Why what you train in matters

I am aware of the fact that there is only one Masada Tactical out there...for now.  And people who are seeking training and can't come to MT need to train in other styles and locations.  I often say that any training is better than no training.

I heard Lt. Col. Dave Grossman say this before and I have always expressed a similar sentiment: your choice of recreational activity should in some mean enhance skills that matter.  For most of us this means skills that can help us survive!  This means that when we choose to do something, we may as well do something that will make us better: strength training, hunting, self-defense training, orienteering, etc., all are good examples of activities we can do for fun and will enhance our survival skills one way or another.  One of my favorite quotes by Mr. Grossman is: "Golf is a complete wast of time.  Every golf course is miss-use of a perfectly good shooting range!".

So when people go and train in any martial art I think it is great.  Anything from traditional Japanese arts to Thai-Chi will have some benefit to it.  That said, there is an inherit risk in training in an art that may give its practitioner a false sense of confidence.  We see this most often with MMA fighters.

I have the utmost respect to MMA fighters.  They train hard and in a variety of disciplines to make them better rounded fighters.  However, from a self-defense standpoint, MMA lacks certain skills and attitude.  MMA fighters like the ground, we try to stay off of it.  MMA fighters go for points and submissions, we go for a complete annihilation of the opponent.  MMA does not teach how to address weapons, while we do.

The problem comes up when an MMA fighter tries to use his skills to defend a threat that is not subject to the rules of the ring.  This video shows an individual who decides to react to a subject with a handgun.  The defender uses kicks to defend himself against a handgun.  End result, he is shot in the left shoulder.
Handgun disarm with a kick?!?

So, although I encourage training, in whatever you can, keep in mind our goals in training, and if self-defense is what you are trying to accomplish, choose a school and system that will provide you with those tools!

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC

Home Invasion Preparedness

I apologize for the long absence of new posts.  By changing the look of the site I lost the ability to log back in and add new posts.  That has now been fixed.  I am a DT Instructor not an IT person!

Now that we got that clear, I really want to recap the Home Invasion Preparedness and Defenses Seminar we held on December 18, 2011.  I have so much more I want to discuss, but the other topics will have to wait for future posts.

Close to thirty people came to the seminar.  One of our largest attendances ever for an in-house event.

As guests took their seats they walked by a few tables displaying various weapon systems, ammunition, protective vests, flash lights, and other unique items that will be discussed throughout the seminar.

It was a unique pleasure for me to be able to co-teach with such experts on security and personal protections.  Combining experiences from the Israeli Special Operations community, the American military Special Operations community, and the American law-enforcement community, sharing the platform with me were Officer Steve Almendarez and recently retired Lt. Col. Scott Wilcox.

The bulk of the seminar was theory.  Some of the points discusses were:

• Statistics regarding home invasions
• County by county events in Maryland
• Physical security elements
• The Castle Doctrine and the Right to Retreat
• Legal issues
• Setting up safe zones
• Tools for self-protection, including: communication, lights, less-than-lethal options, and firearms.

But the class was far from being a "sit and watch" event.  Considering the statistics discussed throughout the lecture, the students learned how to address the majority of potential situations, including: 

• Breaking out of restraints such as duct tape and zip ties
• Defending against attacks in a bed, threats with handguns, and third party protection techniques.

After eight hours of lectures, drills, and practical exercises, the students left with a new appreciation for their safety.  No doubt many left contemplating what can be done to better protect their loved ones in their homes.

Within 24 hours we already received requests to teach this class in NC, PA and other places.  The need is clear...let's keep people safe!

Stay safe,

BK Blankchtein

Masada Tactical, LLC

Are we training wrong?

It finally hit me.  As much as we try to make things real, and allow people to train in as much of a realistic environment, we may be training them wrong.  Or is it that people are too nice to their training partner?  Or maybe, just maybe, the severity of a true fight does not sink in with our members?

Let me regress.  For those of you who train with us regularly, you know that we are all about realism.  From incorporating scenarios into the drills, to the types of classes we teach, including the weapons classes and our FIGHT/Ground Survival classes.

In all of these classes we try to push the idea of fights being a dynamic situation, one which evolves quickly and in unpredictable ways.  Which is in large the reason we do not teach "katas", or sequences, but rather depend on principals which can then be applied individually by the practitioner.  We also emphasize the aspect of fighting which states that you are not bound to one set of skills.  For example, one of the reasons for this blog post was that during a recent stick fighting class people forgot they also have legs to kick with, fists to strike with, heads to smash with, and so on.

Following this recent weapon fighting class, which included skills and was followed by sparring, a seasoned member who just fought a new guest to the class was amazed that the way he handled the fight.  The problem was that he felt as though he lost to a beginner.  Another issues this member had was the frequent loss of the stick during fighting (he kept having his stick trapped by his opponent).  My explanation was that I saw two issues with the way the fight went:

1. Members who come to these classes typically do an exceptional good job when practicing a skill with a compliant partner, but once they are in a fight they neglect to commit to the strikes.  I am not sure if it is due to a psychological fear of hurt their partners, or that the dynamics of the fight confuse them.  But when a strike is not a commitment, it tends to be slower and weaker making a trap by the opponent easier, whether it is a stick or a kick.
2. As mentioned earlier, people forget about their other tools.  If a stick is grabbed what is topping the fighter from kicking or punching?  They should be using all the tools in their arsenal, not only the "obvious" weapon in their hands.

What we found impressive, and in a fact turned on the light bulb, was that the "new guy" had no such reservations from striking.  Very likely because no "bad habits" were yet instilled, and when placed into a fight, the new person was scared, and eager to strike and strike hard to maintain his safety.

So following this class, and others like it, and after talking to members who did well in scenarios and some that didn't do quite as well I began to think: how do I make sure members do not lose their "fear"?  How do they maintain that edge of healthy resistance while increasing their skill levels?

So I came up with a few solutions:

1. I will begin kicking in the balls any member who does not commit to his/her strike!  I assume it would be a pretty sharp learning curve.  If you are planning on hitting you may as well do it right.  Half-Assing a strike will get you nowhere...fast.
2. Protective gear will be utilized more to help members overcome their initial fear of hitting other human beings.  I agree, striking another person, especially a friend and training partner, is not normal.  But unfortunately we will fight as we train, and just saying "in a real fight I would hit for real" doesn't cut it.  I need to know that you will, and you need to know that you can.
3. Overall increasing the frequency of fighting and scenario based training.  Skills are great, but if we cannot reproduce them under stress they mean absolutely nothing.

Get ready for the next evolution of ICS training!!!

Stay safe,

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein

Masada Tactical

Ammunition Review: Fiocchi .223

As most of you know, from time to time we are asked to review various tactical items, from boots to optics, and as of recent also ammunition.

Most recently we were asked by bulkammo.com, an online retailer, to provide our opinion of the Fiocchi .223 (55gr. Soft Point):  http://www.bulkammo.com/rifle/bulk-.223-ammo.

Mr. Steven Otterbacher with BulkAmmo.com was kind enough to send us a few boxes of this ammunition which we gladly took to the range to see what it did.

We chose to test the ammunition on actual trajectory and grouping instead of ballistic impact.  So instead of shooting these rounds into ballistic gels to see how far they penetrate, or how they affect various objects, we just shot all the rounds into targets at various distances.

First thing that was obvious was the flat trajectory.  What that meant is that between 50 meters and up to 200 meters we had to make no adjustments to our sights.  The groups did shift slightly, but were all within the "X" ring.  For tactical application, or hunting for that matter, this means that this round will maintain a flat trajectory regardless of distance and therefore no sophisticated calculations or adjustments to sights and optics are required.

Second thing we noticed was that the groups were small, making the rounds consistent on impact.  The rifle was shot from a prone position, no bench rest was used, which means, that even accounting for human error and movement of the shooter, the rounds were still within a one inch group.  As aspect often overlooked when choosing ammunition is the consistency.  It is one thing to hit a solid group, it is completely different for the shooter to be able to reproduce those hits.  There are multiple variables that can account for inconsistent groups, and if we can eliminate one such variable by choosing a reliable ammunition we are increasing our chances of staying on target.

When shooting this rounds I ran two "tests".  Since I was limited in the amount of rounds I was given, I shot a few out a cold barrel to increase reliability and check performance through a "pure" pipe.  Results were good, but then again they were expected to be.  The second test however was shooting the remaining of the rounds following about 200 rounds of more corrosive ammunition.  The corrosion affects the trajectory due to particles inside the barrel that affect the rifling and the spiral movement of the bullet.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that no significant issues came up.  Not only that, but no miss-feeds or duds occurred either.

After the shooting was done, the rifle was cleaned.  The rounds were fairly clean (excluding corrosion by the previous load), and no residue was left on the action.

I would greatly recommend these rounds for your tactical and/or hunting needs.  These rounds can be purchased at:  http://www.bulkammo.com/rifle/bulk-.223-ammo.

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein

Masada Tactical

Long Guns...Why We Need To Know How to Disarm?

"Gunman Kills 3 National Guard Members, 1 Other in Shooting Rampage at Nevada IHOP".

This was the headline on Fox News this morning regarding the shooting that took place yesterday in Nevada.  The main difference between this incident and past shootings, is use of a long gun, an AK-47B in this case.

Now putting the motives aside, the details of the attack, or even the aftermath, the topic of this blog is the fact that a long gun was the issue that needed to be addressed.  Also, this is not the first time that happens.  Various attacks included long guns, such as Columbine high school for example.


It is amazing that although handguns are getting stricter, long guns can still be bought and carried out of the store the same day.  Don't get me wrong, I am not proposing stricter laws for long guns, but the reality is that hunting rifles, shotguns, and even assault rifles are common place in many households around the country.

As you can see, the reality of having to defend against a long gun is there, and possibly higher than even a handgun.  However, many training facilities neglect to teach their students how to defend these common weapons.

So if you are in doubt as to whether or not you should learn how to defend against a long gun just read the news, and if you want to learn how to actually execute the skill check out a class or one of our seminars on weapon defenses.


Stay safe,


Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
www.MasadaTactical.com

Nature throwing us a bone

Not even three weeks passed from when we did our Personal Protection seminar at Masada Tactical, and one can say that we have predicted everything to the tee.

In our seminar we identified the major risks we need to train and prepare for as: Crime, Terrorism, Civil unrest, and natural disasters.  Sure enough, the week following the seminar we witnessed the seemingly spontaneous rising of "Flash Mobs" that attacked and ransacked shop owners in Montgomery County, Washington DC, and Philadelphia, PA. The following week we had a terrorist arrested in Ellicott City.  That same week the eastern coast experienced one of the strongest earthquakes in the region in history, followed by hurricane Irene.

Now if that does not encompass everything we discussed, I don't know what would.  Were you ready when things happened?  Did you have a plan?  Did you set things in motion to keep yourself and your family safe?

This blog is not about patting ourselves on the shoulder (although, we most definitely deserve it).  But to use these events as a learning opportunity.  I titled this blog "Nature throwing us a bone" and not "Nature throwing us a curve ball" for a purpose.  You see, I think nature did us a favor.  True, many suffered.  Some more than others, but in my opinion this by no means was as bad as things could have been.  For most of us the extent of the storm was loss of power, no lives lost, no physical damage, and no injuries...for most.  Nothing compared to Hurricane Katrina for example.

So, that said, I think nature gave us an opportunity to test ourselves.  Were we ready?  What is your answer?

I also think I am not the only one that used this opportunity to test reaction and planning.  Many hospitals, law-enforcement agencies, and preparedness organization mobilized in excess.  I do believe it was done on purpose and as means for them to test their reaction and plans.  Using this storm as a full dress rehearsal for when the real emergency occurs, should it be man-made or natural disaster.

Plan, stay ready, and stay safe.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical
www.MasadaTactical.com

It’s Time to Fight Back against Bullying……Literally

Today, a big focus is put on preventing bullying. Bullying in schools is destroying kid’s lives, creating internal, fundamental, emotional issues, and helps to form a flawed and broken identity for the rest of one’s life.  Without belittling prevention in any way (prevention is just as, if not more important than treatment/action), but with this piece I want to put a stronger emphasis on defense. Yes, prevention efforts to stop physical abuse on a child or teen is essential, but all that prevention goes out the window when the lunch table bully has a good choke hold around you or your child’s neck.  What would happen if the teen or child getting bullied knew how to defend himself against that physical and emotional threat?

Let’s take a look at another scenario. The 12^th grade bully approaches a teen, grabs him/her around the neck and shoves him into a locker. In a confident move the teen brakes free of the hold and is able to gain access to a teacher or friend. This will most assuredly end up with the bully defeated, and this teen that would have walked away from this situation broken and hurt, now walks away with confidence and a feeling of self worth.  

Although for a person who has been bullied all his life has most likely accepted the  fate that this will be a permanent theme throughout his life, learning how to defend yourself as described in the situation above is a REALITY. I know because I have seen it happen in my own classes. Every day people sweat and push themselves, learning the skills necessary to turn a sticky situation into a positive one. Prevention won’t prevent everything, and when faced with a physical threat the tools to learn how to defend yourself are right in your backyard. Don’t believe me? Come in to Masada and let me show you. Don’t continue being a victim!

Personal Safety in the Age of Terrorism

You are a target.  It's as simple as that.  From everyday thugs who want your wallet, to random shooters who are angry at someone/something, to the obvious terrorist trying to create as much carnage as possible to make a point.

You can try and pretend it isn't so, that you live in your secure house, in a good neighborhood, and that you just don't go to where "bad people" hang.  But reality is that someone at your office may be having a bad day, that your office just happens to be located next to government building, or that you drive a car made in a country that pissed someone off.

Have you ever considered the following:

• Is your office in the same building as a mall?
• Do you live downtown or in a commerce district of the city?
• Do you work or live near a large famous (or infamous) company?
• Are there any landmarks next to where you live/work?
• How do you commute to work?  Do you drive or use public transportation?
• Is your occupation categorized as "essential"?
• Do you travel often?  If so, where to?

These are just a few of the many variables that one must consider when assessing his/her own risk factor.  Like it or not, terrorism is everywhere, from downtown NY to railroads in Spain and summer camp sites in Norway.  Not to mention cafes in Tel-Aviv, or police stations in Iraq.  And if you think that is a far fetched reality for you, consider the students at Virginia Tech and Columbine high-school.  They thought they were safe!

But with all this said and done, there is plenty one can do to increase his/her safety.  Starting with a detailed personal threat assessment, on to means to mitigate those risk factors.  Lastly, putting in place plans for emergencies for yourself and loved ones.  

When was the last time you ran a fire drill at home?  Or when did you last assign a meeting point for you and your family in case of a natural disaster and you can't make it home?  Did you decide on a place to go from there?  How will you get there?  Is your bail-out kit ready and what's in it?

So many questions that we will be answering together on August 14 starting at 12:30 at Masada Tactical.  Join us for the Personal Protection seminar.

This class will provide participants with the theoretical knowledge of how to perform threat assessments, how to design emergency plans, and various possible scenarios and solutions will be provided.

This class is largely an adaptation of tools designed by Yuval Aviv, a former Israeli Counter-terrorism and intelligence officer.  Mr. Aviv acted as a special consultant to the US Congress and Fox News following the events of 9/11.

Spaces are limited for this unique class.  It is open to all members and guests.  This is not a self-defense class.

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein

Masada Tactical

Walter Reed Un-casing of the Colors

The ending of an era is always sad, but the beginning of one is sure to bring happiness. 

Today I was proud to witness the closing ceremonies of Walter Reed Army Medical Center as they begin their transition to Bethesda Maryland, and Fort Belvoir Va. The transition is being made as a part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005 (BRAC). 

Although a sad day to see a facility whose service was so paramount, and can claim responsibility for providing medical care to over 150,000 soldiers, the transition to Bethesda and Fort Belvoir is a happy one. Not only are they moving to our home state of Maryland but it will allow the Medical Center to function at a higher level. 

This hit home on a personal level as well. As I talked about earlier my journey at the MD Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC) came to an end and my resignation became official today. But just like Walter Reed, although the end of my career with the State is sad, the start of a full time focus on growing Masada Tactical into a power force of training and development is a happy one.  

Masada Tactical is happy to have had the opportunity to work with Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the past and hope our relationship will grow stronger in the future. So as the flags came down at the closing ceremony today I saluted Walter Reed on its accomplishments and wished it only more success in the future. I like to think Walter Reed saluted me back. 

End of an Era

It is official, I handed in my resignation at the MD Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC), and effective July 27, 2011 I will no longer be the Lead DT/PT Instructor for the commission.

It has been a good ride.  Over the past three years I taught 4 recruit classes, countless officers during in-service training, and 7 instructor courses, certifying close to 100 Defensive Tactics Instructors in Israeli Combat System.

There have been ups and downs, like there would be anywhere else, but at the end of the day I am proud to have had the opportunity to share skills and lessons to enhance officer safety in Maryland, from correctional officers to patrol police and specialized teams.

It has been a long and hard process to take mindsets that have been so ingrained in tradition and try and affect those by introducing new, sometimes extreme ideas.  Not always were my ideas accepted.  More than once I have been put on notice by the administration for being too hard, but ultimately everyone understood that my actions were always done in good faith and with the goal of keeping officers safe, and as such I was allowed some leeway in the way I taught, the skills I shared, and the drills I executed.

Over the past three years I have also been fortunate to see Masada Tactical grow from a small facility in Pikesville to four times its size.  Masada Tactical started with a few weekly classes to now having classes every single day, not to mention our classes offered in other states such as Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and more.

The journey has not been without sacrifices, obstacles and hardship.  But like any growth, the goal is always to overcome those and come out the other end better and stronger.  We always aimed to excel at what we do, and I believe we made tremendous strides in making Masada Tactical and Israeli Combat System a household name and the provider of choice for any individual or organization who wants the best self protection and tactical training.

So as I say goodbye at the MD Police and Correctional Training Commission I do so with pride for the lessons I shared, and the lessons I learned, and with the joy and anticipation of taking Masada Tactical to even greater things.

I would like to thank the people at the commission who stood by me when things got somewhat rough, and my friends at Masada Tactical who never gave up hope and encouraged me over the past few years.

We are on the virtue of a brand new future, brighter than ever, and it is all thanks to you.

I would like to leave this somewhat of a personal blog post with a statement that has been hanging in my office at the commission for the past three years.  It has motivated me, helped me, and guided me on numerous times (origin unknown):

What do I fear?
I fear stagnation and lack of progress.
I fear never reaching my potential and being average.
I fear being forgotten...the past...yesterday's news.
I fear giving up and being passed by, going softly into that good night.
I fear letting those I love down, letting myself down.
I fear settling, giving in to the "that's just the way it is" mindset.
I fear dying without leaving my mark.
I fear not feeling these fears anymore and just floating along.
These fears feed me, they nourish my drive.
I love my fear.

Stay safe, stay strong, and keep on working on those things that matter.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
www.MasadaTactical.com

Israeli Point-Shoot

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to have access to the Jessup Correctional facility's range (Thank you Lt. Allander and Sgt. Johnson!).

I decided to take my staff and a few business associates to learn the Israeli way of handgun shooting: Israeli-Point-Shoot.

The point-shoot is a class we teach various LE agencies and will begin offering to our civilian members.  It was important to me that our staff is familiar with the concepts so they can explain it better to our members and assist in teaching these classes.

For those who are not familiar with the concept, the basic idea is that if I can point at an object and know that my finger is pointing right at it, I should be able to do the same with the handgun as an extension of that finger.  Under stress, as in a handgun fight, fine motor skills will be lost and the time required for the "proper" sight, breath, squeeze, follow through will be gone.  Being able to hit a target under stress is therefore an essential survival skill.

The class began with a short explanation of what the philosophy is, and why we (Israelis) shoot the way we do.  There many systems that teach "indexing" as a method of shooting, but Israelis do things a tad differently, and it was important to explain that as it set the tone for the rest of the training.

In the following three hours I condensed weeks of training into a few hours.  The goal again was to familiarize the participants with a concept and not to make them experts.

The class began with dry draw and aiming drill.

Then we added single shots, followed by double shots.

Eventually we added multiple targets. The handgun segment of the day ended with a drill done once without a gas mask, and the the gas mask was introduced.  Why gas mask?  well, aside of the obvious tactical element of operating in a contaminated area (OC, CS, or other), the gas mask is a great training tool as it simulates the physiological effects of stress, such as hyperventilation and tunnel vision.

Once everybody completed the drills we pulled out a couple of AR's and had everybody try the AB-Arms foreguards I discussed in a previous post.

Overall, it was a great day of educational fun.  How does the saying go? "A bad day at the range beats a good day at work", well, when you have a good day at the range and it is your work day, it is that much sweeter.

See you all in our next Israeli-Point-Shoot seminar.

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC

Get out of your bubble

Some of you live in Baltimore City, so you know what it's like to hear gunshots, police sirens, and hopefully you have a slightly greater appreciation to everyday safety awareness.

However, most of our members live in Baltimore County, in Pikesville, Owings Mills, and alike.  Places not typically high risk or beset with criminal activity.  Most of you walk around day in and day out in complete ignorance to what is happening around you.  Lulled by comfort and a sense of safety that could not be further from the truth.

I do not mean to alarm you, but reality is over the past month there were various homicides, some no more than two blocks from our training facility.  Home invasions are on the rise.  Assaults on teens, women, and the elderly are also increasing.

So what do you do about it?  Well, the obvious answer is: you train. You prepare.  You burst that bubble you are living in and begin paying closer attention to your surroundings.

How many of you walk alone at night?  How many of you park in dark areas?  How many of you walk to your cars (alone and in a dark area) staring at your cellphone too busy sending a text message to notice the would-be purse snatcher?

Here are a few simple tools you can use:

• Make sure you are always acutely aware of your surroundings.  If the hairs on the back of your neck are rising, listen to what your senses are telling you.  Stop and evaluate.  Maybe you should change your course.
• If you have a cellphone, dial 911, but don't press "send".  In case of an emergency all you have to do it hit one button.  You don't even need to talk, police will find you.
• Fight or Flight?  Fighting may not always be the best option.  Sometimes putting as much distance between you and your attacker is a better option...just as long as they are not faster than you.
• Remember the difference between a primary crime scene and a secondary crime scene.  never let someone move you or take you to another location.  Even from your back yard into your house.
• Make yourself less of an attractive target.  Don't wear expensive jewelry, or show your large wad of cash.  Have a potential attacker thing that the person on the other side of the street is a more worthwhile target than you.
• If you must fight remember that the best thing to strike at is not what you believe would make a better attack for you, but rather what would make a more devastating hit to your opponent.
• Use weapons of opportunity, like keys, belts, your handbag.

• Be a good witness.  If you were a victim of a violent crime try to memorize as many details as you can about the event and your assailant.

Stay safe!  Be aware!  Come train!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein

Masada Tactical, LLC

www.MasadaTactical.com

The difference between Grappling and Ground Fighting

Last week I was approached by a member following one of our Ground Fighting classes and I was asked what is Grappling.  After all, I continuously make the distinction between grappling and ground fighting for self-defense applications.  I must give this member due props for coming and asking.  Often times, as instructors, we forget that some people are not as experienced and what we take for granted as terminology may not be so clear to our students.

Coincidentally enough, yesterday another student of mine told me about a challenge he got from a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner to whom he was trying to explain our methodology of ground fighting.

So let me answer these questions.  But before I start, I just want to make one thing clear, by no means do I intend to put down any grappling art.  I think they are all beautiful and serve a purpose.  I myself used to train in BJJ with John Rallo, and loved every minute of it.  If any of what I say sounds as though I am suggesting otherwise please re-read it.

As a BJJ practitioner I learned various skills that helped me overcome an opponent and achieve the submission I was looking for.  But there is where the issue lays.  Submissions are great in a controlled sport fighting environment, but what happens on the street?  What happens once the opponent "taps out"?

Also, in a grappling match (of any style, from wrestling, to BJJ, Sambo, or other), the fight is between two individuals, in a ring (cage) or on a mat, and rules must be aided by.  All of these grappling arts benefit their practitioners greatly in terms of skills, awareness of their bodies, flexibility, and so much more. But do they really address the true circumstances of a fight?

The mindset is its main drawback.  It is unfortunate that when on the street, fighting for survival, a submission is not what we should be looking for.  An armbar will elicit a "tap-out" which will not necessarily end the fight.  Possibly worse, it may cause the defender to let go because of practice (muscle memory), and the fight is back on!  Add to that the fact that a true fight may include multiple attackers, weapons, and a very unforgiving ground/terrain, and one can see why traditional grappling arts fall a tad short.

What ICS teaches stems from the understanding that we are not fighting in a ring.  That rules do not apply, and we understand that most of our skills and tools will disqualify us in a sanctioned fight.  But again, survival is not sanctioned, and one must do what it takes to protect himself!

When we decided to create a ground fighting curriculum we established a few "ground rules" (no pun intended):

1. Striking should always be a viable tool.
2. Getting back to our feet is our main goal.
3. Skills should be simple, gross motor skill oriented.
4. Skills should provide solutions for common grappling attacks, so we can defend against grapplers who try to take the fight to the ground.
5. Skills should be practiced on pavement.
6. Play dirty!

When we developed the curriculum, now in its second rotation and still being modified, I sat down with Steve Almendarez and we went over skill after skill of his BJJ career (Steve is an advance BJJ fighter and has tremendous experience in grappling arts and matches).  We tried them in uniform, on hard surface, and fatigued to see if they still work outside of a sports environment.  What we came up with was a compress ground fighting curriculum that is in-line with ICS mentality of street survival and personal protection.

Our ground fighting curriculum will not help you win an MMA fight.  But if you are ever ambushed and taken to the ground, you will not only survive, but you will inflict so much damage that your opponent will be left in awe!

Our ground fighting classes are full contact.  we strike, we kick, we work from positions of disadvantage.  We fight as if our lives depended on it, because it may.

So next time you hear me say, this is not a grappling match, this is why.  If I can teach my students anything it is to fight outside the realm of traditional rules, and use whatever means necessary to win the fight.  And if a grappler ever places my students in an armbar, I completely expect my student to break that person's face!

Ground Fighting classes are every Wednesday at 6pm. Open to all levels.  Taught by Steve A. and BK!

Stay safe,

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/

Producr Review: ABArms Forward Guard

Being that Masada Tactical is involved with training so many tactical units and security professionals, we often times are asked to review various products for different manufacturers of tactical equipment.

Typically we will receive the item and over a period of roughly 30 days will put it through its paces to see what it does, how it performs under some more strenuous conditions, and then we write a report about it for the manufacturing company.

Although typically these items are tactical in nature, we know many of our members are police officers, military personnel, or otherwise involved in security operations, and as such we thought you may also benefit from these reviews.

The first one we will share with you is our most recent one.  This review is for an AR-15/M-4 forward hand guards.  For those who don't know, the forward hand guards are the pieces that cover the barrel of the rifle, typically from action to the front sight.  These guards allow the shooters to hold on to the rifle without risk of burning themselves.

The guards we got to test are made by AB-Arms.  AB stands for American Built (http://www.abarms.com/). AB-Arms is an American company located in Glen Rock, PA.  This company manufactures several accessories for AR-15/M-4 rifles, with its latest addition being this new Forward Hand Guard.

Traditionally hand guards are divided into two types: the old fashion round style made of plastic or aluminum, or what is referred to as a "Quad-Rail" due to the rails on every side (top, bottom, left and right).  The round guards are not the most comfortable ones, and one cannot attach any accessories (lights, optics and alike) to it.  The quad rails are even worse in terms of comfort because of the rail, although one can attach various accessories to the multiple rails.  Needless to say, neither style was ever very comfortable and most shooters ended up adding a vertical grip to the guard just so they don't have to hold on to it.

Round Guards:

Quad Rails:

This is where AB-Arms came in with a unique new ergonomic design.

The shape of this new innovative forward hand guard allows the shooter to hold a comfortable surface, while still allowing for control due to the front end angle - pushing against that salnted front end allows the shooter to maintain a firm grip without fear of slipping.  The rail on the top allows for various accessories to be attached, and the ports on either side act as openings for heat to escape and as anchors for additional picatiny rails if one chooses to put those on.

Installation of the new guards was also easy.  No tools are required as there no screws on the guards.  once inserted around the barrel they just latch together.  The guards have heat shields inside of them which further assist in keeping them cool, even when firing thousands of rounds. 

It is important to note that if the rifle's barrel is floated a tad more work is needed in removing the muzzle flash suppressor and reinstalling the original parts.

After installing I took the rifle with its new guard to the range.  It handled beautifully.  It was comfortable, it remained cool, and the texture on the bottom of the guards, under normal conditions retained its gripping abilities.  We shot the rifle from various angles, supported and un-supported, and in tactical scenarios.  The guards felt comfortable throughout.

Overall, I liked these guards.  They are a fresh change from the old format, tactically functional and ergonomically accurate.  If you own an AR-15/M-4 platform rifle you may want to check these out.  Masada Tactical will be carrying these in our pro-shop in the very near future.

Stay Safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/

Scenario Based Training

Scenario-Based-Training, or Reality-Based-Training, has been the rage for a while now in defensive tactics and self-defense training.  What the term implies is that training should be taken out of the old mindset of a "dojo environment" and applied in true situations.  The goal is to simulate the stress associated with true violent encounters, either by means of physiological stress or environmental depiction of where such an encounter may take place.

There are many individuals and organizations who took great strides in making Scenario/Reality Based Training better.  Some notable names include Semunition who make marking rounds that enhance the reality of firearms training, others, such as Red-Man and Blaur (High Gear) make protective suits that can be worn to allow individuals to engage in a more violent, and therefore real fight without risking injuries.  Programs are offered by many organizations who promote their courses as "street oriented", and by doing so shy away from traditional martial arts and more towards skills that are better suited for a true violent encounter.

We must understand, traditional martial arts have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years.  It served human kind well.  Wars were fought and won using these skills.  However, there are a few issues with traditional approach to battle: 

• Some skills were developed many ages ago and have not evolved since.  Unfortunately, the threats today, with the proliferation of firearms, concealable weapons, and gang/group mentality differ greatly from the samurai way of battle.
• martial arts is traditionally taught and practiced in a training hall, or "Dojo".  However, fights rarely take place in a controlled environment, where the temperature is just right, the floors are matted, and the training partner is careful to not hurt you while practicing a skill.
• And of course, the scenarios are limited or non-existent.  When was the last time you walked into a traditional martial arts school to find them training in how to defend against multiple attackers, while on stairs or in a parking lot, practicing ground fighting skills on actual pavement, incorporating training weapons, and most importantly: using vulgar language and demeanor as are likely to be exhibited on the streets?

Now, don't get me wrong.  Those of you who know me know that my background is traditional at heart.  I was brought up learning what I consider one of the original Mixed-Martial-Arts (at the time it was referred to as "Combined Martial Arts") with Skornik Israeli Combat.  And although progressive in its approach (combining skills from various disciplines, as well as weapon disarms), we still wore Gis (the traditional martial arts attire) and practiced katas.  I also trained in Judo and Hapkido.  Loved them all.  But the truth is that it wasn't until I enlisted that I realized that martial arts are one thing and practical combat is another.

Israeli Combat System is a progressive system.  We teach skills that are designed to work in true self-defense situations.  There is nothing pretty about it.  No fancy kicks, or flashy moves.  What we do have are skills that work.  And most importantly, skills that work under true extremely stressful situations.  And I am not just saying that, we do our  hardest to drive this point home with our members and client agencies.

We make every class a scenario based class.  It may be something as small as fatigue drills to assure that the skills can still be preformed when fine motor skills are lost.  But more often then not, we incorporate a lot more into our training.  We practice our ground fighting skills on the unforgiving surface of our paved parking lot.  We fight bare knuckles to learn what it's like to hit and get hit.  We fight on stairs, between cars, and place a heavy emphasis on the psychology of an attack.

And we are not making things up.  Our knowledge is rooted in experience.  Often times experience that was a hard lesson to learn.  Our cadre of instructors are former military, present law-enforcement officers, or fighters who earned their stripes the hard way.  If they say that stress will induce a certain reaction it is because they have seen it, done it, and learned from it.

For those who don't know we hold a weekly FIGHT class.  It is not a sparring class.  We do not meet for an hour with the idea that we'll go for 2 minute sparring matches wearing gloves and protective gear.  Sometimes we do, but that is not the norm.  Our FIGHT classes are divided into two categories: skills and scenarios.  During skill classes we pick a situation and learn how to defend it, for example: take down defenses, kick defenses, and even specific weapon defenses.  But the best part is when it all comes together during our scenario classes.  In these classes you will fight on stairs, be locked in a tiny room and have to fight your way out, be placed in handicap positions to simulate injuries, fight from seated positions, or have to protect a loved one.  That is when skills truly get tested.  After all, why learn self-defense if you can't test your skills in the scenario in which they are supposed to be deployed?

Our FIGHT class is every Tuesday evening at 6pm.  It is open to all members Orange level or higher and all sworn officers regardless of level.

Add some of our reality-based seminars, such as street smart and our Urban SERE and you will see how reality-based-training is taken to a level rarely seen in other training facilities today.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/

Masada Tactical to carry knives at its pro-shop

Starting June 2011, Masada Tactical will begin carrying knives for sale at our pro-shop.

Over the past few months we have hosted several knife fighting classes/seminars, as well as instructor courses for Law-Enforcement.  And being that knives are not a restricted item, we decided to offer our members and guests the option to buy quality knives that fit their needs and budget.

Initially Masada Tactical will carry a selection of Cold Steel and CRKT Tactical Folding knives.  We chose these brands due to their high quality blades while maintaining reasonable prices.  Please note that special orders for other brands or models are always acceptable.

Masada Tactical has been able to purchase many knives at wholesale prices, making the retail cost to our members significantly lower than found anywhere else.

In addition, we will carry training knives for our members who take our knife  and stick fighting classes (offered on the second and forth Sunday of each month).  Owning their own training gear will allow our members to care for their equipment and train on their own time as well.

As we move ahead with the initial order, I wanted to post this list of attributes people considering to purchase a knife should account for:

1. What would the application, or perceived use of knife would be?  Will it be used for survival (think Rambo)? Will it be used as a tool when hunting?  Is it mainly used as an everyday tool to open boxes and envelopes?  Or possibly, as a back-up weapon for self-defense?  Each application requires a different blade type, shape, size, etc.
2. Weather consideration: if you is living in an area with humid climate, or by a sea-shore, it is imperative that the blade is made of steel that is resistant to such corroding elements.
3. Steel quality: the saying that you get what you pay for is definitely true in this case.  Better steel used for the blade, the better the chances it will maintain it's sharp edge and shape.
4. If the knife will be used for combat one should avoid a serrated edge.  Serration tends to get stuck on bones and organs.  Serration has its value when the main use of the knife is for cutting ropes, branches, etc.
5. Blade style should also be a consideration.  Different blades serve different purposes.
6. The length of the blades is also important, for both functionality and comfort of carry.  As a general rule, a folding knife should have a blade of 3-5 inches, and a fixed blade knife should have a blade of 5-7 inches.
7. Make sure a guard exists between the handle and the blade.  Too many knives overlook that aspect which increases the chance of injury in case of slippage.
8. If you decide on carrying a folding knife pay close attention to the opening/closing mechanism.  Do you feel comfortable with it?  Is there a safety that you should know about?  Did yo practice opening the knife under stress?

These are just a few of the many variables we took into consideration when deciding on what knives to purchase and offer our members.

For a list of exact models, specifications, prices, and to pre-order please contact BK.

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Owner, Chief Instructor
http://www.masadatactical.com/

Urban S.E.R.E recap

Oh, what a day it was.  I must be honest, as the time for the seminar approached I got more and more excited, and at the end of the day this special event has exceeded all of my expectations.

I must begin by thanking Steve for raising the idea of holding such a class.  Traditionally S.E.R.E. (Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion) classes are military or para-military in nature and skills that are kept close to the heart.  After-all, if the enemy knows that we know how to counter their methods they will be forced to correct for that, hence eliminating our seemingly un-noticed advantage.

However, we realized that in today's society knowing these skills in imperative, even for the common citizen.  With Mexican cartels hijacking American citizens, with home invasions and captivity on the rise, it was just another tool that we can offer our members.  And with our members' self-protection in mind we designed a class that no other school offers.

The class began with "torture".  Unknown to our participants, psychological warfare has began.  The environment has been made harsh, and the mind games started.  The initial portion included lecture on general safety tips, street survival, travel safety, and psychology of an assailant.

Following the lectures were practical lessons on how to escape restraints of various kinds, such as handcuffs, zip-ties, duct tape and more.

These lessons were followed by practical exercises.  Bound and blinded we took the participants, now captives in a faraway land, through series of "torture", stuffed them in trunks of vehicles, and forced them to implement the skills they learned.

The final exercises included a list of tasks to be completed out on the streets of Pikesville while our cadre of instructors hunts them down. 

I am not sure that the word "fun" in the first to come to mind.  There was some pain, and a lot of discomfort, but ultimately the group of participants did an unbelievable job, and even organized a coup against the captives.

It is only fitting that as our members were completing their first S.E.R.E. class, the number one most wanted terrorist in the world was shot and killed by U.S. Navy SEALs (DevGru, team 6).

Look forward for another one of this unique classes next year.

As always, stay safe.
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
www.MasadaTactical.com

Whats wrong with Krav Maga Worldwide...

 

Krav Maga (“Contact Combat” in Hebrew) was developed by Imi Litchenfield in the 1930’s in what is now Slovakia as a means for Jewish partisans to defend themselves against fascists many of whom supported the Nazis. Later, Krav Maga became the standard hand-to-hand combat system for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Krav Maga as a martial art system began its migration to the United States in the early 1980s.

Unfortunately, since its arrival Krav Maga has devolved for many into a money-making operation with little regard for the traditional roots of Krav Maga and its significant evolutionary improvements. In my humble opinion, the main group responsible for the devolution of American Krav Maga into an out-dated, bastardized system is Krav Maga Worldwide (KMW) based in Los Angeles.

Krav Maga Worldwide, Inc. was founded by Darren Levine. Mr. Levine is not a lifelong devotee of Krav Maga but rather a prosecutor in the Los Angeles courts for more than two (2) decades. As an example of Mr. Levine’s economic motivations, KMW once tried (and FAILED) to obtain a trademark on the phrase “Krav Maga.” This is akin to trying to be the exclusive owner and user of the words Karate, Boxing, or Kungfu.

While it has never been my desire to denigrate other Krav Maga systems – everything has its good parts and everything has its not so good parts – and while KMW has brought great exposure to Krav Maga in the United States, it is the purely economic motivations, in my opinion, that causes me great dismay. KMW licenses its name and training program to nearly anyone who can afford to buy the license. For example, in Maryland, KMW licensed the name and KMW program to David Buscher, a wealthy entrepreneur with little or no Krav Maga training. 

Formerly, I worked for Krav Maga Maryland. I was the General Manager and Chief Instructor of Krav Maga Maryland in Owings Mills. As part of my employment, I signed a “Personal Services Contract” with Krav Maga Maryland that contained a “Non-Compete Clause” (NCC). When I left KMW and founded what later became Masada Tactical, KMW sued me for violating the NCC. We eventually reached a settlement in which neither party “won”. 

KMW is an economic powerhouse that dedicates its extensive financial resources NOT to advancing the development of Krav Maga in the United States and sending its instructors to Israel to learn the extensive improvements to the Krav Maga system that have occurred since KMW was founded, BUT rather took a system originally developed to allow Jews and others to protect themselves from slaughter by pro-Nazi sympathizers and used it to attack an individual who believes that Krav Maga and the independent Israeli Combat System (that I developed) should be used for civilians, law enforcement and the military alike to defend themselves from criminals and terrorists.

In 2007, I founded Masada Tactical, LLC whose goal is to bring the most up-to-date, practical, and professional training to civilians and our contracting law-enforcement and military agencies. The Israeli Combat System taught at Masada Tactical was developed by incorporating only the best techniques and tactics from military, law-enforcement, and security tactics and operations worldwide.  The Civilian, as opposed to the Tactical Division of Masada Tactical, is designed to bring the most current and comprehensive system of self-defense (and defense of others) to the public. I developed the Israeli Combat System, not based upon the outdated and limited techniques of KMW, but by drawing upon decades of techniques proven to be most effective in defending against criminal attackers.  My system is largely influenced by ongoing training I am given and provide in Israel to this day.

Last year, I co-authored a book, Survival Training for Law-Enforcement: The Israeli Combat System for the Urban Warrior, not for financial gain but in order to provide an effective manual for our dedicated law-enforcement officers to protect themselves and others in life-or-death situations.

Krav Maga Worldwide, with its immense financial resources, has taken exception to my book. Just last week, my publisher received from Darren Levine correspondence that, if properly drafted by a man claiming more than twenty-five (25) years experience in practicing law, could be deemed a “Cease and Desist” letter. Amongst the bluster of Mr. Levine’s letter, he threatens legal action if we go forward with publication of the book. In the letter he implies that I am making use of copyrighted material owned by KMW.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Frankly, there is nothing copyrighted by KMW or written by Mr. Levine himself that I would feel comfortable using. The system of Krav Maga taught by KMW was developed in the 1980’s in order to promote aggression in young, new, IDF recruits. It was never intended to be a comprehensive system for use by civilians, law-enforcement, and the military alike to defend against threats of all types.  

Furthermore, the book was co-authored by a law-enforcement professional and writer who has no former experience in Krav Maga.  I was the technical consultant, but the text, and what is believed to be a copyright infringement, was written by a person who had no prior knowledge of KMW texts and materials.

Mr. Levine’s threats beg two (2) questions. First, what exactly is KMW afraid of? Are they afraid that my Israeli Combat System will expose the glaring failures of KMW’s system? Second, why, if not for economic reasons entirely, would Mr. Levine not want law-enforcement officers to learn a system that could protect both them and the public from harm?

Another question comes to mind. If Mr. Levine and KMW are only interested in promoting and teaching the premier Krav Maga system in the United States, why don’t they send their instructors to Israel to become acquainted with the most recent developments in the dynamic evolution of the world’s most effective fighting system?

Masada Tactical is dedicated to providing the highest level training available to military operatives, law-enforcement personnel, and civilians alike. We are an open system – open to suggestions and improvements from all martial art systems. We are a small but ever-growing organization. We do not try to stifle others that seek only to profit from what is near and dear to our hearts.

As for Mr. Levine, he should keep in mind that our legal representatives will defend Masada Tactical from all comers with the same ferocity of its namesake – those that valiantly died defending themselves against the invading Romans at Masada – and that often “the best defense is a good offense.” Masada Tactical will not be bullied or intimidated by anyone and Masada Tactical is here to stay.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein

via David Palinsky, Esq.

www.MasadaTactical.com

Civilian Instructors Training

This is going to be a short one.  For the first time, Masada Tactical will be offering an Instructors Certification course in Israeli Combat System for civilians.

The five day class will certify individuals who pass the rigorous training and testing to teach beginner level ICS.

The class will be offered next Fall.  For more information or to register please contact me directly.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
http://www.masadatactical.com/

The biggest threat.

At Masada Tactical we spend all our time developing skills and lesson plans to make sure our members and other contracting agencies are safe.  Whatever your occupation, physical abilities and/or your goals, we make sure that the skills we teach you, in some shape or form, make you safer, healthier, and better prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Our curriculum includes skills that have been proven to work, and are further enhanced by skills we develop in-house to meet the specific needs and questions of various individuals.  For example, about a year ago a correctional officer from Western MD asked us how to address a specific hostage situation that cost the life of another officer.  It is a high risk situation, but one our staff of instructors was able to come up with a solution for.  This technique is now taught to SWAT and SOG groups around the country.

Often times, the skills we develop are the natural evolution of previous skills.  The instructor meet, evaluate the curriculum, identify weak parts, and work to make it better, more effective, and yet retain the basic ideologies of our system in terms of ease of use and retention of skills.  But, at the end of the day, the skills we develop are based off of what we think is needed, and not always what our members need.  So, I would like to take this opportunity to ask you: What do you want to see? learn? master?  Are there any threats you foresee as being the most critical for you and therefore would like to know how to address?

Let us know so we can address that, because ultimately, if your needs are not addressed, it really doesn't matter what skills we develop, if you as the potential end user do not see the value in them.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
http://www.masadatactical.com/

Gun laws...who needs them?

Touchy subject, isn't it?  But in today's day and age, it is one that is on many people's mind.  Most importantly, it is on the mind of our members who continuously ask me about my stand.

I own guns.  I also have a carry permit.  I carry whenever and wherever I am legally allowed.  I would hate to see that right taken away from me.

I understand why people are afraid of it.  I do not agree, but I understand.  People fear what they do not know, or what they are not educated about.  It's natural.  If people are fed their information from movies, or only read the sad headlines in the media, there is no surprise why they fear people carrying firearms.

But firearms in general, and handguns in particular are tools.  Just like the pocket knives most people carry around.  It is meant to do a very specific job, and thank god for that.  Take for example the police officer who carried his handgun off duty with him always, until one day he decided nothing happened before and it won't happen today.  This officer went to church that morning and witness as a shooter entered the building and began firing at people.  Among the six casualties was the officer's son.  This officer, who could legally carry a handgun and could have stopped the threat, lost a son that day.

Now, I am sure some of you will read this and point out to the fact that the suspect had a handgun.  Furthermore, you would assume that if the laws were stricter this incident could have been avoided all together.  WRONG.  Any law, by definition, will be followed by law-abiding citizens.  Do you honestly think that the criminal element will be at all restricted by any type of gun-related regulation?

If these laws are put into effect then the shooting at the Trolly Square Mall in Salt-Lake City, Utah would have ended with many more dead then it did.  Thanks to another off-duty officer who was having a Valentine's Day dinner that February 13, 2007 day, the suspects were shot and killed.  If it wasn't for him the carnage would have been much worse since the suspects were heavily armed.

Would you like to be that person witnessing your son/daughter/wife/husband/loved one get killed because you were too dumb to realize that if you had a gun you could have saved them?  Could you live with yourself after that?  It is amazing to me how all these pro-gun-restriction people never had a family member or loved one be a victim of a violent crime.  As soon as something bad happen they change their minds.  Do you really want to wait that long?

And let me point one more piece of information: do a search and see what country has the highest percentage of crime (terrorism aside, just civic crime, like robberies, murder, rape, etc.)?  Now compare that to the gun laws in that country.  Let me tell you what you will find, statistically speaking, the stricter the gun laws the higher the crime.  After all, why would I worry about robbing you when I know you are unarmed?!?  And true, correlation does not prove causation, and we must not interpret that the gun laws are the true cause for the crime, but we can not ignore this fact.

And lastly, the second amendment.  It defines a militia.  It has been around since the wild wild west days (and before).  And it has one very specific purpose: to protect citizens from its own government.  I will not dwell into the whole small government versus big government issue, but the bottom line is that when other rights will start being taken away, and they will, just look at what is going  on around the globe these days, do you want to be a slave or fight for your freedom?  And if fighting is your choice, how will you do it if the government restricted your right to own or carry a gun?

So, I am all about my right to own and carry my handgun.  That said, and this is important, personally I have no problem with making a safety course and mandating minimal qualification standards.  If safety is what people worry about, let's address that by educating and training.  Treat the problem, not the symptoms.

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Chief Instructor
Masada Tactical, LLC
http://www.masadatactical.com/