the things worth believing in

No matter how often I watch this clip I’m still impressed. It’s a sterling example of what “speed” really is. While you cannot deny that Travis is “fast”, it’s the smoothness of his motion that allows this.

Image by Wonderlane via Flickr

One of Tesshu’s former students, Ogura Tetsuju, had undertaken a three year Zen retreat when he heard that Tesshu was on his death bed. He asked for, and was given, permission to visit his teacher one last time. However, when he arrived Tesshu refused to see him, saying only “Tell him the three years are not up yet.

The day before he died Tesshu noticed that there were no sounds of training to be heard from the dojo. He was told that the students had decided to cancel training to be with him in his last hours. “Training is the only way to honour me!” he thundered, and ordered them back to training.

Image by Globetoppers via Flickr

A site dedicated to our female warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

http://www.nooniefortin.com/iraq.htm

Killed in Iraq or in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom:

2003: 12 US Military women, 1 US Civilian woman

2004: 18 US Military women, 3 US Civilian women

2005: 18 US Military women, 5 US Civilian women

2006: 16 US Military women, 1 US Civilian woman

2007: 27 US Military women, 2 US Civilian women

2008: 11 US Military women, 1 US Civilian woman

2009: 3 US Military women, 0 US Civilian women

2010: 6 US Military women, 0 US Civilian women

Total a/o 10 Aug 10:

111 US Military women, 13 US Civilian women

124 US women killed during OIF

Never forget.

An interesting little video that illustrates the tactics involved in clearing multiple structures in a MOUT environment.

Image via Wikipedia

A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin and asked: “Is there really a paradise and a hell?”
“Who are you?” inquired Hakuin.
“I am a samurai”, the warrior replied.
“You, a soldier!” sneered Hakuin, “What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? You look like a beggar”.
Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword.
Hakuin continued: “So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably to dull to cut off my head.”
Nobushige drew his sword.
Hakuin remarked: “Here open the gates of hell!”
At these words the samurai, perceiving the master’s discipline, put away his sword and bowed.
“Here open the gates of paradise”, said Hakuin.

From Vuurwapen Blog.

I absolute co-witness my dot. Not that I have anything against lower third co-witness, I just like having more space to go to irons in the center of my glass. Lower third just seems to be too low in the tube if I have to go to my back-up sights.

This is an interesting little video that illustrates the relationship between range, sight alignment and bullet strike. It reinforces the point that at combat ranges, if you are able to achieve front sight focus, all that is really necessary is to get that front sight somewhere inside your rear sight in order to get hits. Of course training and practice will allow you to get faster and more consistent shot placement. It’s all about balance.

Image via Wikipedia

Shotgun season starts Nov 20th here. Time to wake up way too early, go out in the way too cold, and wonder exactly why I do this every year. But every year I look forward to it nonetheless.

Image via Wikipedia

A Samurai who was known for his nobility and honesty, went to visit a Zen monk to ask advice. However, the moment he entered the temple where the master was praying, he felt inferior and concluded that, in spite of having fought for justice and peace all his life, he hadn’t even come near the state of grace achieved by the man before him.

- Why do I feel so inferior? – he asked, as soon as the monk finished his prayers.

- I have faced death many times, have defended those who are weak, I know I have nothing to be ashamed of. Nevertheless, upon seeing you meditating, I felt that my life had absolutely no importance whatsoever.

- Wait. Once I have attended to all those who come to see me today, I shall answer you.

The samurai spent the whole day sitting in the temple gardens, watching the people go in and out in search of advice. He saw how the monk received them all with the same patience and the same illuminated smile on his face. But his enthusiasm soon began to wane, since he had been born to act, and not to wait.

At nightfall, when everyone had gone, he demanded:
- Now can you teach me?

The master invited him in and lead him to his room. The full moon shone in the sky, and the atmosphere was one of profound tranquility.
- Do you see the moon, how beautiful it is? It will cross the entire firmament, and tomorrow the sun will shine once again. But sunlight is much brighter, and can show the details of the landscape around us: trees, mountains, clouds. I have contemplated the two for years, and have never heard the moon say: why do I not shine like the sun? Is it because I am inferior?

- Of course not – answered the samurai. – The moon and the sun are different things, each has its own beauty. You cannot compare the two.

- So you know the answer. We are two different people, each fighting in his own way for that which he believes, and making it possible to make the world a better place; the rest are mere appearances.