Happy 71st Birthday Dwight McLemore!!!

Source photo:  Dwight McLemore's Facebook

Happy 71st Birthday Dwight McLemore!!! 


At 71 years young, his posts on his Facebook are inspirational! He is still going strong with weapons-work, kettlebells, etc!! Not only does he work with Bowies, tomahawks, and his sword, "Suigetsu", but also with Bagua Deer Knives!


Mac not only wrote his books, but he also drew the pictures illustrating the action/techniques/concepts. I bought his Bowie and Big Knife Fighting book first but at the time I wasn't deeply into blades. Later he came out with The Fighting Staff and The Fighting Sword. I treasure those 2 books. A wealth of information is an understatement! Then he published The Fighting Kukri which I also treasure. After that book, I went and bought the Bowie Knife sequel as well as The Fighting Tomahawk and its sequel.


His books cover fighting concepts, the history of the weapon, training methods, scenarios and more. But what catches the reader's eye is artwork/linework. His attention to detail in his illustrations is evident as he is trying to express motion in his linework to bring out the teachings. Awesomeness! Not only a consummate Martial Artist, but an artist, a historian, a researcher, and a teacher!


I have all his books published by Paladin Press as well as his DVD, The Fighting Tomahawk, also from Paladin. If you are into weapons-work, I highly reco all his books and DVD for Martial Artists of any level.


I'm going to be ordering his newest book, The Fighting Gladiator:

Source photo:  Dwight McLemore's Facebook
Click for larger pic

A little bio of the Birthday Boy copied from the Paladin site!

Dwight C. McLemore is a retired combat arms officer with the U.S. Army and is an accomplished bladesman and instructor. He is renowned for his vast knowledge of Bowie and big-knife fighting and has more than 18 years of experience in self-defense and martial arts. The founder of the School of Two Swords, McLemore is rated expert level with the American Knife Congress, is certified in kung fu, and holds 1st dan in kendo. 

Posting some videos I found on YouTube in his honor!


Happy Birthday Mac!!! Many many more to come!

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ISMAC 10th Anniversary DVD

Clip from Dwight McLemore's Bowie Knife class

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How to Use the Hanging Log for Tomahawk Training

(from The Fighting Tomahawk DVD)

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For more information, please check out:

• Dwight McLemore Official Facebook
• Dwight C. McLemore's books on Paladin-Press.com
• Dwight C. McLemore's Art Page on Facebook

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BOOKS: Started to read Rory Miller's MEDITATIONS ON VIOLENCE

Image borrowed from Bobbe Edmonds' Thick As Thieves blog, click to view a larger cover:



I first heard of this book via my training partner J. He loaned me his copy recently. I never heard of Rory Miller. You know in the beginning of some books, there are reco's by various luminaries? I saw some of that the blurbs reco'ing the book by the likes of Iain Abernethy, Loren Christiansen and Marc 'Animal' MacYoung and a few others who I didn't recognize, so I had to check it out on top of my training partner's reco.

I am loving this book, got up to chapter 4 when I was sidetracked by a coworker's reco of Malcolm Gladwell's OUTLIERS. Sorry Mr. Miller. My coworker was THAT persuasive that I had to put down your book.

In a nutshell, MEDITATIONS ON VIOLENCE compares the realities of martial arts in the dojo to violence in the real world. Mr. Miller is a corrections officer and had to deal with inmates and violence daily. I always find it good to read a BTDT (Been There, Done That) perspective on martial arts & self-defense.

When I finish reading this book, I will post my review. But in the meantime, check out the aforementioned Bobbe Edmonds' review. An excerpt below:

Meditations on Violence was really the right title for this book, it's abundantly clear on every page that Miller has put time, effort and thought behind his words. If you want to know why this is so important, and the rarity of such a book covering this subject so well, go read a few of the other streetwise, self-defense style publications on the market today. Rory never comes across as a self defense blowhard who can’t see past his own ego, his book sets a standard that the typical "martial arts for the street" category seldom attains. Meditations on Violence demands to be READ, not just scanned. It’s an honest, unrefined dose of the real world coupled with insightful training guides and advice. I could go on for pages touting the depth of knowledge in this book. Even the preface is an attention-grabber.

If you are a martial arts teacher, law enforcement officer, or just a concerned civilian interested in physical violence and the steps necessary to avoid it, this book is a crucial must-have.

For anyone serious about self-preservation/self-defense and their martial arts training, be sure to buy this book and read it! It may save your life!!

My thanks as always to my training partner J.!!

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Steve Perry, Silat and The Man Who Never Missed

I couldn't think of a "S" tie-in to go for my fave alliteration gimmick :-(

Steve Perry... I first heard of him because I was deeply into reading science fiction and fantasy books circa high school and early college days. He wrote the Matador series, and no, he is not the former lead singer of Journey. Same name, and no relation IIRC. Digression: the new lead singer of Journey sounds like Steve Perry and had a hard life before he joined Journey to replace Perry. Great human interest story for another post someday.

The Man Who Never Missed

catchy title, IIRC, the paperback copy I bought had the protagonist leaning against the wall, with one foot on the wall... one hand in the air with what may or may not be a weapon. It looked cool. The caption under the title read:

"Soldier, Traitor, Terrorist - The Legend Begins."

Oh, frag me, I will post the picture of the cover :-)



The Reader's Digest version of that book is that the protagonist, Emile Antoon Khadaji (cool name! why didn't my parents name me that), was trying to bring down the evil Confederation and he waged a one-man war starting on one planet. He grew his legend by seemingly never missing. He had a weapon which shot paralyzing serum and IIRC, Khadaji didn't want to kill his enemies... choosing to paralyze them and have their forces depleting by caring for their fallen comrades... kind of like the philosophy of the Russian style, Sambo, in that the leglocks were used to break legs and that the fallen soldier was a liability to the rest of the forces when crippled than if he was dead. That got me hooked and I read the others in the series...

I need to reread that series again... my memory is fading.

For more info on Steve Perry, check out:

Wiki entry
His website

and more importantly,

his blog

Anyway, there was a type of martial art/dance some of the characters learned. There were 97 steps to it... some of the steps were hard to get to given the placement of the previous step. At the time I read the books, I was into some JKDC, WCK, and Tai Chi. Didn't quite explore FMA yet. Never heard or knew what Silat was until a bit later when I really started to check into JKDC.

Fast forward, what, 15-20 yrs later, and with the advent of the Internet, I read Steve Perry's blog on and off and he's a Silat player! 97 Steps indeed.

I highly reco The Matador series... I have yet to read the other books he has written, but he is a good writer and I liked the Matador series well enough to check out his other books soon.

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RECO: Ancient Bare Knuckle Muay Thai Seminar Vol 2 DVD

A recommendation (RECO) from me. My review forthcoming.

The Ancient Bare Knuckle Muay Thai Physical Structure DVD focuses on the myriad of tactics and fighting strategies of the various regional bare knuckle systems that existed in Thailand when bare knuckle fighting flourished throughout the kingdom. The original tactics were then synthesized and streamlined into what we know of as the popular sport of ring Muay Thai.

In this second volume devoted to physical structure, the viewer is introduced to the extensive arsenal of the bare knuckle toolbox that are then developed through a series of unique physical foundation skill development exercises that enhance and functionalize them. Beginning with the warm up sequence into the extensive kicks, punches, knees and elbows, the teaching sequence accelerates into footwork, line drills, using the triangle, varied offensive and defensive strategies on the inside and outside lines, the art of opening, sinking, moving the mind to open the target as well as a deeper understanding of the Khorat style tiger walk and the Chaiya style lion walk and the ability to translate basic weapons tactics to empty hand strategy.

Each volume in this series stands on its own though they are designed specifically to work in tandem as a clear progressive teaching guide that will benefit both beginner and advanced martial arts practitioners.

Colonel Amnat Pooksrisuk has devoted his entire life to the preservation and propagation of the complete spectrum of Thai Martial Arts as well as the strategies and principles that govern them. A graduate of US War College and a career military man, he has tirelessly trained and documented many of the ancient and modern training methods under the last remaining Grandmasters throughout Thailand. A key figure in the World Muay Thai Council, he continously works to promote Muay Thai throughout the world. Ajarn Pooksrisuk is one of the few remaining masters who possesses the knowledge of how the Pichai Songkram or Thai Manual of Warfare provides the keys to understanding the underlying principles that govern all the Thai Martial Arts.

"Colonel Amnat's "Ancient Bareknuckle Muay Thai" series is a must for any serious martial artist or fighter. For the novice, the Colonel clearly and concisely presents Muay Thai in its most basic form, laying down a foundation upon which the entire art is built. For the experienced practitioner, the lessons contained within these DVD's begin to tie the varying systems of Muay Thai together into a single, cohesive style of fighting."

- Kru Brooks C. Miller (aka Khun Kao)
USMTA State Director of Virginia
Ayuthaya Pro-Fitness MuayThai of Sterling, VA

Running time: 120 minutes

ORDERING INFO:

http://www.bareknucklemuay.com/

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RECO: Ancient Bare Knuckle Muay Thai Seminar DVD

A recommendation (RECO) from me. My review forthcoming.

The Ancient Bare Knuckle Muay Thai Seminar DVD focuses on the tactics and fighting strategies of the various regional bare knuckle systems that existed in Thailand when bare knuckle fighting flourished throughout the kingdom. The original tactics were then synthesized and streamlined into what we now know of as modern ring Muay Thai.

The older bare knuckle fighting methods were complete martial arts systems for use not only in the ring but also for self defense, meditative and ceremonial practice as well as health and restoration. The various regional systems along with the fighters and masters that propagated them provided an incredible bank of techniques from which a practitioner could draw from and perfect. The popularity of ring Muay Thai along with the banning of the bare knuckle tournaments lead to its fast decline with few of the actual systems remaining in functional practice today.

In this first volume dedicated to foundation strategies, the viewer will be lead for the first time ever through a complete understanding of what is Muay, the seven principles of the Thai martial arts, the seven tenets that establish a foundation for action, the art of disruption and the decision cycle as well as an array of techniques from the infamous tiger walk to the various footwork patterns and attacks.

Colonel Amnat Pooksrisuk has devoted his entire life to the preservation and propagation of the complete spectrum of Thai martial arts as well as the strategies and principles that govern them. A career military man, he has tirelessly trained and documented many of the ancient and modern methods under the last remaining Grandmasters throughout Thailand. A key figure in the World Muay Thai Council, he continuously works to promote Muay Thai throughout the world. Ajarn Pooksrisuk is one of the few remaining masters who possesses the knowledge of how the Pichai Songkram or Thai Manual Of Warfare provides the keys to understanding the underlying principles that govern all the Thai Martial Arts.

" A vital reminder that the depth of the Thai Martial Arts have rarely been explored or even understood in the West. Colonel Amnat Pooksrisuk passionately shares his knowledge on the foundation strategies and principles many of which still reverberate today in the modern Muay Thai ring. A superb DVD for those seeking to understand the underpinnings of the ancient bare knuckle systems. "

- Clint Heyliger,
United States Muay Thai Association

Running time: 82 minutes

ORDERING INFO:

http://www.ancientmuay.com/

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Mark Tripp - Combatives 9 (Grip Strength)

 

 

Mark Tripp's Combatives 9

You are in the Judo forum
Subject: Combatives 9
From: MTripp
Date: 16-May-00 | 07:17 AM


Well, lacking any evidence of psychic energy; I guess we have to go back to training the hard way.

"Mastery of Hand Strength" by Brookfield. This book is a MUST for any combative program. It forms the core of EVERY combative technique you will ever use.

Should the day ever come that you are fighting for your life; I PROMISE you that you will not be saying you trained your grip strength too much. ESPECIALLY if the only thing between you and death is your hand on his weapon.

More importantly; we must now dispel a major myth of personal assault. To wit; that there will be time to get "set".

Almost EVERY martial art teaches a set position to fire off a given technique. This may be the way you stand; the way your body is to his body; whatever. The grim reality is that wil NEVER happen in a street assault.

With only a 3 to 5 second window; there is no time to set your position. Worse; setting position does NOTHING to stop the other guys attack.

We have to take a principle from Gene LeBell and Wally Jay here, which is: Put them in pain NOW; keep them in pain ALWAYS.

Brad just learned how well that works as he submitted a person MUCH larger and with very strong grappling skills. The simple concept of put them in pain, keep them in pain, allowed him to work his way to a win.

In combatives we have to understand a simple concept. The person who attacks you has a plan. He has prasticed this plan. He is good at this plan AND he moved first so he has the advantage.

Your LIFE depends on interupting his plan (read Bruce Lee on this concept); and taking the advantage by "putting him in pain and keeping him in pain".

How do we do that? If we can't get our feet set striking is out. If we can't chose the position many grappling moves are out. BUT; if we train our hands to have say 195lbs of crushing force; THAT works VERY well.
Think about it; personal assaults are very close encounters. The ability to crush the balls or the windpipe; or gouge out an eye instantly WILL END A FIGHT RIGHT NOW!

Even if you reach down and find a cup; your grip strength will let you grab the cup; pull it out and over, then slam it home a few dozen times!!!

You MUST get on the Captain of Crush program! Get the grippers; throw the bag; pinch grip the barbell plates; make up the softball lifter; etc.

Your time in the weight room should be at least 50% on your grip for a combative program. This is not about looking good; it is about being VERY strong at what will win the fight.

Get the book and get to work!!!

BEWARE: I am NOT responsible for all the things you will break as you get used to your new gripping power!

You'll find out....

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Yeah
Date: 16-May-00 | 11:23 AM
So should we get a grip Mr.Tripp :)

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: ReverendTim
Date: 16-May-00 | 11:23 AM
As always, Mr. Tripp, sound and excellent advice.
In my wing chun school, we train the grip every single class. We start every class by training the basic wing chun stance while standing on 2x4 blocks (on their side) and simply holding big rice bags filled with rocks and with handles cut into them...very rough and they toughen the hand while your grip gets stronger. When we train our footwork, we carry these bags...about 1 or 1.5 hours total, depending on the day.

Students gradually progress through heavier and heavier bags, then big buckets filled with rocks, then small cinder blocks, then large cinder blocks, and then these chunks of girder which are carried by having to grasp them in your fingertips...like a pinch. They weigh a good 30 pounds and are only about 5/8" thick...THAT takes a strong, strong grip.

And after about a year, my grip is NOTICABLY stronger. I can just yank people around now if need be. Hoping this'll help out with the judo (first class this Su

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: croft
Date: 16-May-00 | 11:45 AM
If I may add something that I think will help: Try a modified Farmer's walk. Take 20-30 pound weights, one in each hand, and hold them by your side BUT NOT RESING ON ANY PART OF YOUR BODY keep the weights putting pressure on your grip. now go walk 2 miles. This develops several muscle groups, but does wonders for hand strength and endurance.

Croft
=^..^=

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: cudgel
Date: 16-May-00 | 12:44 PM
I wish those Captains of Crush guys took credit card orders. My wife controls the checkbook and she is a major tightwad when it comes to my training expenditures!

I do the farmer's walk with 95 lbs in each hand, and the grip is the first place I feel it. This is good grip training.

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: submission studen
Date: 16-May-00 | 12:52 PM
I must say again, I can not agree more. Every, and I mean every, person that I have met that is good at martial arts, be it wrestling to judo to striking arts, has a better than normal grip. This story is a bit personal but it drives this point home. My grandfather, who studied boxing and wrestling as a kid and Judo and jiu-jitsu after the war, was born with a birth defect in his hand. his right hand was turned complete down flat against his forearm. When he was still a baby his mother worked and massaged and made him use the hand as he got older and got into wrestling and boxing. He kept a rubber ball around at all times and I can't remeber a time when I haven't seen one next to his easy chair at home. To this day,(He's 80 years old), I rank him in the top five for my personal experiance with grip strength. His hand strength is still way above average. I think he lost maybe 7 fights, (Pro, amature and street/bar) in his life and he had many.

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Absolute Storm
Date: 16-May-00 | 03:20 PM
Good piece of advice. A strong grip can be a powerful weapon in its own right, as well as assisting with standard grappling techniques.

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: VinceB
Date: 16-May-00 | 03:46 PM
The CoC grippers are great! the #1 will humble most right out of the box. I do as MTripp suggests as well and catch a bag (30 lbs of nickel plated shot in leather. Don't use un-coated lead! and in a leather bag it will last forever) and also catching a steel plate (1/4 inch about 25 lbs) between the thumb and index fingers.
Finger tip pushups are very nice as a finish. Brookfeild's book is a goldmine. follow his advice and what ever you grab will stay grabbed.

Great posts as usual!

vince

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Absolute Storm
Date: 16-May-00 | 04:43 PM
I've just ordered "Mastery of Hand Strength" from amazon.com.

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Bad Brad
Date: 16-May-00 | 11:17 PM
ttt

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: SSonnon
Date: 16-May-00 | 11:42 PM
Mark, brilliant as always. You folks must try Russian nailbending!

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: MTripp
Date: 17-May-00 | 07:59 AM


Well...

GET THE IRONMIND CATALOG!!!!!

FILLED with excellent material; and when you see the guy close a #3 with TWO FIGNERS you will be humbled!

He then closes a #4!!!!!

They sell nails for the bending stunts; as well as enough material for training to fill your garage!

Get it today!

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Chzog
Date: 17-May-00 | 09:45 AM
Just closed a number 2 all the way last night until it "clicked". I can now close it 5 times with a little help!
2 weeks ago I couldn't close it one time. I still need to buy a number 1. I have the trainer and now the number 2.

I thank coach for getting me into the "Grip strength" exersices. It helped my game alot. Grip fighting is 100X better than what it used to be...once I get a grip, It is very very very difficult to break it now.

Thanks Coach!!

Chris

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Thratomai
Date: 19-May-00 | 03:00 PM
MTripp,

While I agree with you on the effectiveness of gripping power, I must disagree with the statement "if we can't get our feet set striking is out". This is simply not true; especially with vertically descending strikes (and several other concepts). In addition, finger jabs need very little leverage due to the nature of the blow.
Great post though. A strong grip is essential to "upping the odds" when defending oneself.

Respectfully Disagreeing,


-ERic D. Hill
Mu Tau (Modern Hellenic Combat)

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: MTripp
Date: 19-May-00 | 04:12 PM
Eric;

Then we are going to disagree and greatly so.

We are not talking about a "duel" where you know the attack is coming. But clearly a suprize assault where it is happening before you have a chance to get set.

If you choose to believe that a strike delivered while off ballance or worse as you are falling has a good chance of ending the fight; more power to you.

I think the concept of having 195lbs plus of crushing power to be a much more sure fire way of ending the fight under the conditions I have described.

We will respectfully disagree on this one.

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: socal
Date: 19-May-00 | 06:52 PM
SSonnon: . You folks must try Russian nailbending!

Scott you been holding out on us ;-)!

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: SSonnon
Date: 19-May-00 | 06:57 PM
At our seminar! We will HAMMER out the details later, when we can NAIL down a definite time.
:O

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Tony Bananas
Date: 19-May-00 | 07:52 PM
oh no! lol

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: socal
Date: 19-May-00 | 08:16 PM
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: MTripp
Date: 19-May-00 | 11:23 PM


O U C H!

Boys go to your room!

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: SSonnon
Date: 19-May-00 | 11:23 PM
hehehe

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: MACHINE MAY
Date: 19-May-00 | 11:31 PM
Boys dont make me seperate you! I'll turn this car around dammit!

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: HopSing
Date: 20-May-00 | 07:09 PM
Great post MTripp!!!

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Subject: RE: INFO
From: Chzog
Date: 20-May-00 | 08:31 PM
WOW, Machine my Dad just used to reach into the back seat and clunk me and my brothers heads together. I soon made my first strategic defesense move, I traded seats with my brother and started sitting right behind the drivers seat, in essence "taking his back" .

Man I was so ahead of the times...I was only 6-7 =)

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For other Mark Tripp entries, please check out:

• Mark Tripp - Combatives 1
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 2 (Who was W.E. Fairbairn?)
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 3 (Level of Force)
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 4 (Goshinjutsu)
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 5 (Atemi-Waza)
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 6 (Balance)
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 7 (Technique selection)
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 8 (Understanding the Shoot and "Butt Scoot")
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 10 (Teaching Self-defense)
• Mark Tripp - Combatives 11 (Women's Self-defense)
• Mark Tripp's Combat Judo basic course

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NOTE: Posted as-of Jun 21, 2000 on Nov 22, 2013 to mirror my old archives - http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/mtcombat9.html.

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