Important! Crash Course in Zombie Defense

Time is short!  Train hard...

Tameshigiri: Naginata

The Japanese knew how to make an edged weapon. This is a naginata in action against rolled bamboo mats, a practice known as Tameshigiri.

You've probably seen something similar with the familiar katana, or samurai sword. The Naginata was a polearm that essentially mated the cutting edge of the samurai sword with the leverage of a spear.

Traditional tales speak of warriors whirling the naginata around their bodies like windmills, sweeping flights of arrows out of the air with a swipe, and even beheading charging horses with one well-timed cut.

True? Maybe. The cutting potential of such a weapon is obvious. I'm not entirely sure I'd recommend a naginata as a zombie defense tool for the uninitiated, but it's worth looking into.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest Part 6

The boys see if they have what it takes to fight like Israeli Commandos.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 5

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 4

Seems I missed Thursday. Sorry, I was busy with work.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 3

The boys continue their training in the lethal moves of Krav Maga.

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 2

Krav Maga Week: Fight Quest part 1

Krav Maga is a modern system of Israeli unarmed combat. It emphasizes striking early, hard, and often with immediately crippling results.

I dunno. YMMV as they say. I've heard that civilian training like you might get at a strip mall can be complicated and convoluted. On the other hand, there are plenty of professionals who swear by this stuff.

As I've said before, going unarmed against zombies -- well, any of the bogies and boggarts we discuss, really -- ain't a good idea. But you gotta have something to fall back on, and it does teach you how to move correctly in a fight. The thing about krav is that it isn't some ancient, sacred art that was optimized for fighting armored warriors on horseback. It exists in the here and now and understands mobility -- and also the kind of encumbrance that modern warfighting gear can have on a fighter.

Zombie Defense 101

A California community college is offering Zombie Defense 101. This is a step in the right direction, and I hope to see more institutions of higher learning and continuing education step up to the plate.

I am disturbed that this course apparently does not cover firearms or even edged weapons. The comely lass demonstrating seems to be limited to softball bats and karate kicks. In fact, she screams, "Jiu Jutsu!" while kicking one fiend... And while there are some limited kicks in Jiu Jutsu/jujutsu styles, we have already discussed why a grappling art is not ideal for fighting the undead.

FMA drill

Sorry; I've been collecting and posting so many FMA vids over the last two weeks that I've lost track. I don't think I've posted this.

If I have, let me excuse it by saying that drills are important to any martial art. You need to drill your melee weapon skills, and you should carry over to drilling your firearms skills. Drill, drill, drill. It's the heart of preparation.

FMA Week Too: Beginner's Sparring

The secret to developing practical martial arts skills is resistance against a thinking, live opponent. (Yes, this is ironic since so many of our opponents are technically "dead.") Sparring -- early and often in the martial artist's career -- is probably the best way to develop true skill. But often the examples we see are high level practitioners who have been sparring for years, even decades. This can intimidate beginners, who are afraid they will just look silly trying the skills with which they are still uncomfortable.

We've seen several examples of people who are excellent fighters, so I thought it might be worthwhile providing an example of beginner's at play. You'll see how tentative they are. You'll see mistakes. There is obvious room for improvement. All of that is completely understandable at this level. The goal is only to try hard and use what you've learned.

FMA Week Too: Fight Quest Part 5

The final challenge awaits! The guys face two battle-hardened Filipino Marines who are experts in Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Who will win?

FMA Week Too: Fight Quest Part 4

The big challenge gets closer still...

FMA Week Too: Bonus Pikiti Tirsia Drill

Drilling is important for martial arts skills.

FMA Week Too: Fight Quest Part 3

The guys continue to train with sticks and knives so they won't be hurt too badly during the final challenge.

FMA Week Too: Fight Quest Part 2

The boys continue training in the brutal FMA. They also re-enact the fable of the City Mouse and the Country Mouse, as one trains in the maountain jungles, and the other trains in the crowded city.

Both of them get hit with sticks.

FMA Week Too: Fight Quest Part 1

Once again we follow two intrepid martial artists as they train with FMA masters in preparation for a challenge match.

FMA Week(end): Pekiti Tirsia Kali

More from the particular FMA discipline Pekiti Tirsia Kali, the art taught to the Filipino Marines

FMA Week Continues Through Next Week!

I'm enjoying the stick-swinging and knife-flinging so much, I decided to keep posting FMA vids through next week too! It is my humble opinion that this is the best art going right now for proven self-defense in any Post-Apocalyptic scenario; but especially the inevitable Zombiggeddon.

When the law breaks down, you'll be the only law you can count on. And the only law that will matter is the Law of the Jungle -- which is the Law of Tooth and Claw. Stockpile those weapons, your teeth and claws, and know how to use them. Ammunition will get short at some point, so you need to be able to deploy the old stand-bys: knives, swords, axes, and spears.

Everyone of them is devastating against the undead. But you have to be efficient. Train hard.

FMA Week: Making knives

British martial artist and TV host Chris Crudelli investigates traditional methods of making fighting knives in the Philippines.