Indigenous Ability

  Let us look to a single historical instance that illuminates a lesson in Task-Saturation or what Musashi called “Sword Flowers.” Here Jiu-Jitsu just happens to be the vehicle of the combat strategy lesson. The art is not being picked on, not at all, The focus here is less the art itself, than it is the mind of the combat athlete that “fixes” beyond good sense, or good health. We will begin in France, then spend time in a Blackhawk chopper cockpit, then allow a samurai to throw shade and wind up, hopefully, with pupils dilated for wiser tactic and strategy choices. Early 20 th -Century France Edmond Desbonnet, was a physical culture purveyor and entrepreneur, like all good businessmen he kept an eye on how to increase clientele. During a trip to London in 1905 he encounters a physical exhibition that was currently the rage, that of the “exotic art of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu” [Judo.] Taro Miyake was wowing the public and physical culturists alike with his adept use of leve...

  I am often asked what defines Frontier Combat or Old School Rough ‘n’ Tumble Fighting. A damn good question. The answer can prove elusive at first blush as these myriad arts/practices/skills can be so scattered in distance, influences, environment and application it bears little resemblance to [in comparison] closed systems that one finds in traditional arts or boundaried combat sports. If there can be a single characteristic of an actual Frontier in the geographical sense it is that, by definition, it lies beyond the border. It is a remove from the acceptable or codified stricture. Be this West of the Mississippi in the 17 th century or the interior of the Congo of the 19 th -century, what is beyond the reach of law or organized government was a Frontier, ripe for the intrepid to venture and mingle with whatever indigenous forces they met [environmental or tribal.] That geographical definition holds for Frontier Fighting as well, it lies beyond the border. It is a r...

  Buckle up, Crew as we take a deep multi-part dive into the world of combat archeology and get into tough men from many nations and many tribes, glimpse an environment so raw and unforgiving it tested the spirit of the toughest, and get into the curious cross-pollinations that seem to show that much of what was truly vicious in unarmed combat and blade combat may not have its origins where we have so long assumed. Along the way tactics will be hinted at but not described in detail—that will be privy to The Black Box Subscription Service . A lot of work has gone into this sojourn and the vicious fruits of it has toppled much of what I “thought” I knew about blade and some aspects of low-line combat. After putting these unearthings through the paces, I must say, what I formerly thought in those areas was mere filigree and deserving of burial. Brutal, vicious, and effective. Nothing “Continental” about it. A few hints of things to come… ·       ...