In This Issue

October 11, 2013

It's Friday and time for this week's Legends newsletter;

on to today's contents...

Thanks everyone and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Mark Hatmaker

Extreme Self Protection

[First a rant, then a news item, and then a chapter from the titled book to assist those who care about how to live a safer life].

  

Confession time---I cannot abide presumably mature adults who text and/or constantly check their "smart" devices in my presence.

  

I esteem these folks who show their disdain for their fellow humans rather high on the chart of people that I can do without.

  

Now this opinion, is just that, an opinion based on the human animal's poor multi-tasking abilities that lead to less than optimum human interaction and an inability to live in the right here, right now real world.

  

Old man grumbles, right?

  

Take a gander at the news item and admit that you are not surprised at the lack of awareness.

  

Then follow that confirmation of your fellow humans' inability to multi-task with the fact that had one, only one individual been paying attention, maybe, just maybe one person would still be alive.

  

One person paying attention to warn, to act, to alert others. Just one is all it takes, but...Yeah, this smart device is definitely making me smarter.

  

ASSIGNMENT SET #5

Mark Hatmaker

www.extremeselfprotection.com

 

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.

 

NON-PERSONAL VEHICLE TRAVEL

This section deals with all forms of travel that do not involve vehicles under your direct control. There is a tendency to absolve ourselves of responsibility once we turn the driving over to someone else-it's best to recall that ultimately you are always responsible for you.

• How many vehicles (outside of your own), on average, do you travel in over the course of a month?
• Do you carpool or are you commonly a passenger in other individual's cars?
• If so, list the make and model of each car.
• Do you rate the vehicle as in good operating condition according to your own standards?
• If so, rate each of your drivers' abilities on a scale from 1-10 and then answer the following questions for each of your drivers.
• Do your drivers text or converse on the phone while driving?
• Do they fiddle with an iPod or any device) or GPS while driving?
• Do your wear a seatbelt while in the vehicle?
• Does your driver wear their seatbelt?
• Do they speed?
• Do you consider them competent in most areas of driving?
• How attentive would you rate your driver?
• Do they tailgate or engage in any other aggressive driving behaviors that may instigate confrontation?
• Does their vehicles sport any tags of incitement (dichotomous bumper stickers, personalized tags, et cetera)?
• Does your driver drink and drive?
• Are the vehicles in which you are a passenger easily gender identified?
• Do you check the backseat before entering as a passenger?
• It is outside the scope of property rights to insist on a tire-changing drill or a vehicle escape drill in the property of another but, it is not out of order to ask where the spare tire is located (if you don't already know) and as to whether or not the tire is in good condition and grouped with the necessary tools.
• Do you know if there are jumper cables in the vehicle? If so, where they are located?
• Do you know if there is a first aid kit in the vehicle? If so, do you know its location?
• Could you operate the driver's vehicle if need be?
• Short of actually performing the vehicle escape drill have you at least mentally rehearsed how to successfully exit each door and window?
• Does you driver have any items in the vehicle that are designated weapons?
• If so do you know their location and how to use them?
• If not, do you scan for weapons upon entering the vehicle?
• Has your driver ever lost their keys in your presence?
• Do you know where they keep their keys? (Purse, right front pocket answers will suffice but please do take note in the off-chance that you need to locate them in an emergency).
• Do you know if they keep a spare key on the vehicle?
• How do you assess their vehicle approach behavior in a parking lot-attentive or fumbling or a gradation in between?
• Based on this assessment would you single out your driver for an attack?
• Is the vehicle equipped with an alarm or The Club? If so, are they properly or regularly used?
• Do they lock the vehicle upon exiting?
• Do they leave the vehicle running even for a quick errand? (Your presence inside the vehicle during the errand is fine).
• Have you ever (or can you imagine) any situation that would cause you to say "Pull over I'll find another way to my destination"?
• Use any additional ideas spurred by the information learned in Vanderbilt's book Traffic to aid your assessment. (Keep in mind that if you have anyone that you deem 6 or less on your driving evaluation you are approaching a 50/50 confidence score in an individual who is, literally, in control of your life and well-being when behind the wheel).
• If your driver(s) falls low in your assessment, then that is up to you as to whether or not the subject can be broached (in a conversational manner). Are you willing to take this step if need be?
• If you have any 6's or lower, have you had this conversation?
• How did it go?
• Are you willing to take the more drastic measure of taking control of your own driving situation when circumstances warrant it?
• Have you ever had to do so? If so, please describe the situation and what led to your action.
• How many other modes of transportation do you use?
• Buses?
• Trains?
• Subways?
• Ferries?
• Trams? Monorails? Shuttles?
• If you are a regular passenger on any of these modes of transportation please provide the answers. If you are only an occasional passenger please take the time to mentally run the checklist on each use.
• If you are a passenger on any of these have you taken the time to locate all exits (emergency and otherwise)?
• Do you know the locations of alarms?
• Fire extinguishers?
• Improvised weapons?
• Do you "profile" your fellow passengers? (I recognize that "profiling" has a negative connotation to some but that seems shortsighted or a bit too knee-jerk. Profiling is simply coupling education with "gut feelings." The is nothing wrong with raising alertness levels when you detect a signal as long as you do not overreact upon the signal without actual evidence).
• If you use any of these modes of travel please assess them on 1-10 scale as to how safe/alert you should be. (Example: 1 for "I feel completely at ease" and 10 for "An attack/emergency is imminent." Keep in mind, there are really no 1's in the world outside of infants and toddlers).
• Approximately how many flights do you take per year?
• Do you pack on your person or your carry-on any improvised weapon(s)? (Keep in mind a simple ballpoint pen can be wielded in a wicked fashion).
• If so, what?
• How would you use the improvised item(s)?
• Do you profile at the airport?
• Do you listen to the pre-flight safety speech? (No worries most do not).
• Do you mentally count the rows to the exits? (This is vital as exiting a plane whether in the aisle or over the top of the seats will most likely be done in a smoke-filled cabin-it is vital to memorize the seat count to all exits in the event you must exit ASAP).
• Do you mentally rehearse a quick unbuckle and exiting your seat to all exits? (This takes no more than 30 seconds to a minute per flight).

 

THE 21-DAY DRILL

• Spend the next 21-days being hyper-aware of all of your alternate modes of travel (if any). Upon completion of this 21-Day Drill approach the preceding assessments again and see if anything has changed in your estimation.
• If you do not fly or use alternate sources of transportation, please make a note to apply some of these observations for the next time you do use an alternate source.

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:

Mud, Guts and Glory with International 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. 

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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.

(865) 679-1223 

E-mail