Out Gunned

Friday Knight News

"A bullet from a gun does not make a distinction between practice and combat." Miyamoto Musashi

Nothing I've experienced brings out proximity awareness as the sound of being out gunned. When you hear the boom of a big gun blast, and can count the leaves around your head getting clipped by the shot you can gauge the direction and distance to the shooter. You also should be able to tell if it was a rifle, pistol, or a shotgun that fired on you because of the sound and the multiple pellets, (shot). I have had a few occasions where shotguns were pulled and/or fired at me. After that comes rifles, and then pistols in that order. I have disarmed shotguns and pistols a few times, while I was within arm's reach of them plus even a few knives. So it seems that having an understanding of strategy helps even when you are out gunned. This plays very much into the skill sets I mentioned in last week's blog. It seems to me that the mindset is more important than the art that you study. Adam Chan referrers to this as the difference between a system or an individual's style. I look at this as using strategy to adapt your training to your abilities. 

Make sure to watch Adam Chan's video clip! 

You might be out gunned when you are involved with unarmed or armed hand-to-hand combat. You might be out numbered or merely under armed for a situation. As a martial artist, I have found that wearing a gun and a knife has helped provide the extra confidence that I can fall back to if a situation gets out of hand. Still, I have had more opportunities to talk my way through situations where weapons have been drawn. This has happened both when I was armed and at other times when I was unarmed. On the other hand, being forced to disarm does make one's self extra aware of danger, as the criminals do not follow the rules of law. As an example, I was called into court to provide an escort to a defendant. It was a court that I had never worked in previously and I didn't know the judge, bailiffs or any of the on duty deputies. Dressed in a suit like most anyone else I happened to notice a gentleman in the men's room washing his hands. As he learned forward, I caught a glimpse of a shoulder rigged sheath that held a dagger under his jacket.

 

I knew that he was on the same court docket as the individual I was with from seeing him in the outer chamber room. After exiting the head, I made my way over to the court bailiff and gave myself a brief introduction and a description of the man. The man was up next for being called down to stand before the judge for sentencing. Long story short, the bailiff and two deputies stopped the dagger wearing man and disarmed him before anything happened. Afterward, the judge saw the case I was there for and he gave the defendant a fair judgement. Afterward, the judge called me back into his chambers and personally thanked me.

 

Sometimes being in in an establishment that bans weapons can cause problems too. Places such as a bar or restaurant where liquor is being served, or in court or while undercover, often leaves a person disarmed from conventional self-defense tools. From these and other circumstances situations can arise that has you separated from your weapon. A lapse in proximity awareness due to comfort issues such as sleeping without a weapon at hand is another reason. Even with environmental awareness, combined with warrior stealth, and a martial mind set, weapon proximity is still a limited comfort.  It is just easier and safer to be able to make the choice yourself about being armed or not. Personally, I do not like the idea of having to rely on the character of a criminal.

By itself being armed is not enough, at least when someone is firing a large caliber rifle at you while you are only armed with a knife and a pistol. It is at times like these that the security of every large engine block, dip in the ground or ditch in the area becomes apparent. It often comes down to patience, prepared responses, deception (or distraction if you prefer), and decisive action to achieve a beneficial outcome. All of which are a portion of the study of strategy. Deeper martial arts training by the study of strategy is geared toward developing self-awareness, self-confidence and the ability to defend oneself and others. Training in strategy concepts helps increase one's chance of victory over merely relying on strength, speed, and power. These concepts go hand in hand with both unarmed and weapon training.

         

"Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." Jeff Cooper

My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with some science fiction, a dose of conspiracies theory, along with laughter, love and mystic experiences. 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 meditation. 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 cope 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 meet Adam, (a new apprentice to Dream Walking), while he is fighting for his life. Adam is also struggling  to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee. Jace is a younger man than himself that has trained under Xander Davidson. His mentor likewise isn't without problems, Jace is attempting to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers, but his abilities may just be a harbinger of things to come.

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.