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The Tomahawk Cave [Wupi ta’pun’i Ta’i] by Mark Hatmaker

 

Yours Truly Walking the Walk

Well, thanks to some final puzzle pieces from acquired resources on our most recent desert research trip we are ready to present the revised approach to Numur’u Tomahawk.

I guarantee it is as authentic and verifiable as I can make it from the sources. [The curious may find the Post-Script regarding the Comanche language of value.]

The February Black Box volume presents this single aspect of tomahawk work termed Wupi’ta’pun’i Ta’i [Rendered sometimes as Wupi’ta’pun’i Kahne Tubaana.

Wupi’ta’pun’i Kahne Tubaana translates to “Tomahawk Wall” or “Tomahawk House.” In some iterations “Tomahawk Cave” Wupi ta’pu’i Ta’i.

I find “Cave” a better representation as it refers to a formidable fortress from which to fight and hold off aggressors.

Wupi ta’pun’i Ta’i can be thought of as the blocking system for the tomahawk.

“System” is a bit too staid a word for how this approach works.

Anyone who has been present for our live “Spirit Blade or “Emotional Blade” presentation will have a clue into the ferocity I mean.

Trust me, this ain’t no re-shuffled Filipino number systems or re-purposed overlay of European sword patterns.

We have gone deep into the historical weeds here. [Again: See the Post-Script.]

I guarantee it is as authentic and verifiable as I can make it from the sources.

This proud, pragmatic Warrior heritage had no need of what Musashi called “Sword Flowers”, that is, needless ornamentation.

This is its own vicious beast that takes into account the realities of an inertial top-weighted weapon.

On this volume we address the subtleties of grip, the “Balance” the entirety of the “Cave” and “Natural” follows.

This is THE foundation upon which the remainder is built.

In the future we will address…

·        Additional attack combinations.

·        Unusual tactics

·        Tomahawk “Dances” [Solo Patterns to seat wild skills.]

·        Woods Runner Drills: Using the ‘Hawk While on the Run. [Think of it as raiding or dropping multiple opponents, think of it as being a frontier John Wick.]

·        ‘Hawk & Blade Tactics: Twin Weapon Wielding: The True Story

Again, this is THE foundation upon which all else is built.

It is released today, February 1st, to the Black Box Brotherhood at Brotherhood Premium.

All else may acquire it for a slender discount for the month of February.

See here for details.

The Comanche Language Post-Script

“Strive to be a person who is never absent from an important act.”—Osage Proverb

One Instance of Not Knowing What is Important

• More than 7 years ago I began my study of the Comanche language to facilitate my studies of Frontier Rough n Tumble Combat and various Old School Ways.

• It was at one time the most wide-spread Native language due to the aggressive wide-ranging territory of the Comanche Empire.

• The study of the language has been fruitful and rewarding in bizarre ways I never expected.

• Am I fluent?

• By no means—but I aim to be. I work on this difficult tongue daily.

• When I began—there were few Comanche speakers. At the time there were less than 50 fluent speakers left in the world.

• As of 2024 there are 9 fluent speakers left.

• Of that original less than 50, many were elderly and the Covid pandemic more than decimated this gorgeous population.

• UNESCO has now classed Comanche as a “Severely Endangered World Language.”

• 9—that number saddens me.

• Such a glorious legacy disappearing.

• When I began the study, it was a lark.

• As I pursued my studies it became a passion.

• Now, with those numbers in mind, unwittingly I may be involved in an important act.

“Strive to be a person who is never absent from an important act.”—Osage Proverb

• The point is, we never know what is important, to others, to a culture, to history, hell, likely not even to ourselves but…

• If we embody the Osage Wisdom we will behave as if Every act, Every step, Every word is of import.

• The Wisdom is not advising us to seek out and winnow down to only being present at the BIG things, it is urging us to bring our Best game, our Best Soul to All things—so that ALL things become BIG things.

• So that ALL is important.

May we All Live Our Best In ALL Things.

Mabitsiar’u Hait’si! [Respect & Honor, My Friends!]

The Black Box Brotherhood

The Rough n Tumble Raconteur Podcast

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