WWII Ace Pilot -- WOW!

A skilled warrior whose record just makes me say, "WOW!" Thanks to my barber for this link.

Find out how shooting down a U.S. plane did not blemish record, but increased his status as a hero.

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.

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.

Fighting Men: WWII Training Video

I think you'd call this more of a motivational/mindset video than a training video, but this WWII film has some interesting points. I want to address some of those points below the video.



First, it says that in war, the rule book goes out the window. I understand why it says that -- in the face of the enemy, the main rule is kill or be killed. That's Biblical.

But that does not mean that anyone can wage warfare altogether without rules -- ethical standards. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 20 for an example of the Biblical ethics of warfare.

Another thing that stands out to me in the film is the one fight between the G.I. and the German soldier. The one where the German fakes out an American, shoots him, and another American comes upon the scene.

The fight that ensues impressed me because it is not all neat and tidy with clean techniques. It's a lot more like a real life fight for life -- dirty chaos.

What impressed you about the video? Good points or bad, I'd like to hear about them in the comments section.

American Combat Judo Revisited

I have previously written about Bernard J. Cosneck's American Combat Judo here and here, with a significant mention here.

Recently, I ran across an article in an online Judo magazine that discusses Cosneck & his system relative to WWII combatives and the systems that have arisen from that era. The article begins on page seven.

Here's the link:

American Combat Judo

Designed for Work, Destined for War

God designed Adam and Eve for dominion. That was His stated purpose before He created them.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Gen 1:26)

The Lord's instruction to them begins,

Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion . . . . (Gen 1:28)

Since our first parents had to subdue the earth, you may infer that it needed subduing. Except for one relatively small part, the world was wilderness. It was good, as God had pronounced it, but it was also wild and untamed.

The Creator did not set them about their assignment without a plan of execution. He gave them a template for their task: a garden.

The Garden of Eden was, no doubt more than a flower bed or a vegetable garden. From what Scripture relates, we can conclude it was part orchard, part park, part botanical garden and part zoological garden.

God designed Adam and Eve for work. He put them together in such a way that fitted them physically and intellectually to tame the wilderness and turn it into garden through productive thought and labor.

The command, "Subdue the earth," sums up the intended work of man, but within it dwelt a foreboding.

Continued in "Designed for Work, Destined for War, 2"

Motivational Quotes

From various sources (including my Bible & my barber).

Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. -- Deuteronomy 20:3-4

Choose wisely, practice 'til you're proficient and pray that you never need it! -- as seen on a gun forum

Blessed is he who when facing his own demise, thinks only of his front sight. -- as seen on a gun forum

The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth. -- Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson

Call me paranoid at my funeral - until then, call me prepared. -- as seen on a gun forum

A few years ago I was taking some classes in Kali. The instructor said something along that line of thught that stuck with me. He said," I don't fear the man who practices 10,000 types of punches. I fear the man who has practiced 1 punch 10,000 times." -- as seen on a gun forum in a debate about "beware the man with one gun,for he knows how to use it."

Strong men stand up for themselves, stronger men stand up for others.

Out of every 100 men sent to battle, 10 shouldn't even be there, 80 are just targets, 9 are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior and he will bring the others back. - Heraclitus 500 BC

For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. (Jos 23:9-10)

Combat Slap, 3

Continued from "Combat Slap, 2"

The combat slap is an effective close-quarters tool that should be in your arsenal. If you train without an instructor (or, perhaps even without a partner), sometimes a different instructional aid will give you a new insight. It may help you find a weakness and correct it, or it may give you a new insight for improved power or speed.

For that reason, I'd like to present you with Paul Vunak's video presentation on the combat slap or, as he calls it, "the ear slap". Some of you have been reading my comments for a time and may be able to anticipate what I might say about this clip. So, I'm going to reserve my discussion of it and let you comment based on your analysis.

Is there something here to gain? Something to avoid?




What do you think that I might think about this? More important, what do YOU think?

Warrior Mindset

A thousand techniques, practiced to perfection will not help you if you don't have the warrior mindset. Deolexrex sent me the link to this Fox news story dated September 5. The housewife's only technique seems to have been to hold on the shotgun and keep the muzzle pointed away from her loved ones. Oh yeah, she also smacked one of the intruders in the head with a jar candle.

Click here to read the article before you read my comments below.

What a great example of the protective instincts of motherhood as mentioned in "Sheepdog Strategies, 8".

If you're familiar with Col. Grossman's analysis of how to facilitate the act of killing among soldiers, you may have seen something else in the story. Even under the threat of further attack, the husband evidently choked at pulling the trigger.

The wife yelled, "Shoot him, shoot him," which provided authority and peer support to the act of killing the enemy. In the military, this support comes from the soldier's squad and especially his NCO squad leader.

By the way, did you catch that last part? The couple "PROBABLY won't be charged." As though, when two orcs break into your house with a shotgun and a handgun, there is any question about the legality of shooting them. In Texas, yet. O how the mighty have fallen.

The final lesson is this: even when the odds seem all against you, don't give up. Providence may grant what seems an unlikely victory.

Free Combat Course

Cheap is good. Free is better. That little motto is true IF AND ONLY IF the item has value. There are people on the net who offer free e-books that are just a waste of time to read and a waste of space on your hard drive.

I have recommended Keith Pascal's free materials in the past because the information he gives away is better than what you'd pay someone else good money for. Yes, he uses his free material to promote the books he has for sale, but there's nothing wrong with that.

It's like the lady in the supermarket who gives you a little bit of sausage on a toothpick. She does it in hopes that you'll like the taste and buy the product.

I cannot understand why any Christian Martialist would not snap up any offer, if it's both free and good. That's just what Keith Pascal's 9-part combat course is -- free and good.

Each lesson is short, to the point, and designed to improve your combat skills. Here's the link to sign up for it:

Free Combat Course

Combat Slap, 2

Continued from "Combat Slap"

Here is a video of Jim Grover (aka Kelly McCann) teaching what he calls the cupped hand blow. I've posted on this strike under the name combat slap.

Watch this video and compare it to the one in the first post. See the similarities? How about differences? By putting both instructional videos together, you get a broader range of application for the strike.



Do the two instructors contradict? If so, which seems best to you? Why?

Continued in "Combat Slap, 3"

Warning to Christian Martialist Sheepdogs

You did not want to kill him. He had put you and your loved ones in jeopardy of your lives, and you had no other choice than to take his life. You did everything right, morally and legally.

Now the police want you to make a statement. Just routine, you understand. The officer is a nice guy, and has made it obvious that he understands and is on your side. So, you tell your story truthfully and simply, right? And then, you wind up behind bars.

Oops.

Thanks to G.N. for the links to a class presentation at Regents University Law School. It may change how you interact with the police from now on.

Part one:



Part two:



Part three:



Part four:



The unwarranted assumption, as we are taught in our civics classes, is that the police enter every investigation with an open mind, searching for probable cause that leads them to suspects. Then they weigh the evidence to see if there is enough to charge the suspect with a crime.

The truth is that police officers have all the same limitations and prejudices as other human beings. If a woman is murdered, 90% of the time it's the husband or boy-friend. If your wife dies violently, who becomes the #1 suspect? Operating on that assumption, the officer begins to look for evidence to convict you.

Let's go back to the scenario at the beginning of this post. The very fact that the orc is dead, makes him the victim in the eyes of too many officers. "Police suspect that the killing took place over a drug deal gone bad. Film at eleven."

This because the "victim" was a known drug dealer.

Now, add to the mix the fact that people who carry both guns and Bibles are viewed as dangerous extremists in many quarters of the law enforcement community. Perhaps you are still clutching your own Bible as you say, "We were just coming out of prayer meeting, when this deranged person accosted us with a knife."

"Sir, do you often carry a gun with you to church?" Uh-oh, extremist alert!

And that's not even considering the legal problems of shooting someone armed with a knife. Judges & juries have been known to see that as use of unnecessary force -- after all, he only had a knife. Yep, it's ludicrous, but it has happened.

It isn't what you may have been taught. It definitely isn't right. But your innocence may not protect you from overzealous police and prosecutors. So exercise your right against self-incrimination -- respectfully -- until you speak with your attorney.

And pray. 'Nuff said.

Lethality vs. Stopping Power, 3

Continued from "Lethality vs. Stopping Power, 2"

I have known of police officers who carried .357 magnum revolvers or .40 S&W autoloaders as their sidearms who also carried a .380 (or smaller!) caliber handgun as a backup. They somehow think that if they couldn't get the job done with 6 (or 12) rounds of .357, that the .380 is waiting in the wings to save the day.

To me, this seems backwards. If my large caliber primary weapon could not stop an adversary, I think I'd want something even larger as my backup. Just my opinion. Maybe it's that a Ruger Super Redhawk makes too big a bulge in an ankle holster.

Defeat Your Assailant's Will

When you read the article by Dave Grossman that I linked to earlier this week (you did read it, didn't you?), I hope you thought about how the tactical aspect might apply to the individual's self-defense situation. Can you use what you learned to defeat your attacker's will?

The average orc seeking a victim looks for easy prey. He wants someone who does not have the will to resist. From the time of his very intention to commit a violent act, he knows he does not want a contest of the will.

Up until I entered junior high (middle school), I had been in very few fights. Then for about a year and a half, I fought on a rather regular basis -- by my choice, but not by my preference. In other words, I fought because if I didn't, my aggressors would have beaten me, anyway.

Years later, as I reflected on those dark and threatening days, I realized that no one has ever challenged me to fight because he wanted to fight. I haven't had many challenges since those days, but they tend to fall into a pattern: the challenger was either 1) posturing for his ego or to get what he wanted, or 2) wanted -- for his own perverse reasons -- someone to beat up.

Wanting a fight and wanting to beat someone up are two different things. Outside of the boxing and MMA arenas, very few guys really want to fight (okay, maybe hocky, too). Everyone else is just looking for a victim.

Willingness to fight goes a long way toward shutting down a lot of challengers. But there's a psychology to it. If he's posturing & you start posturing, each of you will puff himself up bigger & get louder. Once the process starts, it has already escalated to the point where neither of you will back down for the sake of ego, even though neither of really you wants a fight.

Your first and best option -- especially when dealing with a stranger -- is tactical retreat. This orc is challenging you because he has an edge, and he knows it. Whether his edge is a literal edge (knife) or just a Sunday punch, he's confident because he's used it successfully before.

Don't meet this guy's challenge, if you have an out. If retreat is not possible, then you must defeat his will to fight as much as you need to defeat his strength and skill. You also have to establish your role as the one on the defensive in the eyes of witnesses.

So, you assume the defensive posture, and you loudly say, "Stop! Leave me alone." At this point the orc thinks he has you up a tree. Then you ask a simple question:

"You're not going to let me out of here without a fight, are you?"

His answer may be something like "!@#$% right I'm not," or he may suggest that he'll let you go if you do something for him in return that you absolutely will not do (especially if it involves your wife or sister). It makes no difference; as soon as he makes his intention plain, you hit him.

Then you keep on hitting him until you've neutralized the threat.

Your question establishes two things:

1. You want out of the situation without a fight;
2. He's forcing the fight on you.
   

This is your way of piercing his psychology of intimidation. You also launch into an attack that he's not ready for -- he's still working himself up to it when you light into him.

Here you should use the psychology of combat to further turn the momentum in your favor. Grossman's article mentions two closely related points in this regard: noise and the close proximity of the enemy.

The noise alone does not work at a distance, but it will magnify his disorientation as you move in on him (see "Controlling Adrenaline Stress: The Battle Cry"). You see, his experience is that his victims try to get away, or try to move out of range. If he grabs them, they try to pull away.

Unless you encounter an expert grappler, he will find it disconcerting when you move in on him. (That's one thing I like about jujitsu -- it conditions you to fight at distances most people find discomfiting.) The loud sound of your battle cry should increase your advantage exponentially -- both by what it does to him and what it does for you.

The combination of great noise and proximity to the enemy has spelled victory and defeat on the battlefield for millennia. A street fight is merely a microcosm of battle -- close quarters combat for two (unless the orc has help). There is no reason you shouldn't use these battle-proven tactics on the street.

The Psychology of Combat

This blog is dedicated to the development of the individual Christian warrior's spirit (and skills) in subordination to God's Law. The article I'm recommending here lays a foundation for understanding combat mindset, but it does so as preparation for a discussion of tactics (maneuver warfare). Although the article goes beyond the scope of the individual combatant, it offers much insight to the Christian Martialist willing to read, study and comprehend.

Willingness to fight an assailant who attacks you or an innocent third party implies the possibility of taking the assailant's life. This is a grave and solemn matter, not to be taken lightly. You need to understand the stresses on the human psyche at the moment of truth, lest you become the victim.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman has provided deep and practical insight into these matters in his books On Killing and On Combat. I hope this long (34 pages) article by Grossman will motivate you to get his books -- which deal with the warrior as an individual -- and read them. Here is the link to his article:

Defeating the Enemy’s Will: The Psychological Foundations of Maneuver Warfare

Caveat: The author's evolutionary presuppositions are evident both in his books and in this article.

Poetry and Other Deadly Pursuits

If you've ever taken a class in poetry, you've no doubt encountered

A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose

as an example of anapestic tetrameter. This poetic form applies to the Christian Martialist in more ways than one, but I'd like to focus on just one right now:

A fight is a fight is a fight is a fight.

What's the point? Fair question. I've recently discussed the concept of knife fighting or cane fighting vs. fighting with a knife or cane.

Now let's extend that concept. Say your opponent has a weapon and you don't. The fight is still a fight. It hasn't morphed into something else.

Sure, it's a fight with a new element (knife, stick, firearm). That new element introduces increased dangers. But, ultimately, it's still just a fight.

Look at it this way. Suppose this Uruk Hai orc is 6'6" tall, lithe as a cat, quick as a cobra and strong as an ox. In addition, he has a black belt in Kill Fu and perfected his mayhem skills at Folsom Prison. Every strike from this guy might maim or kill you. What do you do?

You pray for grace, reach deep inside for whatever strength and skill lies there, and you fight him with all you've got. How different is that from any other fight?

Now suppose you take the average back-alley Mordor variety orc and put a knife in his hand. Is he any more dangerous than orc #1? Not really. So, you pray for grace, reach deep inside . . . and you fight him with all you've got. How different is that from any other fight?

I can hear someone object (there's always at least one), "But, don't you need special skills to deal with a knife/stick/handgun?" Yep. And you need particular skills to deal with sucker punching, kicking and gouging, as well.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that your psychological reaction should not change if your assailant introduces a weapon. In fact, in my self-talk, I don't like to use the term fight at all.

No matter what the orc may do or may have in his hand, your assignment is the same: neutralize the threat as quickly as possible. That's the strategic objective, no matter how you achieve it. You don't "fight"; you "neutralize threats".

The more you train, & the more scenarios you drill, the more threats you will be able to neutralize. And don't forget tactical withdrawal (i.e., running away) as the great universal neutralizer. He can't punch, stab or shoot you if you're halfway to the next county before he can act.

Combat Slap

The combat slap is a tool that should be in your war chest along with the other open hand strikes. Open hand -- as opposed to closed fist -- blows like the judo chop, palm heel, tiger claw & combat slap don't get enough credit for the devastating power they can deliver.

Properly executed, the combat slap is a potent and effective strike. When directed at the eyes and ears, it can disorient your attacker and cause intense pain. And, if you accidentally hit the orc's cheek or forehead, you don't risk breaking your hand as you might with a closed fist.

The following video is a continuation of the series that began with the chin jab & the knee spike. I think it was a mistake to entitle the series Fight Like a Girl, because page hits for those posts were uncharacteristically low. Macho pride?

That's too bad, because the techniques are good, solid CQC moves straight out of WWII combatives. The same caveat applies as with the knee spike video (my not-so-subtle way of encouraging you to go back, if you missed it). Here's the video clip:



Continued in "Combat Slap, 2"

Palm Heel Chin Jab

Can you perform the palm heel chin jab like a girl? If you're familiar with Ted Truscott's Defend Yourself 101 website which specializes in self defense for women & seniors, you might take a comment such as, "You fight like a girl," as a compliment. There are three reasons you strapping young men should pay attention to this source for women's self defense:

1. It may help your mothers, sisters, wives;
2. If it's really effective & works for women & old folks, it would work even better for you;
3. It's based on the WWII combatives of W.E. Fairbairn;

Here's a video clip of Ted Truscott teaching the palm heel chin jab:

Palm Heel Chin Jab

He's a good teacher, so listen to his comments & corrections as the students practice.

To follow my previous discussions of the palm heel, click this link:

Palm Heel Strike

Mental Toughness

Mental toughness is a key aspect of successful self defense (or any other type of combat). It is an essential to the Christian Martialist's mindset. Without mental toughness, you will fold under the pressure of an attack.

Some people equate toughness with roughness. Insensitivity or lack of compassion toward others does not make you tough. Tenderness of heart and deep feeling harmonize well with the quality of mental toughness.

The US military uses the time-honored ritual of basic training to instill mental toughness in recruits. Calculated physical and mental stress weeds out those most likely to crack under the pressures of combat. Those who survive become stronger, physically and mentally.

I've heard some US Marines say, "That which does not kill you only makes you stronger." The saying is predicated on the idea that mental stress increases mental toughness. It's similar to the idea that adding weight to your barbell will increase your muscular effort and result in greater strength.

In fact, physical and mental toughness go together. As a rule, the stronger and more fit you are physically, the more mental and emotional stress you can endure. Conversely, the tougher you are mentally, the harder you may train yourself physically.

Have you heard the saying, "Pain is just weakness leaving the body"? Sometimes training -- and combat -- require you to push through the pain. When you do that, you're increasing your mental toughness. (I'm not talking about ignoring real injuries in training. Those you need to heed.)

The Bible has something to say about this. I guess I'll try to tackle that in Mental Toughness, 2.

3 Mighty Men, 1 Daring Deed

These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. (II Samuel 23:8-12)

The three foremost among a band of outstanding warriors were Adino, Eleazar and Shammah -- I think of them as Deano, Lee and Sam. They accompanied David when he was a fugitive from the unrighteous wrath of King Saul. They were strong men, proven in war and confident in their skills.

One night, David and his men sat about the campfire at their hideaway in the Cave of Adullam. A courier brings ill tidings. It seems that a troop of Philistines had garrisoned at the village of Bethlehem, David's boyhood home.

The king-to-be reminisces about the trips he made with his father and brothers to the village. He recalls the taste of water from the village well -- cold and refreshing after the long, dusty walk. As David remembers out loud, the firelight plays on the sword that Lee hones; nearby Deano rebinds the head of his spear; and Sam sits farther back in the shadows, fletching arrows by practiced touch.

Then David exclaims, " Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" (II Sam. 23:15) Deano flashes a meaningful glance at Lee, and then both look over at Sam and all they see in the darkness is the whiteness of his teeth, exposed by the broadest of grins. They know what they are going to do, what they are compelled to do -- for their beloved captain wants a drink.

So silently and furtively do they slip away that neither David nor any of the others takes notice of their departure. What follows would make a great scene in an action movie. The three come upon the Philistines as they sleep, dispatch the sentries, and nearly make it to the well before a host of the enemy rushes them.

The clash of swords and confusion of battle intrudes itself into his quarters as a still-sleepy Philistine commander demands to know what is going on. Breathless, an aide cries, "The Hebrews are upon us."

"What? Where? How many?"

"In the town square, sir. Three, sir."

The commander hastily begins to pull on his armor. "How did we allow only three companies of ragged Israelites to fight their way to the town square?"

The aide really does not want to tell him: "Not three companies, sir . . . three . . . men." The commander explodes out of his quarters into a bizarre scene of blood, death and three amazing men who fight and laugh and toss a water skin back and forth in a strange game -- seemingly to add more challenge to battle.

They do not return unscathed. They have slain many Philistines, but some of their own blood lies mingled in the street with the blood of their enemies. They have returned nonetheless elated, flushed with victory and eager to present David with a drink from his hometown.

Your wish is my command. This statement has become hackneyed over time and in our cynicism we view it as a sycophantic phrase from the lips of lackeys. But once, long ago, three mighty men of immeasurable heart and unswerving loyalty embraced that ideal and sealed their commitment in blood.

Their leader may have sat in a cave in the hinterlands of Israel, but he was the rightful king, and if he wanted a drink, even from the far side of hell, then he should have it. And when David saw and understood the gift and the motives from which it sprang, he knew he could not -- MUST not drink it. For one thing, I'm sure he did not want to encourage the rest of his men to go out on hare-brained quests to prove their loyalty.

For another, that kind of loyalty should be reserved to One alone. And to Him David poured out the water as a drink offering. It also served as an object lesson to show his men to whom such devotion belongs, and to remind them of their true strategic objective.

So, Christian Martialist, where lies your heart? Where lies your loyalty? We are men in training for the King and by the Book. Our King is Jesus. Is His wish your command?

(The story comes from II Samuel 23:13-17, although various details spring from the imagination of a certain gravelbellied old sheepdog who wishes he could have been there to see it.)