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Showing posts from October, 2025

The Orthodox Fighting Stance: The Deeper Why of It, Part 2 by Mark Hatmaker

  [I heartily encourage a reading of Part 1 to gather all the threads that lead to this point. While what follows is valuable and useful information—context sets the cognitive hook. You can read Part 1 here .] When we left off we were asking the following questions. ONE - Why when engaging in power-based or stressed based tasks [combat, competitive sports, power-contact tasks] do we place the dominant hand/foot to the rear as opposed to advancing the “good side” forward? TWO -We also implied the “Hidden Question”… When we “retreat” the strong/coordinated side to the rear we are also placing the dominant eye to the rear, in essence, further from the targeted opponent/task before us—why would this seemingly sub-optimum gaze placement be a “good” idea? THREE - Why is it that this “good side” to rear stance seems to be a human default and not a later tactical “choice?” That is, humans default to this position before any training comes along and says “ This is the right way ...

Skeletons & Punching Power by Mark Hatmaker

  Resources for Livin’ the Warrior Life The Black Box Store https://www.extremeselfprotection.com/ The Indigenous Ability Blog https://indigenousability.blogspot.com/ The Rough ‘n’ Tumble Raconteur Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/2fTpfVp2wi232k4y5EakVv ...

The Orthodox Fighting Stance: The Deeper Why of It by Mark Hatmaker

  The Elementary Observation : The Human Animal when engaged in feats of power, combat [armed & unarmed], and a preponderance of sports must make the initial engagement with the enemy, the ball, the obstacle to be overcome while on two feet. While on two feet the Human Animal almost overwhelmingly offsets the dominant side to the rear. That is, if you are right-handed, the right foot slightly to the rear—sub-dominant hand/foot [here the left] to the fore. A Few Scattered Examples— ·         The boxer’s strong hand to the rear. ·         The batter at home plate with the strong foot to the rear, bat over rearward shoulder. ·         The lumberjack with a dominant foot to the rear using a facing offset for the power-strokes. ·         The right-handed quarterback, or baseball pitcher—dominant hand to the rear. ·   ...

Lessons from a Master Apache Scout by Mark Hatmaker

  We continue with the lessons we can reap from Mr. Burnham. See Part 1 , for full immersion.] [On one attribute of “Old Man Lee,” one of Burnham’s mentors in reading the land as an Apache Scout.] “Lee had made a careful study of the air currents that sweep through the deep canyons, and although the Indians found ways to conceal the tell-tale smoke clouds, they could not prevent the odour of burning mescal from hanging in the air and drifting for miles up and down the canyons. By tracing these odours, Lee could mark the most secret hiding places of the Indians .” ·         I can vouch for an aspect of this craft. ·         I have made two sojourns into canyon country seeking Sinagua ruins and camps off-the-beaten track—another adventure/exploration scheduled for this January. ·         I have used many a tip and tactic from these Old Hosses to help locate what is no lo...