I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended the first Martial Blade Camp, held this past weekend at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO. Your outstanding attitude, interest, motivation and support made the event a tremendous success and helped establish a truly unique learning environment.
In a very brief but action-packed three days, we reviewed a large portion of the MBC four-level curriculum, covered the bulk of the Counter-Blade Craft curriculum, learned the basic combative use of the ASP/Filipino single stick, learned the basics of combative and recreational knife and tomahawk throwing, and covered some hard-core empty-hand and joint locking/breaking techniques. In the process, we had more fun than most people should be allowed to and forged some great friendships.
Thank you all for your support and your confidence in me and the MBC program. I hope to see you all again next year at the 2004 camp so we can do it all again.
Thanks also to Spyderco, Cutlery Shoppe, and Paladin Press for their generous support of the event. With their help, we gave away more than $1,500 in door prizes, ensuring that all campers had some great toys, as well as some great memories, to take home with them.
Stay safe,
mike j
Thank You to All Martial Blade Camp Attendees
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Michael Janich
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- Location: Longmont, CO USA
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travis quaas
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- Location: Denver USA
Must have been a rough weekend. I read a report in the News Paper that there were some "Yahoos" beating the pulp outta bunch of Elk. I hope it wasn't you fellas. And I don't wanna hear that you were just defending yourselves from the antlers either. JUST KIDDING (Mr. J please don't beat me up)!!
Our CFO was up there and reported that he saw the lot of you up there. He mentioned also that there were Elk feeding right outside the facility. The views must have been great, the workouts wonderful, and the folks fantastic. Not to make it sound like a backwards post card, I WISH I WAS THERE!
CONGRATS TO EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED.
TQ
Our CFO was up there and reported that he saw the lot of you up there. He mentioned also that there were Elk feeding right outside the facility. The views must have been great, the workouts wonderful, and the folks fantastic. Not to make it sound like a backwards post card, I WISH I WAS THERE!
CONGRATS TO EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED.
TQ
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expertoutfitters
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- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Texas USA
I was one of the Martial Blade Camp attendees and am compelled to compliment Mike and all of the other attendees at the camp. It was my first experience under Mike’s instruction and I must say it was a VERY positive one. Furthermore, each of the students was genuinely interested in ensuring the group took home practical defense strategy and had fun learning it.
If you are truly interested in self-defense tactics make time to attend the MBC courses! It was obvious Mike has spent thousands of hours studying and training in various martial arts, applied his knowledge to real world attacks, and established a very functional self-defense system. He presents a uniform defense strategy regardless of the tool used (empty hand, knife, stick, improvised) in a clear and strait forward format. He demonstrates each technique, allows the class to practice with each other (with training tools) under his watchful eye and willingly provides one on one instruction to those that need it. His curriculum was not presented as “the only way”, but instead as a viable option for your use or adaptation. He was open to questions and provided rational and practical responses and demonstrations. He truly made the camp an awesome experience.
The Camp participants were one of the best groups of guys I have ever trained with. Some had only been to a couple of the MBC courses and others had been to each 3 times. Their professional and martial arts backgrounds were equally different; however, this did not hinder them from training hard and having a good time. I want to thank each again for the experience and knowledge they willingly passed on. I hope we meet again.
Regardless of your experience or expertise Mike's MBC courses are well worth the time, money, and travel if you desire the ability to protect yourself or others from hostility. His tactics are sound, defendable in court and in the unfortunate event violence finds you, will give you a fighting chance at a positive outcome.
Hats off to Spyderco, Cutlery Shoppe and Paladin Press for your support of both the Martial Blade Camp and MBC courses. There is no doubt it is helping keep good people safe.
Thanks again Mike, Matt, and others! I am already making plans to train with you again!
Derek
If you are truly interested in self-defense tactics make time to attend the MBC courses! It was obvious Mike has spent thousands of hours studying and training in various martial arts, applied his knowledge to real world attacks, and established a very functional self-defense system. He presents a uniform defense strategy regardless of the tool used (empty hand, knife, stick, improvised) in a clear and strait forward format. He demonstrates each technique, allows the class to practice with each other (with training tools) under his watchful eye and willingly provides one on one instruction to those that need it. His curriculum was not presented as “the only way”, but instead as a viable option for your use or adaptation. He was open to questions and provided rational and practical responses and demonstrations. He truly made the camp an awesome experience.
The Camp participants were one of the best groups of guys I have ever trained with. Some had only been to a couple of the MBC courses and others had been to each 3 times. Their professional and martial arts backgrounds were equally different; however, this did not hinder them from training hard and having a good time. I want to thank each again for the experience and knowledge they willingly passed on. I hope we meet again.
Regardless of your experience or expertise Mike's MBC courses are well worth the time, money, and travel if you desire the ability to protect yourself or others from hostility. His tactics are sound, defendable in court and in the unfortunate event violence finds you, will give you a fighting chance at a positive outcome.
Hats off to Spyderco, Cutlery Shoppe and Paladin Press for your support of both the Martial Blade Camp and MBC courses. There is no doubt it is helping keep good people safe.
Thanks again Mike, Matt, and others! I am already making plans to train with you again!
Derek
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Michael Janich
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- Location: Longmont, CO USA
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Dear Derek:
Thank you for your post and your kind words. You summed up the experience very well, especially with regard to giving credit to your fellow participants. As I said on the first night, the camp was all about you guys, because it is your motivation and interest that makes it work. You all did great and the camp worked well. Again, thank you and welcome to the world of MBC.
For you, the other participants, and the envious folks who couldn't be there, here's a copy of the group photo. A finer bunch of people you'll never find.
Stay safe,
mike j
Thank you for your post and your kind words. You summed up the experience very well, especially with regard to giving credit to your fellow participants. As I said on the first night, the camp was all about you guys, because it is your motivation and interest that makes it work. You all did great and the camp worked well. Again, thank you and welcome to the world of MBC.
For you, the other participants, and the envious folks who couldn't be there, here's a copy of the group photo. A finer bunch of people you'll never find.
Stay safe,
mike j
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Ray Bonsteel
- Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: UTAH USA
Hello everyone!
Just wanted to thank Mike,Matt and all that attentended the MBC training camp, it was awesome! What a great time, Mike did a first class job. Mikes knowledge and back ground is amazeing!!The scenery, food and rooms were great ! along with the top notich group of students who attentended. I had a great time. I'm looking forward to next year for sure! If your looking for a life changing experience then you need to go to the next MBC training camp! you won't regret it !! Thanks again Mike!
Just wanted to thank Mike,Matt and all that attentended the MBC training camp, it was awesome! What a great time, Mike did a first class job. Mikes knowledge and back ground is amazeing!!The scenery, food and rooms were great ! along with the top notich group of students who attentended. I had a great time. I'm looking forward to next year for sure! If your looking for a life changing experience then you need to go to the next MBC training camp! you won't regret it !! Thanks again Mike!
To Mike Janich, Matt Zavakos and all who attended and supported the 2003 Martial Blade Camp,
Thank you, thank you very much.
I don’t think that I can improve on Derek’s and Ray’s descriptions of the camp, the training curriculum and the good people, so I won’t try.
But I have already set aside September 10 to 13 to attend next years Martial Blade Camp. If you are serious about MBC training (knife, stick, and empty hand) you should too.
Any day you can train with Mike is a very good day and when you can train with Mike and 20 to 30 like-minded friends, well it just doesn’t get any better.
Best to all,
Mike R
Thank you, thank you very much.
I don’t think that I can improve on Derek’s and Ray’s descriptions of the camp, the training curriculum and the good people, so I won’t try.
But I have already set aside September 10 to 13 to attend next years Martial Blade Camp. If you are serious about MBC training (knife, stick, and empty hand) you should too.
Any day you can train with Mike is a very good day and when you can train with Mike and 20 to 30 like-minded friends, well it just doesn’t get any better.
Best to all,
Mike R
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stanley_white
- Member
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: USA
A thousand thank you's to Mike and Matt for providing such a rewarding experience at the first ever Martial Blade Camp. Without a doubt I walked away with an enriched mind much more confident in my ability not only with blades but with my empty hands, ASP, and throwing weapons.
I look forward to next year's camp. Hopefully my schedule will permit me to attend so I may continue my MBC education.
-Stanley White
I look forward to next year's camp. Hopefully my schedule will permit me to attend so I may continue my MBC education.
-Stanley White