TSA...What's Their Issue?

Remember the days you could board a plane with a pocket knife and no one said anything to you?  The silverware you got on flights was actually silverware, as opposed to plasticware? and carry-ons consisted of pretty much anything you wanted it to be.

Obviously 9/11 changed all of that.  And I must admit, I don't mind the extra few minutes of screening, or taking off my shoes, or even getting into the imaging scanner.  I rather know that TSA is doing their job right and the flight I'll be on will be safe and short on potential threats.  I never do get the people who complain all the time.  Is it annoying to wait a little longer? Yes, it is.  Do TSA sometimes get on a power trip because they barely graduated highschool yet someone gave them a badge and told them they can stop whoever?  Yes, they do.  Can the process be more effective if other security elements were to be implemented (think Israeli airport security for example)?  Yes, it can.

But truth is that deterant goes a long way, and if potential terrorist attacks are foiled just because terrorists do not want to get caught, fondled by TSA employees, or getting the full cavity search, then all the above mentioned aggravation is worth it in my mind.  You are entitled to disagree of course.

All that said, I rarely truly feel safe on airplanes.  History taught us that even the most meticulous screening is subject to failure.  For example, about 5 years ago I went to visit my father who was in Las-Vegas for a convention.  Bare in mind that five years ago security was even tighter than it is today.  We all followed the colored threat level indicators, 9/11 was still fresh in our minds (for some), and some of the more advance screening methods were not yet available, which meant more hands on searching.  On this specific trip I only took one carry-on since I was only to spend 2 nights in Vegas.  My heart almost dropped to my pants when I opened my carry-on in my hotel room, about 4 hours after it went through the X-ray machine and was searched by a TSA "professional", and found three loose rounds and a knife.  Not my standard travelling items, but left overs from a recent trip to the shooting range.  Needless to say I discarded of the ammunition at the hotel and mailed the knife to myself in MD.

Point to be made: TSA fails sometimes...more often than they would like to admit it.

Being a self-defense and personal protection instructor I like keeping some control over potential threats. If I was able to board an airplane with ammunition and a knife unintentionally, one can imagine that an ill-intending individual can also accomplish that.  Should we remind everybody of the underwear bomber? or the shoe bomber? to mention but two.

It is interesting to see how the list of prohibited items on an airplane gets longer every time.  No liquids, no sharp items (as if I will clip someone's nails to death!), no lighters, no aerosol sprays, and...no Kubotans.

For those who do not know what a kubotan is, it is a cylindircal metal stick which was developed by Mr. Takayuki Kubota as a self-defense tool.  It is often used as a keychain holder and can be easily accessible and utilized in self-defense situations.  But as mentioned, TSA's "super-agents" will look for those and take them away from you if you tried boarding an airplane carrying one.

Luckily for us, some genius minds out there decided that wherever there is a rule, there is also a loophole.  Enter the Tactical Pen.  A re-enforced writing instrument that can be used to strike, stab, and apply joint manipulations or other control techniques.  Genius!

So today there are many "ninjas" out there who carry tactical pens (like the name by the way? Tactical!  Makes it sound some bad-ass!) but don't know what to do with it.

So fear not my friends, because Masada Tactical is here to help.  And as we often do, we get the best instructors possible to teach specialized classes, as with the Tactical Pen seminar that will be held on Sunday, February 19, from 1 to 4pm.  This class is taught by Mr. Richard Harding.  Mr. Harding is a former Navy Corpsman who spent the years following his service duty in Vietnam studying martial arts in Japan.  He later went on to achieve a forth degree black belt in Karate.  Mr. Harding was also a Baltimore County police officer, and is today the Physical Skills Coordinator at the MD Police and Correctional Training Commission. One of the things Rick is known for is teaching Kubotan techniques to police recruits.

We look forward to learning from Mr. Harding how to use the tactical pens we all carry.  Because at the end of the day, I am not sure I want to trust my safety to TSA.

Stay safe,

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC

The Zombie Apocalypse!

Someone at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is a marketing genius.

One of the CDC objectives is to provide us, the common citizen, with public health news and protective advise.  But let's face it, who cares what the CDC says?  It's just another governmental agency which truly doesn't apply to us.  WRONG!  The CDC has much valuable information to share, problem is that no one wants to read it.

Enter the Zombies!  Someone at CDC (or more likely it's PR firm) noted that Zombies are the rage when it comes to pop-culture.  From movies, to fairs and walks, Zombies seem to be the rave these days.  So in order to entice the common citizen, the CDC created a campaign titled: "The Zombie Task-Force".  This campaign, which by now span to include blogs, merchandise and it's own line of protective gear, got more people to learn about general disaster preparedness than any other attempt in the past.  At the end of the day, the difference between a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or a Zombie apocalypse is minute.

(Check out the CDC blog here)

The Zombie craze is not limited to the CDC though.  It is amazing how many tactical training companies use Zombies as their attention-grabber these days.  From targets depicting Zombies (some even look like Bin-Laden, while other targets ooze blood upon getting hit), to gear designed specifically for a Zombie Apocalypse!  It is not uncommon to go to a shooting range today and see people shoot at targets with bloody dogs on them, sekeletons, or otherwise disfigured images of Zombies.

At the end of the day it comes down to "whatever gets people to listen and/or train".  If Zombies will get you to shoot more and practice, or entice you to get your disaster preparedness kit ready, then so be it.

Lastly, if you hang out around any Masada Tactical staff member long enough, you know that all joking aside we take our Zombie preparedness very seriously.  Steve A. just got a new Zombie rifle, BK has a whole plan on how to deter and evade the Zombies when they come, and Josh will be teaching a ZOMBIE DEFENSE class on Tuesday, January 17, at 6:30am!

Don't get bitten by the virus!  Join us as we prepare for the next threat!

Stay safe!
Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC

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