John Valentine, Author at Spotter Up

3 Fatal Focuses of Training

March 14, 2019

Martial Arts, Opinion, Planning, Prepping & Survival

With the right course professional training can be a life saver. It helps everyone by giving access access to countless years of training, education, and wisdom. There are some pitfalls to avoid though. I’ve a... Read More...

Modern Scheduling for the Modern Man: Fitness, Fighting, and Firearms (Prelude)

John Valentine

May 8, 2018

Firearms, Martial Arts, Mission Fitness, Planning, Prepping & Survival, Weaponizing the Behavorial Sciences

It’s amazing the amount time available to us these days due to modern conveniences created by technology. These days most of our nuanced task of living come be automated. Whether it’s dish washing, laundry,... Read More...

CrossTech Universal Gun Holster by LimbSaver

John Valentine

April 6, 2018

Accessories, Concealment, EDC, Load Bearing, Mission Critical, MISSION GEAR, Product Reviews, Style

When it comes to holsters I'm looking for a particular set of criteria to determine whether it is a good functional product. It may seem obvious but aesthetics doesn't really play a role in my criteria, althoug... Read More...

For War and For Love

John Valentine

February 15, 2018

Inspirational, LIFE, Life and Family, The Team Room

"We men are wretched things."― Homer, The Iliad Combatives draws us in for the fighting but truly the real reasons behind Combatives are about character. There are many false idols of what a man defined s... Read More...

AKU Strike Mimic T-16 Review

John Valentine

January 24, 2018

Accessories, Bladed, Gadgets, Martial Arts, Mission Critical, MISSION GEAR, Product Reviews, Tactics, Tech/Science

Of all the training tools I use at C4 Combatives the AKU Strike Mimic T16 is by far my favorite. I have to admit however when I first got it my general attitude was skepticism. I remember my initial thought... Read More...

Punishers and Spartans

John Valentine

January 23, 2018

Martial Arts, Mission Fitness, Weaponizing the Behavorial Sciences

Spend more than a day in the "tactical" industry and you will easily be consumed by an over-saturation of hyper-masculinity in all the wrong ways. Nothing displays this point further than the use of puni... Read More...

3 REAL Reasons why Law Enforcement and Military should train Jiu Jitsu

John Valentine

December 13, 2017

Fitness Movements, Martial Arts, Mission Critical, Tactics

Skip to the last sentence if you need a summary. I recently came across an article on the Jiu Jitsu Times publication called "3 reasons why Law Enforcement should learn Jiu Jitsu" and it is hard to really quant... Read More...

What the Combatives World can learn from Gabrielle Rubin

John Valentine

December 4, 2017

Concealment, Escape and Evasion, Fitness Movements, Mission Critical, Prepping & Survival, Tactics

If you have even the slightest involvement in self-protection you’ve probably heard of the infamous Gabrielle Rubin of Women’s Awareness. A self-proclaimed “Self-Defense Expert” given a huge platform to dis... Read More...

Where to start Combatives part 2: We know what works and what to look for in a teacher

John Valentine

November 20, 2017

CQB, Martial Arts, Mission Fitness, Prepping & Survival, Tactics

Many people would argue that the most important event in martial arts history was when a largely unknown slender Brazilian by the name of Royce Gracie entered a no-holds-barred competition and defeated all ... Read More...

Combatives and Where to Start Part 1: Process over Events

John Valentine

October 24, 2017

Fitness Movements, Martial Arts, Mission Fitness, Tactics

Amongst many questions asked about Combatives the most frequently asked by most people is where do they start. However, the answer isn't simply here or there in relation to what gym, martial art, training semin... Read More...

Author John Valentine