WILDERNESS SKILLS
COMBAT & SURVIVAL
|
Wilderness skills, survival training, and bushcraft are all trained at Imperial Combat Arts as part of student classes. Our survival training was developed with the combined knowledge of our Masters both past and present. This unique and in depth wilderness class fuses the knowledge of Manchurian Warriors, U.S. Special Forces, and Native American Scouts into one complete system of wilderness survival and combat.
|
|
Imperial Combat Arts has direct lineage to the Ch'ing military where our past Masters served as Imperial Guards, Hunters, and Ch'ing Special Forces; the Chien Jui Ying 健銳營, an elite group of Manchu special forces. The Ch'ien Jui Ying were soldiers trained to fight in rough terrain, overcome obstacles, use covert river navigation, and commence special attacks on fortifications. After the many wars and battles of the Ch'ing Dynasty our Masters fought more recently in the Second Sino-Japanese War, and in the Vietnam War. Our Vietnam era Masters served as U.S. Special Forces (Green Beret Officer), Instructors in survival and guerrilla tactics, Instructors of combat knife and axe fighting, and others as U.S. Infantry. One of our Instructors today has Iraqi War era U.S. military scout training and several of our Masters have trained for years under Tom Brown Jr., the world renowned North American tracker and survival expert, and have integrated some of his knowledge into our own systems. All this varied experience has accumulated into an extensive study taught at Imperial Combat Arts. Unlike short survival courses this is a long term master study available exclusively to our members as a part of their standard classes.
“There are no experts in outdoor survival. There are only students…” –Dave Ganci
STEALTH
Stealth is a core part of hunting, weapon combat, and several of the martial arts styles trained at Imperial Combat Arts. This training includes the arts of Stalking, Tracking, Traps, Evasion, Camouflage, and Ambush. Being skilled at stealth can offer significant advantage against superior numbers and far greater success at hunting when dinner is on the line. Stealth training is developed through study and practice then tested on other students and animals.
STALKING
Stalking is a fundamental skill in wilderness training used in hunting, combat, and in our martial arts that specialize in covert attacks, such as Leopard, Spider, and Panther Kung Fu. This training teaches students to move smoothly and silently in any situation, to time their movements with other sounds, and how to attack from favorable positions that negate their smell or offer advantage against multiple opponents. Stalking blends with tracking, camouflaging, ambush, and all weapon studies.
TRACKING
|
Tracking is trained at Imperial Combat Arts both for its hunting and combat applications. Students first begin this study in the classroom then begin tracking and identifying animals in the Rocky Mountains. After animals, students then begin to track each other and progressively work toward evasion and minimizing their own trail. The study of evasion takes tracking to the combat level as the hunted also trains the use of deception, traps, and ambush against those in pursuit.
|
"Everything that moves on the earth leaves a story" -Tom Brown Jr.
EVASION
Evasion is an art of moving undetected, travelling in areas and ways where one is less likely to be found, and hiding one's trail or any evidence of their presence. This study includes covert fires, hidden camps, camouflage, and how to mislead and escape people in pursuit. The study of evasion is an important facet of training taught in the military today. This skill could make all the difference when one is facing capture from hostile people in any world situation.
CAMOUFLAGE
There is an art and science to effective camouflaging, whether it's with modern gear, or camo that is improvised from nature and the environment. Camouflage is a big part of both hunting and wilderness combat or evasion situations. Imperial Combat Arts students train with modern camo and also create their own improvised camo for emergency situations or for use on school hunting excursions. Students test their camo in school competitions with airsoft guns and cat and mouse M.I.L.S.I.M.
AMBUSH
A well executed ambush can have a devastating effect on opponents and is an important part of hit & run or guerrilla style combat. There are several ambush style attacks trained in the Martial Arts and Weapon Systems at Imperial Combat Arts including the use of rope, combat knife, throws, captures, chin na, chokes, take-downs, traps, and group ambush tactics. Hunting is a similar study that exploits the trails, resources, and habits of animals to launch a successful ambush.
TRAPPING
|
The study of trapping it taught at Imperial Combat Arts firstly for survival with animal traps such as snares and dead-falls. After animal trapping students train effective and proven man traps that can be used to capture, or wound and slow down opponents. These traps are constructed and quickly removed for safety. Most of our students aside from those in active U.S. combat roles would likely never need these traps but study them and how to recognize them as part of complete training.
|
“Do you want to know the secret that will enable you to truly live off the land? Become proficient at using deadfalls and snares and you will never go hungry.” –Tony Nester
HUNTING
|
Hunting is a very traditional part of our arts with the Imperial Manchu being known for hunting even Tigers, Bear, and Boar. This skill is part of being a capable warrior with even Emperors routinely hunting in the Imperial hunting grounds. Today our members only hunting group focuses mostly on Bow Hunting and Spear Hunting with traditional Manchurian Weapons. This group will legally hunt all manner of animals that are available in the Rocky Mountains and neighboring states.
|
“…meat!” – John McPherson
FISHING
Fishing is another crucial survival skill that has a long history. Imperial Combat Arts hunting group practices spear-fishing, bow-fishing, and studies the use of nets, lines, and fish traps for survival. Fishing in Colorado helps control invasive species and harvests wild meat for consumption. Currently Colorado's waterways are beginning to open up for Bow-fishing. For our bow hunting group this a new and exciting type of archery that offers and additional avenue to test and practice our archery.
FORAGING
Foraging is perhaps one of the most important survival skills. Gathering natural resources was humanities first lifestyle that later paired with hunting. Student train how to identify native plants, nuts, berries, and insects for consumption, medicine, and for crafting purposes. Imperial Combat Arts headquarters school grows many native plants on its premises for students to practice identification and harvesting. This area of study also includes materials for weapons, shelters, cordage, and cloth.
FOOD PRESERVATION
Different plants come into season at different times and taking of large game can yield far more meat that one can consume. Naturally preserving excess meats and plants is important to prevent the waste of life saving food supply and ensure variety year around. In the Rockies the winters can be hard and preparing for it can be challenging. This study teaches how to dry, smoke, and dehydrate foods for storage and how to protect these resources from wild animals.
NAVIGATION
Primitive navigation is the study of reading the stars, sun, moon, and environment to not only tell direction but to help navigate the natural world, find water, locate animals, and if needed avoid humans. At Imperial Combat Arts this important study also includes map and compass as well as modern GPS navigation. Becoming lost is always a concern in the wilderness and claims lives most every year in Colorado. Training primitive navigation alongside other survival skills can mean life over death.
FIRST AID
Injury and illness in the wilderness presents new challenges to already difficult situations. This area of study includes making stretchers, and dealing with broken bones, puncture wounds, dehydration, exposure, etc. Medicinal plants are an important part of this study as well as prevention of these problems in advance. Imperial Combat Arts has Instructors who also work in the medical field with an EMT, Firefighter, Surgical Assistant, and Physical Therapist among our current Instructor ranks.
“Before there was medicine, there was ‘wilderness medicine’…” –Buck Tilton
WILDERNESS HAZARDS
The wilderness is full of potential dangers and one of the first areas of study is to recognize them. This part of class covers several important topics such as the dangerous of exposure, how to read and interact with animals such as bear, cats, and snakes, how to avoid areas prone to biting insects, how to keep from becoming lost, escaping and preventing forest fires, and how to recognize dangerous terrain. With good answers to these types of situations the wild becomes more survivable.
ROPES & KNOTS
Knots, lashes, and other rope work is a big part of wilderness skills. One can never have enough rope or cordage in the wild. Rope can be used for making shelters, beds, chairs, traps, weapons, bows, fire drills, fishing nets, camouflage, as well as use in climbing and traversing obstacles. Crafting rope from natural plants and animal sources is an important part of survival when one does not have survival cord. Like many thing in survival crafting cord can be a lengthy process.
RAPPELLING & TRAVERSING
|
Rappelling cliffs and traversing canyons or waterways with rope is a part of wilderness navigation. At Imperial Combat Arts students begin this study on short walls at the school and with all the modern gear. Later students practice this skill in the Rocky Mountains. Students also train primitive rappels with no harness, on short school walls. Primitive rappelling is good for emergency situations like escaping hostile opponents, emergency fire exits, or areas and buildings hit by disasters.
|
WATER SKILLS
Water skills includes the study of covert river navigation (a specialty the Ch'ien Jui Ying), primitive boating, canoeing, and flotation devices for covert use and emergency survival. This area of study also includes several water purification methods, and how to recognize signs of water in nature. Water is of course one of the most important needs in human survival and cleaning water of bacteria and parasites is crucial to remain healthy and capable in the wilderness.
CACHING & EMERGENCY PREP
Hiding equipment or food for later use or in case of emergency can make a big difference in a bad situation. Caching is the practice of dispersing your resources and hiding them from animals or people. This study trains students in Bug Out Bags, Bugging In, I.N.C.H. Bags (I'm never coming home), and Caching for the purpose of emergency survival, escape, or evacuation. This common practice is an important part of emergency preparedness and recommended for all people.
SCOUTING
Imperial Combat Arts wilderness class spends time each year scouting the Rockies for new places to hold classes. This area of study also includes locating, tracking, and gathering information about opponents, or information about an area. Scouting has long been an important part of combat and survival that requires training in all areas of wilderness skills. One of our current Instructors was trained in the U.S. Army as a 19 Delta Cavalry Scout.
SHELTERING
Exposure to the elements can at times kill in just minutes or hours. Making or finding shelter is one of the most important areas of survival study. Survival shelters can be made of earth, fur, stone, wood, or even snow and ice. This area of study also includes reading your environment to choose a good place for shelter that is safe from flooding, insects, wind, sinking cold air, and in evasion one that is also hidden from opponents. Long term and more permanent shelters are also trained.
FIRE CRAFT
|
|
Fire is important in survival for several reasons and making it from nature is a crucial skill. Fire is used for warmth, to cook and preserve food, to purify water, crafting applications, night navigation, to cauterize wounds, and can be used to signal for help. The wilderness skills class trains several different ways one can create fire and practices these at the school fire pit as well as in nature. This study also teaches how to preserve and maintain fires over travel from night to night.
|
CLOTHING
Good clothing can make all the difference in survival whether for warmth, sun protection, protection from biting insects, and camouflage for hunting or combat. This area of study includes tanning hides by primitive methods for use as clothing, bags, sheaths, and shelter as well as primitive sewing methods for repairing cloth or making clothing and shoes. As part of camo and evasion students train to make their own improvised camouflage, dyes, and paints with natural materials.
“Your clothing is the most important survival tool you have. Dress properly and any emergency you may have to endure becomes more manageable.” –Mors Kochanskia
FIREARM TRAINING
Firearm training at Imperial Combat Arts is derived from our long military history. Our Grandmasters served as Imperial Bodyguards, Veterans of the Second Sino-Japanese War (WWII), Vietnam era Special Forces (Green Beret Officer), as well as an instructor today with current U.S. military training. Evolving alongside our melee weapons and unarmed combat styles, modern gun-battle tactics are an important part of our teaching true Masters of all Weapons. Enter Page> Firearms
AXE TRAINING
Axe training is an advanced weapon study taught at Imperial Combat Arts. This fully immersive training includes drills, sets, forms, target practice, weapon matching, and contains a vast system of joint locks and throws. The headquarters school also has a target range specially designed for Axe-throwing and trains students in a few types of Flying Axe for hunting, and combat. In wilderness survival a good Axe is one of the most important tools one can possess. Enter Page> Axe Training
"The axe is the most important bush tool there is. Outside of fire, nothing may contribute to your comfort and leisure than a well chosen axe." -Mors Kochanski
TRADITIONAL ARCHERY
Imperial Combat Arts teaches traditional Manchurian archery which has long been a significant part of our military history. Chinese archery varies from western archery, the bow is drawn with the thumb and the arrow is placed on the opposite side. This style of archery allows for fast and dynamic shooting with rapid reloading. Our members who have reached level VII archery have the option to join our bow hunting group that is members only. Enter Page> Traditional Archery
PRIMITIVE BOW
|
Creating survival bows for hunting is a bushcraft trained in our wilderness class. Primitive bows are self-bows made from a single piece of wood and are common in many tribal cultures. These bows are important in survival as they can be made by one man in just a few hours, with materials that can be easily found in nature. These bows may lack the power of a well crafted bow but can still be strong enough to take smaller game, or be used in wilderness combat if necessary.
|
ARROW CRAFT
Imperial Combat Arts archers make their own Manchurian style arrows with several variations for different applications. These include target arrows, arrows for long distances, varied broad heads, and war arrows. Manchurian arrows can be over three feet in length for the long draw of the Manchu Bow. In our wilderness skills class students make survival arrows from only nature materials as part of survival bow training. These primitive arrows have stone, bone, or wooden arrow heads.
COMBAT & SURVIVAL KNIFE
Training Combat Knife begins day one at Imperial Combat Arts starting with the same course our Grandmaster used to train U.S. servicemen. Knife training then progresses into advanced knife-fighting that blends with high level martial arts. The knife is also one of the most important survival tools that a human can possess, not only in the wild but also in many other emergency situations. Fourth ranking students at Imperial Combat Arts are issued a combat/survival knife as part of their uniform.
"A well trained person needs only a knife to survive." -Mors Kochanski
CLUB TRAINING
Club training at Imperial Combat Arts blends seamlessly with our hand-to-hand combat systems and contains 100's of Chin-Na joint-locks and controls. A Club made from nature is possibly the oldest survival tool a human can make, whether for combat, hunting, defense, or building and digging tools. These clubs are not only used to strike but also thrown for ranged hunting. There are several effective shapes of throwing clubs that have been refined over the centuries. Enter Page> Club & Stick
STAFF TRAINING
Staff training is an advanced weapon study taught at Imperial Combat Arts. To the Ancient Chinese the Staff was known as the "Grandfather of all Weapons" as training the Staff also teaches the basic weapon handling of all other types of pole weapons. Staves are used in wilderness skill for defense and to assist in travel. Travelers staves are usually shoulder height, a preferred length for hiking as they do not interfere with the field of vision but are also long enough to assist in descending steep hills.
SPEAR TRAINING
Spear training is an advanced weapon study taught at Imperial Combat Arts. To the Chinese the Spear was known as the "King of all Weapons", and to this day the Spear is still the most common of all long weapons. The Spear also plays a crucial role in survival, having been used for hundreds of thousands of years for hunting, fishing, and defense. The superior reach of the spear can even contend with aggressive animals such as Bear, Boar, and Big Cats. Enter Page> Spear Training
SPEAR THROWER
The spear-thrower, also known as an Atlatl, is a lever that greatly increases the power and distance of spear in flight. Many of these throwing spears are large darts that have feathers like an arrow and can range between 4-9 feet in length. This technology is older than archery dating back at least 30,000 years. These primitive hunting tools today are an important part of wilderness survival in that they are relatively easy to make and can still kill large game. Enter Page> Spear Thrower
FORK TRAINING
Forks are unique pole-weapons that were used throughout much of world for ancient and medieval combat. These Forks Weapons evolved from Hunting Forks that have been used for thousands of years to kill and hold back large aggressive animals such as Tigers and Bear. Today these Forks still plays a crucial role in survival training being used for hunting, fishing, and defense from large animals. Forks made from nature are some of the most important survival tools. Enter Page> Forks
STONE SLING
The sling is an ancient and effective weapon that has been used for both hunting and warfare. Slings are taught as a sub-style of traditional archery as well as in survival training. An improvised sling can often be made in just minutes and can propel a stone with enough force to kill small or medium sized game. Imperial Combat Arts has both indoor and outdoor target ranges for all manner of ranged weapons such as slings, axes, and archery. As well as ranges in the Rocky Mountains. Enter Page> Stone Sling
THROWN WEAPONS
Hand thrown weapons are taught at Imperial Combat Arts for use in both combat and survival. These traditional throwing weapons include Darts, Knives, Axes, Stars, Thorns, Needles, Throwing Clubs/Sticks, Javelins, Spears, Hand Arrows, and Flying Forks. Aside from weapon applications non-poisoned Stars, Darts, Knives, Stones, and Throwing Clubs were effectively used for hunting small game for centuries, and can easily kill a small animal. Enter Page> Throwing Weapons
HAND TO HAND COMBAT
|
Hand to hand combat is of course an important part of all combat training. Imperial Combat Arts teaches martial arts that are designed for combat in the real world, with weapons, and some that specialize in covert attacks. This training has high levels of body conditioning, toughening, and strength training that prepares the body and mind for battle and for survival. Our wilderness class builds off the combat training of our Warriors. Enter Page> Martial Arts
|
LONG TERM SURVIVAL
Aside from short term survival situations humans are capable of living full and healthy lives with a primitive lifestyle. This area of study focuses on more permanent structures and long term wilderness living. This includes gathering seeds for planting local crops, food preservation, making beds, chairs, tables, sinks, water containers, clothing, fire places, etc. This training includes the importance of health and hygiene along with primitive medicine.
NOMADIC LIVING
Nomadic living has a focus on travelling to areas depending on the season and available resources that change with the year. This facet of survival also includes long distance foot travel for migration or evacuation from the deep wilderness. Even with a small group resources of an area can be quickly depleted and animals can become aware of a hunting party and relocate. Being on the move presents new opportunities for survival as well as new challenges.
ADVANCED SURVIVAL
The wilderness skills class at Imperial Combat Arts begins with the use of modern gear and equipment and slowly reduces as students advance in skill. In advanced survival students leave with no equipment to try their hand at more extreme survival. These test are monitored by Instructors for safety as failing in survival is failing to survive. Our members who reach this level, alongside the second Instructor rank of Li Sifu, are certified to teach these courses and gain additional elite ranks.