Hazing again

                Returning to the subject of Hazing (Kasumi) I came across this rather nice article by  Don Rearic. This includes a couple of tricks I missed out, such as using a flashlight. Some good advice on the use of pepper sprays too. In Black Medicine IV N.Mashiro offers similar advice and also suggests sprays can be used held over the head to keep them out of reach of attackers.

Kasumi means hazing or obscuration, while Metsubushi means “Eye-crusher” or “Sight Destroyer”. I tend to think of Kasumi as the tactic and Metsubushi as the devices, but effectively the two terms are interchangeable as far as I am aware.

I also came across this rather nice video.



These are obviously very high level ninja judging by their very effective disguises as young boys. Joking aside, quite a few posters on youtube could learn from this two. The speak clearly and concisely with no excessive um-ing and ah-ing and no long tedious preamble. And they are experimenting and trying stuff out, so good for them! -but perhaps wear goggles next time lads.

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The Books

Friday (the 13th) Fun.

Taiwan launches serial killer franchise....

 

Scrapboard Survivor Kukri.

            In my blog post entitled “Why a Kukri?” I promised a more in depth look at my favourite Kukri once I could get some more current photos taken. Having just taken such photos, here they are.

            This is the plain vanilla Kukri as it arrived from Nepal. I call this the "Scrapboard Survivor" after my website. This is actually a custom item from KHT. The grip was made slightly longer than they usually fit on a Sirupate-style blade and the half-guard was combined with a traditional-style grip. KHT offered a number of modernized grips with guards as an option but I wanted a traditional style since it is actually the optimum for a Kukri blade. KHT now offer the half guard and traditional style handle on some of their models. A Sirupate blade is narrower and more slender than a standard Kukri blade, although such distinctions are relative since this blade is still thicker and more substantial than many knife blades costing five times as much. The result is a lighter, fast and agile weapon that still has considerable cutting power. The Sirupate can handle most combat and survival applications without weighing the user down excessively.

            KHT very thoughtfully provided a cord channel in the grip and the other night I decided it was time I fitted a retention cord. Note the use of a fisherman’s knot, which allows the cord to be easily tightened or loosened depending on whether gloves or other clothing is worn. The loop is proportioned so that it can either be slipped over the wrist or hooked over the thumb and passed over the back of the hand, “nightstick” fashion.

            The handle wrap was done in two parts, both parts being done with “decored” doubled paracord. Some PVA glue was painted on to help keep this in position. The handle wrap provides additional cushioning for when this Kukri is used for heavy work.

            Kukri in sheath, ready to travel. Note the retention loop has been wrapped and tucked so it cannot catch on branches and other protrusions.  

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The Books

Grip Exercises.

            Many effective self-defence techniques do not require a great deal of strength to perform. This seems to have given rise to a myth that strength is not important. Possibly this grew out of attempts to build confidence in the lighter built members of classes:- “It doesn’t matter that he is stronger than you, you can still hurt him!” While the latter statement is true, it is wrong to think that a bit of extra strength will not improve your chances.

            One of the most useful fields for improvement is of grip strength. If you want to judo throw someone, you usually have to grab hold of them first. Catch someone’s arm as they attempt to bottle you? Whether you can control their arm long enough to turn the tables will probably depend on grip strength.  Squeeze the testicles to escape from a hold. Grip strength again! And what is the point of being an awesome fighting machine if you still have to get your girlfriend to open the jam jars?

            If you have read my book, this blog or the associated webpages you have probably acquired a cheap set of dumbbells or even attempted to make a set of Indian clubs. Hopefully you have been exercising with them regularly. If so, you will have already begun to see improvements in your grip strength just from manipulating these weights. The palms of your hands probably feel firmer and certain muscles on your hands may be more noticeable. Here are a couple of extra exercises you can attempt.

            Clench your hands into fists as tight as you can for a second or so. Then open them explosively, spreading the fingers. Clench, pause, pow! Repeat.

            Starting with your fingers straight, bend you middle knuckles so your fingertips touch the upper edge of your palm. Then bend you distal knuckles to form a fist. We can combine this with the previous exercise:- Half fist, full fist, pow! Half fist, full fist, pow!

            The great thing about these little exercises is you can do them anywhere at nearly anytime. Walking down the corridor at work:- Half fist, full fist, pow! On the train:- Half fist, full fist, pow! Standing at the bus stop:- Half fist, full fist, pow! Waiting for dinner to finish cooking….

            If you are cooking, try standing in Horse or Sanchin stance. Most combat stances have the knee bent so holding these positions will increase your leg strength and improve you overall speed and mobility.

            Another little conditioning exercise you can attempt. In the book I had you making a knife-hand strike onto the palm of your other hand to demonstrate the force you could generate, especially if you learnt to relax your striking arm. Executing a few strikes like this against the other hand is a good conditioning exercise that not only toughens the edge of the hand, but also the palm of the hand. And since palm heel, knife-hand and hammer-fist are three of our most useful hand strikes….