Ready or not, the fight is on.
Everybody is threatened now
What can YOU do?
Perhaps my story will shed some light on that.
There is always a start
Growing up in a poor, crime-ridden neighborhood did help me, although it made me somewhat callous, because simple survival was impossible for the faint-of-heart. I was unusually strong, and when I was ten, so two rival gangs wanted to recruit me. I refused, so they beat me up every day. I was on the verge of killing some of them, in which case you couldn’t read this, but my parents moved to happier climates only a week or two before disaster would strike. At that point, I swore that nobody would ever beat me up again. Nobody did, and only lot larger and stronger ones tried, but that was not because I am invincible; it was due to preparation and determination, both of which you will need to fight the current evil.
At this point, I am determined to protect those whom I love and those who cannot fend for themselves. Of course, my means are meager, but it is still my job to do what I can.
So, what does it mean to be prepared?
When I was young, I learnt how to fight from three masters in my teenage years. The first of them was a friend of mine, a student of a world boxing champion (sadly, he passed away at 32 without having any “bad habits”), who taught me to be a “south paw” as a right-handed person, because I was lightning fast (response time 0.1 second), and my major strength, my kick, was up front, and I was able to easily kick off a ceiling light (well, I was a semi-professional soccer player, too). The second lesson came from my childhood friend, who practiced boxing and karate, and taught me the use of my hands and my fingers without a fist. I think, I can still easily punch a hole in a drywall, because I used to practice my “dragon blow” (you curve your fingers and deliver a blow with the middle finger leading) on concrete. My third master was another friend, who passed away four years ago after helping me settle in my little house in rural Kentucky. He was a street fighter, who had been in prison before on trumped-up charges. He taught me how no rules were to be respected, how to keep a distance, and how to deliver a blow without getting much back (well, the first boxer also taught me to take a small blow in order to be able to deliver a decisive one). When I asked him how come nobody beat me since the age of 10, he said, “they can see it in your eyes.” Sure thing, I’ll never be a slave to anyone. That’s why I’ve never worn a muzzle, either.
The fourth master I had was a cage-fighting warrior, who quit after only two fights in Vegas, because fighters were not protected and the fights were dirty. When he used to be 17, he still finished second in judo in a world championship, and as a lot older man in his forties, he taught me a number of things I prefer not to share in public.
Learning about your weaknesses is also essential
You need to be challenged beyond your means to learn about your weaknesses. Military service taught me more about those than anything else could have in civilian life. I’m not telling you to climb Mount Everest, but a few nights out in the woods might serve you right.
Learning how to use firearms responsibly is also a must, not only in the current US, but I guess, most of my readers already know that and my Canadian, Australian, and British brothers and sisters know that a 00 cannot be traced as long as the shell is saved. New Zealand, ditto.
The attitude
Let me use an allegory. If you have ever watched the excellent Chinese propaganda movie franchise, IP Man (a name that has nothing to do with its English meaning), you can see in Donny Yen’s attitude what I mean. Well, his “fistfight” position is not always 20/20 (like he occasionally bends his fist up, well beyond the proverbial straight forearm in boxing and in martial arts, although that might be a decoy for moronic opponents), his peaceful disposition, detached attitude to fighting, his allowing the opponent to think he is less than what he is, and his responsible stance for his family and friends testify to what I mean.
The conclusion
Everything I’ve learnt is applicable to fighting the mass murderers.
As you see, I have used the talents I had, which is what I am doing on these pages, too. It is essential that you know your strength and focus on those. Knowing your weaknesses is also essential for making sure you can avoid situations in which you would be exposed.
It’s good, if your opponent underestimates you, but it is also essential to disorient him so that he wouldn’t be empowered with confidence.
It’s best to attack, when you have an opening; otherwise, you’ll never make it out of the conflict unharmed.
Being prepared is the MOST essential part. If you are not ready to act, when the time comes, you will NOT have the time to make up your mind, when it would be your turn to act.
I think you're doing a good job.
Thank you Sir. Excellent insight into your formative years.