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…I am a member of the Order of the Black Shamrock.
“The aims and goals of this order are to promote and uphold the virtues of the Noble Warrior, the undying worth of the ideals of chivalry, and to espouse the value and worthiness of these ideals to those who would take interest in them. Members of the Order are entrusted with the noble charge of passing this legacy to the next generations, our youth, our sons and our daughters. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m excitedly anticipating the Olympics… I hope they cover Judo on the broadcast channels!
In the mean time, a cool link: http://www.superjudo.tv/

“Who is testing whom?”
…a working and organic list of definitions, links, etc. for my personal use & Ju Te Ryu training… Read the rest of this entry »
There are many everyday objects around or on us that can be used as an improvised weapon, if we use our awareness and creativity.
Whatever object you choose as an improvised weapon, think of it as an integral part of and extension of your body.
If you anticipate a confrontation, and avoidance is not possible, prepare in advance for it by already having an object in your hand. If the improvised weapon is on you, take it out of your pocket, purse, or briefcase. If the item in the environment, walk the few yards to reach and grab it. Read the rest of this entry »
But they ARE cool if you like things like this. I’ve been intrigued with the arts surrounding the style of tool known as the Karambit. If you google it, you will find a few websites with practitioners of this tool. One, Karambit.com, has some interesting history as well:
“In ancient times, predominant uses of the Karambit were similar to the uses of the European pocket knife: field work, including cutting twine or rope; chopping fruits and vegetables; and, in some rare cases, as an exceptional personal safety knife. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s good to know. Of course, it’s also REALLY boring reading… but there is some good information in there, of course. Enjoy.

It’s no secret I like and own a good number of knives (and usualy have two “on”,) but I like them for many reasons -utility, design, lines and other reasons – not because I ever expect them to necessarily save me from some crazy ninja monkeys or a thug from a Batman movie. For me, knife defense means getting away from sharp pointy things, not trying to get one out of my pocket when I could be running, and frankly, I can’t legally carry a knife I would feel really comfortable with as a true self defense weapon.
I read this article some time ago, and think it has a place here. It’s long, but give these thoughts the time they’re due… Without further adieu, and from www.nononsenseselfdefense.com (one of the best Self Defense internet resources out there, IMHO,) here are Nineteen Lies about Knife Fighting… Read the rest of this entry »
From the Oklahoma City Defensive Tactics School (okcdt.com)
Gotta love it.
SUMMARY: The 360 degree defense is used to defend against attacks delivered to the outside of the body. The defense also serves as the foundation for other techniques and develops peripheral awareness.
Attacks to the body may include overhead strikes, straight and hook punches, and upward attacks. Read the rest of this entry »
I have a 100 lumen flashlight in my pack. That’s REALLY bright. I got it when I first traveled to India for work – not knowing what was legal anywhere, and knowing full well that knives weren’t something you want to try to travel with, I opted to get a small light that could be used as a Yawara/Koppo, but with a beam so intense it had pain-inducing capability. Read the rest of this entry »
The odds of me or my family actually needing self defense are low, right? Well, yeah, they are. But I can make them lower with an awareness of situations and some training… Awareness is something Suzie is very much a proponent of and has taught the kids and myself. Her work experience in emergency Response Child Protective Services taught her a lot – we are her pupils. The training when awareness isn’t enough to avert a dangerous situation is what Noah and I enjoy.
Rewind a bit… Read the rest of this entry »