The second rule of Fight Club? Figure out how to post two videos in one post.

Knuckle Sandwich on Rye

A few months ago, I started training in the Army hand-to-hand fighting system. That's right, as a part of my training out here, I've elected to come to work a 5am thrice a week to roll around on a mat with sweaty dudes.

It's a blend of Brazilian ju-jitsu and wrestling and focuses on ground fighting as opposed to the punches and kicks you see in the movies. It's pretty basic at this level and it emphasizes three basics. First you have to close the distance between you and your enemy, meaning you have to aggressively engage him and get as close as you can to him thus nullifying his punches and kicks, and ideally, taking him to the ground. Then you have to fight for position, meaning you have to be in a dominate body position and you get there by using you strength and technique and using his weight and imbalance against him. Once in a dominant position you can proceed to finish the fight using chokes and submissions (at least at this level.) Anyway, as a part of our certification process and to test our mettle, we were required to be choked into unconsciousness. It's important for us to recognize how our bodies (indeed, how we ourselves) react in such a situation. Anyway, here's me getting choked out:

I was also required to close in on one of the instructors who would punch us full-force. My job was to avoid/absorb the blows and put him in a standing position where he's off balance.

Anyway, the whole thing was actually a lot of fun and the workout was great. I thought I had endurance before, but seven minutes of fighting drills and "ll be sweating like I just got out of the shower.

Anyway, on that note...

Miss you guys.

It Just Shows to Go You...

...how tough Stephen Colbert truly is.

And the kicker is that Stephen's Drill Sergeant is DS Chantz, one of several Drill Sergearts I had the pleasure of getting to know at lovely Fort Jackson, S.C. (And he wasn't nearly this cuddly in real life. Yeek!)

Word. Glad that's over.

Whaaa?

So.

I've joined the US Army. Big shocker I know, but there are reasons. Honest.

I was worried about telling you guys because I was worried about what you all would think about my decision. There are a lot of benefits (and naturally a number of unpleasant realities) and I did think a long hard time about the decision. I figured that if I presented it as a fait accompli you guys couldn't get too mad. Am I being too defensive?

Anyway, we can have a dialogue about the whole thing in the comments section. I'll try to keep abreast of any questions you may have and check in on a regular basis.

-Rusty