“Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) is an edged-weapon system specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s concerned citizen and armed professional. Based on Michael Janich’s extensive analysis of the Filipino martial arts and many other systems, MBC takes combat-proven tactics and adapts them to modern tools, threats, and legal concerns. The result is a practical, easy-to-learn system that is ideally suited to modern self-defense.” (www.martialbladeconcepts.com/)

SAR was given the unique opportunity to not only attend a course, but to interview Michael Janich. He broke down the logic of MBC and emphasized the main difference between it and traditional martial arts knife systems – its focus on self-defense.

He explained that the roots of MBC can be found in the Filipino martial arts – a culture that was forced to establish defensive techniques due to several periods of occupation by invaders from Spain and Japan. The arts of Kali, Eskrima, and Arnis he explained, “are based on some of the most extensive research and practical application of edged weapons in history.” Unlike other cultures that used swords – such as Europe and Japan – the Filipino arts focused heavily on utilizing easily concealable knives. This technique was the best foundation for the use of today’s modern defensive knives, such as tactical folders.

Understanding the Logic

“MBC’s logic not only forms the core of the ‘why’ of what we do; it also forms the foundation of the system’s strength as a moral, ethical, and legally defensible approach to using a knife for personal defense.”

Understand the destructive power of your actual carry knife

First, understand that you’ll fight with the knife you carry. Knife laws vary from state to state, but for most, a legal, practical carry knife will be a lock-blade folder with a blade 3-4 inches in length. Historical tactics using a KA-BAR or a tanto with a 6-inch blade thrust into a torso could easily penetrate deep enough to inflict stopping power, however, the same thrust with a 3-inch blade – especially against an adrenalized attacker – may not have the same stopping effect.

Understand that “Stopping Power” is the goal of all self-defense

Like firearm tactics, stopping power is the main goal. However, a knife causes damage differently and not nearly as immediate as a bullet. Unlike battle, in self-defense we don’t shoot to kill; we shoot to stop. Conceptually, the defensive application of the knife is the same. The goal is to stop the attacker from delivering violence to you.

This is where the tactic of “defanging the snake” (common in the Filipino martial arts) against contact-distance weapons emerges. By cutting the flexor tendons of the attacker’s weapon-wielding arm, you disable it and ideally disarm him — instantly. “We don’t have to stop the life-supporting functions to stop the attack; we just have to stop the mechanical function of the limbs that enable the attack.”

Have an understanding of human anatomy

“Once you understand the type of damage you can do with your carry knife and relate that to an attacker’s body, the next step is to figure out which parts of your attacker’s body you can realistically target to achieve reliable, predictable stopping power.”

If “defanging the snake” (as referenced earlier) isn’t successful, the next target is the bicep and triceps muscles of the upper arm – if the attacker can’t articulate his elbow, he can’t swing again.

The ultimate stopping target is the quadriceps muscle, just above the knee. About the same size as a sirloin steak — ¾-inch thick and approximately 4-inches wide – it is easily cut to the bone with a 3-inch blade. Severing this muscle destroys function instantly and the attacker will collapse to one knee – allowing you to create distance and escape.

When most people think of knife fights, they tend to imagine scenes from Hollywood – glorified martial art fights that have not only been choreographed, but with unrealistic end results. They also tend to think of military-style knife fighting – especially the tactics from WWII combat manuals. Unfortunately, many of the common misconceptions about knife tactics appeared during this period; a time in U.S. history where young men from various backgrounds (i.e. accountants, translators, teachers) were thrown into a war and told, “You will need to kill.” To build confidence in these neophyte soldiers, instructors often exaggerated the effects of the tactics they taught.

Michael explained that many of the misconceptions about blood loss in knife fighting can be traced back to the classic “Timetable of Death” published by British close-combat legend, W.E. Fairbairn. Michael, along with the late Christopher Grosz, a former law enforcement officer and defensive tactics instructor from Littleton, Colorado, challenged the veracity of this timetable, worked with medical examiners, and concluded that it was, in fact, inaccurate. Through joint research with the assistance of recognized experts in both the medical and tactical fields, a modern and medically accurate version of Fairbairn’s timetable was constructed. Unfortunately, Christopher passed away and Michael wrapped up the research in a published book, “Contemporary Knife Targeting: Modern Science vs. W.E. Fairbairn’s Timetable of Death”. (All royalties go towards Christopher Grosz’s family)

Establish training techniques with clear purpose and structure, utilizing a system of movements consistent with instinctive reactions to stress

Most martial arts consist of several thousand techniques which take a lifetime to learn, let alone learn well enough to use reflexively. In a life-threatening fight, your body will naturally react with power survival instincts. “Unless you are incredibly trained, instinct will take precedence and you will do ‘it’ before you do anything else.” That is why MBC uses instinct and instinctive reactions like the “startle response” as the foundation of their skills.

Additionally, the best way to do something well is that of repetition. Once you can perform a drill fluidly, you and your partner increase the speed, intensity, and energy of the drill. This challenges your reflexes progressively and accurately replicates the type of stress you’d experience in a real encounter.

Emphasize practical knife deployment tactics

As Michael candidly explained: the first rule of fighting with a knife is to have a knife. Many knife-training systems focus exclusively on training with knife-in-hand or base their deployment tactics on classical means of carry.

“If you are attacked at close range, your first reaction should not be to draw your knife but to minimize injury to you through any means possible. Typically this means defending yourself with empty-hand combative skills to buy the time and the opportunity to draw your blade.” Also, because producing your knife in stressful conditions can prove to be extremely difficult, MBC emphasizes deployment methods utilizing gross motor skills to eliminate complex movements. It also helps to “practice your draw regularly until it literally becomes second nature”.

MBC – Edged-Weapon Training for Today’s World

In addition to providing a system of easily learned, highly effective tactics that work with legal-to-carry knives, MBC also emphasizes the legal aspects of personal defense. Its tactics are medically sound and emphasize stopping, not killing, and are therefore more morally and legally defensible that traditional knife systems.

Personal Note from Author:

“Like many of the other students in the class, I realized that although I’ve carried a knife religiously during most of my adult life, I really had no clue how to fight ‘effectively’ with it. This course changed all that. It not only taught us usable skills to defend ourselves in close quarters, but also addressed the legal and moral aspects of using a knife as a weapon. Michael Janich truly has a gift for teaching and his passion for the logic and skills of MBC is contagious. I am extremely grateful to Michael for introducing me to MBC and to the seminar host, MBC Affiliate Instructor Uli Gebhard, for allowing me to attend. I can’t wait to do more training!”

MBC has a network of instructors and study group leaders nationwide and in several foreign countries. Michael Janich and his certified instructors also teach MBC seminars all over the world. The “Instructor Locator” on the www.martialbladeconcepts.com web site can help you find an instructor near you. If there isn’t one, MBC also has an on-line Distance Learning Program and a complete library of training DVDs on MBC and Janich’s related self-defense systems.

Shooting singles at the 16 yard line at The Nevada Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Trap Shoot.

By Mikey Entingh and Patty Sweat, Photos by Robert Butterfield

The Nevada Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) held their 14th annual PVA Trap Shoot at the Clark County Shooting Park, on March 20-22, 2015. The Nevada Chapter was chartered in 1999, covering Nevada and part of Utah from their headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About the PVA

Returning home from World War II, a band of brothers with spinal cord injuries joined together and decided that, despite their traumatic injuries, they would continue to live their lives with dignity. Although the nation was grateful for their service, it offered few solutions to the challenges these men would face. In 1946, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) was formed. The group began rallying on the basic necessity of accessibility, such as cutouts on sidewalks, parking spaces, wider doors, and later, press-open doors. This would prove challenging as the Americans with Disabilities Act was not in effect at the time.

Now, more than sixty-nine years later, The PVA is a leader in quality health care for their members, research and education, benefits, and civil rights for veterans worldwide. “Today, the work continues to create an America where all veterans and people with disabilities, and their families, have everything they need to live full and productive lives.” (www.pva.org)

Adaptive Sports are a huge part of the PVA. These sports promote health, wellness, and fitness, and the camaraderie that completes the package is a great stress reliever – a way to work out issues without actually sitting on a couch talking with someone. These activities teach individuals that what they once thought impossible, because of their injury or disease, is now possible. They open so many doors and once they realize “Wow, I can play basketball” or “I can hand cycle”, they begin to ask, “What else can I do?” Next thing they know, they are back out in society being productive citizens. “The PVA builds confidence,” Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Nevada Chapter states. “‘Wow, I never tried this before,’ and next thing they know, they are coming back to their respective chapters wanting to participate in more and more sports. (Members) become more active within their chapters, volunteering at certain events, getting back to ‘that something special’ they had when they were active duty.”

The PVA showcases their sports annually at an event called the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and it moves from city to city each year. This year it will be held in Dallas, June 21-26 with more than 600 wheelchair athletes from all over the United States and Great Britain competing. Events include basketball, swimming, table tennis, billiards, bowling, bocce ball, shooting (both air rifle and pistol), and trapshooting. There are also a number of track and field events, hand cycling, and quadriplegic rugby – a legitimately violent sport – also known as Murderball, popularized by the documentary film Murderball (2005). The NVWG is a huge undertaking every year.

PVA Shooting Sports

PVA Shooting Sports run their competitions just like any other shooting competition that is able-body. There is no distinction between anyone that is injured or able-bodied. They follow the Amateur Trapshooting Association rules, with one exception: an award for High Overall Spinal Cord Injury Winner. “You’ll see amputees, non-visible wounds, and wheelchairs. There will be individuals present that I served with, that were injured from Iraq and Afghanistan.” states Andy MacDonald, Associate Director for Shooting Sports.

The competition is a non-registered shoot, which means it is not recognized by the Amateur Trapshooting Association – yet. Nevada PVA Trap Shoot still attracts members from other chapters just to support because, “It’s fun and we love doing it. We get paid for this, that’s the best part!” Andy and Julie exclaim and give each other high-five. “As a shooting program, we have the largest of any veterans organization out there, most of them combined. We hold the flag for that, and have been doing this since the 80s with 2-3 shooting competitions a month across the country.”

Shotgun Competition

Saturday and Sunday, 21-22 March, were allotted days for the trapshooting portion of the competition. It consisted of 100 single targets at the 16 yard line and 50 pairs of doubles, also at the 16 yard line for Saturday. On Sunday, 100 targets at a handicap yardage (18-27 yards based on proficiency) was shot.

Among the sponsors and supporters were, Fiocchi USA, Leupold, Glock, Safari Sun, Rolex Vans, SKV Shotguns, SoftTouch Customs Stocks, Invacare and Better Life Mobility Center for the Chapter.

“Adaptive sports is number one in opening doors for involvement in so many areas. I’ve been involved with the PVA since 1987 and I attend as many PVA shooting events as I can, not only to support the organization and to see the guys I have ties with for over 30 years, but for the camaraderie that you can’t get anywhere else. When I was injured, a PVA service officer came into my hospital room and I had never heard of the PVA until that moment. The service officer answered questions that no one else could and I’ve been involved since,” states Gordon Moye, Vice President of the Arizona Chapter and member of the PVA National Sports Committee.

Dan Mitchell, a loyal supporter of the PVA and former President of the Osage Sportsman’s Club in Park Rapids Minnesota, tries to attend at least four shoots a year. “PVA (are an) awesome group of people! We all look forward to going to the shoots. There are 12-14 shoots a year, all over the United States, with new people joining every year with the common goal in trying to shoot well. These shoots, as well as the PVA family, really help out the psychological part of being a wounded veteran and disabled.”

This was Nevada Chapter’s 14th Annual Trap Shoot; one of the longest in the circuit. Other shoots are held in Redlands, Green Bay, Sumner, Baltimore, and Tampa.

Veterans Assistance

There is a misconception that PVA is just for paralyzed veterans. Quite the contrary, they assist in veterans that are identified as quadriplegic, walking quads, incomplete paras, walking paras, walking members, spinal cord injury, or disease; they are a big supporter for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease, brought to light to many by the recent Ice Bucket Challenges).

PVA partners with hospitals and are informed immediately by social workers if their patient is a veteran with a spinal injury, and they are assigned a National Service Officer (NSO), who will assist in claims and attend to their families during transition and sustainment. Paralyzed veterans national officers and the PVA’s 34 chapters represent thousands of veterans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The focus of the PVA NSO is on the mission. However, if approached by veterans that do not fit the categories mentioned above, NSO’s do not turn them away. They instead guide veterans to another organization that may better suit them.

Paralyzed Veterans of America, Nevada Chapter

The mission of the Nevada PVA is to improve the quality of life of the U.S. military veterans and others who have spinal cord dysfunction through the use of advocacy, research, sports and recreation, education and communication.

Whether veterans left the military decades ago or recently transitioned into the ‘civilian sector’, all veterans miss the camaraderie. There’s an unspoken bond of duty, honor, and service formed among veterans that have served, especially in combat and overseas. No matter when, where, or how you served, or what branch, there is a connection amongst veterans – a supportive role in the understanding of the issues that may affect their well-being, or get in the way of relationships, work, or daily activities. PVA not only aids in the healthcare and benefits for Veterans who have been injured or developed a debilitating disease, it helps reestablish that connection.

For more information, including upcoming shooting events for 2015, please visit www.pva.org/shootingsports or contact Andy MacDonald, Associate Director for Shooting Sports, at andym@pva.org.

For more information on the Nevada Chapter, please visit http://nevadapva.org/ or contact Julie Johnson, Executive Director at nvpva@aol.com.