Matt Larsen is the most successful hand-to-hand combat trainer and program developer in history.  Regarded as the father of the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP), Larsen overhauled the Army’s hand-to-hand combat doctrine by rewriting the Combatives field manual in 2002 and updated the manual in 2009.

Larsen shared with me his background and why the Combatives Field Manual needed rewriting and why he was the guy to do it.  Matt, who owns Matt Larsen’s Combat Fitness Center in Springfield, Virginia is a former Marine and Army Ranger, and has decades of experience in the martial arts field.  He’s also a Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame combatives instructor Matt Larsen.

Here are a few topics covered:

Based on my last three shows, it appears I have a pattern of guests who teach how to protect yourself and your family.  Although not intentional, I like what each of these guests teach, so I’m fortunate to have Matt on here to round out my three-in-a-row personal protection experts.

*My podcast is on Patreon.  Please check out how you can help the cause and get insider access!

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

In addition to being a Marine, Rich Brown is my first law enforcement officer on the show.  He’s proven to live a life of service–to his country, to his community and to immigrants looking for work and better ways of life in the US.

Speaking of immigrants, we have a great discussion about President Trump’s recent remarks concerning people coming here from shithole countries.  Rich has not only been to many of the countries spoken of, but he helps hire immigrants from these countries.  He provides some insight into the outrage by so many based on his experiences in these corrupt countries and working with their people.

Brown is a founding member of the American Warrior Society, which is an online university where anyone can learn how to keep their families safe.  He is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  And at one time he received orders to teach small arms, patrolling, military operations in urban terrain and unarmed close combat at the Marine Corps School of Infantry (East).

We close our conversation by talking a little every-day carry (EDC).  And he shares some tips on how to carry with a tucked in shirt.

Learn more about American Warrior Society

Listen to the American Warrior Show podcast

*My podcast is on Patreon.  Please check out how you can get insider access while helping me produce quality interviews!

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Here in part 2, Tim goes into more detail about how to protect yourself and he provides real-world examples both by his students and by other random acts of violence.  Then you’ll understand why it’s absolutely crucial to know how to survive the most critical 5 seconds of your life.

If you don’t know the name Tim Larkin (@TFTTimLarkin), that’s probably a good thing.  Why?  Because most civilians who come to him have already had a violent encounter and been a victim.

Tim Larkin is the founder & creator of Target Focus Training, the world leader in personal-protection training. For more than 25 years he’s taught everyone from US Navy SEALS to regular citizens how to survive unavoidable violent attacks.

Larkin gave me a lot of time for this interview and in episode 1 he went into detail about his background and why he started Target Focus Training.  He also explains why he uses the methods he does, because they are unique.  He emphasizes the tools he teaches have nothing to do with your athleticism, size or strength.

Visit Target Focus Training and sign up for 10 free videos

Buy When Violence is the Answer

Buy Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women’s Self-Protection

*My podcast is on Patreon.  Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

If you don’t know the name Tim Larkin (@TFTTimLarkin), that’s probably a good thing.  Why?  Because most civilians who come to him have already had a violent encounter and been a victim.

Tim Larkin is the founder & creator of Target Focus Training, the world leader in personal-protection training. For more than 25 years he’s taught everyone from US Navy SEALS to regular citizens how to survive unavoidable violent attacks.

Tim gave me a lot of time and went into detail about his background and why he started Target Focus Training.  He also explains why he uses the methods he does, because they are unique.  He emphasizes the tools he teaches have nothing to do with your athleticism, size or strength.

Here in episode 1, you’ll understand how he prepared himself for this type of work, for his military career and why in the world he was taking cold showers as a young teenager.  In episode 2 he’ll go into more detail about how to protect yourself and provide real-world examples both by his students and other random acts of violence.  Then you’ll understand why it’s absolutely crucial to know how to survive the most critical 5 seconds of your life.

Visit Target Focus Training and sign up for 10 free videos

Buy When Violence is the Answer

Buy Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women’s Self-Protection

*My podcast is on Patreon.  Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Israel Del Toro (aka DT) was angry that he wasn’t left to die on the battlefield.  Later when he saw his face in the hospital, he went thru his darkest hour.

After losing his parents as a young boy, DT joined the Air Force and became a Tactical Air Control Party member.  Then, in 2005, his vehicle hit a roadside bomb and over 80% of his body was severely burned (third degree) and he lost most of his fingers.

The doctors told him he would never breath on his own and wouldn’t walk again.  Two months later he walked out of the hospital unassisted.  But the moment of truth was yet to come.  How would his son react after seeing his dad, wrapped up like a mummy, for the first time since deploying?

His reaction; he hugged and squeezed his dad like he never had.  DT said that was the greatest feeling in the world.  All his son wanted was his dad.

Del Toro has accomplished much since that day:  he’s the only person to return to active duty in the Air Force after being 100% disabled, was awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service in 2017, jumped out of planes, won medals in the Invictus Games, and become a mentor and role model to many.

And why did I almost title this “Stairway to Heaven”?  Well, it’s his favorite song and each time he goes under the knife, they play that song in the pre-op room.  I mean, he’s only had 120+ surgeries.

Read more about Israel Del Toro

Follow him on social:

@ideltoro21 on Twitter

@idt21 on Instagram

*Please consider visiting my Patreon page where you can support and get something in return. 

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rambo Theme Song – Jerry Goldsmith

With the release of “12 Strong“, I’m replaying my interview with Bart Decker (Episode 008).  He and his Special Operations team were some of the first men inserted into Afghanistan after 9/11.  They arrived by helicopter and then realized horseback was the only way to move to their target location since many of the ledges were 2′-3′ wide.  These men were covert operators named Task Force Dagger that joined up with the Northern Alliance to defeat the Taliban.

The team rode on horseback to capture the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.  Once they arrived, the Taliban had moved out and his team were welcomed as liberators.  Bart also tells us how he controlled his emotions when interacting with John Walker Lindh, the American who converted to Islam and took part in a violent uprising after his capture in Afghanistan.

Decker is now retired after 20+ years serving in the Air Force.  He said he wouldn’t go back and change a thing.  He loved his time serving his country and has no regrets.

He and his team are forever honored at One World Trade center with a 13’ bronze statue of an American Commando on a horse.  Glad to see this story finally making the big screen.  I’m sure Decker won’t be mentioned or portrayed in the movie.  After all, would you be surprised that an AF guy be highlighted whenever there are SF and/or SEALs in the picture?  I don’t think Bart is complaining.

And here is a good article by Jack Murphy describing some controversies with the movie.

More info here:

“First In” by Gary Schroen

“Horse Soldiers” by Doug Stanton

Americas Response Monument at One World Trade Center

Sgt Macs Bar on Horse Soldiers and Bart Decker

*PTC is on Patreon.  Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

What would a fire on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier that’s miles from land be like?  You have nowhere to go and it’s up to you (the crew, especially those trained) to handle it.

There have only been 5 major flight deck fires in our history and fortunately Darren Sapp never experienced one, but he did write about it.  After many years of being asked about the dangers and adventures of working on an aircraft carrier, he wrote a novel that explores that experience and climatic nature of a huge fire on the flight deck.

Before this interview, I’d never heard of the different color shirts on aircraft carriers (yellow, red, blue, etc).  Sapp was on the inaugural crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the 80’s and we cover several topics:

Visit DarrenSapp.com

Update from interview:  Darren later corrected the date of the Green Beret’s birth to 1952

*PTC is on Patreon.  Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Roger Long was living the American dream in his 30’s–good, stable job with very profitable company, home like they’d always wanted, 2 healthy boys and married to the love of his life.  Then, Young onset Parkinson’s disease attacked and changed his life forever.

He gained a lot of weight, walked with a cane and medically retired.  Then, a phone call from his deployed son in Afghanistan gave him the kick in the tail he needed.  When his oldest said “Dad, I don’t think I’m going to make it out of here alive”, Roger knew he had to be available to walk with his son when/if he came home.

So, he started walking with a goal in mind – to walk a continuous 10 miles in his neighborhood.  He dropped his cane and did it.  He also quit all his meds and got to the point where the effects of Parkinson’s would come back only when he didn’t exercise regularly.  Roger had to walk most days of the week in order to feel good.

In 2012 he completed the Bataan Memorial Death March with this oldest son, physically aiding him across the finish line.  Later, reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro ten years after his Parkinson’s diagnosis was the culmination of a life-changing turnaround that set him on a new life course.  Africa changed him.  It showed Long what’s really possible and to think beyond himself.  In the end Roger said goals help us recover.

He documented his diagnosis and journey climaxing with standing on top of Kili in his book:

Push the Rock: Second Chances on the Road to Kilimanjaro

Read more about Roger at First Summit Project

*PTC is on Patreon.  Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Copyright 2018 Thad Forester

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

I’m taking this week off to enjoy Christmas with my family.  This means eating too much sugar and wrestling with the boys.

Got some very interesting guests coming up – I’ll describe them in the audio of this one.

If you’re looking for some Christmas cheer, here is the link to last year’s episode on this day: “Christmas from Heaven” with Hal Halvorsen, aka, “The Candy Bomber”.

In addition, here are links to some of my most popular episodes over the last year and a half:

CCT Mark Lauren – You are your own Gym

Bobby Escorting Mark’s body to Dover – Angel Flight

Kyle Defoor – former SEAL, sniper

CCT Bart Decker – Horse Soldier in Afghanistan

Dave Grossman – Killology 101

Tune in next week for Roger Long – Marine dad and still kicking Parkinson’s butt.

If you’re still in the spirit of giving, check out my Patreon page to see how a very small donation can help with my mission here at Patriot to the Core podcast.

After being in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands for over 3-1/2 months, Michael Andrew is sitting at the airport saying “Service is the ultimate drug with no negative side effects.”

This was an early morning call while Michael was at the airport waiting to fly back to the states after “leaving it all on the field in Puerto Rico.”  He’s been a volunteer, working mostly with the Salvation Army.  They ended up making him an Operations Chief.  Michael is leaving the island exhausted and said his soul is on fire.

Here are some things we discuss:

-What he learned as a leader

-His weaknesses that were exposed and that he was able to make strengths

-Delivering food and water was really delivering hope

-Miracles he witnessed, almost daily

-How he’s the luckiest and richest man in the world and it has nothing to do with money

Great episode, especially since he didn’t have much time to think about it.  It’s really his raw answers and thoughts.  He’ll elaborate much more on his podcast and future videos and blog posts.

Here is my last interview with Michael Andrew after he arrived in St. Martin to help after Hurricane Irma, before going to PR, but he tells me in that interview that he needs to get to PR.  Below are more links to follow him:

Michael the Maven

Red Lightning

On Instagram @michaelthemaven

On Twitter @michaelthemaven

Hear our first interview on Episode 002

You can also follow Michael on his podcast The Maven Nation