Time To Learn The ABC's Of Self Defense...

 ...From David James. So, Pay Attention!

 

NEW MILESTONE FOR THE BLOG!

 At 5:25 PM, The Blackthorn Blog Officially hit 500,000 Page Views!!

Thank you Guys!

 

Sunday With blackthorn - A Fight Is A Fight, But Self Defense Is...........

 

How About A Little Something From Carl C. Today

 Anything by Carl is always worth watching!

 

From Matt Numrich, More Self Defense Tips For Seniors

 Actually even healthy, fit, younger people can use these, not just Senior citizens. Take a look and decide for yourself.

From Mark Hatmakers Indigenous Ability Blog

Who’s Tougher: You or the Bad Hombre?

by Mark Hatmaker

 

Let’s talk “Scarface” Al Capone, Gangs of New York, dirty tactics, boxing and wrestling, and the focused “training of the bad element” that is, people who have a vested interest in training harder than much of the dabbling some of us allow to pass for mock hardness.

First, a bit of info passed along to me by more than one friend in the law enforcement profession. [Names of officers and contemporary gangs will be excised from this tale. But, all 100% Bonafide true stories.]

Beginning, oh, a decade or two ago friends on this side of right have related to me that upon raiding various and sundry biker hang-outs, gangbanger residences and like abodes that in addition to what is considered contraband they often find fight training material. [At a Boot Camp sometime, ask me about a couple of curious encounters I had with certain elements who wanted to schedule something a little less…just ask me, but do it in person.]

I was told these stories by Law Enforcement Pros because some of my  DVD titles were there. I always inquired who else, and the laundry list of squared away cadre always included a stable of straight-talking sorts with an eye on reality.

What was not included: Anything sportive, traditional, flashy, showy or that reeked of choreography.

Now myself, and these other gents whose titles found their way to these dens/clubhouses/Halls of “Learning,” we offer our ministrations in aid of self-defense on the right side of the line, self-edification, and, in my case, a bit of historical recreational fun.

I mention all this not to say, “Yay! Biker Endorsement!” But for what philosopher Nassim Taleb would call “The Graveyard of Invisible Evidence.”

I asked what other titles were included not for ego props but to see what the enemy has an eye on.

It is never in-depth kata material, internal kung fu, systema, and seldom is it sport oriented beyond an MMA title or two.

Almost invariably the consumption is rough-around-the-edges street-ready material.

This telling bit of Intel lets us know that those in the trenches of perpetrating mayhem have little to no use for theory and or bounded domains [sport applications.]

If [If] we proclaim ourselves street/reality focused, we would be well advised to take heed of our enemies’ tastes.

I now draw your attention to the fact that this phenomenon is nothing new.

 

Gangs, gangsters, motorcycle clubs on the fringes, and all of the other pockets of borderline behavioral association value hardmen, able scufflers, or as one Scottish lawman told me, “They value bonny fechters.” [Good fighters.]

Possession or Use

Now mere possession of a training implement does not make one adept. We all know that.

We all have YouTube tutorials available on every possible subject in our pockets and yet I see no corresponding rise in actual ability. Mere possession of information is nada.

Let’s look to the waters we law-abiding training ones swim in. There are faaaaaaaar more consumers of the aforementioned YouTube fight tutorials than folks who ever swing a fist at a bag.

There are copious members/commentors of the “Squared Away, Fight All the Way!” league tapping away at keys on social media forums for more seated rounds than ever pound bags, hit the mat, or swing a cudgel.

How many of these do you think put ass on mat? Hand in glove? If any time at all, how often? How long is that training session?

You get my drift, and if you’ve been alive and awake in these waters you are cognizant that on the right side of the justice line there are more in the theory-laden and sportive end of the pool than in the deep waters of “OK, this is real” and even fewer who test that reality off of high-dive platforms.

Use and Utility Over Mere Exposure or Possession of Information

The key info to know when eyeing an enemy is what armament do they possess?

In today’s lesson we are discussing the unarmed armament.

Question #2…

How adept are they at using that armament?

With adept we must never forget the fact that often mere use of said armament, any use at all, is often way more than the defender has ever had.

Gun shy, trigger-wincing, “How will this go in the mix?” never goes away, but it is diminished by exposure.

With that said, who do you think has been in tougher spots more often, the law-abiding reality-combat student, or the on-the fringe-biker gang member?

Who do you think has experienced more confrontations, the person who has read numerous essays on the OODA Loop or the ambitious kid from South Central?

To Know Wicked Tactics, Look to the Wicked

I have discussed the remarkable overlap between kosher tacticians and outlaw players of the seemingly same game but with violently different adjustments many times. In mob parlance, some of the able adjusters were called Street Dentists.

Men who were able boxers, able wrestlers, able scufflers, but something a bit more than that.

From the early days of rough and tumble to now, boxing+, all-in scuffling, boombattle, etc. are valued knowledge, valued skills.

Concerted Deliberate Practice

We would be on somewhat level playing fields if our gangbangers who possessed instructional material approached it in the same manner than many fight GIF swappers approach their own training but…

My selfsame law enforcement insiders tell me that the possession of the material is not the end. It is utilized. It is honed.

To keep current names out of the game, let us look at a few historical examples of outlaws honing illegal tactics in a most decidedly organized manner as one would expect from organized crime.

Let’s talk Al “Scarface” Capone.

The short version of the story is Capone came up brawling in the Five Points Gangs of New York. He was noted for slinging hands, busting heads and his “boxer’s feet.”

This abridged version of the tale leads us to believe that natural ability and simply engaging in street-scufflin’ is all one needs for improving a skill-set.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

Capone did indeed engage in numerous street scuffles as a member of the early rough and rowdy gangs of New York.

His actual gang was a smaller outfit called the James Street Gang. This gang was headed by a young Johnny Torrio, also of later mob notoriety.

If you’ve seen Martin Scorsese’s film Gangs of New York you are likely familiar with the largely Irish gangs—the Dead Rabbits, the Plug Uglies, and the Whyos.

Another large and powerful gang was the Five Pointers which was predominantly Italian.

It was headed by one dapper individual named Paul Kelly.

Not exactly an Italian name there. Kelly’s actual name was Paolo Antonini Vaccarelli.

Kelly/Vaccarelli was an experienced and successful bantamweight prizefighter. He used his winnings to bootstrap and bolster his criminal enterprises.

Kelly was also idolized by many young hoods, Johnny Torrio and Capone among them.

Kelly offered tips and tactics of the legitimate fight game in which he was well skilled—a Bridgeport Herald newspaper article of 1897 refers to him as one of the "fastest and cleanest little boxers in the business."

He could fight clean but…

 Kelly also made additions that made the game street-ready for the “thrash in the street” that was commonplace to the gig of being in a gang. The Five-Pointers were noted for their eye-gouging in the clinch tactics.

[Keep in mind, the story I am telling is not isolated. The history of boxers, wrestlers, rough ‘n’ tumblers evolving and expanding the game in methodical ways to aid and abet the less than savory are numerous. We are telling merely one tale in timeline today.]

Capone was part of this eager-to-learn cadre of young hoods, he avidly participated in these lessons.

Capone would go on to perfect his game working as a doorman, bouncer, security enforcer and labor slugger. [There are many tales to tell here but…another day.]

Flash forward to Capone becoming the biggest gangster in Chicago. Capone no longer had a need to get his hands dirty, but he still did on occasion—the infamous Indian club incident comes to mind. [The story has been altered to say Capone wielded a baseball bat, as we see in the film The Untouchables. Those in the know say, “Nah, it was an Indian club.”

A piece of exercise gear. Why was that on hand?

Capone, like his idol Paul Kelly, well, according to crime journalist Fred Pasley, at Capone’s headquarters at the Metropole Hotel in Chicago, there were two rooms equipped with punching bags, horizontal bars, trapezes, rowing machines and other such devices that his staff was expected to get a regular work out within.

“They followed a schedule of training as methodical as that of college football athletes...”

He goes on to say…

“Experience had taught him [Capone] that their professional value, based on that quality commonly described as nerve, was in direct ratio to their physical fitness. It might be only the imperceptible tremor of a trigger-finger, or the slightest moment in any of a score of unforeseen emergencies; yet the cost of the lapse would have to be reckoned in lives and money.” Al Capone: The Biography of a Self-Made Man [1930]

There is a contingent within the less than savory side of life that takes mayhem seriously. Both the training and the education of this mayhem.

To confuse this version of boxing, wrestling, and scuffling with the version we law-abiding squares often mistake for “fighting dirty” is a grave error indeed.

 

Steve Maxwell On Isometric Exercise

 This article is geared towards older people. There's no way around it, as you age your body changes, and you have to learn to adapt your fitness practices or wind up dealing with more injuries that take longer to heal. No amount of willpower is going to stop the aging process. 

Once your mobility goes, it's all over.

 Why I Like Isometrics

 Steve Maxwell — April 24, 2026

In my lifetime, it seems like I’ve tried every kind of exercise there is, and from many systems, I’ve gotten good results, but after decades of physical wear and tear, I’ve found myself drawn to no-movement exercise systems.

Without using any movement you can— very effectively— increase strength, muscle size, and stamina; this is isometric exercise.

As a youth, in the 1960s, I  regularly used isometric exercises, along with barbell training.

For my twelfth birthday, my dad bought me a York Barbell portable isometric apparatus, and my high school wrestling coach—who was also my PE teacher—had a York Barbell power rack, which was originally created for isometrics.

I got very good results, and was known as one of the strongest kids in the school.

In those days, arm wrestling was a very popular activity amongst us young guys; no one could beat me in arm wrestling, although one guy gave me a really hard time—and I still remember his name.

Oh, it was very common for a large crowd to gather ‘round to watch two young bucks lock arms—with half the school looking on—and the winner to take the opponent’s lunchtime dessert!

Later, in college, for some reason or other, I dropped isometrics and got involved in other types of training.

Fast forward four decades—and several injuries from martial arts later —and more, general wear and tear from being too willing in demonstrating my strength, I’ve  returned to my roots and found isometrics to be a good place.

There are many athletes who have found isometrics to be a very useful tool and their primary source of strength training. For example, Shaolin monks use isometrics in their Kung Fu training; modern gymnasts and acrobats also rely on isometrics. One famous martial artist, Bruce Lee, highly favored isometric training.

Isometrics are one of the safest ways you can possibly train.

Anyone who wants to get really explosive, will find that isometrics really develop this attribute.

I find many elderly people —who are otherwise immobile, due to joint pain— can well-tolerate isometrics.

One of my clients, a woman in her mid-eighties, when we first started, could not arise from a chair without assistance; but after a mere two weeks of static squat holds/wall sits, she gets up and out of a chair quite well on her own.

Types of isometrics

There are two types of isometrics:

Yielding and Overcoming

An example of a yielding isomer is the aforementioned wall sit hold. Another version would be the horse stance used in martial arts. Many classic yoga positions are examples of yielding isometrics, like the crescent lunge, and  crocodile pose.

The flexed-arm hang is a yielding isometric that serves as a standardized fitness test, wherein you hold your chin over the bar, for time.

The other type of isometric is the overcoming isometric. This is where you push or pull against an inanimate object, such as a cord or strap. There are actual cords, straps and devices specifically made for this purpose, and they are adjustable. The only drawback to overcoming isometrics is that— other than deep level muscular fatigue—you can’t  quantify what you did.

I’ve never found this to be a problem, because if you give it a really hard, honest effort, you’ll produce a very good training effect, which is the objective.

There is a high-tech isometric system, where you use a force gauge to give a readout, and there also exists very sophisticated computer feedback statics, where you push or pull against a machine-lever, and watch a graph from a computer show how much force you’re producing.

Back in the early days, the isometrics protocols were short holds of 6-10 seconds, usually in three positions. Early research indicated that strength only increased at 15-degrees on either side of the joint angle. For example, if I did a 6-10 second contraction at the bottom range of a bicep curl, I would only strengthen that specific range of motion. To insure full-range strength, a second contraction would be held around mid-range, then a third near end-range, which is the fully-contracted position.

Later on, it was discovered that a single, prolonged contraction—at the mid-range, which is halfway—increased strength in all ranges of motion of that joint. What is a prolonged contraction?

70-90 seconds.

This technique is known as SuperStatics.

Let’s go back to the example of the bicep curl:

to perform a bicep curl as a SuperStatic, assume the isometric position at mid-range, arm bent 90-degrees. For a human being, the halfway point of any given exercise is the weakest point of motion. By strengthening that weakest range, for a prolonged length of time (70 to 90-seconds) the entire range is thereby strengthened.

Technique fundamental:

Because you’re contracting the muscles very hard, you will ease into the contraction, using only fifty percent of your strength. So, each exercise has a built-in sub-maximal warm up.

Then, for the next 30-seconds, you slowly increase effort to 75%

The final thirty seconds is an all-out effort, or, at least, as hard as you dare—backing off if there are any sharp or “strange” pains in the joints.

The goal of this exercise is to produce deep-level fatigue in the involved muscle structure.

Your body, in its wisdom, will directly send valuable resources and nutrients to the affected muscle structures, because the fatigue is perceived as a threat. In this way, you’re consciously tapping into the body’s survival mechanism.

The beauty of the isometric system—particularly timed static contraction (TSC) is that you can work out even when injured, the system requires minimal equipment, an is ideal for people with arthritis or other joint issues.

Isometrics are extremely time-efficient, with some workouts taking less than thirty minutes!

Additional benefits are improved bone density, elevated metabolism, and hypertrophy.

Another attribute —often overlooked—is improved mind-body connection.

Believe it or don’t, isometrics can give you a legitimate cardio workout; I find myself breathing quite hard.

Isometrics are also effective for lowering high blood pressure; I especially like isometrics for jiujitsu and grappling because the you will learn how to breathe while under tension.

With yielding isometrics, it’s easy to measure what you’re doing, because you have a measurable weight and measurable time.

I like to mix both kinds of isometrics in my workout.

Isometric training also develops mental toughness and concentration; you learn to push yourself physically, using the power of the mind.

I see isometrics as a real boon to people of all ages, but particularly those who have some wear and tear from hard living. I recommend that you check out my video set, Isometric 3-Ways, if you want a tutorial on how to do this thing.

I also have a great table-and-chair workout for elders wishing to regain strength. I am available for personal training for those who want to be supervised, which increases the intensity beyond what a trainee will achieve on their own.

Thank you for reading!

Best,

Steve

 

Using A Metal Water Bottle As An Improvised Weapon Urban Combatives Style

 Lee Morrison showing how to use a metal water bottle as a flexible impact tool by carrying it in a shoulder bag, small pack, or other type of bag.

 

 

Sunday With Blackthorn - Handling Panhandlers and Street Scammers

 This article is from a guy named Phil Elmore. And to get right to the point, Phil is not and never was everybody's cup of tea. Over the years (okay, decades), I have on the one hand  liked some of his material,  but on the other hand  some of the rest of his stuff, well not so much. The article below is an extremely condensed version of an eBook he put out quite a few years back.  

Give it a look, because it's actually well worth reading.

 Article from the Substack website:

 https://philelmore.substack.com/p/panhandling-ploys-and-street-cons

 Panhandling Ploys and Street Cons

Jan 23, 2026

This Substack is free to everyone on Fridays. If you upgrade to a paid subscription, however, you’ll get columns Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. These include the Damage Report, “What’s Happening” in current events, the mid-week “This Week in Stupid” feature, and self-defense tips on Thursdays. Upgrade today and never miss an article!

Ever been approached with an “Excuse me, sir? Excuse me, sir?” If you’ve spent any time at all in urban and even suburban environments, you know that LOTS of people approach you with “Excuse me, sir,” and then proceed to give you a song and dance that is almost always a con.

Most of the time, the people conning you just want to beg some money from you. They’re beggars or panhandlers, the typical street people or homeless types. But once in a while, the con game is part of “interviewing you” so they can distract you in order to mug you... which means getting you involved in their lengthy story is a way of distracting you so they can sucker-punch or stab you.

I’ve compiled here, therefore, a few different very common con games that happen on public streets. There are others, but you would be shocked at just how common these are. If you’d like to learn more, I urge you to pick up a copy of Street People Strategies, my book on this topic.

It goes without saying that if you can keep moving when someone approaches you, you should. Either ignore the request for money or state flatly that you have no money (even if this isn’t true). Keep walking away as you do so. Make brief eye contact to show that you are aware of the threat, then focus your attention onward as if you have someplace important to be.

Most of the hard-luck stories beggars tell you are confidence games and nothing more. How can you tell? Most beggars commit the classic error of offering too much information. The more elaborate the song and dance, the more complicated the backstory justifying the begging, the greater the probability that the whole thing is bogus.

Beggar ploys and street-people cons have one thing in common: they are all completely made up. Sure, there are people out there whose hard luck stories are actually true, but they’re much fewer and farther between than many people think.

Too Much Information

This is the big one, the ploy indicator most frequently encountered. Liars and beggars almost always fail to keep things simple. They launch into incredibly involved stories on the theory that the more detail they include, the more plausible the ruse will seem. This is not the case. A good liar keeps things simple because this leaves fewer traps to remember and avoid. A good con artist lets you fill in the details.

A young white man wearing gold chains over a muscle shirt once gave me an elaborate song and dance about needing money to make a phone call because he needed a ride to some outpatient cancer treatment center, an appointment he’d missed previously due to a number of factors (which he supplied). The whole pile of nonsense was obviously an excuse to separate me from my money.

Gas Money

Apparently we are in the grip of a nationwide epidemic of stranded motorists, all of whom just need two or maybe five dollars worth of gas to get them on their ways again. The only cure for this epidemic is the kindness of strangers, it would seem, for this army of stranded motorists is even now wandering the streets, asking passers-by for help. Almost every time you encounter this request, it’s bogus.

Alternatively, you will see this request framed as the desperate need for bus fare. Often the beggar will tell you he is from out of town, and just needs a specific dollar amount in order to get back home again. I once saw a young man offering this story to people on the street. I was told, by someone who works downtown and who sees the young man often, that he is a local who uses this lie to beg. He’s not a stranded out-of-towner at all. He’s been trying to get on that bus for years.

Lunch Money

I recall a study some time back — it might have been in USA Today or some other major media outlet — that speared a popular myth. Most of the “homeless” polled who were carrying signs saying “Will work for food” actually wouldn’t when offered the chance.

Take a good look at the next beggar who asks for money because, he tells you, he’s hungry. He doesn’t look like he’s starving, does he? He looks dirty and unkempt, sure, but is he emaciated? People who are really starving look the part.

A beggar once accosted me citing a specific sum of money and muttering about the specific breakfast he hoped to purchase at the exact establishment he sought to patronize. Ploys are like that — they sometimes come wrapped in each other. This was “Too Much Information” within “Lunch Money.”

Speak Up

I was waiting outside an urban coffee shop that is plagued by aggressive panhandlers (who, when they aren’t begging, sexually harass and intimidate the female college students who frequent the shop) when I last encountered this ploy. A disheveled white male of perhaps middle age wandered up, muttering something I could not hear. I glared at him and he gave me a wide berth as he continued to work the area, accosting everyone entering the shop. Those who did not ignore him stopped and said something like, “What?” or “Pardon?” because he muttered so quietly.

This is a deliberate, calculated decision on such a beggar’s part. Mumbling panhandlers hope to catch you off guard, counting on the cultural reflex that prompts you to ask for clarification when you do not hear what someone says. I’ve fallen for this myself without thinking.

The appropriate response to anyone who accosts you and mumbles is no response at all, though you may choose to observe silently to see if the speaker repeats his or her plea.

Help a Vet

Most of the homeless “veterans” one encounters are veterans of long begging careers and nothing more. Those holding signs proclaiming their veteran status are hoping to cash in on your gratitude to those who fight and die for our country. Some will go so far as to dress themselves in soldier costumes, wearing fatigues or boonie hats as if they’ve just gotten off the first boat from Over There — only to find themselves destitute among spitting hippie ingrates.

Despite the fact that veterans are represented among the homeless population at the same rate they appear in the population at large, the majority of “veteran” beggars are liars who have never served in the U.S. military. Your heart is in the right place, but don’t fall for this one.

The Grace of God

Ours is basically a religious society. Many people will try to invoke religion as a means of gaining trust or allaying fear. Some subtle con artists will wear crosses (which are large enough to be obvious to those whom they accost). Others will work references to God or church into their ploys.

One early morning, while walking from my car to my office, a couple in a battered and fanbelt-squealing Cadillac stopped and gave me an elaborate song and dance about losing or running out of money. They were supposedly desperate to get gas money to get home but, shrewdly, did not directly ask me for funds. Instead they wanted to know where the nearest church could be found (which was their ostensible purpose for stopping me).

The implication was, of course, that they were good Christians who only sought the support of their network of fellow believers. One supposes that, lulled by their evident religious credentials, I as the mark would be inclined simply to give them money to help them on their way.

I didn’t fall for it and neither should you. God doesn’t care if you’ve got gas in your car. That’s your responsibility. Anyone invoking God while implying a need for cash is simply using religion to mask a ploy.

Got the Time?

If you’re obviously wearing a watch, you have two choices when asked for the time. You can be rude and refuse to give it, or you can comply with the request. The problem is that when approached on the street by a stranger or a street person, there is a chance — not a great one, but a real one nonetheless — that someone who asks you for the time is trying to distract you in order to assault you. Think about it. When you look at your watch, you typically look down at your arm, making you an easy target.

If someone you don’t know comes up to you and asks you for the time, you can easily minimize your risk. Step back casually, away from the stranger, preferably blading your body as you do so. Raise your arm rather than lowering your head, keeping that arm well away from your body and between you and the other person. In this way you can read the time while keeping your guard up.

Practice doing this so it looks casual rather than confrontational. There’s no need to drop into your Daniel-san crane stance and fire off a flurry of snap kicks just to tell someone they’re late for an appointment.

Got A Light?

The answer to this question is, no, you don’t have a light. You do not, in fact, smoke, even if you do, if someone you don’t know wanders up to you on the street and asks you this question. (Now, if you’ve got a cigarette dangling from your mouth, it’s going to be harder to deny that you smoke. This scenario assumes that a stranger has approached you and you have given no public indication that you have a source of flame on your person.)

There’s simply no way to light another person’s cigarette for them on the street without incurring an unacceptable level of risk, unless you’re willing to toss someone a lighter or a book of matches. (For you smokers, that’s one option. Pick up a handful of those free books of matches people still give away here and there, or buy a box at the store. Carry a couple in your pocket in addition to your lighter. When someone asks you for a light, you can toss them a book of matches (from a safe, casual distance) and even look generous by adding, “Keep it.”

Picture standing in front of someone, holding your lighter to that person’s cigarette. At least one of your hands — possibly two, if you’re cupping one palm against the wind — is occupied. You’re also giving that stranger a burning cylinder of tobacco with which he can put out your eye, if he’s so inclined. (That’s why cops will tell you to put out your cigarette when they speak with you during a stop or arrest.)

Misplaced Compassion… or Prudent Caution?

I don’t say any of this to disparage street people, although I think a lot of the time we tend to misplace our compassion and refuse to see people as a threat because we don’t want to seem heartless or rude. The fact is, most people who approach you on the street wanting something from you want what they are asking for. They want money, or the time, or a light for their cigarette. The problem is that you don’t get to know when that’s not the case.

Even if only one in a hundred people who approach you on the street means you harm, you need to be on your guard all hundred times, because you don’t get to know ahead of time who the one in one hundred happens to be. The best example was when, in the 1980s, a couple of thugs came up to Dan Rather and said, “Kenneth, what’s the frequency?” While Rather was trying to figure out what on Earth they were talking about, they sucker-punched him to mug him. (That became a famous line in an R.E.M. song, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?”)

You can see the pattern. People try to distract you, get your brain engaged, or get you to feel sorry for them, and that gives them an opening to take from you. Don’t let them take advantage of you. Take these lessons to heart and recognize the patterns they share. The ploy you hear on the street might be different or might be strangely similar, but it will FEEL like these, and that’s what matters.

David James With Another Edition Of "PAY ATTENTION"

 Certain parts of this demonstration are familiar to me from training with my old instructors, Carl, Ralph, and Clint back in what I will fondly refer to as The New Jersey/New York Close Combat Association. (NJ/NYCCA) 

 

Just Another Saturday Morning In NewYorkistan

 https://nypost.com/2026/04/11/us-news/nyc-cops-shoot-machete-wielding-stabber-at-grand-central-station-halting-weekend-trains/

 

Blog Post Part 2 For 4-11-26 Bill Maher At His Best

 

Welcome To NewYork in The 21st Century

 

How To Go Low (With the Shin Kick)

This technique was a favorite of my old Combatives instructors, Carl, Ralph , and Clint.  Give it a look, see what you think.

 

How Are Delta Force Members Actually Chosen

 

Another Up Close And Personal Method Of Handling Someone When They Get In Your Face From UC Netherlands

 

Sunday with Blackthorn - Today James Reeves Reviews A Shotgun He Hates After The First 5 Rounds

 The first 500 Round Burndown that has ever ended after the first 100 rounds. 

 

It's Wheelgun Wednesday People - And Today Blackthorn Has Several Links For You

 All from the Snub Gun S Studies Group, and includes links to several Free Downloads. Enjoy!

 

 http://snubgunstudygroup.com/

 http://snubgunstudygroup.com/pdf/Defensive%20Use%20of%20Firearms%203rd%20Edition.pdf

  http://snubgunstudygroup.com/pdf/FBIRevolverCoursesAndTechniques.pdf

Sunday With Blackthorn - A 'Blast" From The Past Circa WW2

 There are a lot of short clips from this WW2 U.S.Military Training video circulating on the web, and even on Youtube. This is the full length version of what was called F.B. 152. A lot of people might consider this video too old to be relevant, however it still makes some good points. You decide for yourselves.

 

 

College Expert Talking About Socialism (from The Babylon Bee)

 

Another Close Up Infighting Technique From UC Netherlands

 

What To Do When You Get Jammed Up In a Close Quarters Situation

 Yeah, I know, pay attention whenever you're out and about. But sometimes, shit happens. This tutorial will show you how to make the most of your elbows when you're crowded and have little to no room to maneuver.

 

 

R.I.P. Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris Mar 10, 1940 - Mar 19, 2026

 Good Bye Chuck, Rest In Peace

ANTIFA Members Break Down After Being Convicted On Federal Terrorism Charges

 

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!

 

Follow-Up To The Last Blog Post On March 14th

 This is the company that provided training to the staff at the Michigan Synagogue.

Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance......And Saves Lives

This goes out to all the Assholes who don't believe people should be able to protect themselves from Deadly threats.

 A truck plowed into a Michigan Synagogue 

and the security staff and preschool teachers

knew just what to do

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigan-synagogue-attack-security-rcna262996

Increased security measures and training likely saved lives in Thursday's attack on Temple Israel, officials said.

Jewish leaders said they knew an attack like the one that unfolded Thursday at Temple Israel was possible, which is why they were prepared and why the car-ramming and fire wasn't deadly for the dozens of children and staff inside the Michigan synagogue.

Quick action from security guards, safety protocols, drills and training likely all played a role in limiting the devastation caused by an armed driver who plowed into the Detroit-area temple with his explosives-laden pickup.

“We’re angry, we’re sad. I wish I could say we were surprised, but this is the kind of stuff that’s happening in our world right now," said Steven Ingber, a member of the congregation and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit.

The FBI has called the attack “a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community."

As the investigation continued Friday into the attack carried out by Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, Jewish leaders surveyed the damage to the shuttered temple in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, and re-examined the security measures and networks they say they've had to take to combat a growing threat of targeted violence.

Multiple security officers — and more than 100 preschoolers —were at the synagogue when Ghazali, 41, plowed into the building with his truck. The temple’s security director was hit by the pickup and knocked unconscious, according to Gary Torgow chairman of the Jewish Federations of North America, and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

Engaged in a gunfight

TheFord F-150 Ghazali was driving got jammed between hallway walls, said Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit field office. That’s when Ghazali began firing through the windshield, and a security officer engaged him in a gunfight.

Ghazali was “unable to extract himself due to the vehicle being jammed,” Runyan said. A second security officer exchanged gunfire with Ghazali, and the truck’s engine compartment caught on fire. “At some point during the gunfight, Ghazali suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” the FBI agent said.

That was the only fatality from Thursday's attack, which is a credit to the security personnel who Torgow said “helped ensure that the outcome yesterday was very different from what might otherwise have been.”

“No preschool children were injured, no staff members were harmed. The only injury was the heroic security guard,” Torgow said during a virtual law enforcement briefing Friday afternoon.

Teachers, staff and security personnel seamlessly executed evacuation protocols that led all the children, all under the age of 5, to safety, the sheriff said Friday.

Temple Israel’s injured security director was taken to the hospital for treatment and is expected to continue recovering at home, Ingber said.

That director had been working to increase security personnel and provide preparedness training since September.

Staff at Temple Israel had participated in a “run, hide, fight” drill just a couple of weeks ago, Ingber said.

'An FBI for the Jewish community'

According to Torgow, the Jewish Federations of North America spends more than $750 million every year on security efforts to protect their communities. A key partner helping them establish security protocols across the nation is the Secure Community Network, a nonprofit that says it serves as the official safety and security organization for Jewish communities in North America.

“We’ve created SCN as an FBI for the Jewish community,” said Michael Masters, chief executive officer of nonprofit.

Masters said Temple Israel had a clear, multi-layered security plan, including bollards and access control, and a security team that was capable of “identifying, deterring and mitigating or neutralizing a threat.”

He commended the officers who engaged with the suspect and put themselves between the threat and the people they were trying to protect. “That is a trained response,” Masters added.

The Secure Community Network said that such response training is necessary as the Jewish community faces increased threats. The group tracks online threats. Masters said that in the last six days, the group has tracked more than 8,000 calls for violence against the Jewish community in the United States.

Debbie Rottman, 86, a longtime member of Temple Israel, said the temple has taken multiple steps to upgrade security in recent years. Bollards were placed in front of the entrances. The doors are all bulletproof and numbered to help people who call 911 identify where exactly an emergency is taking place, she said.

“I have never felt unsafe,” Rottman said. “Our security guards are really well-prepared.”

She said there are at least nine security guards at the synagogue and most of them are retired police officers who exude competence and professionalism.

Major response to attack

Bouchard, the sheriff, said that on Thursday, 605 law enforcement professionals from 42 agencies responded to Temple Israel. At least 63 of them were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

“The vehicle itself became engulfed in flames inside the facility, pretty much destroying a whole hallway,” he said. “It was pitch black smoke, very toxic smoke in that building.”

Greg Flynn, chief of the West Bloomfield Township Fire Department, said first responders entered the building “in waves,” with police officers in the lead and firefighters and paramedics behind them.

Flynn said his firefighters are uniquely prepared to respond to events like Thursday’s attack. The department is part of a countywide law enforcement group, the Oakland County Tactical Training Consortium or OakTac, which holds regular trainings to improve coordination and enhance the ability to save lives during mass shootings and other major incidents.

Just a few weeks ago, they held a training with West Bloomfield Police in an abandoned commercial building that simulated a similar scenario “using simulated smoke, breaching doors, breaching walls,” Flynn said.

Though the temple will be closed until damage from this week's attack is repaired, congregation members said they are “holding up.”

“We will remain proud Jews tomorrow, and we’ll be at Shabbat services tonight,” Ingber said Friday.

Do You Have The Right Mindset To Defend Yourself

Sunday With Blackthorn - Steve Maxwell On Maintaining Your Fitness As You Age

 This came from an email I received from Steve Maxwell, the Fitness and BJJ instructor. Now for the record, I'm not a BJJ practitioner. This email is essentially an advertisement for a course he gives called 'Jiu Jitsu For A Lifetime'. However the write-up would apply to anybody who, like myself, is no longer a spring chicken, but would like to be able to maintain their fitness levels. So take  a quick look at it, not to sign up for the course (unless you are BJJ guy.

 

 Principles For Practicing Jiu-Jitsu As You Age

 From The Steve Maxwell Blog March 5 2026

I started jiu-jitsu when I was already 38 years old. According to the young guys, that’s already old! But I had wrestled all through junior high, high school, and college, even coaching wrestling at one point. Wrestling had been a very important part of my life.

After college, I continued wrestling, but it became difficult because training was scheduled in the middle of the workday. I was looking for something to replace wrestling … something that could fill that vacuum.

I tried various martial arts, including kung fu, karate, and kickboxing. I even found a Russian Sambo school, a wrestling-judo hybrid that I loved. Unfortunately, practice was held clear on the other side of the city, and getting there through rush-hour traffic was a bear.

An important aspect of aging well is maintaining good physical condition. Since I was already in the fitness business, I had that box ticked off. But I needed an outlet … something challenging, technical, and meaningful.

A friend called me about a seminar in New Jersey on something called “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu,” later known more widely as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I was excited to check it out, and the seminar did not disappoint. It was conducted by Rorion Gracie and his two younger brothers. I was immediately in love.

What drew me in was the emphasis on technique, strategy, and mindfulness over brute strength. I realized instantly that this was what I wanted to learn. It would replace wrestling in my life.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a judo-derived system with primary emphasis on ground fighting, is well-suited for older practitioners. You don’t have to endure the savage throws and hard falls common in conventional judo. The Gracie system also emphasized realistic self-defense scenarios. For me, that was a real boon. Every man wants the ability to handle himself in a fight, even as he ages.

The Jiu-Jitsu I learned from the Gracies relied on positioning and control rather than speed. That makes it accessible and beneficial for the aging body.

When I first started at 38, I was powerful, fast, and strong. Like most wrestlers, I relied heavily on conditioning and strength. Some would have described me as a typical “spazzy white belt.”

But those assets eventually stopped working for me. By my mid-forties, I realized I would do far better relying on technique. I began developing precision, timing, and leverage. This conserved my energy and greatly reduced my risk of injury. I focused more on drilling and fundamentals.

Recovery also changed. In my forties, I no longer bounced back as quickly. In hindsight, I’ll tell you it’s critical to listen to your body…. something I didn’t always do. I suffered bouts of overtraining and exhaustion.

Although I began in the Gracie self-defense program, I eventually got pulled into competition. Every one of my jiu-jitsu-related injuries came from competition.

By my late fifties, I lost my desire to compete. It simply didn’t make sense for an aging body.

Because I ran my own school, I was able to structure practices the way I thought best .. fostering age-diverse training groups and a friendly, cooperative environment.

If you’re a mature practitioner searching for an academy, look for schools with students over 50. The presence of female students is also a good sign. It usually indicates a healthier training culture.

After fifty, you must account for reduced mobility, joint issues, and lower stamina. You must adapt your game accordingly.

Here are some practical principles for longevity in jiu-jitsu:

• Always warm up carefully. I discovered joint mobility work in my forties, and it has become more important than ever. I credit daily mobility practice to my longevity in martial arts.

• Drill more than you roll. Drilling with a cooperative partner — not over-resisting and not passive. Allows skill acquisition without excessive wear and tear.

• Keep rolling playful and relaxed. Have fun. Put yourself in defensive positions and problem-solve.

• Tap early. Beginners often resist tapping… that is the royal road to injury.

• Practice flow rolling. Work at about 60% with a cooperative partner, allowing movement and exploration.

• Brace compromised joints. Knee sleeves, shoulder braces … don’t fear support.

• Strength train once or twice per week. For older joints, I consider isometric strength training ideal for jiu-jitsu.

• If you’re a family man, involve your spouse or partner in your enthusiasm. Invite her to the gym. Let her meet your training partners. Alignment at home supports longevity on the mat.

All of these principles require continual adjustment as you age.

Now that I’m in my seventies, I still enjoy the camaraderie and the challenge of jiu-jitsu. I follow these guidelines and continue to enjoy life on the mats.

I consider jiu-jitsu, when practiced wisely, one of the greatest anti-aging tools available - especially for the mind. One of my inspirations was Master Helio Gracie, who in his mid-nineties was still on the mats.

That is the model. That is Jiu-Jitsu For a Lifetime.

And Now A Word From David James

 

It's Wheelgun Wednesday.......

 And the guy at this website REALLY likes his Revolvers.......

https://revolverdispatch.substack.com/p/why-carry-a-revolver

 

 

Scotus Makes A 9-0 Ruling That Stops Mexico's Lawsuit Against US Firearms Manufacturers And Will Make Bans Against Semi-Auto Long Guns Diffficult To Enforce

 And it didn't even make the News.

 

 

You Are Not John Wick

 

Blackthorn Fitness/Health Public Service Announcement

 As you age, your mobility does not degrade simply because of the fact that you are aging. Sitting on your ass and not attempting to maintain a base level of strength can delay and sometimes even partially restore your mobility. 

So get off your asses before it's too late.

 

Reality Vs The Bullshit Hollywood Myth

 You know all those Hollywood action movies where the Delta Force, SEAL, Ranger, SF, Recon, etc. guys are so jacked, 6ft+X number of inches and built like professional bodybuilders?

Well, here's the reality from two former SF guys. 

 

Words Of Wisdom From The Hickock 45 Youtube Channel

The money you save on gear may have to go to legal expenses if the shit hits the fan.

 

 

Sunday With Blackthorn - James Reeves Is Back With Another Shotgun 500 Round Burndown

 This is Re-do of the original Stoeger M-3000 Burndown he did last year.  That was the one where the Buttstock came loose and the number of malfunctions were totally egregious. Stoeger contacted James and apologized and asked if he would give them another opportunity to have him review the M-3000. 

 James agreed, and this video is Stoeger M-3000 500 Round Burndown Redemption! 

 

 

Three Things Not To Do If It Looks Like You're About To Get Into An Altercation

 

Sunday With Blackthorn - Never Before Seen Paul Harrell Video

 If you've been following this Blog for any substantial period of time, you'll know who Paul Harrell is, and that he passed away from Cancer in September of 1024. The video below is obviously something I never expected to turn up. I'd like to think that there might be a t least a few more that could potentially turn up. In the meantime, sit back, get a cup of coffee or your favorite adult beverage, and learn something from someone who his business.

 

On The Subject of The M-2 Carbine

 

And Once Again, David James Says.....

 ....PAY ATTENTION!!!

 

 

This is Pretty Cool, But Not At The Pricepoint

 Look, I've always liked the M1 Carbine. Old WW2 and Korean War movies,  etc. I've even had the chance to shoot a few over the years. So when I saw this Youtube video and checked out what updated ammunition, better materials and better tooling and machining could do for this venerable old warhorse, I was impressed. 

Now to be upfront, I don't see this  replacing the AR platform at any time in the future. Especially at the going price for a brand new one from Fulton Armory. Especially considering the MSRP of $2,625.00!!! 

Talk about sticker shock.

Still, the video is worth watching, so grab a cup of coffee, sit back and be amazed at what can be attained by updating an old warhorse with improved technology.

 https://www.fulton-armory.com/M1-Carbine-Rifles.aspx

Is Anybody Really Surprised At This?

 

Yeah, the U.N. badmouths us up and down, but it's OK when something happens in the world and they expect the United States to write them a blank check that costs us the proverbial 'Blood and Treasure' to solve the problem. 

Note:  I'm pasting the entire article here because I'm not sure the entire article will show up at the news site where I found it posted.

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/un-warns-of-imminent-financial-collapse-as-unpaid-dues-surge-past-1-5-billion/ar-AA1VnqWJ

 U.N. Says It’s in Danger of Financial Collapse Because of Unpaid Dues

By Farnaz Fassihi

Farnaz Fassihi has covered the United Nations for a decade under four American administrations.
Jan. 30, 2026

The United Nations said on Friday that it was facing imminent financial collapse and would run out of money by July if countries, namely the United States, did not pay their annual dues that amount to billions of dollars.

Senior U.N. officials said that if the cash ran out, the agency would be forced to shut down its landmark headquarters in New York by August. The U.N. Security Council, a 15-member body responsible for maintaining international peace and stability, convenes its meetings at U.N. headquarters.

It would also have to cancel the annual General Assembly gathering of world leaders held in September and shut the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which responds to global emergencies like conflicts and natural disasters, it said.

The U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, sent a letter to the ambassadors of all 196 member states on Thursday warning them of “imminent financial collapse,” saying the organization’s financial straits this time were different from those in any previous periods, according to a copy of the letter seen by The New York Times.

“The crisis is deepening, threatening program delivery and risking financial collapse,” Mr. Guterres wrote. “And the situation will further deteriorate in the near future. I cannot overstate the urgency of the situation we now face.”

On Dec. 30, the General Assembly authorized $3.45 billion for the United Nations’ 2026 budget, covering the organization’s three core pillars of work: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

The United States is responsible for about 95 percent of the money owed to the United Nations, about $2.2 billion, according to a senior U.N. official who briefed reporters on the agency’s budget crisis. That amount is a combination of the U.S. annual dues for 2025, which has not been paid, and for 2026, the U.N. official said.

As for comment, the U.S. mission to the United Nations referred questions to the State Department, which did not immediately respond.

Annual U.N. dues are mandatory and set according to a country’s gross domestic product, and a member state could be stripped of its voting rights at the United Nations for nonpayment.

Venezuela, which has the second-largest amount of unpaid dues, $38 million for 2025, has lost its voting rights, and the world body is not expecting a payment from the South American country because of sanctions, the U.N. official said.

Mexico was third, owing $20 million for 2025, the official said, but it is expected to make a delayed payment.

The United Nations’ financial woes are largely rooted in two problems: a liquidity crisis driven by member states who either are not paying their dues or are paying late, and a financial rule, dating to 1945, that says if the organization fails to fully spend the budget, even if it’s because of lack of payment from member states, it must return the money to the states.

Mr. Guterres said in his letter that the rule essentially puts the United Nations on a trajectory for doom, and he urged member states to pay their dues in full and to overhaul the rule.

“It leaves the organization exposed to structural financial risk and forces a stark choice: Member States must either agree to overhaul our financial rules — or accept the very real prospect of the financial collapse of our organization,” Mr. Guterres wrote.

President Trump, citing mismanagement, waste and redundancy, withdrew the United States in early January from dozens of international organizations, including several U.N. agencies like the Population Fund. Mr. Trump had already pulled the country out of UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency; the World Health Organization; and the U.N. Human Rights Council. And he said the United States would reduce funding for peacekeeping operations.

In addition to its annual dues, the United States also owes the United Nations about $1.9 billion for active peacekeeping missions, $528 million for closed missions and $43.6 million for tribunals such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, said the senior U.N. official in the briefing.

The United States has indicated to the United Nations that it would make a payment of about $160 million for active peacekeeping, but would not pay for the tribunals, the senior U.N. official said. Peacekeeping missions have been instructed to reduce their budgets by 15 percent, the U.N. official said.

“When it comes to paying, it’s now or never,” said Farhan Haq, a spokesman for the United Nations. “We do not have the sort of cash reserves and the sort of liquidity to keep functioning, as we’ve done in previous years. And this is something that the secretary general has warned with increasing strength each year.”

Mr. Haq said that if the United Nations shut down in July, humanitarian work around the world would also be affected and the work of civilian staff hampered. Agencies such as UNICEF, which handles children’s issues; the U.N. Refugee Agency; and the World Food Program have budgets separate from donations and would continue to operate. But the U.N. agency that coordinates relief work across agencies would close.

Richard Gowan, the U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, a conflict-resolution organization, said that morale was already low among U.N. staff members across its agencies because of layoffs and shrinking programs. If money were to run out by the summer, Mr. Gowan said, one option would be to ask staff members to continue working free for an interim period.

But the real challenge would be to keep conflict mediations, including staff in war zones, and peacekeeping operations overseas afloat without salaries and payments to vendors.

“Guterres has made similar warnings before, and the U.N. has limped through,” Mr. Gowan said. “In the short term, he is probably trying to bounce some big donors into paying up as soon as possible.”

Farnaz Fassihi is the United Nations bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the organization. She also covers Iran and has written about conflict in the Middle East for 15 years.