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The Gunfighter’s Clinch: Weapon Retention, Clinch Control, and “Stealin’ from the Belt” by Mark Hatmaker

  [Look at that photograph HARD. Imagine the dire straits that officer is about to be in. One adjustment [ONE] in his underhook would deprive the scum with a hand on his weapon the opportunity for that deadly pull that is getting ready to occur just as it did in real life.] The Clinch Fight of the Early America’s Rough n Tumble days was a different breed from the clinch across the pond. In Great Britain, Continental Europe and the Mediterranean Basin we see a heavy sportive influence. Think of Cornish Wrestling, and other belt/jacket dominant sport styles: jiu-jitsu and judo included. In the non-jacketed forms, we have many sport styles to choose from with Greco-Roman Wrestling being the dominant example that comes to mind. In all these versions, the grip, the hooks, the control of wedges to topple, unbalance, to throw is the leading edge of strategy and tactics. As we cross the pond to the Americas, we enter a realm where rules slough away the deeper we get into fronti...
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Hide n Seek Drill for Power Punching by Mark Hatmaker

  The Street Dentist KO Program Resources for Livin’ the Life and Not Just Readin’ About It The Black Box Warehouse https://www.extremeselfprotection.com/ The Indigenous Ability Blog https://indigenousability.blogspot.com/ The Rough ‘n’ Tumble Raconteur Podcast https://anchor.fm/mark-hatmaker
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The Hidden Hazards of Shadowboxing & Shadowkicking by Mark Hatmaker

  To the early Pugilists there was a deep suspicion of shadow work and this attitude transported in time to the early 20 th century with some old school trainers advising against mirrorwork. [For the likely rise of shadowboxing and mirror work and it becoming so dominant in the training hierarchy see our other historical offerings on boxing in this blog—part of the reason can be found in Trainer to Athlete Ratio, Space Dictates, and other like economic factors. It is similar to the reason that so many traditional dojos adopted the regimented linear sparring and practice of moving forward and back which in no shape form or fashion resembles the tangent angularities of actual unarmed combat upright or horizontal.] Here is an early knowledgeable one on the topic. I could have easily chosen from many another. “ I remember once asking Jim Driscoll what he considered the secret of his success, and he replied: “A complete and thorough knowledge of the game, coming from a long appre...
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“Burning in the Jab”: 3 Solo Tests by Mark Hatmaker

  [This is simply ONE aspect of increasing punching power, we will not be discussing caulking steps, shifts, head over foot loads, “charging the punch”, lumberjacking and the myriad other factors that comprise the Old School Method, for that prime beef see our Program Street Dentist KO Combos . Here, we offer just a bit of free milk from that Grade A cow.] Let’s talk increasing our punching power. Better yet, let’s refine that statement, let’s talk increasing our punching power via Old School Boxing and Physical Culturist Principles. Solo Experiments I will offer three versions of the initial test to allow for what level of gear you may have around. If you take me up on this self-experiment, you’ll need… ·         Yourself and weight plates or anything that provides comparable elevation. Or… ·         Dumbbells Or, if you are lucky enough to have access ·       ...
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The Knife: The Myth of the 21-Foot Rule by Mark Hatmaker

  [ This is Part 2 of a several part series on Knives & Knife-Fighting . Part 1 can be viewed here . The series will culminate in the release of our coordinated Plains Knife Course . Currently available Dixie Knife Games & Comanche Knife Ambush . Subscribe to our newsletter, or blog to not miss an article—both free. Subscribers to The Black Box Subscription Service will have discounted access to The Training Program .] For those not in the know, “The 21-Foot Rule” is a bit of tactical misunderstanding from a few less experienced minds inside the law enforcement cadre and also manifests as a bit of bolstering wishful thinking with certain aspects of the civilian blade-culture contingent. In short, “The 21-Foot Rule” postulates that a knife-wielding attacker can cover 21’ feet of ground faster than an officer [or CCW citizen] can draw their firearm. With this formidable information in mind, we were led to assume two things. One -That officers need to expand their ...
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Burning in the Jab by Mark Hatmaker

   Resources for Livin’ the Warrior Life The Black Box Store The Rough ‘n’ Tumble Raconteur Podcast
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STREET DENTIST KO COMBOS by Mark Hatmaker

  Street Dentist KO Combos! What’s that? A Bonafide Devil-in-the-Details examination of how early Mob Enforcers threw hands to hurt, drop, and leave ‘em dropped. All culled from the historical sources. It’s a wild mix of 1890s to 1930s club-fighters moonlighting for certain ethnic mobs—re-vamping their wares for an environment that has no referees, no rounds, no nothing but bare bones “ Rock ‘em, sock ‘em & drop ‘em!” Street Dentist combos cover the specific footwork that loads every single shot, the “Golden Bridge Body English” that would go on to inform early penitentiary fighting of the teens to 1940s. This would evolve into 52 Blocks, Jailhouse Rock and other prison fighting systems then take a left-turn to influence Cus D’Amato’s peek-a-book system—and yet we can find it even earlier in Geechee Gullah “knocking.” [Ah, Old School Combat stews, what’s not to love?] Grab your heavy bag, drag your BOB out of the corner. Get ready to start hitting harder and faste...
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