Extreme Self Protection

To really bring the No Second Chance (NSC) material alive and make it part of our very being we use the NSC Homework Assignments to move the curriculum from simply exercises conducted in the gym to Skills & Drills that are specific to your own daily battlefields and situations.

There are 60+ Units in the NSC Book of Homework Assignments of which the following is only one example unit. I offer it to show the depth and scope of the program. I obviously hope that you find it of value and if you desire to come aboard, be glad to have you--be advised this material, due to its interactive nature is only available to the RAW Crew.  

ASSIGNMENT SET #3

Mark Hatmaker

HOMEWORK PROTOCOL: Upon the completion of each written-assignment, simply email it back. We will provide an evaluation (and follow-up assignment if need be) and proceed to the next assignment.

"FIRE DRILLS" There is a Special Ops axiom that we need to keep in mind at all times throughout our training: "Never do anything for the first time in combat." In other words, no passive consumption of the material; everything (everything) must be drilled, drilled, drilled.

It is with the above mantra in mind that we approach the next set of exercises.

THE PERSONAL VEHICLE(S) FIRE DRILL(S)

Answer the following inventory before planning and executing an actual live drill.

• How many vehicles do you own (please list recreational vehicles as well: boats et cetera)?
• What is the make, model, year of each vehicle?
• Is each vehicle up to date on its maintenance schedule? (Observation: Many violent assaults have occurred in stranded situations, if we can do everything in our power to prevent stranding then, hopefully, we'll never need the skills we advocate).
• Are your tires in good condition?
• Does your vehicle have a spare?
• When was the last time you checked the air pressure in the spare?
• Does your vehicle have a jack? Tire tool? Other needed accessories to change a tire?
• Do you know how to change a tire?
• Do all of the driving age members of your family know how to change a tire?
• Do you have jumper cables in your vehicle(s)?
• Do you know how to use them?
• Does everyone of driving age in your family know how to use them?
• Do you keep a spare container for gasoline in you vehicle(s)? (Not filled with gas but for the purpose of filling with gas).
• Are you a member of AAA, OnStar, or another automobile aid association?
• Do you keep a first aid kit in your vehicle(s)?
• Do you keep a flashlight in your vehicle(s)?
• Do you keep spare flashlight batteries in your vehicle(s)?
• Do you always travel with a cell phone?
• Do you wear your seat belt?
• Do the driving-age members of your family wear their seat belts?
• Do all of the driving age members of your family travel with a cell phone?
• Is your vehicle(s) equipped with a LifeHammer or equivalent tool (for quick belt cutting and window breaking)?
• Is the LifeHammer or equivalent easily accessible? (In other words, digging though a glove compartment is not an optimum answer, nor is searching for a tumbling tool after the vehicle has over-turned).
• Do you understand how to use the safety tool?
• Do the driving age members of your family know how to use the safety tool?
• Do you keep a weapon (actual or improvised) in an accessible location in your vehicle(s)?
• If so, what is it?
• Do you have weapons accessible from the driver's position?
• The backseat?
• The trunk?
• Do your vehicle(s) provide ready clues as to your gender/identity? (Gender-specific products in easy view, envelopes with your mailing address face-up, gender-specific clothing left in view, et cetera).
• If you are female (or have female drivers in your family) have you considered reducing female-oriented clues in your vehicle(s)?
• If you are female (or have female drivers in your family) have you considered adding a "masculine prop" in easy view inside your vehicle? (An item of male-oriented sports equipment; et cetera to give the quick impression that the vehicle may belong to a male driver).
• If you have added "masculine props" what are they and where are they displayed?
• Does you vehicle sport any gender-specific bumper stickers?
• Does your vehicle sport any potentially inflammatory bumper stickers? (Keep in mind; you have a right to display what you want on your vehicle. This suggestion is simply offered in light that some predators-from violent to the asinine-need little impetus to trigger their malevolent impulses. I simply want you to consider the cost-to-benefit analysis of pithy political statement affixed via adhesive to your vehicle's exterior compared with the potential violence or stupidity trigger).
• Do you check your backseats before you enter your vehicle(s)?
• Do your vehicle(s) have a spare key "hidden" somewhere on the exterior of the vehicle(s)?
• Have you ever lost your car keys?
• If so, how often does this occur?
• If so, are there steps you can take to reduce/eliminate this occurrence?
• Do you have your keys in your hand before you arrive at your vehicle or do you arrive at the vehicle and then stop to locate your keys?
• Can you easily locate and use your door/ignition key in the dark?
• If not, place the door/ignition key along the right side of a non-key-like object on you key ring and practice using this object as an indicator until you can easily locate and use the key with a single hand.
• Have you completed the previous assignment?
• Have your driving age family members completed it?
• Does your vehicle(s) have an alarm?
• Is it properly used?
• Do you use The Club or any other supplemental security device on your vehicle(s)?
• Do you lock your doors every time you exit your vehicle-even at home or at any location even if "you're just gonna be a minute"?
• Do you keep your doors locked while driving?
• Do you or have ever left your vehicle running while doing a "quick errand"?
• Do you or have you ever left your keys in your vehicle(s) while running a "quick errand"?
• Are you aware of where the "bad parts of town" are located in your area?
• Are your driving age family members aware of these areas?
• How often do you travel to/through these areas?
• Do you increase your vigilance when doing so?
• Do you take steps to locate the "bad parts of town" when traveling outside your standard area?
• Please query all driving age members of your family regarding the preceding questions.

Activity-If your vehicle(s) have a trunk I'd like you to stop right now, and lie in it (do not close the trunk door).

• Check the space for maneuverability.
• Examine your taillights from the trunk interior.
• Do you currently have something in your trunk that would allow you to access the taillights to break them/remove them/disconnect them?
• If you do not I would recommend that you add a tool that would assist this process. Some victims have saved themselves during an abduction in which they were placed into the trunk of a vehicle by killing the taillights and (luckily) spurring a traffic stop.

• Have you ever completed a defensive driving course?
• Do you consider yourself a good driver?
• Do you consider the members of your family good drivers?
• Rate yourself and your family members' driving skills on a 1-10 scale (10 is best).
• Have your driving age family members rate each other (yourself included).
• Do the numbers match up?
• Presuming there are no 10s among you, what can you do to improve your driving skills?
• Ask your driving age family members to make suggestions to each other on what they can do to improve (yourself included).
• Commit to taking steps to act on these suggestions.
• Do you commonly speed?
• If so, how often?
• By what approximate amount over the speed limit?
• Do you ever text while driving?
• Do you ever use the phone while driving? (Hands-free phones are acceptable).
• Do you have any speeding/traffic citations?
• If so how many?
• Have these citations changed your behavior?
• Perform the same speeding/traffic citation, texting, phone using assessment with your family.
• Do you tailgate? (I ask because tailgating is cited as one of the most common spurs for road rage).
• Do you drink and drive?
• Do you consider yourself prone to "road rage" in any form? (Any inordinate aggressive response is a yes).
• When at traffic lights/stop signs do you keep a minimum of 10' away from the bumper of the vehicle in front of you?
• If not, begin doing so. A common carjacking scenario involves boxing in the vehicle. Observing the 10 Foot Rule allows you to "bump and move." (Bumping and Moving is steering your car to aim your opposite headlight against the opposite taillight of the vehicle in front of you-Example: driver-side headlight aimed at the passenger side taillight-floor it and bump and move the vehicle in front of you enough to pass and escape if need be).

• With your family-find a word or phrase that you all agree to mean "Escape now!" The phrase can be "Get out of the car", "Escape" whatever you like, just pick one and agree upon it-ideally, it is the same one used for your home evacuation plan. You must also agree that the phrase must never be used as a "joke." It is only for emergencies-just as you would never fire a gun in your home for a joke you will never shout the trigger word for a "laugh."
• If there are any perceived deficits in the above inventory please take the time to rectify them now.

DRILL WEEKEND

We are now at the honor system portion of the assignment. Please take the time to drill in the following manner-

• Tire Change Drill-You and each family member are to remove the jack from the trunk, raise the vehicle, change the tire and replace the jack. Each member will do this process top-to-bottom twice. The first time to build facility, the second time as a speed competition. Record your times.
• Jumper Cables Drill-If you do not know how to use them, learn. Instruct your family as to how to use them in a drill.
• Safety Tool Drill-Practice with your safety tool (not on your actual vehicles interior). Use strips of cloth to practice safety belt strap cutting, and then fire the glass-breaking hammer into a piece of wood to make sure each member understands its proper use and purpose.
• Vehicle Weapon Access Drill-Place your actual or improvised weapons in the following locations: near the driver's seat, passenger seat, backseat, and trunk. Drill for ease of access.
• 7-Day Parking Lot Scan-Over the course of the next week, each time you are in a parking lot see if you can quickly assess which vehicles are driven by men or women simply by the driver provided clues. Also scan for ready clues as to the identity of the driver.
• 7-Day Bumper Sticker Drill-Read every bumper-sticker you see and imagine if there is a group that the sticker would offend-provide your top five examples.
• 21-Day Back Seat Drill-Make a deal with your family members, for the next 21-days if anyone is caught entering a vehicle without checking the backseat they must pay a fine to the person who caught them (say a dollar or some other tangible reward system to keep everyone interested in playing).
• 21-Day Keys Ready Drill-Make a similar deal regarding having the keys out and ready before you arrive at your vehicle. Any dig though pockets or purse at the vehicle results in a fine.
• Seat Belt Release Drill-Simply have your family members practice releasing their seat-belts with their right hands and then their left hands as quickly as possible. 10 repetitions per side. Next, have each individual drill releasing their own belt and then everyone else's in the vehicle as quickly as possible.
• Vehicle Exit Drill-Pick a sunny day for this one. I suggest wearing socks for this one, as well, to prevent damaging your vehicles interior. With the vehicle turned off and in park-practice un-belting and exiting the vehicle as quickly as possible. Perform this drill twice per exit-that is, all exit via driver side door, passenger side door, each rear door. Extra Credit if you drill exits via all windows.
• Trunk Drill-Have each driving age member of your family lie in the trunk of their vehicle and you lower the lid (do not latch it) and they must then exit the trunk as rapidly as possible 5 times.
• 21- Day Driving Homework-Use the fine-reward system to catch each other in poor driving habits.
• 21-Day 10 Foot Rule-Use the fine-reward system to penalize each time a driver violates the 10-foot rule behind another vehicle at a stop or intersection.

Once the "Drill Weekend" has been completed please provide a summary of your observations regarding the process. Have fun!

Extra Credit: Read Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt and provide a single-page essay regarding what observations you consider most valuable found within the book.

This book s

erves as a Triple Purpose Manual.

Purpose One: To provide the inside info needed to survive the oh, so fun phenomena of obstacle course racing.   

Purpose Two: It is a conditioning manual for those who want to hit the courses in peak condition. It provides the scientific skinny on our stream-lined high-intensity approach, then details all of the unique exercises we use that are course specific, and then progresses you through 66 non-repeating workouts to get and keep you primed.  

Purpose Three: It is a comprehensive manual on Flight/Evasion Skills for Real-World Combative trainers & trainees.

Among the contents include: The differences between Mud, Adventure, & Obstacle Racing, Competitive & Cooperative Mind-Sets, Military Function & Course Correlates. The extensive Techniques, Tactics, & Strategies section covers Stride Work, How to Approach Hills, How to Leap from Height and minimize Landing Load, How to Approach Electrical Hazards & Running the Gauntlet, The most Efficient ways to Climb Ropes (vertical, horizontal, and wall ropes), Tips on Climbing (everything from cargo nets to vertical walls to bouldering walls), Improving Low Crawl Efficiency, Balance Work, Hand-Over Hand Tips, and Tips for Bearing Loads for Distance.

We close with the Logistics Section which will provide tips on Clothing , Gear, Registration, and Clean-Up to make your race experience as streamlined as possible.

To snag an autographed copy for  $12.95 (S&H Included) or $22.95 International hit the button.

Mud, Guts and Glory with Standard Shipping:

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This year's Old School MMA Boot Camp will be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 16th and 17th (10 AM start both days) at Bill Whitworth's beautiful facility in Morristown, Tennessee. Here's the skinny:

• 2-days of hardcore Old School inTENS Conditioning, Boxing, Pugilism, Elbows, Knees, Leg Dives, Clinch-Work & Dirty Boxing, Par Terre Drills, Ground & Pound, and, of course, old school submissions galore.
• All material will be presented in integrated chains (strikes, submissions, and takedown material).
• Also, we know we have some folks who wanna hit but don't wanna roll (I've got your back, Mr. Covello), and some folks who wanna roll but don't wanna hit-with that in mind we offer 3 Ways to Play at this year's Camp: 1. The Whole Enchilada (striking, takedowns, and ground) 2, Striking-Only 3. Grappling-Only
• This Boot Camp is suitable for all levels of experience and/or fitness.  All we ask is that you work to the top of your own ability/limits--not anyone else's-you're always the boss.
• Gear: Mouthpiece, boxing gloves, and MMA gloves are required. 
• This is a limited attendance Boot Camp-meaning, once a slot is gone, it's gone.  We like to keep the numbers low so that we can provide individual attention.
• The pre-registered price is $120 for the 2-days. ($100 for past attendees, $75 for RAW Subscribers).
• And yes, there are discounts for traveling partners and groups. You got a crew, contact us for the discount details.
• Folks who registered for Martial Arts on the Mountain can play for the RAW Subscribers price-we must reward the hardcore, am I right?
• For those with family in tow who have better things to do than to watch you sweat, we are less than a 1/2 hour drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, the Dollywood Amusement Park, and shopping opportunities too numerous to count..
• For accommodations, search in the Boot Location area:  Red Dragon Martial Arts Center 284 South Daisy St.  Morristown  TN  37813  (423) 587-3755 (School) www.rdkarate.com
• For those of you flying in, your destination airport will be McGhee-Tyson in Knoxville, TN.
• Oh, as for Certification-for those who choose the Whole Enchilada we will run evals for the Combination Man Curriculum Certification.
• To register, simply contact us via email and we'll plug in your discount code to get you set up. 

Combination Man Boot Camp 2013

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We hope to see you at one of these events--if you'd like to have us come to you, check out our Pitch An Adventure info in the side bar and if you've got some adrenaline in your neck of the woods that strikes my fancy we'll be there. 

Here's where you come in, if you'd like to host a seminar and save yourself some bucks off of the standard fees in the process--if you've got an Adventure Race in your area, a rock you think I'd like to climb, a river you think I want to raft, a hike you think I just need to take, a desert I've not run on, you get the idea--pitch your adventure and school location. If the adventure appeals and the logistics are right we offer greatly reduced fees to come to your school and play with your crew before we go play at your Adventure Pitch.

BTW--You and your crew are welcome to attend the adventure, as a matter of fact, we'll knock off even more bucks for this sort of hands-on guiding.

So, you got some adrenaline in your neck-of-the-woods and want to train? Feel free to make your pitch and we'll see what happens.