Friday, February 20, 2015

Every Day Carry for the Martial Artist

Friday Knight News


"If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Lama

Are you really a martial artist if you avoid addressing modern martial situations and circumstances? There are many levels and types of practice that can be performed with training for Every Day Carry (EDC). Still there is nothing wrong with performing martial dance or martial yoga, this type of practice is fine. We all have our personal inner battles to contend with and this element of the art is what is going to benefit most practitioner's health and quality of life. Yet we need to be working with practical elements of modern day self-defense skills to be legitimately called warriors or martial artists. If you are prepared for personal modern conflict then you are a martial artist.

Non-Permissive EDC from CRKT

To be prepared for modern personal conflict you should be aware of the most common types of assaults in your area. After you discover what the most common types of assaults to contend with for your area, you need to devise a suitable plan of action and work from there. Worldwide the results can vary, but for the most part, we can safely assume the attacker/s will be larger or will outnumber us. As a former LEO, I can tell you this is the most common type of situation that police officers have to deal with as well. After that, you have to consider that one or more of the attacker/s will be armed. The weapon of choice is generally a knife or a blunt object as these are often the most common weapons at hand. Once you calculate what type of assault you most likely will have to encounter, then you can select what type of plan of action you will utilize. Criminals are not limited to a choice of weapons.

aliengearholsters.com

This plan will change depending on your circumstances. It is a good idea that you work out various scenarios beforehand. The dynamics of the situation needs to be fluid, and I suggest the use of simple command code words to reinforce the drills. My wife knows to put herself behind me with her hand on my back, she also knows which side of the street to face when dealing with a vehicle confrontation and so on; we also have code words. After this, would come the choice of (EDC) weapon that would be the most advantageous for you to employ. This choice has to take into consideration what will be effective, but also what you will be capable, confident, and legal to use. There are five weapon types to choice from: Blunt, edged, flexible, projectile and combination weapons. Of course the best personal defense weapon is one that you will carry on you and have the nerve, skill, and ability to use effectively. Find a pistol and holster that works for you, one that fits your needs, something that is safe and comfortable to carry. If you cannot do this, you will eventually find excuses not to have your gun on you; this is true even with many off duty police officers.

Image result for bladed pistol shooting stance

Modern self-defense tools like a pistol and a good lock or fixed blade knife are at the top of my list for EDC person defense, as is a bullet resistant vest. My doctor told me that my old nylon fiber garment saved my life once. I still have the bullet. My training and fitness had helped close the distant and my hand-to-hand skills aided in the disarming of several weapons situations. With any EDC weapon it is a good idea to have a backup weapon, as well as having unarmed skills to retain these tools. The more you can rely on your personal strengths and courage the easier it is to refrain from filling the need to utilize weapons for self-defense. A weapon is only a tool and can be taken away, unarmed skills are always with you as long as you are healthy enough to use them. Being a martial artist keeps us brave and humble and having this mind set better enables us in avoiding armed encounters.

Image result for bladed pistol shooting stance

Still the top reason for EDC is because we don't have 100% accurate psychic powers. If we did have psychic powers, we would never have to worry about being out numbered in a fight, or caught in an armed assault. EDC ensures that you have backup for those times when you might need it. Self-defense skills depend on health and fitness. Criminals tend to pick on us when we are weak or injured, and not at world class sport fitness levels. No one, not even top athletes, stay at their peak all the time. Life does not run on a peak fitness level schedule for self-defense situations. Instead we should try to maintain sustainable lifelong fitness. To do this we need to vary our routine, altering our basic structure of our workout and training skills. Putting time in at the gun range while using the holster and pistol that we carry is important too.

"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity." John F. Kennedy 

Below are links to some of my Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker" series. My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.


Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.

Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6 

Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.       

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