We, as concerned and responsible citizens of a free republic, are today challenged by some of the most pressing questions of our times. What techniques are available to protect myself and my family if attacked or surrounded by a mob? How do you keep a calm mind in difficult situations so that you are able [...]
During the late 80’s and throughout the 90’s when I was training in both the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) and Muay Thai (also known as Thai Boxing - a combat sport of Thailand that uses stand-up striking: fists, elbows, knees, shins, etc., plus various clinching techniques), it was a grueling time of continual practice, sparring [...]
After years of study in Yoshinkan Aikido—one of the hardest-hitting of the traditional Aikido styles—I was invited to train at the Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. It was the original hand-to-hand training school for the renowned, respected Tokyo Riot Police, for their street-effective technique. During one memorable training session, in freestyle sparring (randori), as I [...]
As a professional instructor and keynote speaker throughout the public and private sectors, my courses range from awareness-based training (preventative measures) to empty hand defense, to non-ballistic weapons defense (edged, impact, flexible), to defensive firearms. At the very end of each course delivery, time is allotted for participant’s questions. In a year’s time I deliver [...]
As sworn deputy and later as a federal employee, it was incumbent upon those of us carrying firearms to qualify with those weapons meeting the minimum standard as set by that agency or department. Technically speaking you could squeak by your in-service qualification with a barely passing score. However, to the rest of the team [...]
Since I have been employed in the professional-protection industry as an edged-weapons and firearms instructor for more than 30 years, I am often asked about self-defense with a knife versus self-defense with a handgun. Turns out there are more similarities than differences—especially when it comes to deploying either with one hand. Most folks who carry a [...]
Finding yourself right smack in the middle of harm’s way can give pause even to the hardest of the hard. However, chance favors the prepared. Ask any real-world tier-one operator about preparation, and he will tell you that one of the most effective tactics in your personal defense arsenal is consistency. Hailing from the operational [...]
The martial arts offer an age-old perspective on something critically important to your shooting performance – reaction time. Employing a punch, a round kick, an edged weapon or a firearm in self-defense means that you’re reacting to a rapid and dynamic escalation of force. Your objective is to stop or gain control of that escalation. The single [...]
When things get ugly, the world can be divided into two types of people: the mentally prepared (who can rely on their mindset and their ability to make decisions under duress) and those who depend on Lady Luck, or her equally fickle stepsisters Desire and Hope. Your survival in any life-threatening altercation depends squarely on your [...]
Back in my early Filipino Martial Arts training days in edged and impact weapons, I would put in anywhere between forty to sixty hours (sometimes more) of hard skills training every week. During that time, one of my Masters, Punong Guro Edgar Sulite (founder of the LAMECO fighting system), would always remind us, his committed [...]
