Searching (The Courthouse) For Count Dante

Well, you gotta' hand it to Floyd Webb; he's getting his Black Belt in multiple diciplines: Film making, Chicago martial history, and copyright litigation.
Floyd has been diligently working on his film "The Search For Count Dante", about the enigmatic and ethically challenged Karate master of 1960's Chicago. A trailer for the movie can be found at the highlited passage above.
Dante (AKA John Keehan) captured the ideals of young martial artists across the country, by hawking his "Deadliest Fighting Secrets" booklet in the back of comic books. A picture of Dante and crew appears at the top of the Dojo Rat Blog, something I have been mildly threatened about (See "Of Dante And Dojo Rats").
In the course of filming the movie, Floyd has run into a great deal more than he anticipated. This includes elements of organized crime, military operatives, Voodoo Gurus, and charges of copyright infringement. It seems everybody wants a piece of the action, with generational family legacies hanging in the balence.
Floyd is currently in court, being challenged by William Aguiar jr. over the copyright for Dante images and effects, many of which had already appeared in the public domain.
The court case could be settled next week. For a complete update with details only Floyd can explain, drop on by Floyd's website at THIS LINK.

The Buck Stops Here

Hunter Gets His Ass Kicked By Deer - Watch more free videos

Ha,ha-- I just had to put this one up...
I have a friend named Al. Al is strong as hell, wrestled on his college team and was also competitive in Judo. When he hangs sheetrock, it's a sight to behold-- Al is an "animal".
He's also an avid hunter. One night he and his girlfriend were driving to a party held at a clients house for the construction crew that had just completed their project. It's down a long gravel road crossing some swamps, and half-way down, there was a big Buck and a couple of Does standing in the middle of the road. Al inched the truck up till he was almost touching the Buck with his bumper, but the Deer wouldn't move.
Well, Al took off his wide-brimmed hat, got out and grabbed the buck by the antlers and tried to Bulldog it to the ground. Both animal and Al hit the gravel, locked in a death grip. His girlfriend, a beautiful and petite Thai girl, tried to help him, as the Bucks hooves kicked her shins (she showed me the cuts).
As he's telling me the story, I asked him "Al, what the hell did you think you were going to do? Pull out a knife and stab him or something"?
Al said all he could do was hang on. Eventually both animal and Al were exausted.
Me: What happened?
Al: I let him go.
Me: Was he hurt?
Al: His neck was pretty sore, and he staggered as he walked away.
So Al and his girlfriend got back in the truck and went to the party. Only Al had his pants completely torn off him and distroyed by the Buck kicking him. They had to ask the hostess if she could loan him something to wear for the party, and he would return it later.

--And that's how Al got that nice pair of pink sweatpants.

Dojo Rat Visits Mia St. John

Well, well, well... While prattling about the Internet, I found that not one, not two, but three Dojo Rat articles are on the Zimbo homepage of former Playboy model and womens boxing champion Mia St John.
Mia is a long-time Tae Kwon Do champion who turned to a successful boxing career, and looks like she may be looking for a little mixed martial art experiance.
Here's an interview with her:

And at one point she was courted by Hugh Hefner of Playboy, and not only appeared in the magazine, she was "The Cover Girl". Sorry I don't have those pictures for you-- but take a look at her second round in this fight; she has superior technique, better conditioning and totally kicks ass:

This one is for the Chicago boys out there, they've had a rough week or so (I'll explain later). I was going to save it for our monthly feature "Cute Hippie Chick Of The Month", but I think Mia might kick my ass if she didn't like to be put in that category.
Enjoy!

Smile; You're NOT On Candid Camera!

Surveillance Camera Defense

Years ago, I resented computer technology because I precieved it to be a harbinger of a computer-driven Police State. Then I began to realize that if anybody is capeable of defeating a computer-driven Orwellian Police State, it's the Cyber-punks and young computer Gurus. Now I embrace the technology and have a great respect for citizen counter-measures.
Europeans are way ahead of Americans in the use of surveillance cameras. They are now using cameras that are monitored in real-time and have speakers in them that can shout out to citizens on the street and give them instructions.
With this going on, it didn't take long for someone to figure out a passive way to defeat these surveillance cameras. In a German article/press release at THIS LINK,(German) the device is profiled. It is worn headlamp-style, and because it is infrared it emits no visible light-- it only affects the cameras. Here is a picture of the device, with small battery pack:

And here is a portion of the article that has been translated from German by Google:
IR ASC - infrared light against surveillance cameras
( english ) IR.ASC [ iràs ] infra-redlight against surveillance camera (English) IR.ASC [iràs] infra-redlight against surveillance camera
Infrarotlicht gegen Überwachungskameras Infrared light against surveillance cameras

The URA / FILOART developed device promises to the citizens of a more reliable protection against security measures of the state (and other Überwachenden).. IR.ASC offers the safety and security has therefore to the asymmetry of power between the individual and Überwachenden.
In addition to monitoring purposes organised systems interaction between man and machine is still IR.ASC an additional interaction between machines dar. This absurd accumulation of technology is symptomatic, because although the entire expense of the protection measures for the alleged safety of citizens is made, the person slips on the importance scale of the current security plan ever deeper down.
IR.ASC ist ein Infrarotlicht - Gerät zum Abschirmen vor Infrarotüberwachungskameras. IR.ASC is an infrared light - to the device before Divining infrared surveillance cameras. Es kann ohne besonderes technisches Wissen von jedem nachgebaut werden. There is no special technical knowledge of each reconstructed. The device emits infrared light from the infrared images from surveillance cameras disturbs. The face of the person is monitored by a light ball over. IR.ASC Since the whole interaction in a non-visible spectrum (at frequencies between 780nm and 1mm), the man noticed nothing of it and he sees neither the infrared emission of radiation surveillance camera nor by the IR.ASC

(D.R.) Now I imagine that it won't take long for the authorities to deem these devises illegal, as to the possibility that they could be used in the commission of a crime. During the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle, the police outlawed gas masks in an effort to make protestors vulnerable to pepper spray.
When you outlaw gas masks, only outlaws will have gas masks.
What will they outlaw next?

The Gangs Of New York

Back in our previous post- "Kung Fu Congressman", readers Hand2Hand and Scott are having a lively debate as to - believe it or not- the causes of the Civil War. H2H comments that "The average Yankee working stiff was forced to fight", which got me thinking about the movie "The Gangs of New York".
According to Wikipedia, the movie is based on Herbert Asbury's 1928 book by the same name. In it, we are introduced to "Bill The Butcher", played by knife-wielding Daniel Day-Lewis - Crime boss and political king-maker. The dark settings of poverty stricken immigrants scraping out a living in - literally "the underground", and the display of inner city violence reminds us that ghettos weren't just a modern social issue. The movie culminates in a bloody fight between "Nativists", those from old families born in the United States, against the mostly Irish immigrants. This happens at the same time that Draft Riots break out, protesting conscription into the Union Army. A huge three-way skirmish occurs, with Union Naval ships firing cannons into the crowds of knife and hatchet wielding gang fighters.
This is all based on actual draft riots that happened as depicted in the movie. There is a fantastic wikipedia entry about the riots which is very detailed at THIS LINK.
As in modern times, rich kids could either pay $300 to get out or get some other poor bastard to go fight for them. Kind of an early version of George Bush's "National Guard" service (flying martinis).
As in most out-of-control civic brawls, there was much looting and scapegoating, with poor blacks being targeted and killed also.
Can you imagine what would happen if a draft was proposed for an unpopular and likely illegal war/occupation such as today's Iraq debacle? And yet, with top Generals admiting that mismanagement has nearly destroyed the effectiveness of our fighting forces, Bush will dump the whole mess (occupation, economic recession, etc.) in the lap of the next administration.
Avoiding draft riots is one of the main reasons we are seeing the rise of private mercenary contractors such as those of Blackwater, which were already used in our country also, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast.
"The Gangs of New York" is a dark and frightening movie with solid historical roots, and a whole lot of knife fights-- it's well worth watching.

Re-post: Wild West UFC

** I thought it would be good to re-post this, on the heels of the story about Abraham Lincoln defeating Jack Armstrong in a well remembered wrestling match. The match was rough, but nothing like some of the old frontieer fights. Below is what I believe to be one of the most brutal made-for-tv fight scenes I have ever seen, and thanks to Scott from "Weakness With A Twist" for a piece of narrative he provided--
D.R.


In a follow-up to my previous post on the UFC I thought it somewhat appropriate to run this video from HBO's excellent show "Deadwood". The background is a long-awaited fight between the enforcers for compeating intrests in the rapidly growing gold town of Deadwood, South Dakota. In this scene, Swearingen's man Dan Fights Hurst's man "The Captain", and it ain't pretty. If people can get beyond the murder, mayhem and non-stop swearing in this series, I highly reccomend it- it's available through netflicks.
The point of all this is this is how a real fight took place in the old days. My suggestion to all those UFC fans is that the UFC has rules because it is a sport. There can be no finger-locking, vital point or pressure point striking. There is a referee that can stop the fight.
Take a look at this post from Scott at "Weakness With A Twist". It describes a nearly similar fight that took place. Here's an excerpt:

The…sport of bragging and fighting was also introduced to the American backcountry, where it came to be called “rough and tumble.” ….it was a savage combat between two or more males (occasionally females), which sometimes left the contestants permanently blinded or maimed. A graphic description of “rough and tumble” came from the Irish traveler Thomas Ashe, who described a fight between a West Virginian and a Kentuckian. A croud gathered and arranged itself into an impromptu ring. The contestants were asked if they wished to “fight fair” or “rough and tumble.” When the chose “rough and tumble,” a roar of approval rose from the multitude. the two men entered the ring, and a few ordinary blows were exchanged in a tentative manner. Then suddenly the Virginian “contracted his whole form, drew his arms to his face,” and “pitched himself into the bosom of his opponent,” sinking his sharpened fingernails into the Kentuckian’s head. “The Virinain,” we are told, “never lost his hold…fixing his clows in his hair and his thumbs on his eyes, [he] have them a start from the sockets. The sufferer roared aloud, but uttered no complaint.” Even after the eyes were gouged out, the struggle continued. The Virginian fastened his teeth on the Kentuckian’s nose and bit it in two pieces. Then he tore off the Kentuckian’s ears. At last, the “Kentuckian, deprived or eyes, ears, and nose, gave in.” The victor, himself maimed and bleeding, was “chaired round the grounds,” to the cheers of the crowd.(p. 737)

So, for those that think UFC is the only way to test your fighting skills, there are a lot of techniques you are not training for...

Another Famous Illinois Martial Artist

OK you Chicago tough guys out there; Here's another famous martial artist from Illinois, this from The Bloomington South Wrestling Club:

The 16th President of the United States of America Abraham Lincoln was also a wrestler. Renowned for his wrestling skills was young Abraham Lincoln, who was the wrestling champion of his county as early as 1830, at the age of 21. Lincoln was an impressive physical specimen, thin but wiry and muscular, strengthened by hard work in the fields and towering to a mighty 6 feet, 4 inches in height. It was at this time that Lincoln had his celebrated bout with Jack Armstrong, the local tough and county wrestling champion. Lincoln was keeping the store at New Salem, Illinois, when his boss backed him to out-wrestle the feared Armstrong. From the start, Lincoln proceeded to hand out a thrashing to the local champion. Frustrated by Lincoln's enormous reach, Armstrong started fouling his opponent. Lincoln stood it for a while, but eventually lost his temper. Picking up his opponent, the storekeeper dashed him to the ground and knocked him out. Armstrong recovered in time to keep his cronies from starting a free-for-all. A couple of years later, while serving as captain of a company of the Illinois Volunteers, raised because of the Indian uprising by Black Hawk, Lincoln suffered his only recorded defeat in a wrestling bout. He fought a soldier from another unit and lost a rugged struggle by the odd fall. This time it was Lincoln who averted the free-for-all which seems of have been the customary follow-up to an individual wrestling bout. Often forsaking the ''common British'' style of collar and elbow for the free-for-all style of the frontier, Lincoln undoubtedly was the roughest and toughest of the wrestling Presidents. Also known as ''catch-as-catch-can,'' this style was more hand-to-hand combat than sport. Lincoln progressed rapidly between the ages of 19, when he defended his stepbrother's river barge from Natchez thugs, throwing the potential highjackers overboard, and 29, when he cautiously mentioned himself as possibly the second best wrestler in southern Illinois. Lincoln certainly did not achieve any national fame as a wrestler, but his career was typical of the way the sport was conducted in the first half of the 19th Century.