Fight Paradigms

Webster’s Dictionary defines a Paradigm as- 1- A philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated. 2- A philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind. 3- An outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.

So what does this mean for those of us concerned with preparing our minds and bodies for the realities of fighting? At the Institute of Modern Combative Sciences, we define a Fighting Paradigm as Where, Who and How we are going to be fighting. Everyone’s fighting paradigm is a little bit different. A police officer will have a different paradigm than an airline pilot. A prison guard’s paradigm will be radically dissimilar to a security contractor operating in a war zone, and of course a cage fighter or mixed martial artist will exist in a completely different fighting paradigm than a housewife with children and groceries in tow.
The US Military uses a simple acronym METT-T for planning all of its combat missions. METT-T is easily adapted to help anyone train for the specific combative situations they will encounter in a day to day routine.

METT-T - Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and equipment available and Time available.

Mission: What do you do? Work, Home, travel? Do you spend a lot of time in a car? On a motorcycle? Behind a counter? Interacting with potential criminals? Or are you a teacher who must protect children in schools? One must be very analytical when defining ones fighting paradigm. It’s the little things that matter.

Enemy: Who is the threat? Prisoners, criminals, terrorists, kidnappers, street thugs, enemy combatants? Learn your enemy’s tactics by studying case reports, watching the news and listening to those who have been there and done that. Note the weapon types, modus operandi or way of operating, signals, clothing, symbols and language of your enemy.

Terrain and weather: In the past, entire martial arts systems were defined by the terrain or geographical region of its practitioners. Techniques were developed to step, punch and kick correctly in high grass, on hill sides or while wading through marsh land. The Terrain will determine the footwork necessary. Routes and means of evasion Cover and concealment, ambush points and obstacles are all issues to be addressed. Training on wet ground, pavement, mud, gravel and carpet will serve to enlighten you to the dangers the terrain can pose. Training exclusively on mats is a serious mistake for practitioners of combatives. Remember… Train in the sun and train when it snows. Train when it rains and train when it blows!

Get used to the cuts, bangs and bruises of training in a real world environment. It will be worse on the street.

Troops and equipment: A full inventory of biological assets and mechanical tools that you have available is essential. Be honest with yourself about your physical and mental capabilities and then tailor your tactics and strategy to fit and capitalize on those limitations.

The types of weapons that you can legally carry or are required to carry due to your job description must be integrated into the fighting style and body type of the individual. When this mental inventory and integration of tools is accomplished, one must train simple situational specific protocols for the use of these assets in a combative situation. Train in the clothing and gear you carry every day. Don’t take your shoes and jacket off to do ground fight training. Wear your gun belt and duty clothing when practicing on the heavy bag. Practice knife defense techniques and weapon disarms while wearing a coat. Always analyze your tactics, techniques and procedures against your local laws and or rules of engagement.

Time available: Most street fights last 3-7 seconds. Yet some situations last for much longer times. Individual police officers and prison guards without back up have been known to grapple with detainees for 30 minutes or longer. A rape may last for hours. Soldiers and security contractors can stay in gunfights for hours if not days. It is essential to deliver decisive techniques that deal with the situation quickly. Many in the “reality martial arts arena” seem to think that this means that conditioning is irrelevant in a street fight. WRONG! The effects of adrenaline cause one to hyperventilate and have an enormously increased heart rate. The arms and legs become numb and dexterity with the hands goes out the window. Physical conditioning will limit the effects of adrenaline on the body.

One must also learn how to relax when in a fight. An individual with excellent cardio conditioning will have no advantage if they hold their breath due to being afraid. However, an individual who is relaxed loose and breathing will succeed. Wild predators do not tense when in a fight they are loose and flowing and they breathe. Practice doing strenuous physical exercises like push ups or wind sprints and then immediately stand up and spar with a partner or practice drawing and utilizing a weapon.

A fully prepared fighter must deal with the situation quickly and decisively yet still be physically prepared to fight for as long as necessary. Decisiveness, relaxation, mental conditioning, physical conditioning and the will to keep fighting are the keys to success.
Bryan M. Seaver

Crowd Management-Taming the Beast

Managing a crowd is like managing a monster. A massive, ferocious monster with a never ending supply of aggressive fodder to throw at its enemies. Although vicious and deadly, this monster is predictable and certainly can be tamed. Knowing the monster’s wants, needs and capabilities as well as its expectations, limitations and motivations; will give the monster tamer a series of indicators and tools for managing the beast that is the crowd.

The ABC’s of Crowd Management

A: Access

Act to limit the crowd’s ACCESS to one’s self, team, unauthorized areas or one’s protectee/ s by…

B: Barriers

Erecting or presenting BARRIERS, gaining and maintaining high ground, and circumventing the mass’s capabilities with evasive routes and movement while implementing…

C: Control

Dominant CONTROL of the crowd through the use of deterrent measures, proactive manipulation, problematic subject nullification/ apprehension/ ejection, audio volume, lighting control, posturing and in some cases, strategic shows of force.

Managing a calm and happy crowd is likened to a shepherd controlling his flock. All the sheep fall in line and bleat as they mill around in accordance with the herder's commands. The ante is upped however when dealing with a more energetic or rowdy crowd. This is more akin to corralling a herd of cattle. Controllable yet dangerous if you fall off your mount. Do not fall off of the horse. Stay in control. Stay above the crowd. More to come on this...

Gonkafied

Bryan M. Seaver

-->

Is That a Bomb in Your Pants? Or Are You Just Happy to See Me? ??

Friday 25DEC2009
A Nigerian Muslim (Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23 yrs old) flying from Schiphol, Netherlands to Detroit Michigan (Delta/ Northwest Flight 253) attempted to blow up the plane with an explosive device secreted (he went to the bathroom right before the attempt. Eeew!) on his body. The explosive he was equipped with has been reported as some form of PETN. The device has been reported to resemble a white shampoo bottle. (Some shampoo bottles are larger than others I might add. Eeew again!) The attempt was thwarted by a Dutchman who heard a sound like a firecracker (The mainstream media, including Fox news initially reported that it was firecrackers on a flight) and saw flames rising from the man's lap. The Dutchman (Jasper Schuringa) stated that he ripped the man's pant's off, put out the fire with his bare hands and then choked him into first class....

I know, I know. Leave it to a Dutchman to make it even kinkier than it already was.

All kidding aside, this man proves the point of an aware, prepared and willing citizenry being the best defense against terrorism.

So, in response the American security apparatus is going to do more to restrict the freedom of the people that actually thwarted this act of Islamic Terrorism. Not to mention slow down and hamper air travel and in turn the capitalist economy. This in effect, has increased the terrorists ROI (Return On Investment) ten fold. His initially failed attack has been given credence and greater effect, than if we just kept things as normal and chastised this exploding shampoo bottle secreting Nigerian fellow (and Al Qaeda) as dilettantes, even borderline retards with a penchant for ass trickery and flaming undergarments.

Our physical security always needs a diligent over watch, but it is not the TSA gate screeners and our in-flight comfort that needs overhauling. This guy was on the terrorist watch list. His own father, a Nigerian banker, reported him to the US Embassy as being radicalized in London and Yemen. Yet supposedly he was allowed aboard the plane using the ruse of a Sudanese refugee with no passport. He fits the entire profile of a jihadi. Rich kid, highly educated, cash bought ticket, wing seat, no luggage. Come on, for goodness sake! Was the Dutch security completely asleep at the airport or do they just not give a damn in the EU? The American TSA has to wake up also. Stop with the ass trickery. Start collecting some info, move it around like good little internet capable government agencies.

If a FAILED attack shows the American people that they aren't being properly protected, and that the government is only there to support the attack with a weak, destructive follow up and further citizen restriction; what would a successful attack do?
Bryan M. Seaver

Jihadis Don't Surf!!!

Just a few points to bring up in regards to the recent TERRORIST ATTACK CARRIED OUT BY A MUSLIM SOLDIER at Fort Hood, TX.


1: There have been multiple terrorist attacks carried out by islamic terrorists in America since September 11th. The American press and both the current administration and the former, do a pretty good job at denial driven propaganda in regards to post 9-11 attacks.

2: A failure by the politically correct US counterintelligence doctrine to properly define and identify individuals compelled by the jihadi mindset will continue to result in islamist infiltration and subterfuge. America is riddled with jihadis in all areas from the corporate world, the government, the criminal underworld, prisons and in the suburban neighborhoods of everytown USA.

3: The best protection against this type of attack is an armed citizenry, aware and informed first responders, aggressive HUMINT collection efforts, proactive intervention on the counter-terror front and diligent counterintelligence functions within government institutions. Counter-Terror professionals are foiling these attempts on a regular basis. It is folly to hinder these individuals by not supporting their efforts while leaving them in international prosecutorial limbo.
EL AL AIRLINES SHOOTING AT LAX IN LOS ANGELES
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/07/04/la.airport.shooting/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesham_Mohamed_Hadayet

THE BELTWAY SNIPER ATTACKS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltway_sniper_attacks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Allen_Muhammad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Boyd_Malvo

MUSLIM SOLDIER FRAGS FELLOW SERVICEMEN
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7210-2005Apr21.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Akbar

Jihadi's Don't Surf!!!
Gonkafied
Bryan M. Seaver

I'm Young and Need Advice???

For the past 2 years I have been blessed to be teamed with a boss that exemplifies the essence of John Robb's article below. I have seen first hand how even during a down economy, the global market can be exploited for HUGE profit. Being able to sell yourself, your product, your client successfully is dependent on "research, planning and logistics". Knowing every angle, all the numbers and being able to do every one's job is the key to being able to sell confidently. Even if you have zero experience, you had better have all the knowledge you can possibly possess. Old school hard work, team building, and military quality leadership will always pay huge dividends. For all the folks looking for a job, wondering about the future, and deciding how to continue in their own field of endeavor, read this article and take it to heart. This is the formula. Learn it well and the uncertain future can be a wondrous time.
Gonkafied
LINK

Honor

An honorable man will sacrifice his flesh for the sake of his family. Do not gloat when given quarter by an honorable man.
Gonkafied

Urban Terror in American Cities???

Could it happen in the USA? Gated communities springing up in suburbs due to urban unrest? Bodyguards for everyday Americans? We know that gun sales have rocketed in the wake of the Obama presidency. This article by John Robb focuses on the situation that has occurred in South America. LINK
Gonkafied

The Shah's Son Speaks on Iran

Iran's former Crown Prince spoke on the current situation in Iran. Reza Pahlavi, referred to as His Imperial Majesty Raza Shah II is the current successor to the Pahlavi throne in Iran. He was trained as a fighter pilot in the United States, has a political science degree from University of Southern California and currently lives in Potomac Maryland, USA. He left Iran in 1978 to pursue his education and has not returned since the 1979 revolution.
LINK
Gonkafied

The Cyborgization of Humanity

As some of you may know, I am very interested in prosthetic technology and the integration of man and machine. Most specifically in the realm of ocular technologies that will allow those with catastrophic eye injury to gain some technological use from their currently "cosmetic only" prosthetic eyes. To start, check out this article titled the Cyborgization of Humanity. A cyborg is basically the integration of a biological organism with artificial systems or technology. Is it morally and ethically acceptable to become a cyborg? Are some of us already cyborgs and don't even know it? LINK
Lots more to come on this subject...
Gonkafied

One armed fighter Nick Newell wins his pro MMA debut.

One armed fighter Nick Newell wins his pro MMA debut. I am eager to see how he does in the future. Good job Nick!!! He seems to have an affinity for the Guillotine Choke. I saw some footage of him wrestling in NAGA and he kicked some ass there also.

Don't confuse him with the limbless fighter (yes no legs & no arms) Kyle Maynard who lost his match after being punched in the face over and over, chasing his opponent around the ring. It was bad. I do however congratulate Kyle Maynard for his courage. God knows those of us with life changing injuries do the same kind of fortitude testing in an effort to prove our validity. Kyle is a tough, strong guy no matter how ya look at it. And yes, Nick Newell does glove up the stump. Read more HERE.
Gonkafied

Nick Newell Fight