The MagLife

In this week’s episode of the Mag Life Podcast, Daniel speaks with one of the greatest competitive shooters in the world, Simon “JJ” Racaza. JJ’s accomplishments are numerous, having finished in 3 rd place in History Channel’s Top Shot season 1, becoming the number one qualifier of the US Gold Team in the 2010 ISSF World Shooting Championships, and silver in both the 2011 and 2014 IPSC Handgun World Shoot.

Together, Daniel and JJ discuss the importance of truly understanding the fundamentals of marksmanship, controlling one’s self under pressure, dissecting the common problems within the firearms training world, and promoting humility and accountability.

https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/186-JJ_Racaza_Speed_and_Control.mp3

Host: Daniel Shaw

Guest: JJ Racaza

Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh

01:10 What does it take to excel in shooting?

Daniel kicks off the conversation with what we’re all wondering: how did JJ Racaza gain his incredible shooting skills? What did it take to get this far?

JJ replies that it takes individual accountability and experimentation through application. Both Daniel and JJ agree, admitting you suck at something is a hard pill to swallow for most, and making improvements is even harder. JJ is constantly putting new skills to the test whether by the shot timer or by competition to determine what actually works and what does not. The fact that JJ is a trainer adds even more pressure to ensure that his curriculum is as efficient as possible for his students. Shooting, like any skillset, is an ever-evolving process and one can never get too complacent.

Daniel points out everyone always wants to be good at something but most will lack the proper mindset and discipline to do so. JJ builds off this idea, claiming that in his experience a consistent work ethic has been the major determining factor in what makes someone “good”.

“Right mindset and really just the work ethic… It’s almost an insult when someone says ‘Hey man, he’s just supernaturally talented, that’s just something he was born with.’ And it really kind of wasn’t… I still remember clearly how terrible I was… It’s kind of one of those things I just kept putting in the work.”

05:15 How did JJ Racaza find his passion in competitive shooting? What allows him to remain competent?

For JJ Racaza, his initial foray into firearms ownership and eventually competitive shooting stemmed not from a boyhood interest but out of necessity to protect his family.

As a child, JJ lived in the Philippines with his two sisters and father while his mother was working in the US. His father instilled in him at an early age the importance of using a firearm, should the worst happen to their family. Then one day when the family went out shooting, several people were running an IPSC competition shooting course in the next bay over. JJ’s father became enamored with the sheer dynamic nature of this kind of shooting, it changed his world. He dove deeply into the IPSC style shooting, which eventually got JJ involved. All of JJ’s fundamentals stemmed from endless hours of constant dry firing as taught by his father to the point that these skills became second nature at a very young age.

As previously stated, JJ was constantly finding out his flaws and making immediate improvements, even at a young age. For example, while JJ had been dry-firing proper stance and trigger pull for hours, upon arriving at the range and actually practicing live fire follow-up shots, the recoil would violently jerk him around. So he went back home and practiced consistently having a proper grip in his dry fire reps. This became his endless ritual of self-improvement: testing what he knows at the range then fixing what did not work at home, then repeating this process. Today, JJ commits 300 days of dry firing sessions every year.

For JJ, visual demonstration is a vital part of his ability to learn. Whether it be firearms manipulation or playing golf, given enough time JJ can roughly replicate the general motion of most actions.

This is also how JJ self-evaluates himself through video recordings of his matches and practice sessions. He is able to dissect any wasted motion in his mechanics to make himself that much faster in his matches. In the heat of the moment, JJ acknowledges any mistakes he made during his matches but does not allow it to drag him down. Having a strong, positive mindset is vital to getting through competitions and overcoming obstacles. Only after a match will JJ fully digest what he did wrong and then make adjustments accordingly.

21:09 Having Self-Control and a Focused Mindset

Daniel emphasizes the importance of freeing the nervous mind before doing any stressful activity, most notable that of competition. Likewise, JJ goes into all of his matches with an emotionless mentality, living exactly in the moment in order to make each of his actions done with intent.

The worst thing an individual can do is to overthink their last mistake in the middle of their given task. Daniel treats every day as a moment to practice living in the present by utilizing self-control both in and outside of the range. When teaching others, Daniel has observed the moment students start overthinking their past mistakes and enter a downward spiral of negativity is the exact moment their learning process has stopped.

25:16 What makes JJ Racaza’s shooting ability so special?

In terms of the core of JJ’s shooting technique and competency, it would have to be properly manipulating the trigger. Early in his career, JJ was fortunate enough to be shown how to properly press the trigger on a handgun and to avoid pinning it to the rear, allowing for much faster follow-up shots. For those who are beginners, pinning the trigger can help conceptualize proper trigger pull but it is nothing but a detriment when it comes to serious shooting. As a result, JJ starts every class he teaches by covering proper trigger pull and reset, regardless of skill level.

In addition, over time JJ has changed how he prioritizes his shooting mechanics and target acquisition.

In the past, JJ would tell people to “slow down” upon sighting certain targets, so that they would not rush and make mistakes. He realized later it was far more important to focus on proper fundamentals upon reaching a target and letting a round off as soon as everything was correct rather than overthinking the concept of “speed.” There would be times he would reach a target, slow himself down dramatically and end up missing the target anyways, but this time much slower on the timer.

Now he emphasizes going over a quick mental “checklist” such as checking proper grip, sight picture, sight alignment, and then trigger press. As soon as these are all checked, a round should be let loose without hesitation.

JJ puts this into practice by giving certain targets his own mental designation. Larger targets up close are called “attack” targets and smaller targets especially at distance are called “control” targets. The logic is that attack targets require far less perfect mechanics and skill due to the fact they are larger and closer, thus allowing more room for error. Control targets, as the name implies, require more thought and precision due to the fact the surface area is smaller, emphasizing a tighter focus on proper fundamentals.

Daniel and JJ Racaza both employ a plan before entering any potentially stressful situation, whether that be in a potentially dangerous area or an IPSC match. Having some template on how to react to given circumstances helps cut down on wasting valuable time; it reprioritizes the brain to move on to the next step in order to increase your chances of success.

46:15 What are the biggest problems with shooters today?

In JJ Racaza’s experience, the most common reoccurring issue he encounters with shooters is that too many want to latch onto the idea of “advanced” shooting without having mastered the fundamentals. Many of his clients will have hired him specifically to do more dynamic shooting drills, techniques, and to be pushed to the next level, but often what ends up happening is half the class becomes reviewing the basics because they have not figured out the major lapses in their skillsets.

“My biggest challenge as an instructor is that… I get a lot of these guys [who] just want to see the sexy stuff and they just want to see the ‘advanced’… And when you see it, it’s almost like they’re not progressing because the fundamentals, the holes in their game is literally holding them back from being able to explore their next level…”

The many years that Daniel has spent as a firearms trainer also reflect this trend. The idea of “advanced” shooting is almost misleading in his opinion. Any class that pushes you to the next level is simply utilizing your fundamentals under higher standards and in uncomfortable situations. JJ adds, “‘Advanced’ [is] literally the fundamentals applied in a slightly efficient or different manner.”

Daniel reiterates that his biggest frustration with the firearms training world is the fact that so many who go into this have no conception of what a “good” or “high standard” of skill even looks like. JJ recalls being sent a shooting drill in which the students are running in a full sprint, shooting at multiple targets with next to no accuracy, and being told this is a proper, safe technique. It has become a larger problem—those who do not know any better will simply watch this and believe this should be replicated in the real world.

While Daniel is always happy to hear feedback from students, he does not place too much weight on simple generalized compliments on the quality of his classes. Simply put, most will believe anything they’re being taught in a paid class is amazing, especially if it involves activities they’ve never done before. It takes a certain level of experience to give honest critical feedback

55:47 Goals of a Firearms Training Class

When leading a class, both JJ and Daniel employ an overall template and outline of what their class’s material should cover but there is not a preconceived idea of the exact number of rounds to be shot or drills to be done. For too many shooters, they think simply doing activities in a structured setting is sufficient enough for a monetized class.

“My goal is to introduce as many concepts as I possibly can to your shooting without changing your shooting style. Like, everyone comes in with their shooting style. And my goal is to make you better with all these concepts and then you have a crapload of homework, a direction where to go, and an idea of your self-level of awareness [that will be] is so much higher than when you walked into a class. You can pinpoint exactly the individual concept that… [may have] prevented you from moving on to the next step.”

59:16 Promoting accountability and humility

Promoting accountability in instructors, without stepping on toes or attacking others, is another conundrum across the firearms training world. It is very easy for trainers to “eat their own” as they attempt to push for safe training practices, especially with the rise of social media.

For instance, in order to avoid any public drama, JJ Racaza will at times directly message people on social media if he spots what they’re teaching to be obviously unsafe. On the other hand, it’s also difficult for many people in the industry to express humility or just to push for a more positive environment. Daniel points out he could feature a popular firearms accessory and get incredible traffic, but a training video that promotes becoming a better shooter or better person will hardly get the same traction.

At the end of the day, all gun owners should be trying to uplift the 2A community, not prove whose ego is the largest.

For trainers looking to post their content, a major source of annoyance is the people who offer criticisms without understanding any context of the post. It’s incredibly common for a short snapshot of a training drill to go up on social media only to be harshly trashed by commenters who fail to understand any of the goals of the drill or what was done prior to recording. JJ speculates a lot of this stems from ego-stroking, that many people feel the need to be the first to say something and first to be validated. The culture of humility clearly has much room for improvement in the firearms training world.

To learn more about JJ Racaza, follow him on Instagram.

Article/Show notes by Eric Huh

This week’s Mag Life Podcast brings on a man who needs no introduction (but we’ll give one anyway). Kyle Lamb is a former decorated US Army Delta Force operator, Sig Sauer Academy firearms instructor, writer, and the founder of Viking Tactics. He was made famous by his incredible firearms accessories, training classes, and his military service not just in Somalia during the events of that inspired the adaptation Black Hawk Down, but in many years of service thereafter.

Kyle and Daniel discuss the value of having a disciplined mindset, teaching others, staying true to yourself, and writing your own stories.

https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/185-Kyle_Lamb_Viking_Tactics.mp3

Host: Daniel Shaw

Guest (usual Co-Host!): Kyle Lamb

Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh

07:36 The Value of a Positive Mindset

Daniel expresses to Kyle that after having spent many years in the gun industry, he no longer finds real value in just material objects like the hottest new firearm or the best aftermarket accessory. Rather, Daniel finds lasting value in being able to retain skills, mastering one’s self, and spreading this knowledge to others. Acquiring life skills and then spreading this to others is gradually becoming a lost practice in today’s gun culture due to divisiveness, elitist attitudes, and a general attack on self-reliance.

Kyle agrees with the notion of positive reinforcement and fostering a culture of support to help individuals get better at their craft. He brings up the example of the hit TV series, Forged in Fire, a reality competition show that involves blacksmiths competing in creating the best historical weapons. He describes that unlike the vast majority of competitive series, every contestant and cast member is friendly and actively cheers each other on. Too many instances of negativity more often than not turns Kyle off completely from certain activities or people. Kyle recalls his time in the Army, during a time in which he felt he was responsible for the actions of others, especially their negative ones. He makes the point that while your friends are certainly people you should care for, it does not necessarily mean you are obligated to bear the burden of their actions and mistakes.

Daniel builds off that, recalling that in his experience, those who actively seek out positivity attract more positive interactions and vice versa for those who seek negativity. In his experience, if Daniel had brought negative energy into his house, it would grow within his family, then he would bring that same negativity to work and make his co-workers feel the same miserable energy. This cycle becomes infectious to others and soon entire spaces feel unwelcome.

16:57 Warrior Mentality and Meeting Special People

Having a positive mindset often develops a stronger sense of worth and willpower or a warrior mentality. In Daniel’s firearms classes, often students will find themselves near a breaking point, hearing a voice in the back of their heads telling them it’s ok to give up. Those who persevere past that exhibit a true warrior’s mindset. Kyle agrees and that as instructors they’re both able to meet truly unique and strong individuals that surpass their expectations.

“I just did a video with Leupold, they were asking me like ‘What’s it mean to be a hero?’ And I’m like, first of all, it’s not me, it’s those folks [around me]… Look at law enforcement, they get up every day and they go out and they’re getting ridiculed and they’re trying to do the right thing… So that to me is much more heroic than you know at midnight, I load up into a vehicle and we do a mission in Iraq or wherever. That’s expected cuz that’s what we do and we have all the tools to do it. These poor people, they get up every morning and they make it happen.”

20:05 Belonging to a Tribe

Kyle asks Daniel what he believes the concept of a tribe is. Daniel defines a tribe as a group of like-minded people trying to achieve the same goal and bringing others along with them.

Kyle inquires if Daniel believes everyone should be in the same tribe. Daniel does not believe so and that it would be impossible to force everyone to be in one kind of group. Kyle agrees, further adding that people should in fact be different and diverse. Individuality matters just as much as wanting to find somewhere to belong.

On the other hand, despite being in the same “American tribe” so to speak, there are quite a few groups that, politically and ideologically speaking, Kyle would never wish to be associated with. Additionally, Daniel points out how peer pressure tends to take hold in how tribes grow their numbers and strengthen their voices. In many instances, individuals fall into a tribe’s practices and behaviors solely not to be socially ostracized or wish to feel important.

26:24 Personal Accountability

Daniel highlights a Coffee or Die interview that Kyle had participated in, namely an instance when Kyle had said “I tried not to be a coward”. This was in reference to when Kyle was in Delta Force in the US Army during their operations in Mogadishu, Somalia, that inspired the book and film, Black Hawk Down. Daniel very much relates to Kyle’s internal struggle, as his one true fear in life is being a coward or not being able to act during a time when he is needed the most. Kyle elaborates during that infamous mission that he truly cared not for his own life but rather the lives of his comrades.

“I really thought I was gonna die. It was a bad day and dudes were getting shot all around… Jamie Smith was a young Ranger that had been shot high in the femoral artery and it also broke his pelvis, so we were working on him. And when I had a second to say a prayer, I didn’t pray that I would survive but I prayed I wouldn’t be a coward. Because I figured I’m done, I just don’t want to go down like [that].”

Kyle goes on to discuss how this sense of accountability has permeated his life, mainly through his wife keeping him in check and honest to himself. Whenever he faces instances of uncertainty or dilemmas, his wife simply reminds him to do the right thing and to lead by example. He emphasizes that if someone is not facing some kind of hardship on their journey in life, then they truly are not living. If someone is not used to making the right decision during the worst of times, then they’re probably really good at making bad decisions all the time. It’s very easy to go with the crowd or do what everyone else is doing, it’s harder to be your own person.

33:17 Training and Building a Foundation for Success

Daniel recounts a time when GunMag first started a leadership training program for their managers. While sitting in on the class, Daniel realized that a good portion of people did not truly have a strong foundational understanding of leading others. It became a realization that our society less and less emphasizes creating leaders that will guide others into a successful future. It was through going through the Marine Corps at an early age that Daniel had quickly grasped what constitutes good and bad leadership.

Kyle Lamb expands upon the idea of a strong training foundation through the lens of the firearms classes he instructs. If his students have a strong foundation in their skillsets, then making improvements is very easy to do. But having a “crack” in that foundation, such as pinning the trigger to the rear during follow-up shots, is much more difficult to overcome.

41:15 Influential Authors, Writing Style

Daniel and Kyle discuss their favorite influential authors and how their works have influenced their own writing. Kyle appreciates the attention to detail seen in novels by Frederick Forysth, Jason Kasper, and Jack Carr because they are able to capture the realism in how weapons are handled or how combative actions are handled. This adds to the believability and suspense, especially for readers who are former military. Daniel discusses how Stephen King’s writing style has been especially helpful in creating stories of his own.

46:29 Finding the Time to Read

Daniel inquires how Kyle even finds the time to read given how busy he is. Kyle responds that he finds the time to read in all the little gaps of time and breaks he has. This often includes waiting at the dental office, on the bus, before he goes to bed, in the bathroom, or any other time that does not involve giving his full attention to something.

Daniel often enjoys listening to podcasts and audiobooks as it allows him to get through long trips or even monotonous tasks. For Kyle Lamb, he only truly spends his time on books or podcasts if he’s getting something of value out of it. If the first episode of a podcast does not impart something useful in some way, he will not listen to the rest of it.

53:58 Writing Your Own Story

Kyle Lamb is often asked how does one start writing their own book or story. Like any successful task, it requires a plan. In this case, that plan is a solid outline of what is being told. Kyle emphasizes above all else “just do it”. All great projects seem intimidating at first but once a plan is established, it gets easier. Writing, like all crafts, requires discipline. Kyle would spend around 40 minutes every night writing his book, little by little, while also constantly reading other books to perfect his craft. In a relatively short time, he was able to finish his book.

Daniel agrees and finds this applies to all aspects of life, whether it be working out to get fit or starting a new project. People often find excuses and allow something to stop them from even starting. The first step to anything is always the hardest.

“Write what you want to read. All the successful authors said that… Just write the book you want to read… That’s gonna give you the outlet that you want… If you’re going into writing to make a million dollars, it ain’t gonna happen. That’s the wrong reason… If you truly love writing and you write that book that you’re gonna read, well then other people are gonna see that passion.”

Kyle and Daniel both emphasize that a good writer should not compromise the integrity of their voice and style. If a publisher is wanting you to completely rewrite the tone or the attention to detail in a section, then they’re probably not the right people to represent your work.

On the other side of that, a writer should have thick skin when it comes to having an editor critique and revise their writing. A good editor will not censor you but they will tear your work to shreds in the name of making you a better writer. This is the crucial step in the writing process — a writer needs to let go of their own ego and seek improvement.

01:17:08 Seeking Knowledge and Teaching Others

Despite being one of the biggest names in the firearms industry, Kyle Lamb admits he is not a “gun guy” or rather someone who obsesses over the technicality of firearms or the accessories. He certainly enjoys shooting, hunting, and training but as far as keeping up with every latest firearm add-on goes, he is not interested in that. Daniel feels the same, as he doesn’t care much for guns themselves so much as he cares for the actual training aspect and teaching others.

Daniel recalls his time in the Marine Corps when he had the opportunity to train with a Force Recon unit. It was a humbling experience, one in which he was eventually allowed to instruct other highly trained Marines in a skillset he deeply understood. It was then that Daniel found the value in being able to retain skills and to be able to spread this to others. Equipment and gear are temporary things in life, skillsets can last a lifetime.

Upon reflecting on his past training experiences, Kyle found value in learning under both good and bad instructors. The good instructors taught him how to be a better shooter and leader while the bad ones taught him what to avoid. Kyle chooses to avoid a common pitfall of firearms trainers — remaining static and stuck in outdated training methods. He constantly looks for the best sources of knowledge.

Kyle also applies this to his bladesmithing. He learned specialized blade crafting techniques from experts, which he was later able to teach to others. Kyle found great inspiration from fellow veteran bladesmith who essentially channeled his past disciplined military mindset in instructing individuals into the blacksmithing world. The ability to teach often stems directly from not only being competent in your field but also from the ability to be persistent and stand by your students.

“It was day three of a three-day class, and it was the very last drill… I walked up to the guy after he had to be told [by the instructor] to do this correctly. And he goes, ‘Hey bro, if he ain’t got it on the third day, he ain’t getting it.’ And I was upset because you don’t know when they’re gonna get it. So I might have this guy in five classes and on the fifth class he finally understands. Well, guess what, as an instructor, I’ve got to be in it until the very last round of the very last day. Because I have got to be responsible for… learning. And you have no idea when that learning is going to take place.”

01:29:46 Respecting Women in the Firearms Industry

Kyle Lamb brings up the question, how do we get men to truly respect women in the firearms industry? From his experience, Kyle has seen the passive dismissal of female leaders in both trainers and in business owners. His wife is the one who truly runs Viking Tactics, and not just at some front-facing capacity. She truly is the CEO and makes the overarching business decisions. Kyle often receives business inquiries and when he tells them to speak to his wife, they often brush this aside as if he was not being serious. When Kyle brings up a product idea, his wife makes the decision if that product goes into production based on pricing, demand, and market conditions. The same can be said about fantastic competitive shooters such as Lena Miculek.

Even if a woman’s sole job is to raise a child, Kyle argues that’s the most important job on the planet and should be respected as such. Daniel agrees completely and adds that he’s noticed how “Gun Bunnies” are treated to a strange double standard. On one hand, they’re treated like they’re naïve children who don’t understand firearms, but on the other hand, guys always try to cozy up to them. Daniel finds value in what they do because they’re able to make firearms accessible to their audiences.

On this episode of the Mag Life Podcast, two warriors formally meet and for a heavy discussion about their war and peacetime experiences. Daniel is joined by Tu Lam, a Vietnamese-American former US Army Special Forces Green Beret, martial artist, trainer, entrepreneur, and TV show host. Known for his tactical gear and training company, Ronin Tactics, he is also known for his on-screen appearance on Forged in Fire: Knife or Death, as well as being featured as a playable character in Call of Duty: Warzone. Tu has carved out a public image of himself as a disciplined modern-day warrior and teacher.

Daniel explores Tu’s unforgiving upbringing as a Vietnam War refugee, his decorated career as a US Army Special Operations soldier, his passion for the martial arts, and his Bushido mindset to find peace during adversity.

https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/184-Tu_Lam_Finding_Peace_as_a_Warrior.mp3

Host: Daniel Shaw

Guest (usual Co-Host!): Tu Lam

Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh

02:41 Escaping Death

Daniel asks Tu about his upbringing and what lead him to where he is today. Tu reveals a tragic and violent past, being born literally in the midst of the Vietnam War. Upon the US leaving South Vietnam and Saigon falling, the North Vietnamese forces rounded up the majority of Tu’s family and had them executed. His mother took her children and fled with thousands of others to escape oppression. What awaited the Lam family was more cruelty and suffering as they, along with hundreds of other refugees, were cramped into tiny boats, sailing in the South China Sea.

Upon reaching the coast of Malaysia, they were denied entry into the country. The Malaysian troops cut their motor and left the entire boat of refugees out to die. For 30 days straight, the refugees drifted out with no access to clean water or food. Just as Tu’s mother had given up all hope and contemplated feeding poison to her children to spare them of further misery, a Russian naval supply vessel spotted their boat. Despite being on opposite sides of the war, the Soviet troops showed mercy and saved the refugees by providing food and medical aid. This was nothing short of a miracle made by fortuitous timing. If the war was still ongoing, the Soviets would have been compelled to follow wartime protocol and would have taken the refugees back to Vietnam.

The horrors the Lam family faced, unfortunately, did not end there. The refugees were relocated into a camp in an Indonesian jungle, with no actual facilities or resources. Dead bodies would be regularly found in the jungles near the camp as people attempted to forage and find food. The strength of Tu’s mother was all that held them together.

“[My mother] is my strength… [During that time] there was a slim to no chance that we would have lived. And she goes, ‘I would have rather died than to have lived in fear’”

After a year and a half, Tu’s uncle was finally able to pay for his family to immigrate to the US.

12:55 Living in a Post-War America

One of Tu’s earliest memories of living in the states was entering a grocery store in North Carolina with his mother. From living through horrific starvation to suddenly being able to pick any food item of his choice was a culture shock. But post-Vietnam War America was not without its faults. Tu’s entire childhood was riddled with instances of racist encounters and harassment from his white counterparts. The context Tu gives is that the entirety of the Vietnam War was not at all popular in the US, which in turn spawned many racist anti-Asian sentiments.

At eight years of age, Tu experienced bullying from a racist white classmate. One day the situation escalated to where both Tu and his bully were sent to the principal’s office to be reprimanded. The bully’s mother was called in and was informed about the incident. When she turned to speak to Tu, instead of offering any hint of an apology, she called him a racist slur, told him to leave the country, and supported her son for bullying him. Tu tells Daniel, “I was just defeated.”

Even despite all of this, Tu’s mother clung to hope. She told Tu, “No matter what, if you have an education, you can never be oppressed.” It was through these continued struggles that Tu knew he wanted to become something more than just the scared, bullied child.

24:30 Aspiring to Become a Warrior

The pressures of starting a new life resulted in Tu’s mother and father divorcing. Eventually, his mother remarried to a US Army Special Forces Green Beret. For the first time ever, Tu had a warrior role model that showed him something to aspire to.

“He was teaching me discipline. He was a very strict man… [We’d wake up at] 4:30 in the morning, every morning, we didn’t get days off. School now? It’s ‘you’re gonna wear slacks and you’re gonna wear button-up shirts to school [and] your grades better be good’… Physical fitness is on par, so every day is single physical training along with academics.”

Not too long after the divorce, Tu’s biological father sent him a box of VHS tapes on Bruce Lee and Bushido, the way of the samurai. He instantly became fascinated by this code of conduct and later began tying in the warrior mentality with the lifestyle and discipline training from his Special Forces soldier step-father. During this time, Tu’s mother would also regularly take Tu out to feed the homeless in their community, to instill in him the value of always helping those less fortunate in order to build a better world. It was then that Tu knew what he was destined to become.

“I decided to become a Green Beret. I knew my calling… I was putting stuff together. The Green Beret, [who] free the oppressed. The way of the samurai, the Bushido code. A hard way of living. You know, I got tired of being this weak individual and I saw this path to enlightenment and this way as a warrior to be my best self. I knew it as a defeated boy”

35:18 Enlisting in the Army and the Path to Special Forces

Despite his mother’s protest, Tu joined the Army with the sole intent to become a Special Forces Green Beret. At the time, there was no direct track to becoming a Green Beret, Tu simply decided to seek as much training as he possibly could by completing Airborne and Ranger school. Tu would also join a Long Range Reconnaissance Company as part of their amphibious reconnaissance team. This not only gave him more specialized skill sets, but it also fast-tracked him to Special Forces Assessment Selection as a rank E-5 sergeant in only a year and a half.

Upon completion of assessment, Tu was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group as part of their Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) team stationed in Okinawa, Japan. The primary threat at the time was North Korea, as they had developed their Nodong missiles which were capable of reaching the continental US. Tu’s team was specifically trained in recovering downed pilots as well as doing reconnaissance in the region.

40:31 The Journey into Martial Arts

Ever since he was introduced to Bruce Lee films and writings, Tu was a dedicated martial artist and continued this well into his military career. While in Okinawa, Tu came across a US Marine fighting club, called the “Tough Man Contest”. Tu participated in these fights against other active-duty servicemen and did extremely well. Soon after, a fight promoter noticed Tu’s fighting prowess and arranged for him to fight in paid events outside of the base. Tu gladly accepted.

Tu gladly signed on to be the main event fight for a Japanese promotion to a fight a Pancrase champion. Despite pushback from his superiors (who specifically banned Special Operations soldiers from fighting outside of the base) and a horrible water-borne illness he had contracted, Tu went through with the fight. His sickness was so severe, Tu weighed in only at 180 pounds while his opponent came in at 210 pounds. Even fully knowing he would lose, Tu sought to go out on his shield rather than to submit without a fight.

46:01 Martial Arts and the US Army — Coming Full Circle

From here, Tu continued his fighting career into Thailand, competing in Muay Thai matches. It was here that a Sergeant Major took notice of Tu’s combat sport activities and specifically requested to meet him. Tu initially thought he was to be reprimanded as he was actively going against the strict rules that barred him from participating in full-contact fights. Instead, the Sergeant Major wanted to recruit Tu to be the primary combatives instructor for a Tier 1 unit. The Sergeant Major commissioned Tu to travel around the world with an unlimited budget to study various martial arts styles and to bring this knowledge back to his soldiers.

For Tu, this was a dream come true. He trained with Native Americans in their form of tomahawk fighting, the Filipinos in the art of Kali, Indonesians in Pencak Silat, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Royce Gracie, and many other martial systems. On top of this, Tu was given full access to the training amenities the rest of the Tier 1 unit was provided such as a top-of-the-line fitness coach, workout equipment, and high-quality foods. This was an incredibly rare opportunity as traditionally only rank E-9 Sergeant Majors are allowed in the CAG Tier 1 unit. Daniel reflects on how his time in the Marine Corps was a far cry from the level of resources that Tu had received in the US Army Special Operations. Typically, Marines work with whatever they are given, but the more specialized units within the Army can seemingly obtain anything.

52:56 Back into Action

Eventually, Tu would find himself back into a direct-action role. For a brief time, he was allowed to operate within the same Tier 1 unit he was giving combative instruction to. It was during 2004 in Iraq that US forces, especially Special Operations, faced some of the heaviest fighting. Upon the next rotation out, the E-9 slot Tu was taking up had to be relinquished. While he was given the opportunity to reapply under a separate role within the unit, Tu’s goals and passions were now elsewhere. As such, Tu went into reconnaissance in a more specialized capacity.

Tu’s background in the 1st Special Forces Group, Native Warrior program, which involved blending in with the local population, lent itself very well to this kind of work. He already spoke several different languages and understood how to apply subtler combative skills. This new role he had entered heavily prioritized espionage and intel gathering work, teaching him the inner workings of how cell phones and satellites function as well as covert means of communication. Later, Tu was relocated to the US AFRICOM or the United States Africa Command, in which Tu participated in operations in Libya during Gaddafi’s regime, and took part as a counter-assault security team alongside the Secret Service during former President Obama’s visit to South Africa.

01:01:14 Renewed Hardships and Pain

While Tu’s time in the Army certainly came with its exciting adventures and once in a lifetime experiences, it also brought extreme trauma and pain.

“During that time, I started falling apart as a human being. I was at 14 years and a half at war… When I say that, it’s back-to-back rotations into warzones and conflict areas for 14 and a half years. I had 19 years of Special Operations. So I was falling apart and didn’t even know it.”

Tu explains to the audience that during war, there is no set schedule while in an active warzone. “The enemy has a say in your schedule”, Daniel adds. As such, the way the Special Forces Groups would treat the constant cycle of sleep deprivation, combat readiness, pain, and awkward sleep times was to repeatedly medicate. To stay awake during active combat zones, they would take Adderall. To force sleep during inopportune times, they would take Ambien. To treat pain from injuries sustained in combat, they would take opiates. Eventually, during anti-poaching operations in Cameroon, Tu found himself depressed and addicted to these drugs.

For a brief moment during his time in Africa, Tu starred off into a sunset and drank tea. That simple, serene moment alone put his mind at peace and he realized what he ultimately wanted to go back to: to be at peace. After his rotation was over, Tu retired from the US Army.

“My new journey was peace. [But] I didn’t find it [yet]… People think that if you’re in a safe environment [and] you don’t have to be in that combat environment anymore, you’re not active duty anymore, [that] you’re gonna find your peace. Peace is not found there. Peace is not found in money. Peace is not found in success. Peace is not found in fame. Peace is found in what you are willing to give, every single day.”

While at home with his wife, Tu would spend every day sleeping in a pitch-black room or staring at a completely blank TV screen. Tu explains that he had betrayed his own Bushido code and could not find his inner peace until sometime after, when Tu accidentally stumbled upon The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi.

The author was a legendary ronin, a masterless samurai who was a warrior philosopher and teacher who had found his peace in the late 1600s. Tu found a passage that read, “Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.” Something so simple yet impactful would forever change Tu’s life. Daniel agrees, adding that if an individual is not happy and at peace with themselves, they will never find it anywhere else. It would be simply attempting to treat a symptom instead of the cause.

01:09:32 Understanding the Mind

Tu reiterates that there’s a fundamental flaw in how the vast majority of westerners practice finding peace. Too often, people seek happiness from the external, whether that be wealth or a girlfriend. Upon his epiphany and rekindling with his Bushido code, Tu emptied his medicine cabinet and flushed his drugs down the toilet.

He began seeking new outlets of relaxation and release, eventually coming into the practice of meditation. This simple yet complex process involves attempting to shut out the unnecessary noise in your mind and seeking calmness. It is an attempt to not overthink all that has occurred to the individual or what might happen or what is presently happening. Daniel adds he’s never successfully meditated as he is the type of person to always think about the consequences of his actions.

Tu’s path to peace found him deeply studying how the mind functions. He discovered studies that revealed the human brain from years 2 to 5 does not have a truly analytical mind developed and is going purely off a subconscious mind. This means any level of traumatic experiences have immense consequences for the development of that child. Tu realized his childhood trauma of escaping war as a refugee and experiencing constant racism had left mental scars in him. In combination with his years at war, this contributed greatly to his inner turmoil.

01:15:17 Finding Inner peace

Tu realized the source of his trauma is buried in his subconscious, the key was to access it. His research had shown that the best time to contact the subconscious is during mornings when the brain waves are slower and as such, more readily reached by meditation. For the first few years, Tu found that he could not quite achieve this true meditative state. Until one day, he became incredibly aware and in tune with his natural surroundings. He was mentally present and aware without even trying or knowing it.

Tu’s long journey to inner peace began with self-reflection and putting his mind at ease through meditation, which later blossomed into spreading this peace to others. He started his now-famous training and tactical equipment company, Ronin Tactics, which trains military, law enforcement, and armed citizens in firearms and tactics. In turn, Tu returned to his roots in helping others to be free and able to defend themselves. Tu also turned to the outlet of writing. He was able to take his wartime and childhood scars and humanize them into teachable lessons for those who follow him. Without even realizing it, Tu’s journey to healing was in fact helping others.

01:18:46 Be Kind

Along this process of finding peace, Tu made sure to never forget what his mother taught him, which was to exhibit kindness. He explains that during war, it’s easy to forget kindness as you’re forced to push that aside from situation to situation in order to complete a mission, save others, and survive.

“When I’m trying to find my peace, I realized that what kept me alive overseas which was the element of fire and hate, I’ll never find that in this evolution of my life… if I continue to hold onto that energy. So in my mind, I had to ‘kill’ my best friend, which was hate… So how do you do that? Kindness.”

Tu made an effort to show kindness to all the people in his life. At a Starbucks, he thanks the barista graciously. If he is reading a book near an entrance, he holds the door open and tells people to have a nice day. Daniel could not agree more, as he’s made this his own personal philosophy as well. He also believes that there simply is not enough kindness being shown in the world today and that even simple gestures can go a long way to making the world a better place to live in.

Tu expresses how difficult becoming a kind person again was, having spent over a decade in the Special Forces. Being a member of such a small, tight-knit elite group tends to make the individuals involved distance themselves from others who did not experience the same things they did. Relating to others became an enormous barrier to many in the Special Operations community.

01:23:09 Reprioritizing Happiness

Tu soon found that kindness can oftentimes come in a full circle. In the process of Tu spreading his knowledge and compassion, the History Channel noticed his accomplishments and contacted him. They recognized his energy, his personality, and his skillsets as someone worthy of being a co-host for their hit series, Forged in Fire: Knife or Death. He made a new friend in Bill Goldberg, his counterpart on the show. Not too long after, Infinity Ward, the video game developers behind the mega-popular Call of Duty series wanted to feature Tu’s entire likeliness in their latest Modern Warfare entry.

On the outside looking in, Tu seemed to have it all, coming out a decorated military background, coming into the entertainment industry, and running a successful tactics training company. Despite all of these accomplishments, Tu informs Daniel that he was still depressed during all of this. Tu reminds us that depression is a never-ending battle and that finding inner peace is a constant effort.

Tu elaborates that he’s a Type A personality, meaning he’s someone that always seeks to achieve a high level of standards and excel in everything he tries. But again, success does not necessarily mean happiness.

“What drove me to become an entrepreneur, a successful trainer [of] a success company was significance. I had to place a high level of standards on myself. I’ve been doing it since I was a child… In the Army, it brought me up to the top. In this evolution, the civilian and entrepreneurship, it brought me up to the top, really fast. But I would never find happiness there… I placed too much energy on acceptance from other people.”

Tu explains upon reading the works by the famous Tony Robbins, he no longer places significance on how others perceive him. Love and compassion are now his number one priorities. Daniel wonders how others in the Special Operations community and the rest of the world respond to Tu’s message of focusing on love and compassion.

Tu gives this exact talk at a Special Operations warrior conference, explaining the importance of reprioritizing your life and evolving with the times. What you prioritized in the military during combat does not always lend itself well into the civilian world. Simply put, you cannot live a meaningful life holding onto hate and fire at all times. Past experiences do not need to define you and can in fact be used to make you stronger.

“How you look at the world is truly an illusion my friend… I want you to go back in time and think about the hardships. And I want you to restructure that idea to your advantage… And if you can’t gain anything from it and you victimize yourself from it, then I need you to look at it differently.”

The racism and trauma Tu faced in his formative years were used to fuel his drive to become compassionate and to fight for others. Because he understood what it meant to be a victim, Tu dedicated his life to helping prevent others from being victims as well. Daniel relates this back to the idea of orientation, the process in how humans are able to process past experiences and reorient how those experiences affect and inform their future behaviors and actions.

Daniel Shaw is back at it with The Mag Life Podcast, this time featuring a one-of-a-kind super-human: Chadd Wright. A decorated Navy SEAL, Chadd served as a Team Leader on multiple deployments, a SEAL instructor, and a Master Training Specialist. He later came out of the service finding a new calling in life through his Christian faith and Ultrarunning.

Chadd and his brother, Blake, now lead the 3 of 7 Project, a spiritual team building and self-improvement program. In this high-energy episode, Daniel and Chadd discuss overcoming life’s obstacles, achieving goals, military service, and the power of faith.

https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/181-Chadd_Wright_Navy_SEAL_Ultrarunner_and_Man_of_Faith.mp3

Host: Daniel Shaw

Guest: Chadd Wright

Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh

03:24 Why join the SEALs?

Daniel asks Chadd what specific moment in his life inspired him to join the Navy SEALs. Chadd recalls his upbringing as a kid living out in the countryside of Georgia, quickly realizing normal institutionalized life was not for him. While he did graduate high school, Chadd barely did so as it did not motivate him. He eventually found himself working in construction, but this too failed to satisfy him.

“I went to work in the construction industry and I realized I was surrounded by these people that… were content with what life was giving them, their 400-500 dollar a week paycheck… For some reason, though, I was like ‘Man, I want a little bit more.’”

It was only when Chadd came across a Navy recruiter with a SEAL advertising banner that read “The Hardest Training in the World” that something clicked in his head. Despite not knowing a thing about the Navy or any other military branch for that matter, Chadd knew something as challenging as joining the Navy SEALs was exactly what he wanted.

06:20 Furnace of Adversity

As Chadd found out, the act of becoming a SEAL is an arduous journey in and of itself. He failed his initial physical assessment for the program due to his lack of preparedness and physical endurance. Chadd explains, “I didn’t even know how to swim.” After numerous tries, Chadd eventually passed the physical assessment and was allowed to enter the Navy. However, fate would take a turn for the worst. On his last day of Boot Camp, Chadd was disqualified from joining the SEALs.

The Navy doctors had notified Chadd that he had a 7-centimeter pericardial cyst on his heart. If he had passed BUD/S and become a SEAL, the extreme pressure changes from combat diving could rupture his heart. Unfortunately, the Navy was not willing to operate on an asymptomatic cyst for him to become a SEAL. Chadd was crushed and left the Navy on a medical discharge. This was on top of the fact he had given up all of his assets, possessions, and home in preparation for becoming a SEAL.

However, Chadd never took ‘no’ for an answer. Upon returning to his hometown, he immediately sought out Georgia’s best cardiologists willing to operate on his heart. The leading heart surgeon in Atlanta was the only one to accept his request. The surgeon had never performed this particular kind of surgery before, nor had the surgery been performed on any previous Naval Special Warfare Candidate.

“The Navy didn’t tell me… ‘If you have this cist removed, we’ll let you back in’… They just said ‘We’ll see you later, probably never again.’ So I’m going in here, driving to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning to have some surgeon cut my chest open… for what? Just for, maybe a chance to get back into the Navy.”

13:54 Undying Perseverance

Simply put, Chadd dedicated his life’s purpose up until this point to becoming a Naval Special Warfare Operator. Upon a successful heart surgery, he re-enlisted in the Navy and was allowed back. However, a 5 month decision period took place in order to determine if he was still

“When I finally got to line up on the start line, I had so much invested in this process… they would have had to kill me, and I don’t say this lightly, to make me go away”

Chadd passed BUD/S with flying colors, completing each evolution without any issue, and became 1 out of only 18 of the graduating class from the original 300 candidates. When reflecting upon the incredibly difficult journey to become a SEAL, Chadd ultimately regrets nothing. Had he been simply handed the spot in the selection course, Chadd would have never succeeded. His stumbles and failures taught him how to adapt to adversity. The awful hand he was dealt in life made him strong enough to become a SEAL.

17:30 From Student to Teacher

During his service, Chadd eventually became a Team Leader of SEAL Team 8, an instructor as well as a Master Training Specialist. It was when he achieved the latter that made him realize his passion for teaching others and helping guide people to achieve their goals. The

Daniel agrees wholeheartedly, adding that one does not truly know a craft until they have to teach it. Once you assume the responsibilities of teaching, there are others who depend on you to be absolutely correct. Chadd believes that the key to becoming a master of anything is starting out as a student of a craft, then performing the skills required in a pressure-tested environment, and then taking those experiences to teach others.

Chadd brings that very idea of a student-to-teacher pipeline to his 3 of 7 Project, a program dedicated to developing and teaching individuals how to become stronger spiritually, physically, and mentally. The “Basic Course” portion brings 8 students into the wilderness to teach them

21:17 Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

Daniel asks Chadd why he prioritizes his entire 3 of 7 Project in the wilderness versus being in an indoor event. Chadd states simply it’s to force people outside of their comfort zone. By forcing others to be brutally honest with themselves in an uncomfortable environment, free of

Being out in the wilderness also has another major benefit: it never gets boring. Nature is never predictable, and this constantly shifts the dynamics of his classes’ missions and end goals. Students adapt and overcome unforeseen challenges much in the same way Chadd did during his journey to become a SEAL.

“These other companies that facilitate training… seemed to be canned to me. Like more of a corporate, ‘available to the masses’ [event]. When you do that, you have to tailor your training to the lowest common denominator or you’re going to have people getting hurt. I wanted to

Daniel relates to this principle completely, stating that there is growth in discomfort. This compels individuals to be more malleable and flexible to once again adapt themselves to life’s obstacles. Daniel uses his personal experiences in adventure bike riding and combat training to illustrate the point that once you’re put to the test against non-complying external forces, the truth comes out. There is no amount of lying or ego that will save you once you’re driving a motorcycle off-road or rolling with someone in a jujutsu match. Your ability to overcome will come to light in those moments.

29:13 The Importance of Upholding Self-Reliance

Daniel notes how the current state of politics has all been part of a greater strategy to end self-reliance among American citizens. It, therefore, places even more importance on the work that Chadd does, as his services and lessons are purpose-built to promote independence and self-sufficiency. Chadd encourages listeners to learn what our Founding Fathers, most notably John Adams, had to sacrifice in order to uphold self-reliance and freedom in this country.

31:45 Mental Toughness and the Willingness to Push Forward

Chadd attributes the idea of self-reliance to an individual’s mental integrity in the face of adversity. His Ultrarunning experiences epitomize this. Chadd explains that the act of being an Ultrarunner is the ultimate test in mental fortitude and endurance, further emphasized by the

Daniel commends Chadd’s mindset and accomplishments in the sport of Ultrarunning. Despite not being a runner himself, Daniel agrees that the pain one goes through during extreme physical activity brings out inner strength otherwise not found. Chadd adds that true growth comes not from going through the initial “suck” of an activity but by enduring just a tad bit more past that phase. In Chadd’s case, that means running 90 miles and then running those final ten miles in a race. The first 90 is only the initial barrier, it is the last ten miles that truly

37:25 Three Pillars of Overcoming Adversity

Chadd expresses that there are three pillars of overcoming adversity and improving upon oneself that he constantly abides by. The first is patience, the mental discipline to stay the course no matter how seemingly overwhelming the odds are. This is in direct relation to his earlier

The second is staying in the present moment. Chadd recalls during one of his races in which he and another runner, Greg, were the only two left competing. A moment occurred when Greg looked over at Chadd and said, “We have six hours until we reach 100 miles”. It was at this moment that Chadd knew he could not be beaten, because simply put Greg was no longer thinking of the present challenge but in fact demoralizing himself over the future challenges.

The third pillar is always being deliberate, meaning one should be cognizant at all times of what they are doing and how they are doing it. Chadd expresses that if he were not deliberate with his steps during his runs, he could potentially roll an ankle and ruin his race. During his time in the SEALs, Chadd had personally witnessed team members injure themselves during combat missions or just climbing ladders on ships due to not being deliberate with their actions.

41:41 The Power of Self-Control

Chadd’s pillars to life further emphasize the idea of self-control. Daniel notes that self-control is how an individual can master oneself even when the whole world around them is beyond their control. Every day is an opportunity to practice self-control, even if it’s something as small as reacting to a minor inconvenience or choosing to road rage over someone cutting you off in traffic. Chadd further adds that self-control can be the difference between life or death in extreme situations.

When he was still active in the SEALs, Chadd and his team were tasked with killing or capturing a high-value target only to find themselves in an ambush and their target gone. While the entire team panicked over the fact their position was being surrounded by enemy combatants, their platoon chief remained perfectly calm and simply communicated with air assets to provide support. The chief’s ability to maintain his composure in the midst of pure chaos allowed him to follow through with his training and eventually call in the necessary backup that would save the entire team. Daniel comments that having even just one person who is under control, confident, calm, and leading can become a tremendous force multiplier to those around them.

45:21 Adhere to a Standard

In order to accomplish meaningful growth, Chadd believes everyone should adhere to individual standards. However, he adds that your standards should actively challenge you to strive for more.

“If you’re always achieving the standards that you’ve set for yourself, then your standards are not high enough. So if you’re not missing the mark sometimes, you need to reassess your standards… I live my life to a standard, not a result.”

Chadd draws upon his experience once more in Ultrarunning, this time in a 100-mile race in the mountains of North Georgia. He was favored to win and held the first-place spot through 60 miles of the race. Then suddenly, Chadd’s stomach erupted in searing pain. This was so horrific,

48:32 Discovering the Biblical Standard

Daniel asks what other standards Chadd had, prior to his full acceptance of Christianity. As a young man in the SEALs, his standards at the time were simply whatever his leaders pressed upon them. It just so happens, these same standards are found in the Bible, such as having

Chadd’s realization of the power of the Christian faith came from the most unlikely of places during his deployment in the SEAL Teams.

While staying inside a building with his fellow teammates, it became apparent something was off-putting about the structure. The team was being constantly harassed by strange noises and a dark, ominous feeling of dread. It felt as though an invisible entity was stalking and undermining them, to the point that the team dynamics were negatively affected due to the lack of sleep and toxic energy.

Finally, Chadd, remembering his family’s Christian ties and not knowing what else to do, called his brother Blake. Upon explaining the very strange set of circumstances, Blake got his pastor on the phone and who later instructed Chadd to walk around the building anointing the doors with oil as the pastor said a prayer. Soon after, the building no longer felt a dark, haunting presence, and peace was restored to the SEAL Team.

56:59 Strength Through Faith

For Chadd, everything about the Bible just made sense to him. It was plain and simple, common sense to believe in Jesus. Almost immediately upon converting to Christianity, Chadd became less aggressive and far more at peace, noticeably so that his own teammates found his personality change off-putting. When his wife was dying from a drug addiction only to overcome this and recover, Chadd credits much of this good fortune to his Christian faith.

01:06:29 The Warrior’s Hunger

Chadd admits to Daniel that despite his passion for Ultrarunning, nothing will ever come close to the adrenaline rush and thrill of experiencing a genuine fight during his time in the SEALs. He explains that when an individual becomes a warrior, their mind gets warped due to becoming singularly focused on preparing and training for the next fight. Chadd describes this as a hunger to fight against another force and adds that no amount of Ultra Marathon running will ever replace that hunger.

As a former, seasoned United States Marine, Daniel heavily relates to this sentiment. He admits he misses having a level of threat on his life and having to be put into unique situations in which good men must rely on his sound judgement, physicality, and skillsets to prevail over evil.

Knowing others relied on him to stay alive is what motivated Daniel to always perform at his best and to not simply settle for the bare minimum.

Chadd takes this warrior mindset and applies it to everything he does in life. Deep down, he knows he cannot afford to not be ready for life’s challenges, including protecting those around him.

“I don’t have the luxury to not be ready… I’m not here to be an athlete. I’m here because I want to train like I fight. I want to be ready and prepared for a fight. You know why? Because the world and the people around me, look at me differently… When crap hits the fan, if it ever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjVW9wPrd44

To learn more about Chadd Wright’s 3 of 7 Project visit https://3of7project.com

Follow Chadd and 3 of 7 Project on social media:

Instagram – @chadwright278

Instagram – @3_of_7project

Facebook – 3of7project

YouTube – Chadd Right 3 of 7 YouTube

Article/Show notes by Eric Huh