Miyamoto Musashi’s book “”The Book of Five Rings”

I have the last 5 months reread Miyamoto Musashi’s book “”The Book of Five Rings” and have had quite a lot of eureka moments, as the more times I read it I get a completely new perspective about bladed combat, I have lost count as it is more than 10 times as I don’t take notes but try to understand the full picture than just a few pieces of the puzzle, as I view it from my interpretation of the book that has changed or rather confirmed my view on how to use long bladed weapons, which is completely contrary to how I have been taught to do in sport fencing, the FMA styles I have trained and other systems where the weapon is launched first and the body moves after or at the same time.

As it is nearly the same as I have learned training AMOK! stick and machete, making it easier for me to change muscle memory and an easy transition, that in the end has removed any doubt about if I should or could combine previous training and concepts, but I cant as they are incompatible with my current one, but also teach how others systems attacks to have general idea of why and what to expect, and most importantly persons with no training based on watching how untrained persons swings a stick horizontal at shoulder height as it is the most natural way for the shoulder, so they are exposed to very different attacks to learn and experience the difference in oppositional training and sparring. 

The emphasis on using the body first to launch the attack, and with heavy stickiness on impact which will keep the pressure on the line of attack instead of a possible redirection of his weapon and an unknown counter attack path, creates situations that I have been training a lot and have explored all kinds of variations for swords, inspired by a really good chi sao like sensitivity drill I was taught by a HEMA instructor Dan Smith from the EHCG, which then opens up for a lot ways to find a Guided Discovery path/way to attack while keeping the opponent locked in a momentary fixed position, that leaves him no choice than to keep him there to avoid being cut as the power output is maximal and if he breaks contact he will get cut, or try to find a way to attack without disengaging the blade to blade contact. That is only 1 element of many that makes the book so interesting to keep reading it over and over again, the book is so full of wisdom that I find it worth to keep on finding as much as possible from a source with so much to offer.

I have used the same concept with knives and it is perfect for martial arts trained opponents that does not move their hands outside the frame of their torso when they parry, as while the other is working on a solution and is at the start of the second OODA loop (Observe, Orientate, Decide, Action) after his parry which is his 1st loop, I find a path by reflex and have finished my actions and have completed the 2nd OODA loop with my second attack that is combined with a pin, control of his weapon hand, trap, takedown or something else while keeping him on the start of the next one while I execute my Actions fast and extremely aggressive non stop, as the Decision is to go AMOK!, so he has to Observe constantly and will have difficulty to reach the Decision point. 

If the OODA loop is an unknown term I recommend reading about it as it is one of those things that is extremely important to know, and it has even more applications than only strategic warfare and combat, same goes with Musashi’s book ”The Book of Five Rings". 

The Protocol of Vengeance in Viking-age Scandinavia

 

 

The Protocol of Vengeance in Viking-age Scandinavia

Sefanit Tucker (Yale University)

Vexillum, Vol.3 (2013)

Abstract

The Protocol of Vengeance in Viking-age Scandinavia seeks to discuss the importance of honor and the established structure of revenge in Northern Europe, namely Iceland, between the 9th and 10th centuries. In spite of both modern and contemporaneous portrayals of a violent people without law, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate the specific cases in which Viking society condoned and employed violence. To this effect, the paper will use particular examples from several major sagas, the only written records of pre-Christian Scandinavia, to outline the precise nuances of violence that corresponded with particular circumstances and stature of the individuals involved.

Read the whole article on http://www.medievalists.net/2013/08/23/the-protocol-of-vengeance-in-viking-age-scandinavia/

'Horned helmet' of Henry VIII

Funny things: AK-47 vs AR-15 History and Facts

Funny things: AK-47 vs AR-15 History and Facts: he Birth of the Modern Day Assault Rifle The age of the first true successful assault rifle started to come into play during th...

Ancient old weapons

I have a thing for any kind of old weapon including firearms, not only bladed but all of them, it will take a lifetime to get the opportunity to try and use them all, but it’s the journey and not a goal, due to that it would be impossible for me as there is not enough time. Best experience so far was given the permission to swing with very ancient swords and daggers in a museum in Italy, cant go into details as I promised not to tell about which museum as no one is allowed to do that so it was a huge honour, but one of the swords that was one of the trips main objectives to get the permission to do a replica of it, was so frail I was afraid that it would turn to dust when I got it in my hands and was allowed to swing it.

I reverse gripping a beautiful 14th century dagger.

1942 US Rangers Combat School - 8 of 9 - Just Declassified!

Now you can have knives just like Homo erectus used to make

http://io9.com/5952222/now-you-can-have-knives-just-like-homo-erectus-used-to-make

In a Mass Knife Fight to the Death Between Every American President, Who Would Win and Why?

http://faceintheblue.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/in-a-mass-knife-fight-to-the-death-between-every-american-president-who-would-win-and-why/

Funny article with absolute no informative value other than fun.

Mifune accepts challenges from high level students

Kodokan Judo's 10 Dan Mifune accepts challenges from his highest ranking students. Judo at its best! This is fantastic to be able to see old footage with Mifune today, youtube has truly changed the information we can access, seeing this is for me mind blowing, a time machine to the past.

1942 US Rangers Combat School - 5 of 9 - The Missing Clip

AMOK! History

For those who dont know the history of AMOK! here is the true story of who and how it was created, as there has been a lot of disinformation about its origin lately.

AMOK! was founded by Tom Sotis in 1992 in Easton, Massachusetts, USA. Initially organized as the International Blade Fighters Guild (IBFG) and was comprised mainly of several knife arts. Within a few years we suspended practicing and teaching all previously learned methods and developed an ultra-functional methodology called AMOK! Combatives. We are presently the world’s leading edged weapons training company.

In 1994, Tom traveled to Russia and trained the famed Spetsnaz and other government groups, appeared on Russian television and newspapers, lectured at University, and taught at military bases and executive protection academies. To this day Tom remains close friends with his then-interpreter Abbas Gallyamov who has achieved the distinguished position as the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Tom first went to the Philippines with Greg Alland in 1996 who introduced him to Jerson Tortal and Leo Gaje Jr., and it was also at this camp where he met Dave Gould. Tom was to return with his own group to study with Tortal, Gaje, and the blademasters of Negros Occidental. Tom became the first (perhaps only) Caucasian accepted into the Dogeaters Warrior Tribe by Baldwin Garrucho, Rommel Tortal, and Sam Ibe.

In 1998, Tom introduced AMOK! to South Africa and returned every year for 10 years touring the country teaching workshops. South Africans, because of their ultra-violent environment,  took to AMOK! very quickly and a number of training groups formed.  Lifelong and accomplished martial artists, Eddie Dorey and Wally Blumenthal operate a dedicated training group out of Pretoria and have trained regularly for many years. Tom has forged many strong friendships during his trips and remains in close contact with them.

Since 2001, when Steve McHugh organized the first tour, Tom has traveled to Australia several times where AMOK! has since firmly rooted. Peter Ballaben in Adelaide has been a very successful Instructor who has helped many people develop a high level of skill.  Andrew Smith, another of AMOK!’s instructors, runs a strong group in Canberra; and Siang Teoh operates a solid group of hard-fighting men and women in Melbourne.

In 2002, José María Gutiérrez invited Tom to teach in Madrid, Spain where he met Vasilis Vezyrgiannis and Samiotis Panagiotis from Athens, Greece. Since that event, Tom had returned to Spain and Greece a number of times.  Culturally speaking, the Spanish have a love affair with the blade so AMOK! has firmly rooted in that country.  Greece, of course, has a rich and colorful history of Warriors where Vasilis and Samiotis have operated their group for 10 years. Tom has also worked closely with Tim Politis and his teammates the Hellenic Coast Guard who fight on the front line of violence every day.

Tom introduced AMOK! in Sonora, Mexico in 2002, and returned several times to that area, but it was Rafael Mojica who visited a number of times to train Alex Garduno in Zacatapec, who has since established a solid reputation and strong network of knifers. Alex has a long and distinguished background in several martial arts and has worked relentlessly since he discovered AMOK!    Mexico is among one of the most violent and severe countries in the world and the very harsh training for Amoks in Mexico is a reflection of their cultural need. We are proud of the excellent ways in which Alex represents our company.

Since 2003 when Tom Sotis introduced AMOK! in Thailand, Randy Hodges decided to remain and establish groups throughout Southeast Asia. Randy and Nok Hodges established a full time academy in Bangkok before they moved to Udon Thani. Randy introduced AMOK! in Nepal and made a number of trips to Malaysia. The annual Thailand Camp is our company’s biggest training event, typically 6-7 days of training, and is comprised of people from all over the globe.

In 2004, Tom and Mattias Persson introduced AMOK! in Sweden where it has since gained a solid following. Mattias traveled often to train with Tom and while at home, developed a solid group in Malmoe. After training with Tom in Thailand, Johan Skalberg from Gothenburg started his group. Then Kris Gorensson trained with Mattias and Tom and developed a solid group in Arboga. Ingmund Forberg was the first to plant the flag in Oslo, Norway. Matt continues spreading AMOK! throughout Scandinavia and Europe.

In 2008 Gus Reina established an AMOK! training group at LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq. Gus helped a lot of people who lived and worked in harm’s way, and because of his leadership, the group trained steadily in unsteady circumstances for a long time. No longer in Iraq, Gus is presently working with members of the special forces community in Afghanistan. We are proud of Gus, thankful for his service, and respect the significant contribution he is making.

In early 2012 AMOK! left its footprint in Cambodia. Tom Sotis, Andrew Smith, and Joe Howard introduced AMOK! to the Cambodian Special Forces and the country’s most elite Law Enforcement Counter-Terrorism personnel. They conducted training for GSS Private Security (owned by John Muller), who guard the country’s vault of gold bullion, and operate throughout Southeast Asia. GSS is presently using our program for its highest level operatives and supervisors. We will return later this year to initiate further consulting and training services.

Old school CACC poster

I love old Catch As Catch Can pictures, the moves are still useful today as it has always been an NHB style, not as boxing that has changed due to the constant addition of rules and protective gear.

Silambam Documentary - Remesh S V

Anglo-Saxons and hand-saex

Interesting article on the origin of the word for knife

http://medievalnews.blogspot.ca/2012/05/anglo-saxons-and-hand-saex.html

Four Sources on Messer Combat

There are a lot of similarities between FMA and European medieval combat arts, which should not be a surprise since we are built the same way there will be similar solutions to the same problems.

15th century Lancashire work of art, maybe the oldest Catch-as-Catch Wrestling depiction there is.