Joe Maffei, the owner of the Integrated Martial Development Center in Waltham Massachusetts, is a 30 year veteran of the martial Arts and a weapons & hand-to hand combat Instructor under U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. trainer Paul Vunak.. This past week Mr. Maffei and his staff held a Civilian Boot camp. The camp was held at an 85 acre farm, "The perfect environment for what we need" says Maffei. This year's camp was by invitation only, but there was another twist to it. CBS news New York, and WHDH Boston covered the story.
After the September 11th tragedy, and a few weeks prior to the camp, the
television networks contacted Mr. Maffei after discovering he was addressing
the topic of Civilian Anti-Terrorist Survival training. The Motto of the camp",
says Maffei, is: "Prepare, Adapt, and Survive. Prepare in the event that
terrorists again hit our home front worse then before. Next time possibly
overwhelming our local Law Enforcement and medical teams. We must learn
to adapt, because we never know who, when, or how an attack may present itself. We must be prepared to survive the worst case scenario. That is to be reduced to primitive living". When I asked, "Do you really think it will be that bad?" His response was: "You never know. You just never know. Not only terrorisom. What if you are with your family and there's an accedent? You now have the skills to handle it. I offer an insurance policy, like fire insurance you get for your home. Hopefully you will never have to use it, but if you need it, it's there." The camp started with an overview of the four basic needs. The use of fire-arms, hand-to-hand combat with improvised weapons, emergency medical training, and primitive living skills. Each integrating one into the other.
First up was emergency medical training. Instructor Tim Redding a licensed EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) first discussed the importance of evaluating the patient. Not only observing the obvious wounds and excess blood, But the diagnosis of shock, skin tone, dilated pupils, body temperature, and a host of other subtleties necessary for proper evaluation. Mr. Redding also addressed gun shot wounds, and the best immediate treatment for knife wounds, blunt trauma, and different types of dressings. " Most people don't carry a medical bag or even a first aid kit." says Redding. He then went into the use of everyday items such as t-shirts, towels, sanitary pads, all used as emergency adaptations. Furthermore, he spoke on the importance of avoiding infection, and the do's and don'ts of a tourniquet. He next touched on a variety of chemical and bio-chemical agents, detection, incubation periods, and treatments. Very informative and a great presentation.
Next up was an introduction to primitive living skills. Mr. John Bransfield,
a professional Arborist by trade, explained that primitive living is a
developed skill, and that one should know the basic needs to survive:
How to build a shelter, fire, purify water, and find food. We went deep
into the woods where Bransfield instructed us on the use of the debris
found in our surroundings. Then as a team we began the construction
of a primitive shelter using the sticks, leaves, brush, etc. It's completion
was accomplished in a very short time. It was warm, wind resistant,
water proof, and it also was camouflaged perfectly into the landscape.
He then moved on to the skill of producing fire through friction. He
used what he called a hand drill. A tool he made of a piece of cedar
wood. The tool consisted of two components. A long slender like stick
and a flat board. He then used mashed up cattails for ignition. As he
started to work, I heard a comment from one of the participants saying,
" how long is THIS gonna take?" By the end of the sentence smoke
started to appear and 30 seconds later the guy was holding fire in his
hand. He then put it in the carefully constructed tent of sticks where a
full blaze began. Next Bransfield spoke about finding water and how to eliminate the bacteria, which can make you extremely ill if swallowed. He then pointed out some edibles surrounding us. " These are basic skills to get you through the first 48 hours or so. For more comfortable and permanent living you would have to move to the next level of training. " Say's Bransfield. I thought the skills were so easy. But I would not have known what to do, unless I was taught.
Joe Maffei took the reins next. He opened by saying this training must be based on simple gross motor skills, and that it must be trained so yourinstincts take over. Most importantly it had to be trained in a safe and professional manner. He next had some of his guys put on protective equipment. Mouth pieces, groin protection, assorted padding, and full motor cycle helmets. He then gave them both training knives, and had them put him in a hostage position. He next informed his audience that he was going to have the guys attack him. The fight was unrehearsed and definitely non-choreographed. What happened next was an all out brawl. I was quickly taken back by the speed and the violent nature of the encounter. As I gazed around at the participants the look of amazement and a little fear filled their faces as well. Maffei then explained how most martial arts
instructors teach unrealistic and complicated techniques with additional promises of learning deadly techniques as they reach the exalted Black Belt. "The goal here is to learn the technique today, practice it full force using proper training gear. And have the technique when you leave." Says Maffei.
He then taught the class how to properly grab the head and thumb the eyes.
He showed how to train this dangerous technique safely by going to the
eyebrows instead of the eyes themselves. "The next step is to knee the groin.
The knee to the groin comes in virtually undetected. Because the person is
temporarily pre-occupied with the eye attack." He then showed a variety of
close quarter combinations and had one of his instructors put on the protective
equipment. One by one Maffei coached each participant so they could learn
and feel the intensity of the training method. I myself felt an immediate sense of empowerment by learning in this manner. Maffei then went over the possibility of the fight going to the ground, and covered many moves to help escape this vulnerable place. "The ground is the last place you want to be, because you lose all your mobility if faced with multiple attackers." Maffei states. This was a fantastic experience for me and truly, an eye-opener.
The final portion of the camp was on the use
of fire-arms. Instructor Martin Michelman is
the tactics and firearms instructor for the
Massachusetts Sheriffs department. Mr.
Michelman started with a look at the
various types of fire-arms and ammunition.
He then gave a careful and detailed view
of the safety procedures when handling a
fire-arm. We then went over to the range
where he let the participants under strict
supervision fire various weapons. The
targets were 10, 20, and 25 feet away.
Michelman brought out the use of
simmunition's and gave a mock demonstration with the other I.M.D.C staff members. These
pistols shoot colored soap instead of real
bullets so people can actually shoot one
another with protective gear simulating a gun
fight safely. "Today we will learn basic gun
safety and get to fire a weapon. At the next
level the participants will learn the tactics of
shooting and using cover as seen in the
demonstration." Says Michleman. I have
never fired a gun before, and having a state
licensed instructor training me, made me feel
very safe and comfortable.
While drinking a hot chocolate, I sat down with Mr. Maffei and talked by the roaring campfire. I asked him what possessed him to put this camp together.
J.M. " I've been training people like this for years. It just wasn't a hot topic then. Now it is. And people need this type of training. People need independence and freedom. A little more then two hundred years ago this country was under fire by a ruthless foe. And men like Washington, and Jefferson, and Adams said no way, your not taking my freedom. Your not taking my country without a fight. So why do I do this? Because thousands of people laid down their lives so we can have freedom. And after Sept 11th. I feel the need to do something, to do my part. This is my way of dealing with it. And I'll be damned if I let those people down. That's why I do it."
J.B. What makes this program so successful? And are there other places people can get this type of training?
J.M. "I think what makes this work for us is the fact that we are a team. The guys are all my students and we all think alike. One hand knows what the other is doing. Now people can go take a firearms course, then go take some martial arts, then some survival training. But, it's all separated, with different instructors and different ideas. What we teach is an integration, a flow. As far as others doing what we do, they may have similar programs, but I can't say it's what we do."
J.B. How often do you do this training?
J.M. "Well this program is what I call the Black K.A T.S. program and it is taught in various levels. A one day introduction course as was taught today. And two and three day courses. The program is meant for people who don't have a lot of time to train with us on a regular basis, so we do something like a boot camp, a crash course to maximize their time. We have one more introduction camp this year. Next year we have four introduction camps, and four second level camps slotted.
J.B. What makes the second level camp different then the introduction camp?
J.M. "With out letting the cat out of the bag. The second level has many more components. Learning how to administer field dressings, Shoot and cover tactics, building entrees, How to make survival tools, how to carry fire, Stalking and concealment, intensified Hand-to-Hand combat training and all sorts of other wild and crazy stuff. It's pretty cool."
J.B. Joe what kinds of people take this sort of training?
J.M. "Housewives, white collar, blue collar and everyone in between. Some folks have done martial arts. But never learned fire-arms. Others have medical training. But have no idea what to do if they or their family was under a violent assault. we offer something for everyone"
J.B. Do you think having prior martial arts experiences is helpful going into your camp?
J.M. "Not necessarily, but it sure helps. Martial arts, is only a small portion in the big picture. You need that blend, that integration I spoke of. Many elements working in unison. The total package. I know guys that are pro- fighters. Put them up in Maine in the wilderness on a dark rainy night in February with nothing but the T-shirt on their back and see what happens. No food, no water, no nothing. OUTCH."
J.B. I get your point. How do people enroll or sign up for your camps?
J.M. "They can give me a call, send an e-mail, or stop by the school."
J.B. Joe where do you usually do the camps?
J.M. It all depends, we have camped in the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont. People have learned Fire-arms at a variety of firing ranges. Hand to hand Combat is taught at my school in Waltham or in different halls, and survival skills can be taught almost anywhere there is woods, without trust passing.
J.B. Joe when will the camp air on television.
J.M. "A portion of the camp will be aired in the Boston area Fri Nov. 16th on WHDH channel 7. Either 5pm. or 11pm. news. The CBS special will air in New York, New Jersey, and the Hartford area. Tues Nov. 20th at 5pm. Channel 2 in New York. I'm not sure of the other channels.
J.B. Joe thank you for an exhilarating, and quite frankly, a life saving experience.
J.M. " No Problem, God Bless"
