January 31, 2011
While its “combative application” in modern times is somewhat doubtful, there is no denying that there is a hell of a lot of practice, dedication and skill involved in what he’s doing. But I still think I would prefer to hone my firearms skills vs the time and effort needed to achieve an ability like this.
January 25, 2011
Image by photosan0 via Flickr
Tanzan and Ekido were once travelling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
“Come on, girl,” said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. “We monks don’t go near females,” he told Tanzan, “especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”
“I left the girl there,” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”
January 23, 2011
While I’m not 100% sold on some of the details (drawing cuffs instead of some other tool, cuffing in front, etc.), the idea of “flow training” with cuffs is pretty interesting. As is the concept of being able to apply all the tools on the “batman utility belt” within a technique framework.
January 19, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
I just discovered that an old web page I put together back in the 90′s is still floating around in the ether. It goes back to my days as an Army MP as you can tell by all the military related links.
It was called THE COMBAT ZONE. It looks like many of the links still work.
January 18, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
I harken us back to the day of the C-Ration. The days when hungry GI Joes had to open their canned pork-n-beans with what was arguably one of the Army’s greatest inventions. The P38 Can Opener.
It’s official designation is ‘US ARMY POCKET CAN OPENER’ or ‘OPENER, CAN, HAND, FOLDING, TYPE I‘, but is almost always called a “P-38″ which it supposedly acquired from the “38 Punctures” required to open a C-Ration can.
I have carried one of these little gems on my key-ring for years and have an extra stashed away. It’s well worth the buck or so to pick one up.
January 14, 2011
Theres the basics, then theres the basics of the basics and then there are the different variations on how you do the basics. I just got out of my garage after filming a few variations of the emergency reload. One would think, “how many ways are there to do a friggin emergency reload?” Well let me tell you.
This is how I was taught how to do it by my department back when I was a rookie. Physically strip the empty. Reload, then overhand sling-shot the slide. The reason for the selection of this technique was based on a known issue with Glock magazines. Some versions of the magazine were known to not drop free consistently. Rather than juggle a mag in the off-hand and then try to strip the hung-up magazine it was decided to strip the empty out before grabbing a fresh magazine. The slingshot technique was chosen because it is a gross motor movement, which was argued to be a better choice for a positive release under stress and possibly sweaty or blood soaked hands vs. trying to hit the small slide release.
With the advent of the newer Glock magazine…the ones with the metal tabs that contact the magazine release…
The drop-free issue is no longer much of a problem. So if you remove the “strip the old magazine” step you get this…
On the slide release issue; I decided to try a “strip..reload…slide release” and a “drop free..reload…slide release” to compare for speed:
AND
Undoubtedly there is a speed advantage to the “drop free” and “slide release” technique, but I suppose that for the training of the average cop they are more skilled techniques with the potential for bobbling, dropping mags or missing slide levers. The question I am asking myself is what technique would be best for me to practice in general? I am still thinking about it.
January 13, 2011
Just found this Youtube channel while surfing the net. Limalife is run by a woman going by the handle of Limatunes. Her “About Me” section states:
I am an NRA certified handgun instructor who has worked in the gun industry the last three years. I let my certification expire and took the last year off to spend with my son, getting used to this thing called “parenthood” but have recently renewed my certification and started training and shooting again.
I am as passionate about firearms and my second amendment rights as ever and still dedicated to the education of carriers and non-carriers alike.
I love my life–my husband, my son and my family. I enjoy living and fear nothing. I carry to protect the good, not because I fear the bad.
She has some interesting vids up. Worth a look.
January 10, 2011
God Speed Major Winters.
January 21, 1918 – January 2, 2011
January 5, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
Most people with more than a passing knowledge of firearms know what a wadcutter bullet is. A wadcutter is a special-purpose bullet (typically made of lead) that was designed for shooting paper targets. Often used in handgun competitions, a wadcutter cuts a very clean hole through the target, making it easier to score. It is also useful in reducing errors in target scoring because the clean edge is better defined than the holes made by other types of bullets. This can be a victory maker or breaker when a hole touching a target line could mean it all.
The Wadcutter is the center bullet in the above photograph. Because of their flat shape, wadcutters dont feed well in auto-pistols, so you will typically see them in the hands of wheel gunners.
What many people don’t know is where the name “Wadcutter” comes from.
An old-school piece of reloading equipment was a punch that was used to cut wadding from felt or cardboard when reloading shotgun shells.
This “Wadcutter” punched neat holes in whatever fabric the shotgunner was using. So, when looking to design a special round for pistol competitions, someone…somewhere…remembered what a clean job the old-fashioned “Wadcutter” did.
January 1, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
The master Bankei‘s talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras nor indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.
His large audiences angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to debate with Bankei.
“Hey, Zen teacher!” he called out. “Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?”
“Come up beside me and I will show you,” said Bankei.
Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.
Bankei smiled. “Come over to my left side.”
The priest obeyed.
“No,” said Bankei, “we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here.”
The priest proudly stepped over to the right
“You see,” observed Bankei, “you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen.”
An interesting story when considering martial issues such as tactical positioning, “verbal judo”, officer safety and the like.
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