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Kittens, Hoplites & Combat Stances by Mark Hatmaker

Do you have a kitten? If so, go play with it, dangle something in front of it, activate its play-fighting mode. Watch it bat at the stand-in enemy with a forepaw.

If you don’t have a kitten, perhaps a dog? Go play with it. Rile him up a bit and toss a toy on the ground watch him pin that toy with a forepaw and go to work with the jaws.

No dogs, no kittens in the house? How about a toddler? If you have an 18-36-month-old human around the house go play with them. Roll a ball with them and watch them pick it up or roll it back.

No kitties, no dogs, no toddlers? Well, let’s have you try something. Read More

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Self-Defense Systems by Derek Smith

Self-Defense Systems by Derek Smith

Picking The System For You As a former federal agent, retired military counterintelligence and investigations agent, and 35-year martial artist with several black belts I know a little about what really works for self-defense and what does not. With that being said, I want to share with you what I think are the best martial Read More

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Clinch Assessment By Mark Hatmaker

Clinch Assessment By Mark Hatmaker

Traditional Styles The over-under clinch is the big dog of clinches in MMA and competitive submission grappling and for good reason–we’ll get to why in a mo’, but first a little on why we see so little of three other major clinches: the traditional Boxing Clinch, the Collar & Elbow (C & E) clinch, and Read More

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Dealing With An Active Shooter by Derek Smith

Dealing With An Active Shooter by Derek Smith

In Perspective Well, we have yet another school shooting to deal with in America. The massacre on Valentine’s Day, where a 19-year-old expelled student killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida is yet another true American tragedy of epic proportions. And as you know, events such as these seem to be Read More

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You, The Auto-Didact by Mark Hatmaker

You, The Auto-Didact by Mark Hatmaker

Introduction Now, there’s a title that needs some explaining. Sounds like I’m way off track for Western combat study and, perhaps, being a bit pretentious but, due to a bit of creative bankruptcy I can think of no better way to label what it is we do as Western combat enthusiasts. Eastern arts, for the Read More

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Blind Training by Mark Hatmaker

Blind Training by Mark Hatmaker

There are so many examples of blind training, or blindfold training that the paltry examples below don’t even scratch the surface. Blindfolded Chi Sao [“Sticky Hands”] training among Wing Chun practitioners. Blindfolded disassembly and re-assembly of the M-16 by armed forces cadre. Blindfolded judoka and jiu-jitsu practice. Emperor Joseph I, challenging the young Mozart to Read More

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