Stealth and wilderness survival training.

[Jarvis]

A good friend of mine who also studies stealth happens to be an artist, and uses the design of his own camouflage as an outlet for his creativity.  He's made various types of ghillie suits and painted various camo patterns on under armor.  His latest creation was an under armor top with small strips of camo netting sewn to the back and arms to break up his shape and create texture.  He didn't bother with the front since he planned on scout crawling a lot and feared snagging things.

The end result was pretty impressive.  Camo that could be put on quickly but provided texture and broke shape, yet still allowed for much freedom of movement.  It was relatively silent when he moved about too.

I imagine a cargo netting drape would be about as effective, quite possibly more so.  It completely removes outline and shape.  If you dress it up with branches and leaves, then all the better.  If your objective is remain stationary for long periods of time, then it's nearly perfect.

The disadvantages are enough to dissuade me from using it however.

1: light reflection. Man made materials reflect light in a uniform and unnatural way, creating sheen.  A major advantage to natural camo is that not only do you match color and pattern, but texture as well.  We'll talk more about that in class soon.

2: mobility and versatility.  Ghillie suits suffer the same problems.  In heavy brush, and from a distance, they work fantastically.  Up close they look like a mound of cargo netting or a person in a ghillie suit.  If you have to move to avoid a close encounter, then you'll have a difficult time doing so quietly.  Plus when you drape and hang things from your body, they telegraph your movements even more.  Ever watched a bird land in a bush?  Wearing ghillie suits and veils requires that you move even slower and more deliberately than we talked about last Sunday.

Don't get me wrong, veils and ghillie suits are perfect for what they are designed to do: remain unseen from hundreds of yards away.  Remember though, in my classes we'll be training at a different level.  We'll be looking at how to get within inches of people regardless of the environment, and sometimes with out time to prepare or camo up at all.  So I'll be putting emphasis on more versatile methods.

So, I'd recommend something similar to what my friend created when it comes to camo netting.

I'm glad you enjoyed the class.  I'm thinking of doing a basic stalking game in that lawn after the class in a couple weeks.  Sort of like BJJ, an hour or so of instruction then some time to get in there and actually apply the skills.  We'll see.  It depends on what you guys are willing to go through so early in the training.

[Amorak]

Good points.  I guess that's why it is termed "sniper" veil.  The closest that I'll ever get to the guy is with a bullet.

I like the idea about the class structure.  Don't worry about putting me out by no means.  I prefer to jump right into the middle of the heavy stuff.  I thrive on the sink or swim mentality.  That's just me, but I have a sneaky suspicion that some if not most of the others are the same way.

[Hangman]

I've got a pretty big piece of land just a couple of miles from the school.  If you guys would like to come out here and practice wilderness stuff, I'd be happy to have you as my guests.

Kyle

[Jarvis]

I really appreciate that offer Hangman.  When are you in class?  I'd like to get with you sometime and go check it out.

[Amorak]

I checked out the tracker school website.  It looks awesome.  How many of those classes have you taken Jarvis? 

[Jarvis]

Standard and Advanced Tracking and Awareness.

Tom has a different form of teaching.  He calls it coyote teaching, and the emphasis isn't put totally on the teacher.  Rather it requires a passionate student.  Imagine your stereotypical zen master who answers every question with another question.  It's up to the original asker to go put in the necessary time and effort to understand the master's words.

Well, Tom runs his school like that.  Only he does so on a mass scale.  His classes have anywhere from 70 to over 100 and only last a week.  So the end result can be compared to a shotgun blast.  In that week you receive more information than you could possible soak in.  It's then up to you to take extensive notes and go home and try and practice them all.  The subjects I'm teaching are the ones I've spent the most time practicing.  There are still things from the standard class I haven't even gotten to yet.

It's a great experience, and I'm definitely going back.  Hopefully I'll be able to afford it next year.  I've got my eyes set on that scout class.  It's not for everyone though.  Mostly because it's really expensive.

[fatgrappler]

having had professional training you probably already know this, but i'll mention it anyway. avoid anything that will make you cry out, such as yellow jackets, hornets, wild bees,and FIRE ANTS. i've hunted and played paint ball in north ga for years and learned this the hard way. also , if the other guy has dog's you might be in trouble.

[Jarvis]

Dogs are tough, but not unbeatable.  We'll be looking at techniques to mask scent.  Though even if you can fool their nose, their ears provide a whole separate challenge.  Patience is the key.

[Amorak]

I got a mutt that is part hound.  I wonder if we could use as a search dog and see how well you do at masking your scent and beating her ears.  Don't worry she is very amiable.  And rather lazy.  Her favorite past time is sleeping on the couch or next to a heater in the colder weather.  But she might provide a good challenge.

[Jarvis]

That would be fun!  I also have a night-vision monocular that I bought specifically to practice sneaking past.  These classes are more about helping and teaching you guys, but I'd love to go up against dogs and night-vision sometime.

I'd ask that you keep the dog on a leash though.  Masking scent isn't about erasing scent, it's more about smelling like something that isn't unusual in the area.  It freaks dogs out when they see something they can't easily identify by scent.  I've nearly been attacked by a very friendly dog, one that I had been playing with for two days prior.  But when I was just half camoed up with charcoal, she became frightened and enraged.  It wasn't until later that I learned that she was also known for killing black bears.

Fortunately, after I showered and once again looked/smelled like a human being, she was friendly again.

[Amorak]

Don't worry, the only thing my dog has ever killed has been flies.  And only think she managed that because the fly was lazier than she is.  But yes, I would keep her on leash.  I'm not comfortable with her completely off leash yet.  I don't think she would run away and not come back, but I don't really want to test my theory ya know.  I think that it the dog and night vision would be great tests for all of us, eventually that is.  Just not being caught by people is going to be hard enough for now. 

I've been going back and re-reading my literature on the sneak.  Knights of Darkness as we all have discussed before.  I do have a couple of books on Ninjutsu that are really good as well.  Dr. Hatsumi's book Ninjutsu: History and Tradition is really interesting.  I also have a book that is supposedly a compilation from the Tiger scroll of the Koga ninja clan.  It was wrote by Jay Sensei.  It has few interesting points in there as well.  Let me know if anyone you guys wants to borrow them.

[Jarvis]

I've read two of Dr. Haha Lung's books.  Shadowhand and Knights of Darkness.  Shadowhand didn't impress me much.  It's information on stealth was pretty rudimentary, and some of it was downright wrong.  Perhaps its tips on "hidden" strikes in martial arts are valuable, but I'm not a good judge for that.

Knights of Darkness was much better, and I do recommend that.  It didn't have much in the way of new information for me, but it did pose an interesting perspective on dealing with high tech security.  That's something I have painfully little experience with.

I'd love to read the other books you mention, just to see if they have concepts I've never heard of before.

[Amorak]

Both books are pretty much over views of techniques.  Dr. Hatsumi goes into more detail with his book.  Sensei covers a little bit of everything.  It does have some good physical training ideas in it though.  Next time you see me remind me about them, I usually have them with me. 

Here is some of Hatsumi on Mind, Body, and Kick Ass Moves

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhhkgMu7adk[/youtube]

[Amorak]

If this stealth class is going to be a regular deal, maybe we should find some sort of image to show our participation in the class for the forums.  Like with the belts.  Something like a ninja  , or I know, we can't see it because it is hiding!!   

[Jarvis]

Maybe.  There are limits to what I can do with AMACs media due to the nature of my program.  Sifu and I have already discussed a few things.

The good news is that I will take this is as far as I can depending on the success and dedication of those who participate.  The first step is getting insurance to allow me to do more things and go more places.  Of course that means earning money with this to cover the costs of insurance and my time and efforts.  As things progress I'm hoping to design an advancement system of some sort, involving trips out to the wilderness to really put these skills to the test.  If I can really make this successful I'd like to get my own website and so forth...

...but that's getting a few steps ahead of myself.  I'll have more to say about all this Sunday, but all this depends on the dedication of the students.  For now, baby steps.

So to answer your question directly, I suppose it's up to Sifu if he wants to give us our own little icon like those belts.  I'd like that.  Perhaps I'll ask if things keep going strong.