Defining Terms, 6

Continued from "Defining Terms, 5"

I began explaining the term Christian Martialism in the first "Defining Terms" post. Now, I want to move on the the term I chose as the title of this blog: WARSKYL.

Here is how I define it on the home page of my website over at www.warskyl.com:

WARSKYL (ˈwȯr - skil) noun, 1. the skills and abilities that go into making a warrior

2. the close combat skills of Christian Martialism

I coined the word -- as I'm sure 99.99% of my readers realize -- from a stylized amalgamation of war and skill. I am please with it, because it is, to a degree self explanatory. I also think it evokes a reaction that makes it rather easy to remember.

In the first sense of the definition given above, WARSKYL embraces all combat skills, from any source. If you have trained in a martial art, or if you practice riflery and handgunnery, you have WARSKYL in the broad sense.

If you attended the WARSKYL conference and learned some rudiments of the skills I practice and teach, then you have WARSKYL in the narrow and particular sense.

I do not see myself as an expert, let alone the fountain of all combat skill and knowledge. Therefore you can have WARSKYL no matter where you get your skills. A major purpose of this blog is not to force you into a particular mold, but to challenge you to hone your skills in the context of a Christian ethic and worldview.

To be continued

Winning the Street Fight Every Time - Reader Beware

This article by Keith Pascal reminds me of the old riddle: "How do you eat an elephant?"

Winning the Street Fight Every Time - Reader Beware!

By Keith Pascal

In this age of the quick fix, everybody wants instant answers. The masses want riches without working, skill without practice, and the ability to win a fight with one 'guaranteed' move. Have you been reading articles in search of ways to win a street fight every time? Well, I have some good news and some bad news....

Self Defense Reality

For some, this may sound like bad news, but it makes perfect sense. There is no one who can win a street fight every time. That person just doesn't exist -- no matter what you read in the hyped ebook sell pages.

Not only does the ultimate fighter not exist in this day and age, but there is no "one method" that works every time. If there were, then we'd have a paradox the instant more than one person knew the technique. If the move is guaranteed to work, and two fighters use it on each other, then one of them has to lose.

Note: It's rare that two fighters knock each other out at the exact same time, where both would lose and neither would win.

Good Streetfighting News

The good news is that you can significantly lessen the number of bad people in the world who can do you harm. As you acquire more and more skill, the number of jerks who can overcome you in an attack goes down.

Keep training. Continue learning. And you'll improve your odds of coming out the winner in an altercation.

More Streetfighting Bad News

Those looking for an instant fix will probably be disappointed. In a confrontation, if one fighter has significantly more skill in fighting and knows practical application of martial skills, then that person will win. No surprise there, right?

So, if you want to get good at street fighting and self defense, you will have to practice. For some people reading these words, this will be the place to click away. (Yes, that's the easy way ... don't read what you don't want to know.)

And Even More Street-Fighting Disappointment

Not only will you have to practice, in order to gain enough skills to survive a street fight, but you'll have to practice the "right stuff" -- the "good stuff."

You will most likely have to go beyond single articles -- even this one. Articles will just give you cursory information. They aren't complete enough in and of themselves to give you any sort of complete training.

Learn Self Defense -- The Good News

It's much better to find a punch ecourse, or a book on wrist locks -- train one element at a time. Focus on one aspect of the martial arts.

Note: If there is good martial arts instruction in your area, then joining the class is much better than trying to go it alone. If you aren't taking classes, then you'll need a training partner. You have to be able to practice and perfect what you read.

Eventually, combine those aspects ... learn how to stop the attack with a punch or a kick, take control with a lock, and then shut down further aggression, counter attacks, and escapes with more kicks, punches, and joint controls.

The good news is that by taking learning into your own hands, you'll change styles, add elements from different martial systems, practice with a variety of partners, and improve at your own rate.

Some of the best martial artists in the world eventually design their own training schedules and get their own workout partners.

To get on a great list all about effective punching sign up at: Free Punch Newsletter. (You get a great free ebooklet on devastating punches, when you join.)

Keith Pascal has taught martial arts for over 25 years. He left his job as a high school teacher in 2000, to become a full-time writer.

Keith is the author of several practical martial arts books, including Wrist Locks (Revised) Wrist Locks Book

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Pascal
http://EzineArticles.com/?Winning-the-Street-Fight-Every-Time---Reader-Beware!&id=1769238

Officer Down: Peter Soulis (review), 2

Continued from "Officer Down: Peter Soulis (review)"

In this brief analysis of the incident in question, please do not construe my comments as a criticism of Officer Soulis. There are many things to keep in mind in situations like these, and departmental policy can also have an effect on how police react under threatening situations.

Now back to the incident. I believe Stephen and drpaleo are correct in saying that it was a critical mistake to send the subject back to his own car. Bruce also picked up on the fact that the red flag had already gone up in the officer's head, and he should not have relaxed his control of the situation or the subject (as he did by sending him back to the car).

When you get those inner danger signals, you ignore them at your own peril.

I believe the second critical tactical mistake was to approach the subject from the passenger side of the car. The subject's right arm (the one that the officer suspected held a weapon) was in front, between the subject's legs.

Approaching the driver's side from the rear would require that the subject turn around to his left in order to get a clean shot at the officer. The slight delay and the awkward firing position would have given the officer the advantage in the exchange. As it was, the subject simply raised his arm to the right and fired.

Well, thanks for thinking that through with me, and I want to thank those who commented. The whole point of an exercise like this is to give all of us a little more background and data in case we find ourselves needing to think and react tactically.

Officer Down: Peter Soulis (review)

Peter Soulis is a police officer in a "large metropolitan police department". An article over at LawOfficer.com describes a shootout in which he was involved.

Thanks to my barber for sending me the link. He says it's "must reading", and I agree. Before you click over to the article and read it through (it's fairly long), though, I'd like you to consider these excerpts and evaluate them in terms of tactics.

I've organized them into ten points. Can you find the two points that represent critical, tactical errors? I'd like your feedback on this before you read the entire article, as there is a critique of his performance at the end.

1. Soulis decided to investigate. The lot was dimly lit, so he left his headlights off as he pulled forward and stopped behind the Toyota. After angling his car to the left for cover, he logged out on his
2. Suddenly, the driver lunged to his right and down. Without conscious thought, Soulis drew his gun—a .40 caliber Glock 22—as he moved to his left and shined the light into the car. "Show me your hands!" he shouted.
3. At Soulis' command, the man slowly exited the car with both hands in full view. Soulis was now standing well off to the left of the Toyota with his flashlight aimed into its front seat.
4. Soulis kept his light on the driver as he reholstered and ordered him to come to him. Obediently, the driver stepped forward and handed Soulis his driver's license. After frisking the man for weapons and finding none, Soulis checked the license . .l . .
5. He decided to run him for warrants but suspected he might take off on foot. After ordering Palmer to return to his car, he walked backwards to his cruiser, sat down, and tried to run him on his MDT. But NCIC was down, so there wasn't much he could do. He decided to ask for permission to search the Toyota and take it from there.
6. In the meantime, he noticed Palmer was nervously glancing around in every direction as he sat waiting in the Toyota. . . . Becoming increasingly convinced that Palmer intended to run, he lit up the car with his spotlight, headlights and takedown lights.
7. At first, Palmer turned away from the blazing light, but then he adjusted his inside mirror and fixed his eyes on Soulis. Now even more distrustful of Palmer, Soulis opened his door . . . . Moving quickly to make contact before Palmer could run, Soulis stepped out of his car and started forward.
8. He'd gone barely 10 feet when the alarm bells went off. No fear or panic, but his senses were crying out for greater caution, and he changed his approach. He circled around the back of his cruiser and moved up to the passenger side of the Toyota.
9. As he stopped alongside the car's right-rear fender and looked inside, every instinct told him Palmer was armed and waiting for him. The man was sitting behind the wheel, hunched forward with both feet firmly planted on the floorboard, his eyes glued to the mirror and his right hand thrust between his legs. His left arm was locked straight down along his left side, pressed down onto the floor next to the open driver's door as he readied himself to spring into action.
10. Soulis had planned to shoot through the back window if Palmer drew a weapon, but for reasons he still doesn't fully understand, he moved forward and to his right, stopping alongside the passenger door, not more than two feet from the window.

Did you see 'em? If so, please post your observations & reflections in the comments section.

Also, let me know if you think this article warrants a followup post.

New Year Evaluation, 2

Continued from "New Year Evaluation"

So, what do I need to strive for this year in the area of means?

1) In terms of therapeutics, I need to encourage healing of the shin splints & also find way to normalize my lower back;

2) In terms of fitness, I need to continue my walking regimen & make the anaerobic exercise a regular habit; also, I need to learn to vary my strength training so as not to risk injury (or aggravating old injuries);

3) In terms of physical skills, I need to find a regular practice partner (still hoping and praying -- anyone in the Greenville, SC area interested?); I need to hone my hand strike skills and, assuming full recovery from shin splints, work on adding dropping energy to my strikes; I also need to work on my low kicks;

4) In terms of knowledge, I need to work on making the WARSKYL system deeper (in its effectiveness) and broader (in its scope, including strategic and tactical considerations);

5) In terms of gear . . . well, there's always the desire for more & better.

I have the means . . . and the mindset.

I believe that mindset is an attitude (or a cluster of attitudes), and I further believe that attitude is a spiritual quality. Therefore, mindset evaluation offers peek into one's spiritual condition.

A couple of years ago, my pastor counseled (I'm talking about serious Biblical counseling, here) me about a particular fear that has caused me some problems. After those sessions, I wrote a little book entitle "How to Master Your "Fear". The book works toward the conclusion that, ultimately, fear is a spiritual problem.

I've been reviewing and adding to the book, lately (and thinking of publishing it -- see poll at right). But I've also been thinking of writing a companion book to it about courage.

So, anyway, my spiritual self-evaluation is that I need to work through the courage issues. Not because I'm fearful (fear is not the opposite of courage), but because I'm easily dis-couraged. More on that in the book, as it develops.

What do I need to strive for spiritually this year?

1) I need to develop more consistency and discipline in my study of Scripture and in prayer;

2) I need to deepen my loyalty to the King and my obedience to His Royal Law;

3) I need to work regularly at my own part in fulfilling the Great Commission;

4) I need to use the means of grace to banish fear from my life and to develop true courage in service to the King.

If I can do these things, I will be able to say in all honesty:

I have the means, and the mindset. I will journey into Hell and darkness to protect the ones I love.

New Year Evaluation

As seen on a gun forum:

I have the means, and the mindset. I will journey into Hell and darkness to protect the ones I love.

It's that annual evaluation time, again. My barber sent me the quote above, and it's one that strikes a chord with me. As I interpret it, it represents what I want to be as a warrior for Christ.

Not that I have attained to that high status, but it's what, in my best moments, I would like to be.

I have the means . . . .

I believe this includes both knowledge and training as well as weapons. And the former far outdistance the latter in importance.

Tony Blauer has spoken of the naked warrior. (As an aside, Pavel Tsatsouline has an excellent physical training book by that name.) It's a concept that means if you strip away everything from a true warrior right down to his skin, he's still a warrior. Heart and skill make the warrior, not the sword, not the firearm.

Have I grown in knowledge and training over the past year? Yes, but not as much as I wish I could have. Shin splints in August really put a crimp in my fitness training.

Although the condition is better, recovery has been slow. Both lower legs are still tender & swell if I don't elevate them. I resumed taking regular walks about six weeks ago, and have modified my knee-kick anaerobic exercise so that it does not require my feet to impact the floor. Started that just this past week.

I was experimenting with dropping energy when the shin splints developed, and I will not resume until I fully recover from the condition. It puts a lot of stress on the lower extremities.

I did practice the combat wedge for presentation at the WARSKYL conference in October. That's a skill which bears further practice & development.

I have also practiced my palm heel strike and judo chop. The other morning, I think I finally made a breakthrough in speed with both skills.

In October, after the conference, some of us had a shooting session at the house of deolexrex. For the first time, I actually hit clay pigeons in the air. I guess that's the beginning of a rudimentary shotgun skill.

My preparation for the WARSKYL conference pushed me into a deeper knowledge and understanding, as well. It forced me to into a needed review of some concepts and new research. Also, Seth's conference presentation on loving one's enemy provided new insights.

To be continued.

Perceptions Grow out of Mindset

. . . and mindset is a subset of worldview.