Grayl Titanium Ultrapress
I have spent a great deal of time in wilderness areas as a hiker, camper, backpacker, and hunter. This means leaving behind the conveniences of modern living, including readily available…
The Pitfall of Single-Minded Strategy: Lessons from Musashi
Portrait of Miyamoto Musashi. Circa before 1645 (Edo Period). Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. Recently there have been people getting on in the world as strategists, but they are usually…
Enhancing CQB Training: Bridging the Gaps Between Theory and Reality
Close-quarters battle (CQB) training is one of the most controversial topics in tactical training. It’s a lightning rod for debates, with people emotionally tied to specific techniques and end states…
Defendu: From the Streets of Shanghai to the Battlefields of WWII
Defendu, also known as the Fairbairn Fighting System or Gutter Fighting, is a contemporary martial art created by William E. Fairbairn and Eric A. Sykes prior to World War II.…
Benchmade Anonimus Bushcraft Knife
A bushcraft knife is a versatile tool for wilderness survival and outdoor activities. A good bushcraft knife will be built to withstand harsh conditions and be equipped with a strong…
The Strategic Genius of Trần Hưng Đạo: Lessons from History
The three watercolor paintings by Đoàn Thành Lộc depict Saint Trần (Grand Prince Hưng Đạo) and his six generals. Photo by Rio Lam / CC BY-SA 4.0. Trần Hưng Đạo,…
Best of/Interesting Escape and Evasion Intelligence/Spies Tactics Weaponizing the Behavioral Sciences
Building Better Intelligence: The Essential Role of Critical Thinking
“The Thinker in The Gates of Hell” at the Musée Rodin. Photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0. Critical thinking is a fundamental skill in the intelligence cycle, which…
The Importance of Critical Thinking for the Modern Warrior
“Le Penseur” (1904) in the Musée Rodin in Paris. Photo by CrisNYCa / CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped. During the classical period of Ancient Greece (5th to 4th century BC), the…
The Role of Intelligence and Deception in Ancient Greece
Menelaus and Meriones lifting Patroclus’ corpse on a cart while Odysseus looks on, Etruscan alabaster urn from Volterra, Italy, 2nd century BC Between 1500 B.C. and 1200 B.C., Greece was…
Where to start Combatives part 2: We know what works and what to look for in a teacher
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…