not to be armed in your own home. 

You became a Christian Martialist to defend those whom you care about. This means not only vigilance, but also preparedness, 24/7. 

In case you're thinking of bringing up the shower as an exception (WARNING. ONE USE OF THE "H" WORD):

What the Christian Martialist Can Learn from Batman

I offer this Batman post an example of Providence.

This week I made a couple of posts to this blog that referred to comic books. Then, a couple of days ago, I received an email from Off the Grid News entitled "4 Survival Lessons from Batman".

The lessons listed in the email apply to a far broader group than preppers and survivalists. To see whatI mean, take a look at these excerpts from the letter. My comments are in brackets [-]

Here's a concept of critical importance: Batman actually worked himself "super." He did this not only by hard work, but by keen decision-making, incredible determination, commitment to his cause and the progressive development of his super-survival skills... all the same things you and I have access to right now.

. . . So let's look at 4 ways you can use Batman's hard-core survival skills . . .:

1. Decision Making: You'll need to start thinking right now about making the hard decisions that are coming your way fast. This will be necessary in order to actually stay alive in an increasingly hostile world. Hey, for the most part we are way too soft in our decision making skills. Sharpen your skills by [scenario based practice, which you can do in the real world or by mental imaging.]

2. Determination: Think about the determination it will take to live and thrive in a major melt-down.[Or in a life-or-death confrontation.] It's important to stop and contemplate about how easy life is for us by historical standards.  Consider the early days of our country's existence. Think about the life and death decision making skills the Pioneers possessed that kept them alive.

3. Commitment: Are you sincerely committed to "making it" when things get bad? Are you committed to your God? Your Family? Your Community? Your Church? Your Friends? It's easy to be committed when things are going well. It's much harder when conflict arises and struggles come along. True commitment requires digging deep and staying focused on the most important things in life... commitment to relationships.

4. Skill Development: Start to progressively develop your core survival skills over time. Go camping, hiking, fishing and hunting. Have weekend drills for the whole family. Practice, practice and more practice. There is simply no way to shortcut this part. You have to pay a price. It worked for Batman, it will work for you.

The most important part of this is to understand that you've got the exact same "powers" that Batman had. You have the amazing power of choosing to take action.  Don't pass it up. If all you do is "think" about survival, you'll never be a hero... let alone a super-hero. The one thing that makes a hero a hero is that he or she acts in a heroic manner when their time comes. Your time is coming. Be ready.

One more thing. It's important. Batman may not have had super powers in the sense that other super-heroes had... but he did have a nifty utility belt and a Bat Cave loaded with incredible tools that made Batman much more effective in crunch time. [You must choose your gear carefully, train to use it properly, maintain it, and make sure you will have it where and when you need it.]

New Page on WARSKYL

I hate flies. I hate their filth and their peskiness.

My favorite superhero when I was a youngster? The FLY! Go figure.

(Actually, in my mind, The Fly and The Phantom were tied for first place.)

Maybe you've never heard of The Fly. He never made it big like Superman or even Captain Marvel. But he had two things going for him:

1. His other identity was a kid -- Tommy Troy (for the first few issues, at least);
2. Early issues each contained a page that taught some sort of self defense move.

Lately, I have located some other comics from an earlier era that taught some form of self defense of martial arts. I have decided to open a new WARSKYL page dedicated to comic book self defense instruction.

Some of the techniques on the pages will prove less effective than others, and I won't suggest that you use these as a primary source of training. Nevertheless, they represent a singular way of teaching self defense: through the heroes from the comic book stories.

I will post another comic page from time to time. The first one features the Shield's sidekick, Bobby Bell. What? You never heard of The Shield? Consider it a gap in your education.

You can either click the link in the "pages" bar above or this link: Comic Book Self Defense.

Battle Cries Revisited

I have written previously about using a battle cry to help channel adrenaline stress. (See here.) Here's a little different view of the same subject.

The following panels come from a comic book which lies -- as I understand -- in the public domain. Judomaster, Feb 1967 (v6, #93)

Breaking Obama's Choke Hold, 2

In the previous post, I revealed how the Obama administration's Operation Chokepoint labels sales of guns and ammunition as a "high risk" activity comparable to prostitution and pornography. Now, I want to show you some legal ways around these roadblocks that may actually make things better for you who need to purchase firearms.

1. Pay cash rather than charge your purchases. Yes, you may have to save up to buy the krunchenticker you've always wanted, but eliminating the credit card also greatly reduces the paper trail. You can't eliminate it altogether, but it's much more private if you pay cash.
2. See if your gun shop will put the weapon on layaway for you. With a minimal down payment, you can lock in the price until you pay it off.
3. Buy your weapon piece by piece, as you can afford it. I did this back in the '90's when M1 Garands were plentiful. I bought a receiver in pristine condition, then I scoured shotgun news every month for new/unissued parts. In the end, I had what amounted to a brand new rifle for a thousand dollars, including the gunsmith's fee for installing the barrel. Except that I did not shell out the whole grand at one time.
4. Roll your own. If you're handy with tools, you might consider buying an 80% receiver and finishing it. Then, purchase a parts kit and assemble your 100% off-the-books firearm. As of this writing, this is still legal in the United States. (Check state and local laws. You know I would NEVER recommend that you exercise your God-given rights in violation of mere human law.)

There you go. Four ways around the administration's attempts to choke off your access to the tools of self defense. There may be others.If you can think of one, I'd like to hear about it in the comments section.

Breaking Obama's Choke Hold

Recently, I received a newsletter from Gun Owners of America that outlined Operation Choke Point, an Obama administration attempt to curtail activities that might in any way give you the slightest sense of independence from the Establishment. It seems that the feds want to pressure banks into cutting off credit to "high risk" activities.

An online search led me to a Wikipedia article that identifies only some of these "high risk" activities.

Some merchant categories that the FDIC has listed as being associated with high-risk activity include, but are not limited to:

• Ammunition Sales

• Cable Box De-scramblers

• Coin Dealers

• Credit Card Schemes

• Credit Repair Services

• Dating Services

• Debt Consolidation Scams

• Drug Paraphernalia

• Escort Services

• Firearms Sales

• Fireworks Sales

• Get Rich Products

• Government Grants

• Home-Based Charities

• Life-Time Guarantees

• Life-Time Memberships

• Lottery Sales

• Mailing Lists/Personal Info

• Money Transfer Networks

• On-line Gambling

• Payday Loans

• Pharmaceutical Sales

• Ponzi Schemes

• Pornography

• Pyramid-Type Sales

• Racist Materials

• Surveillance Equipment

• Telemarketing

• Tobacco Sales

• Travel Clubs

Notice that the feds have lumped sale of guns and ammunition together with pornography, prostitution, ponzi schemes and drug paraphernalia as "high risk" activities. But also note that this policy puts more than your right to keep and bear arms at risk.

The nabobs in Washington have determined coin dealers to constitute "high risk" activities as well. So, if you think that gold and silver represent a more secure store of value than fiat currency, your visit to a coin dealer -- in person or online -- constitutes an activity they consider high risk. 

At this juncture, I would like to point out to whom these activities present a risk. The activities of free men to protect themselves, their families and their assets represent a high degree of risk to the safety and security of the petty tyrants, entrenched bureaucrats and Establishment lackies. In other words their chokepoint policy seeks to choke off your freedom which they see as a threat.

How do we counter this and even use it against them? That's the subject of another post. (CLICK HERE to see the second post.)

Never Get Outta the Car

If you've ever seen the movie Apocalypse Now, you may remember the encounter with the tiger that has two G.I.s running for their lives back to their river boat. One of them is yelling, "Never get outta the boat. Never get outta the boat."

I once had a job in a toxic work environment, and a co-worker -- who is now my barber -- took a cue from that film. He always warned me: "Never leave the office." And when I did, sooner or later some co-worker would try to count coup on my soul.

Maybe your work environment is happy and fulfilling, and probably you'll never run into a tiger on the prowl. However, you may someday find yourself driving through an area of social unrest.

If that happens, let me give you a little advice. NEVER GET OUTTA THE CAR.

Shooting with Just One Hand

There is a time and place for using both hands to aim and fire your handgun. There's also a time and place for shooting with just one hand.

I have found that women, especially mothers grasp this concept more readily than many men. All I have to say is, "Suppose you're holding a baby . . . . "

Right away, mom gets it. She would never drop the child in order to assume an isosceles or weaver stance. She just won't, and she knows it.

Since you may, someday, have to shoot one-handed, when selecting a handgun, you'll want to consider how well it will lend itself to single handed use.

Here's an article that may help:

The Importance of Shooting One-Handed

Advertising Your Vulnerabilities

Gary North once wrote, "Keep your convictions visible and your assets hidden." Wise words in a society polluted with covetousness and envy.

Your family, moreover, represents a precious asset into which you've poured your time and treasure. Putting too much information about them on display could just leave them vulnerable to the orcs out there.

Consider the following excerpt from WNCT9 of Greenville, NC:

Family stick figure decals are on the backs of thousands of car windows representing the parents, children and even the family pets. 

While they may seem harmless, police across the country send a warning message to those who have a series of stickers on their vehicles.

They say thieves and predators are now using bumper stickers and decals to track their next victims. . . .  

Police say if you have your family decal up on your window along with a school bumper sticker or team mascot magnet, you are now displaying how many children you have, where they go to school, and what sports they play.

What's that? Your PROUD of your family and want everyone to know it?

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Taking More Bites out of Crime

Last time, I presented you with some material about using your teeth in a close encounter of the violent kind. Today, assuming you've had your rabies and distemper shots, I just want to list some points to consider before you add your teeth to your arsenal.

• Your attacker may have poor hygiene, which may put you off the idea of bringing your mouth into contact with his flesh. Also, he may have an STD (or an array of them), to which you would expose yourself if you draw blood by biting him.
• Therefore, you must make up your mind beforehand whether to add this mode of counterattack to your repertoire. In other words, you must decide just how desperate you are willing to become to defend yourself or others. Death by a filthy orc now, or the possibility of a lifetime of debilitation with hepatitis, or a lingering death by an antibiotic resistant venereal disease later? 
• If you find yourself willing to give your life in such a way for those in your care, you will want to consider the following detail Paul Vunak gives in his book Anatomy of a Streetfight: "The actual motion of the bite is a repeated circular ripping of the flesh, which results in numerous smaller bites. When applied cumulatively, unimaginable damage is inflicted." (p. 54)
• Vunak recommends that you train by putting a piece of beef into a T-shirt, then experimenting to develop your technique until you can completely sever the chunk of meat.