WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:08.240 Welcome to Stories of Special Forces Operators Podcast. Listen to 2 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:11.679 some of the bravest and toughest people on the planet 3 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:23.079 share their stories. Sit back and enjoy. 4 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:31.320 Welcome back everybody. Today, we have a returning guest, one 5 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:34.759 of our favorite guests, Dale Comstock. He's got a hell 6 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:36.359 of a resume, so let's go ahead and start off 7 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:39.159 with that. Dale has six degree black belts in American 8 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:41.520 Open Karate and extension fighting with a first of you 9 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:45.119 black belt in jiu Jitsu. There's a professional boxer, kickboxer, 10 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:49.280 MMA fighter. You might remember he was also in Delta Force. 11 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:52.399 That's right. He authored the Third Special Forces Group Combatis 12 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:55.560 Manual in nineteen ninety seven, instructed the Delta Force Combatist 13 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:59.039 Program and the Third Special Forces Group Combatist Program as 14 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:03.679 well also competitive bodybuilder. It's actually too much to actually 15 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:06.920 list on here of what he's done. Served ten years 16 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:10.120 in the Delta Force as an Assault Explosives, Mechanical, Ballistic 17 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:13.480 and Manual breacher, team leader, Third Special Forces Group as 18 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:16.439 a Green Beret. You can find more about Dale at 19 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:19.959 Dalecomstock dot com Dalecomstock dot com. He's also got a 20 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.599 great book called American Badass, The True Story of a 21 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:26.640 modern day Spartan. You can also find them on Instagram 22 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:28.879 and I do it. What did that Instagram account? I 23 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:31.959 just lost it, whole lot of folks. It's a official 24 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:35.719 American Badass. That's what it was, Official American Badass. You 25 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:38.560 can find him over there on Instagram. I definitely check 26 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.560 him out over there as well. So you can find 27 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:42.920 them at dale comstock dot com, Official American Badass on 28 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:46.719 Instagram and his book American Badass. So we're going to 29 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:49.079 do today. We're going to be talking about martial arts. 30 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.439 We're going to be talking about self defense philosophy, about 31 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:54.640 self defense and martial arts and a whole lot more 32 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:56.480 and what he learned in the Delta Force and how 33 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.560 that contributed to his martial arts training as well. Before 34 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:02.879 we get started, you know what to do, Share, subscribe, 35 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:04.239 hit that I like, but you know we like it, 36 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:07.200 so let's not waste any more time. Welcome back dale Comstock. 37 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:10.199 Welcome back, sir, Yeah man, thanks for having me back. 38 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:12.639 Thank you well. We loved you the first time and 39 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:15.199 I love you the second time. So this one is 40 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.400 fascinating case. We're gonna twist a little bit the topic 41 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:22.000 this time. We're going into more about self defense, martial arts, 42 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.240 the philosophy of fighting, and the world of martial arts 43 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.759 as you know, and maybe I'll delve into this later. 44 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:30.919 I'll definitely deflop into this letter has changed a lot. 45 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:32.960 It's just there's so many fascets to it. We're going 46 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:34.599 to cover that in a minute. Well, first thing I 47 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:37.080 want to do is learn what motivated you to ever 48 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:39.039 get into the martial arts. 49 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:44.199 Well, I actually started. My father got me involved in 50 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:47.319 martial arts around the age of twelve, I think twelve thirteen, right, 51 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:50.800 So I lived in Germany most of my childhood. My 52 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:53.479 father was the US Army, my mom was German. And 53 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:56.919 my dad came home one day and one of his 54 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:01.960 soldiers in this platoon, in fact, his name was Sargeant Evangelista. 55 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:05.319 He was a black belt and he taught shota kan 56 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:08.039 karate and he he was just teaching karate on his 57 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:10.240 own in the evenings, right, And so my Dad's like, hey, 58 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:13.520 you know, my one of my soldiers was teaching martial arts, 59 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:16.840 went on karate, so it's okay, And I got into 60 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:19.159 it like that, right, So I ended up training under him, 61 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:22.599 got my blue belt and showeda kan karate initially, and 62 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:25.360 so that was my start. My dad kind of just 63 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:28.759 got me involved in it, and uh and then as 64 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:31.000 time went by, you know, I never study any more 65 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:34.039 martial arts, but I certainly had a I had a 66 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:37.800 pension for fighting. I was bullied a lot growing up. 67 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:40.879 I was actually a little run But just because I 68 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:42.680 was bullied though, it didn't mean I lost my fights. 69 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.639 I was actually really good. I became a little scrapper, 70 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:47.560 you know. I had my mom and dad's you know, 71 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:51.840 tenacity and temper and so I never really I always 72 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:54.240 kind of had a passion for it, and I can 73 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:58.879 remember cultivating it when I lived in Sacramento. So I 74 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:01.639 was in high school, and I was a loner, you know, 75 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:05.719 because we changed high school about once a year, four years, 76 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:07.719 so right in the middle of the year, we moved 77 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:10.759 around a lot, from Germany to Arizona to San Francisco 78 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:15.439 to Sacramento, and so as a consequence, and because of 79 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:20.040 my personality, I didn't make friends very easily. I was 80 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:24.079 very introverted, and so as a loaner and I spent 81 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:26.839 a lot of time by myself. And I remember my dad, 82 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:28.279 you know, he bought me a bunch of weights for 83 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:31.399 the garage and a heavy bag, a punching bag, and 84 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:33.959 I would go out there and beat the living dog 85 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:36.560 shit crap out of this canvas punching bag. Man. My 86 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:39.800 knuckles were always bleeding stuff, but I just had this 87 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:41.399 I was like a little pit pool man. I don't 88 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.000 know why, but maybe I was taking my frustrations out 89 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.839 on it. But I really enjoyed punching the bag. And 90 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:51.639 I loved watching boxing. And one of my mentors at 91 00:04:51.639 --> 00:04:55.040 the time was Sugar Ray Leonard. I just love the 92 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:57.560 way that guy box man, you know, And I always 93 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.959 had a vision of boxing like this guy. I really did. 94 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:04.319 And so then I finally joined the army and went 95 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:09.079 into the army. You know, again, I wasn't into boxing, 96 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:12.160 but if I had an opportunity to punch a heavy 97 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:15.000 bag or punch somebody else, I took advantage of it. 98 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:17.680 But I remember, even in the military, there was a 99 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:19.920 time when I was in eighty second we used to 100 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:25.040 have what's called, uh like division field days, and it 101 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:28.879 was just one day where you know, all the units 102 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:35.720 would compete, you know, like for example, tuggle worre contest, running, weightlifting, whatever, right, 103 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:39.519 and one of the events was boxing and uh so 104 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:41.360 I jumped right in on that. I was like, yeah, 105 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:44.199 you know, and they basically were tough man contests right 106 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.439 between the soldiers. Yeah, you know, you know it was 107 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:50.199 funny too is back then that was all cool. And 108 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:52.439 then when we were all done, you know, you know, 109 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:56.079 the division or the battalion storty of major bring out 110 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:58.279 kegs of beer and we'd all get drunk drinking beer 111 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.639 in afternute. You know. That was there was a time 112 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:02.319 back in the in the Army when I was in, 113 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:05.720 especially in the eighty second Airborne Division, that it was 114 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:09.360 okay during lunch to drink three beers. You could literally 115 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:11.959 go across the street pre lunch break at the snack 116 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.879 bar and drink beer, right, and three was a limit. 117 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:18.800 And also they had strippers on for brag, right, so 118 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:22.000 you could go across the streets the Nco Club, you know, 119 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:24.560 and eat your lunch, drink some beers and watch strippers. Man, 120 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:27.160 how cool was that? Right? Now? You know, the Armies 121 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:30.199 got back there was getting really woke and all this crap, 122 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:31.959 you know, and they just made took all the foot 123 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:34.480 out of it. But even tough man contest. But then 124 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:37.600 eventually what happened was, you know I ended up in 125 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.480 the in the unit in Delta Force. I really got 126 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:44.279 into combatives with a lot of the other operators, you know, 127 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.160 we started doing a lot of martial arts. We started 128 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:49.839 building our own martial arts dojo's and gyms and and uh, 129 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.759 that's how I really got into it, is because there 130 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:56.800 were guys there like me that just loved to train 131 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.759 and fight, you know, and box and wrestle and grapple, 132 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:03.600 and and then that led to, Uh, one day, my 133 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:06.199 son who was four and a half at the time, 134 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:09.680 and uh, he loved the Ninja Turtles. Man. He was 135 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.680 all about Ninja turtles and so, you know, and he 136 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:15.720 was always out in the front yard doing karate kicks, 137 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:18.040 you know, and Ninja turtle stuff. And I looked dot 138 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:20.959 him one day I said, Jamie said, I said, you 139 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.519 like karate. He goes, yeah, yea. I said, you want 140 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.279 to learn how to do karate like Ninja Turtles. Yeah, 141 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:29.759 I said, okay, And so I ended up taking them. 142 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:31.800 The first place I took him was to the y 143 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:35.680 mc HS and they had they had a taekwondo instructor 144 00:07:35.720 --> 00:07:38.199 there and we show up and this guy and so 145 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.360 basically all the parents dropped their kids off and they 146 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:42.879 went shopping and it was it was a daycare for them. 147 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:45.560 So this poor guy's running around trying to keep all 148 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:48.240 the everybody in what There was no training going on. 149 00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:50.680 It was just him trying to manage a bunch of 150 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:53.160 wild kids till their parents came back. So I kind 151 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:56.560 of frustrated with that, and I called another friend of mine. 152 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.480 I said, hey, I said part man, I said, you know, 153 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:01.720 I told him, iut Glemma goes, you need to call 154 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:05.000 this guy, Jim Smoky West and who is a former 155 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.079 Green Beret. This guy is a notorious fighter. U huh 156 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:12.279 had a hell of a reputation in the army and uh, 157 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:14.920 the guys are freaking amazing, man. So I call him. 158 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:16.920 He goes, yeah, I'm running class right now. Just come 159 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:19.079 on over. So I bring my son over there, and 160 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.560 uh we walk in. There's all these kids about his 161 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:23.759 age out there fighting right. They got these big, like 162 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:26.079 woofleball bats with foam on and beating the shit out 163 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.199 of each other. And he looks at my son, go 164 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:29.879 out there and have some fun. Grab one's bats. So 165 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:31.399 he goes out there and they're beating the hell out 166 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:33.559 of each other. No, and my kids smile. He's having 167 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:36.120 a good time, you know. And and uh and we 168 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:38.080 got to talking and I said, what do you think, James? 169 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:39.440 He goes, yeah, yeah, I like that. I like this, 170 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:41.480 you know, he like four and a half man. And 171 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:43.879 uh and so I said, well, we're in man, I said, 172 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:46.399 I said, in fact, since we're at it, and I'm 173 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.000 bringing my kid, gonna bring my kid to train with you. 174 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:49.799 I said, I'm gonna go ahead train with him, you know, 175 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:51.960 while we both just make a father son thing, you know. 176 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.200 So that's that started my next journey in martial arts 177 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.960 with Jim Smoky West. You can google guy on the 178 00:08:57.960 --> 00:09:03.840 internet fightfast dot com. The guy's amazing man, scary fighter, Man, 179 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.720 scary fighter. H I mean, I can tell you a 180 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:09.840 tons of stories about this guy getting his nose cut 181 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:13.600 off and bar fights with bombles. Yeah he was. I mean, 182 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:15.559 he was a wreck, but he never lost a fight 183 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:18.559 due he was. You don't want to fight this guy anyway. 184 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:21.960 I ended up training for him for years. I was 185 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.960 only one of two black belts that he trained as 186 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:28.720 fighters and that actually earned black belts through him, because 187 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:31.279 in order to get a black belt through his system, 188 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.159 you literally had to fight for it. Like for real. 189 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:36.519 I mean we would literally go to other dojo's, close 190 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:40.039 the doors, and it was a it was a street fight, okay, 191 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:43.519 and no no point system. It was your skills against 192 00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:45.559 this guy's skill. Let's see what you got. You want 193 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:47.879 to earn that belt, earn it, you know. And not 194 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:49.600 only did I earn my belt that way, but so 195 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:51.840 did my kids. Nothing like watching your you know, your 196 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:54.320 seven year old kid out there, you know, fight with 197 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:56.120 another kid to get his black belt. I mean like 198 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:58.759 getting it on. It's like street fight. Your daughter, same 199 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:01.039 thing out there fighting you know, another black belt to 200 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.799 get a brown belt like I am. But we earned 201 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.039 the belts, right. It wasn't just you know, going through 202 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.720 codders and forums and looking pretty. This was we we 203 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:14.240 We earned it, man, through blood, sweat and tears. And 204 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:16.480 so it was actually through gim that I earned, you know, 205 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:19.799 start earning my black belts. My son earned his black belt. 206 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:21.960 In fact, my son got his black belt by the 207 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:25.279 age of seven, started four and a half. Yeah. We 208 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:28.679 were dedicated, man. We went several times a week. We trained, trained, trained, 209 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:32.360 you know. And when I started my son, I said, listen, man, 210 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.639 I said, here's the deal. I said, if you tell 211 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:36.960 me you want to do this, and we start. I said, 212 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:39.320 here's the rule. I said the rules. You can't quit 213 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:40.679 until you get your black belt. 214 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:54.000 Sope, we're breaking up a little bit. So you were 215 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:55.519 talking about you made the rule, he had to get 216 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.960 a black belt. He couldn't stop to that. 217 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:01.080 Yeah, it was you know, so what I require with commitment, right, 218 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:03.919 and again that's all the life lesson for him as 219 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:06.879 well as like, man, you know, you know, not only 220 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:08.679 are going to get your you have to be committed 221 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:10.559 to get your black belt, but really you have to 222 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:12.639 be committed anything you do in life, you know. And 223 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:15.799 so that's the pall with most people. They start something 224 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:17.840 and they don't they can't finish it, and then they 225 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:20.519 wonder why, you know, their life is a dismal failure, 226 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.240 you know, they live a life and fulfilled. It's because 227 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:26.679 you're not committed. And uh and I'm not. I'm not 228 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:30.120 a listen, I'm you know, say what you will. But 229 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.960 my kids have been very successful because of that philosophy. 230 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.919 It's like, are you sure you want to do this, Yes, 231 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.399 you're committed. Yes, here's the rule, and then off we go, 232 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:41.879 and we're not going to redig on that, right, So 233 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.240 you're going to finish it, and that's all to do it. 234 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:46.200 And so if you want to get out of this, 235 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.120 you better earn your black belts fast, you kid, the 236 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:49.840 faster you're your black belt, the faster you get out 237 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.120 of it. Right. But my kid actually enjoyed it, you know, 238 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:55.480 and uh, and it really became a way of life almost. 239 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:57.600 You know, he knew that we were training every day 240 00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:00.080 or every couple of days or every three days, and 241 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:01.720 it is what it is. And you're gonna go there 242 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:04.039 and you're gonna put out, you're gonna perform and uh, 243 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:06.679 and you're gonna do the best you can. So that's 244 00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:09.399 kind of how I got into got back into in 245 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:13.120 the martial arts was because of my son getting him involved. 246 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:15.360 And then my daughter one day like, Dad, can I 247 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.840 do it? And I told her it's the same story. 248 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:20.440 I said, you start, you finished, right, And so you know, 249 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:23.279 I got my whole family engaged, and uh, it became 250 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:27.600 a family affair and so I you know, for me, 251 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:31.399 it was not just enough to go to training every 252 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:35.080 day and meet all the training task and requirements and 253 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:39.200 get my belts and then my certificate. I'm the guy 254 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:42.679 that wants to one, apply what I learned and make 255 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:48.200 sure it works show me. Two. I'm always going trying 256 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:49.799 to get to the next level. And for me, the 257 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.799 next level was sort of getting in street fights and 258 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:55.399 being a bar braller was getting in a ring and 259 00:12:55.480 --> 00:13:00.840 actually fighting all aspects. So I started kickboxing. I started, 260 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:03.240 I started getting a tough man contest. I won the 261 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:06.240 Gory Limit, a tough Man Championship. I wanted a bunch 262 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:09.480 of tough man contests. Then I started getting into m 263 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:11.919 m A. Actually I fought the first valley Tudo match 264 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:16.360 in nineteen ninety six in Richmond, Virginia. Is a street fight, 265 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:19.960 three five minute rounds, no rules, just fucking do things, 266 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:23.759 do stuff entertainment. And I came out of that night 267 00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:25.519 with two broken hands. The other guy came out of 268 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:28.200 neck brace. Uh. We beat the hell out of each other. 269 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:33.159 But that's kind of what you know. That's the level 270 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:37.120 I wanted to get to. I wanted. I wanted to 271 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:40.480 not only train, but I wanted to test my skills 272 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:43.039 and be confident that what I know is gonna work 273 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:46.720 when the chips are down right. So I've probably had 274 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.080 in my lifetime at least a couple of hundred fights, 275 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:54.399 street fights, you know, a couple hundred since I can remember, 276 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.480 you know. And uh, Now I don't fight as much. 277 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:01.480 I don't have to because honestly, I feel like I'm 278 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:05.200 so well trained that I when I walk in anywhere, 279 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:10.279 I'm so confident in myself and my skills that I 280 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:13.320 think people almost can sense the energy. And uh and 281 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:19.320 nobody nobody harasses me, nobody bothers me. And uh now, 282 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:21.360 at least on this part of the world. I'm in 283 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:24.279 Bali right now. For the audience that's listening, I live 284 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:27.480 in Bali. I also live in Florida. I also have 285 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:29.799 a home in uh in Manila, so I kind of 286 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:33.120 travel and live out with suitcase. But uh, what's interesting 287 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:35.360 is on this side of the world, in the East, 288 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:39.000 here people are not as They're not dickheads like in 289 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:40.720 the US. Man I go to US, I go to 290 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:42.639 a bar with my wife, it's like everybody wants to 291 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:44.600 start a fight with me, you know, and they want 292 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:48.759 to disrespect me and chase my wife. And so I gotta, 293 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.600 you know, I gotta, I gotta put people in check, 294 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.840 but not so much here. But anyways, my point I'm 295 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.679 trying to make is I don't really have to fight 296 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:59.320 as much anymore, and I choose not to because I'm 297 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:02.159 honestly afraid I'm gonna kill somebody. I hate to punch 298 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:03.759 a guy, knock him out and he falls and hits 299 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.480 his head on a barstool or on the ground, he's dead, right, 300 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:08.840 It's like, oh shit, you know, I've seen it happen, 301 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.799 and I don't want to go down that road. I 302 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:15.200 got too much to lose. So my martial arts I 303 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.519 use in a defensive capacity only if I only if 304 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:22.559 I need to, and I'll just use just enough force 305 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:26.879 graduated response to call the situation and be able to 306 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.919 walk away because I'm really that's my biggest fears. I'm 307 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:34.840 going to hurt somebody, really, and not even intentionally accidentally, 308 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.799 you know, but intentionally I can do it. I have 309 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:40.960 done it. But there's nothing there's nothing greater than having 310 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:43.159 that kind of confidence in your skill set, your martial 311 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:47.039 arts that you can go anywhere. And I have that, 312 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:50.440 And I don't want to use the word fear fearless. Okay, 313 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.840 there's a big difference between fearlessness and courage and confidence. Right, 314 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:58.840 So the courageous guy acts in spite of his fear. Okay, 315 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:01.279 he's a hero. He's courageous, you know, in spite of 316 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:03.960 his fear. Fear, he did it anyways. A fearless guy 317 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.799 is too done to recognize when he's in trouble and 318 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:08.519 does it anyways. Right. So, you know, we were all 319 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.559 fearless kids. When we're a teenager who were jumping off 320 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:13.279 the rooms of houses doing dumb ship you're not realizing, 321 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:15.320 you know, what could have happened to us, right, and 322 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:18.679 we're here to talk about today. Uh. I'm a confident guy, 323 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.519 you know, in that I don't have to be courageous. 324 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:24.840 I don't have to overcome a fear to fight people. 325 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:29.639 I'm not like a crazy lunatic that fights fearlessly, you know, 326 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:32.320 because that guy is, you know, danger to himself. I'm 327 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:34.519 a confident guy. I'm so confident in my skill sets 328 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:39.039 that you know, and I and I project that that uh, 329 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:42.919 that confidence that people usually give me way and even 330 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:46.399 if they don't, I don't lose my ship, I don't 331 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:49.159 lose my mind. I don't I don't I don't go 332 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:55.600 berserker on anybody. I'm very methodlo uh, methodical calculating fighter, 333 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:59.480 and and I'm very efficient and very fast, and again, 334 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.279 it's not because I'm superhuman. It's because I was dedicated 335 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:08.000 to the training. I learned my craft. I vetted it, 336 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:10.440 you know, I tested it. And by the way, you know, 337 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:13.880 just because I went through a one A system doesn't 338 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:17.200 mean I bought into the entire system. What I do 339 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:20.559 is I'm an eclectic martial artists. Right, what works work? 340 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:23.640 You know, If this works, I'm gonna throw this into 341 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.599 my toolbox and it becomes a part of the system. 342 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:29.559 If this is too bullshit, then I'm not using this, right, 343 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:32.319 I'm not going to get hurt using something that looks 344 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:34.200 good in the dojo but really doesn't work in a 345 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.039 street fight. So in that regard, I'm an eclectic fighter. 346 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:39.039 But I'm very good at my Like I said, my craft, 347 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:42.640 and I've honed it over the years. I've been studying 348 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:46.799 martial arts since i was a teenager. I'm still studying 349 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:49.319 to this day. We're never really an expert, even though 350 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:53.960 I may hold several black belts, you know, I'm always learning, 351 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.960 and there's always a guy out there. There's bigger, bad, 352 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:57.680 or faster than me, you know, And I'm getting up 353 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:00.640 in age. So not that that's a because I will 354 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.559 scrap with anybody at the age of sixty, and I 355 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:05.519 know I can. I'll beat down most men that are 356 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:09.000 half my age easily all day long. But uh, I 357 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:11.799 know it's possible, so I avoid that. I've got a 358 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:14.960 beautiful wife, kids, you know, and beautiful wife, and I 359 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.440 don't want to jeopardize that by you know, I don't 360 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.440 have to prove anything anymore. I really don't. So but 361 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:23.200 it's you know, for anybody who's listening out there and 362 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:26.279 you and you have kids, it's probably one of the 363 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:28.759 best things. You know. It doesn't make it in the bullies, 364 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:32.799 you know, you know, the people you know, don't abuse 365 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.440 your skill set to go out there and beat up 366 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.039 other kids on the playground. Let me tell you, man, 367 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:39.039 it's great confidence builder for your children. It does teach 368 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:41.680 them self discipline, It teaches them a lot of things, 369 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.720 you know. And uh and when they when they're good 370 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.400 enough that they had that confidence that I have, they 371 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:50.480 walk through this world just you know, without fear, man, 372 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:53.200 And uh, that's a great thing. You know. It's a 373 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:56.000 great thing, you know, to have to raise a lion 374 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.160 rather than raise a sheep. 375 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:02.680 You're answering that. Half my questions all righty. They always 376 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:04.319 had that ability. 377 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:06.480 Then I like to talk, Manny, I'm the I always 378 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:09.400 tell my podcast I was gonna listen. I'm the easiest 379 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.279 guy you'll ever interview. All you got to do is 380 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.599 introduce me. Just get up and lead. Go shop it 381 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:15.519 for about an hour, hour and a half, get some coffee. 382 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:17.400 I got this, and then you come on back and 383 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.480 close it out. We're done. 384 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.519 It's like I gave you a list of questions and 385 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:24.119 just answered them all. But you make great points because 386 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:28.240 you know, I was reading studies. I'm academic at heart here. 387 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:32.359 But it was interesting because people misunderstand that because what 388 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:36.200 I've read so far, anybody who does the traditional arts, 389 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:40.519 whether it be karate, kung fu, jiu jitsu, the children 390 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:43.319 actually tend to be better. They tend to be more respectful, 391 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:45.799 they tend to be more disciplined, and if the instructors 392 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:49.200 are teaching, that definitely improves it. The ones that are 393 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:52.559 more problematic that so far that they found were MMA 394 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:55.319 studios where they trained them to fight in the UFC 395 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:58.079 or things of that nature. That did some of them 396 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.680 ended up being more aggressive because of the that factor. 397 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:03.200 But so that was kind of interesting. That's kind of 398 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.079 what I wanted to talk to you, because actually, just 399 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:08.160 two weeks ago somebody had punched somebody in a streets right, 400 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:12.519 and he died and it wasn't even a martial artist. 401 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:18.839