I went in to 2024 expecting it to be a challenge both personally and professionally having come off of a breakdown in September of 2023. To say that I underestimated the potential hiccups is a massive understatement. I got the ever-loving shit kicked out of me physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I am not going to comment on the specifics but those who know, know and have been supporting me wonderfully. Thank you all. I truly do not think I would be here without every single one of you having my back.

Enough of the “Woe is me” bullshit. Let’s get down to brass tacks.

Coming soon… I haven’t even gotten clearance for this but by the second quarter of 2025 you shall see, possibly the most ingenious piece of EDC equipment ever conceived. My partner, through some incredibly deep research and communication with parties directly involved in its development, h produced a tool unlike anything I have ever seen. Just you wait.

Seminars and Workshops…

On March 8th 2025, in Hartsdale, NY, myself and Syriennion (David E. Carr) will be holding our first ever public “Fight Enders” workshop as a portion of our over all Scumbag-Jutsu curriculum. The Scumbag-Justu Workshop series is a program the Syriennion and I have established where we will be sharing our lessons learned and best practices for violent encounters. As always we advise that you avoid violence as it is a last option which may open doors that may not be shut.

After that I will probably go back to writing a bit and perhaps teaching here and there privately provided that the right people approach. My time is limited for the time being and I do not and will not hesitate investing and of that time in helping establish another persons sense of agency. That strength to operate in their own best interest. If I may be able to provide them the ability to protect themselves when necessary and walk away proudly every other time.

Being a man is not about your ability to win fights. It’s about your ability to be able to be home (is possible. .mil an exception) and provide that safety for your family. This is something that has been sitting incredibly heavy on my head. IYKYK.

Come May 18th, 2025, also in Hartsdale, NY, I and renowned author Robert Sabet will be assisting the iconic WWII close combat and point shooting instructor Matthew Temkin in his first public seminar in many years. Matt Temkin is, to paraphrase professional wrestler, a true article in a sea of counterfeit bucks. I say this because the man has never once tried to make any sort of significant income on this information by bloating it beyond what is absolutely necessary. To understand my whole point of view on the situation please read my blog article, Fairbain of my existence.

Matt Temkin is a man of ethics and honor. He cares about WHO the man is that he will be instructing. He’s not looking for a quick couple of bucks. Never was. He never bragged online. He had to be sought our and befriended. Matt isn’t really the type to teach “just anyone” so a seminar like this is quite a rare occurrence. I really highly recommend that if you are in the area, you attend.

I will speak briefly on Matt Temkin’s lineage for those of you are no doubt curious. Matt studied a variety of martial arts in addition to the WWII methods that his father, US Ranger Sgt. Benjamin Temkin learned from men in Stanley Bissel’s instructors cadre. Eventually Matt crossed paths with a young pre-wolfpack Carl Cestari. At this point in time Carl was becoming seen as one of the top World War II guys in the vein of Charles Nelson and Bob Kasper. Matt was told by Carl that the material he had learned from his father was top notch and should be continued to be trained, which he did. Over this time Matt also reached out to the now late Col. Rex Applegate (retired) and a long term friendship grew from this initial back and forth. Matt was invited out to Col. Applegate’s ranch for a week of discussion and training. It is safe to say that former OSS Instructor and Fairbairn “protege” has filtered Matt’s curriculum. If it has legitimately passed the evaluation of an man of that stature what else do you need? Like I have said previously “they didn’t just sit together for a few moments at a convention or maybe have a phone call or two”.

Maybe I see things a bit different than most but this year I will see that Matt Temkin gets the respect that he deserves.

Aside from these two events, I am not sure what my “combatives” future holds are the moment. Just a few weeks back I requested and was granted permission to establish Medusa: Downstate as a separate entity. This does not mean that I am not longer a part of the Medusa Family. No, quite the contrary. Some of the men with the Medusa Family have proven themselves to be more supportive of me than some of my own flesh and blood. I truly love them for that. Never neglect your Family of Choice.

The people who genuinely choose to be around you need to be appreciated and shown appreciation. I know that I am bad at that. I immediately think that if I don’t hear from someone that I did something wrong. That I am somehow at fault for something. In the same breath though I will self sabotage and prevent myself from reaching out to the people I need because past trauma that I am working through has be believe that I am not worth it. Thankfully last night one of my brothers reached out to me and relayed that someone I hold in extremely high regard was asking about me and to let me know that they were thinking of me. Something as small as this has such a real effect on the “now”. It’s an instant reality check. It’ll quiet the “noise”.

In 2025, I plan to do some serious introspection and decide where I want to be in 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. Specific goals with realistically attainable timelines. An increase in the attention to my physical health. I have been walking around with a rather significant problem in my shoulder for quite a while and I am finally having it addressed because I simply can’t cope with the pain anymore. My mental and emotional health will also be taking a precedent this year I am recently come to accept some truths so I can only grow from here.

All in all I am alive and I am above ground so I have little to complain about. I know the majority of this article have been bleak and to the point but I needed a medium in which I could purge these thoughts and feelings and figured why not here. One day it may help someone, somewhere, at sometime, at least that’s my hope with the majority of my actions.

I hope you are all well. Happy 2025!