Note: The weekly mettle maker supports all of the Heritage Arts programs — Heritage Self-Defense, Heritage Wildwood, Heritage Fitness and Heritage Spirit.
Salt, Sugar and Elements: Mettle Maker #279
Self-Defense: What is “Elemental contact?” I have a copy of United States Marine Corps training film MTF #12, “Combat Conditioning: Part I, Accelerated Calisthenics and Elemental Contacts" which was produced during the 1940s and used to train marines during World War II and the Korean War. One of the principles of this training program is combat conditioning through progressive, “elemental contact“ (from very light to moderately heavy) over the course of a 4 to 10 week boot camp. It prepares soldiers to fight but graduates them in good physical condition — healthy and injury free. As it turns out, that’s exactly what a good self-defense school should want. That’s why we stripped those drills right out of the book and dropped them into the Heritage program. You can be hardened to contact and learn the basics of self-defense in a surprisingly short period of time if you want to. Do you? If so, join our free distance learning program or come train with us on Tues and Thurs nights from 6 - 7 PM at West End Manor Civic Association, 8600 Lakefront Drive, Richmond VA 23294.
Fitness: Salt, calcium and sugar are fundamental. During last weekend’s hike I almost pushed myself into shock (I know what it feels like because I did it on a hike once before). This was dangerous and stupid, because shock can kill you, and the stress of caring for you can bring harm to your companions. The last half mile of the Priest, I got severe leg cramps and started to get the shakes. Much of my suffering was avoidable and caused by a critical error: I left my water additive and chewable antacid tablets at home by accident. This is why redundancy is essential — these items should have been in the first aid kit, not just in my pocket. It was and is embarrassing as a self-defense and survival instructor to admit this mistake, but hard truths teach valuable lessons. Fortunately I had a granola bar (sugar) some beef jerky (salt) in my provisions which helped somewhat. But the calcium in the antacid tablets would’ve been perfect. Take it from me. Put a roll of antacid tablets and some restaurant salt and sugar packets in each of your first aid kits.
Wildwood: Follow your nose. During the hike down from the Priest on Sunday morning, my daughter began to run out of steam, and she was worried about how much farther we had to go. I was able to tell her that we were close to the 2/3 point of the descent because I caught a whiff of the Cripple Creek which was the 2/3 mark. I smelled it before I heard it. Smell is an underestimated sense in the survival and nature appreciation realm. It can help you find plants, prey animals, and water, and it can help you avoid predators too. Breathe deeply through your nose, then open your mouth and taste the air. Pay attention to the smell-scape. The easiest animals to detect with your nose are skunk, bobcat, feral cats and feral dogs. Work on it and you’ll get better. Humans can even learn to scent track, although not as well as dogs because we have fewer scent receptors. Read more here.
Spirit: Mind-body-spirit unity is no new-age joke. As I related above, a small mental mistake — forgetting my water additive and calcium supplement — had huge physical consequences during last weekend’s hike. Fortunately, although I’m way past my physical prime, I’m more spiritually fit than ever. Ashamed of my forgetfulness? Yes. Disappointed in my 60-year-old body? Oh yes. But I’m proud of the fact that few of the other hikers knew how badly I was suffering. Even during the darkest spots, I stayed calm, patient, and full of wonder. A living being is an ecosystem in which decisions have physical consequences, physical problems have mental and spiritual effects, and so on. Spiritual fitness is built through contemplation, meditation, prayer and sacred reading. Get there. For more inspiration, join us at Heritage Spirit for weekly online church.