The White Shadow Dojo is a Martial Arts school run by Gwynne and David in western New York. This blog features information on our book "The Rhythm of One", our class offerings, a calendar of events, an edged weapons forum, articles on knife design, and a community space for the research and dissemination of Martial Arts. "Sometimes irreverant, often opinionated, always brutally honest."

Sunday, March 08, 2015

Bloody Sunday

I grew up when there were still "separate but equal" facilities and Blacks were treated poorly. I remember the Freedom Riders and the National Guard in the streets. So, I do not mean to diminish the struggles of the civil rights movement but long before Selma there was another struggle to make all men free. Yes it started out as a states rights movement but quickly morphed into a crusade to free the slaves. New estimates place the number of men killed during the "Civil War" reached 750,000! I have never heard any Black historian, minister, or civil rights leader offer a grain of thanks for men who died in that horrible slaughter. Owning slaves was a terrible practice that long outlived the advance of society and its abolition was as sure to come as day follows night. What annoys me is the President who said "we are in a post racial" world but attended ceremonies which only open and magnify old wounds. He is the great divider. This is the same president who chose to go golfing instead of attend the monumental march for freedom in Paris. So as we "celebrate" Bloody Sunday please also say a prayer for the 750,000 men who died for an ideal over 150 years ago.

Saturday, March 07, 2015

SOE Approved?

Here are some images of a type of knife like the OSS and SOE used but with the addition of the skull. What I like about it is the skull makes it comfortable to handle and would not hurt your hand if you hit some hard gear, like with the standard SOE nail with small handle. Capt. Mason said he hated using the commando "nails" because they hit a nerve center in the palm of his hand. Harder to conceal no doubt. The detail of the hand-sculpted skull is incredible. It came with a kydex sheath but I am going to make a leather one like they had in WW-II. When I bought it I decided the handle was too long so I sent it back to the maker and had him shorten and rethread it for the skull. Now when you hold it your thumb and forefinger comes right to the end of the handle/blade juncture. Perfect! Overall length is 8 1/2 inches. Long enough to do some serious damage.

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