How to Win a Street Fight

Here is a link to an article: How to Win a Street Fight

Covers a lot of ground, and each point could use an article to amplify & clarify. Nonetheless, I thought it might interest you.

Prayer Request, re: Local Shooting

WYFF Channel 4 News has reported a story about a man who stabbed his girl friend in the chest and neck (she died seeking help on a neighbor's porch). The killer then picked up a piece of pipe and approached a man outside another nearby home.

The man judged himself to be in mortal danger, drew his gun and shot the killer. Police acknowledge that he shot in self defense.

The main reason I mention this story is that I know the shooter. He is a relative of some folks who go to our church. In fact, he was instrumental in helping me buy a vehicle after mine was wrecked in February.

I won't give you his name, but I will ask you to pray for him & for the family. Pray for God's gracious working in his life.

A Film for the Warrior's Heart

This is a feature-length "fanfilm" prequel to "The Lord of the Rings". Would that the "professional" trilogy were this good.

The battle scenes are very well done. The theme of self sacrifice for a cause occupies a major place in this film. Also, look for the strategic elements (and learn).

I really hope for some comments on this one.

Monument to Terror

Check out the name of the organization behind the proposed monument to terror -- the mosque at ground zero.

The bad news is that God may use these worshipers of a false god to chastise his people (see Habakkuk). The good news is that they, like the Assyrians, will also pass away.

Free Gun DVD & Reports

Front Sight Firearms Training Institute

Teaching Children Self Defense

This entry deals with how I am teaching some very specific children self defense.

One of my married daughters, her husband and their seven children arrived late Saturday. They will be with us only until tomorrow after lunch, which gives me just two days to address some of the fundamentals of self defense with the older ones.

My son-in-law and daughter attended the WARSKYL Conference held in Peoria a couple of years ago, and my daughter knows some of the indispensable areas covered by Gavin De Becker in The Gift of Fear and Protecting the Gift. Thus, they are equipped to teach my grandchildren the Biblical principles (and their application) about avoiding and evading violence.

So, in the time we have, I decided to focus on teaching some defensive combat skills to the 4 eldest (ages 10-14). Their parents also participated -- for them it was mostly review.

I know it's a heavy responsibility to impart the knowledge of how to cripple or kill to youngsters, but we (sadly) live in a kind of world where they may desperately need such skills. In order to ensure that they did not misuse such knowledge, I gave them a little theology lesson in oath-taking followed by the administration of an oath.

I previewed the oath & my intentions with the parents beforehand, so that I could change any parts that might present them with a problem. Here is the pledge as I administered it to them:

The (Family Name)/WARSKYL Pledge

I do solemnly pledge that I will

• Listen carefully to my instructor and ask appropriate questions if I do not understand;
• Follow instructions as closely as possible, to avoid injuring myself or others;
• Always put the safety of my practice partner above my own pride;
• Use WARSKYL methods only for defensive purposes against those who try to cause me or my neighbor serious injury, and not in petty squabbles with family members;
• Never use WARSKYL methods to bully others;
• To do my best to avoid fighting by seeking Scriptural solutions to my disagreements with others

In taking this pledge, I call upon God as my witness that I will faithfully perform all of it to my best ability. I understand that violation of this pledge may result in the temporary or permanent suspension of my privileges as a WARSKYL trainee.

Amen.

For me, it's kind of cool that 4 of my grandchildren are now bound to me as trainees. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's session & future get-togethers.

If any readers have experience/ideas about teaching self defense to children, please share in the comments section. 

Loyalty

For the Christian Martialist, loyalty is a key character trait. According to Merriam-Webster, loyalty along with its synonyms (fidelity, allegiance, fealty, devotion and piety) means

faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty.

In particular, loyalty implies a particular facet of faithfulness:

a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray 

I recently read the book of Job, and as I was meditating on the theme of loyalty this morning, I realized that the story of Job is not only about perseverance, but also about loyalty.

Hit  by multiple shock waves of loss and grief, it seemed that life itself had conspired against him. What reason did he have to maintain his loyalty? Even his wife exhorted him to curse God and die.

Through all this, Job maintained his integrity -- including his loyalty to the Lord.

How do you as a Christian Martialist express your loyalty to Christ the King? Do you ever experience conflicting loyalties? How do you discern a & deal with them?

Fodder for future posts, perhaps?