Most survival situations happen in one of two ways. First, you might find yourself thrust into a situation that was not of your own making. This could be anything from a plane crash, to a terrorist attack, or even a home invasion. While you can plan for them, they often come as a surprise and are often beyond your control in the initial stages of the event.
The second type of scenario, are those that develop over time. They’re often preventable, had you recognized the danger signs and acted before things started to spiral out of control. Unfortunately, this second scenario is the most common. It often comes about because of either a lack of foresight and planning, or on the other side of the coin, arrogance and over confidence in an ability that you may not have.
There is one thing that both scenarios often have in common, and that is the basics. The basics are often what separate those that survive from those that perish.
Think of it this way… From the elite special forces, to highly trained professional athletes, there’s one thing that separates them from the guy sitting on the couch eating Doritos. It isn’t some super human power or even being born with a gift or talent, because for the most part that’s crap.
IT’S THE BASICS.
When a professional basketball player hits the game winning free throw, it’s not because he was born to play basketball. It’s because he spent hundreds maybe even thousands of hours shooting free throws. When the time came to make the shot, he made it because he made that same shot ten thousand times before.
When an elite sniper takes out a target from 1,000 yards, it’s not because of some special secret training. It’s because he was drilled in the basics. He’s made that shot at the range thousands of times. When the moment came, he was ready because he learned and drilled the basics.
Most survival situations can be prevented or survived by learning the basics and then doing them over and over again. Yes there are certain skills that go beyond the basics, but the basics are the foundation that everything else is built upon.
I’ve been stockpiling firearms & ammunition and was wondering what i could do to get into shape w/o going to a gym,i spend alot of time in the outdoors how can i use this to my advantage in training…Thanks i hope to hear from you.
I don’t waste my money on a gym membership either. The thing is working out in a gym doesn’t really prepare you physically for a survival situation. I live in farm country. Alot of the farmers here are in better shape than those who work out in a gym because they work hard, which involves moving bales of hay, fertilizer bags, and so forth ALL DAY, all of which build up endurance. The key is endurance. A suggestion to getting in shape physically for a survival situation is do what some soldiers do, paratroopers,: either fill backpacks with bricks and run with those packs (going a little farther each day) or doing a quick paced walk with all your equipment on or the equivalent in weight. That’s what I try to do and I’m a small guy.Roman gladiators used to prepare for the arena by hitting posts with dull swords while wearing lead weights on their wrists. It hurt like the devil at first working out, but they gradually became used to the weight. With the weights off, the sword or gladias felt like a feather.
thats right ,,, my grand daddy was in better shape then alot of these mirror watching, pretty muscle boys, ever will be and he was 90 and still working.
Do you know what you can do in a good gym these days? It is certainly not only about weights and old fashioned movements. I have the impression you are not that educated on modern training and fallback on what you know best.
If you make your living selling gym memberships – more power to you. But there is no substitute for knowing that you can do it – get a copy of the Ranger handbook.
research “body weight exercises”
body weight culture dot com has a lot of exercises and DIY training
Larry, there is so much to do aside from the usual prepping acquisitions:
Get in shape by walking, jogging, running and strength training as much as your body allows.
Shooting practice over & over with various firearms and including drawing a pistol to get muscle memory.
Building other skills – canning, gardening, household repairs, etc.
Go camping regularly.
Reading to learn and preparing yourself mentally.
This fabulous website is one of several you can learn from.
I enjoy your blog, I have become more and more aware of our need to be prepared for what seems to be inevitable. We are going to have to fend for ourselves and protect what is ours, to survive the events to come. Plan on coming back often. Thank you, and keep it coming.
Totally agree that stockpiling ammo is only part of it. I’ve been trying to get myself to the range more often. Next step is to get the wife there as well.
Agree that P90X is just as effective as a gym.
Great site by the way.
I do pack hikes and I go to the range once a week but I also do 24 Hour Fitness, its cheap but the money I spent makes me go since I am too cheap not to use what I pay for. I do military reenacting (Civil War and WW2), not real military training (I was once a paratrooper) but it is good training both physical and mental. The logistics and the weapons training/familiarization as well as the real time, full sized tactical with real people is good training and invigorating. And the reenacting is a good way to provide a cover for my preparations and a tax deduction! Also you find alot of like minded people in the hobby. I’d also recommend looking into ZombieSquad.
I’d like to add I think working on a farm would be the best thing anyone could do. I did that as a kid and I miss it, wish I could get back to the woods but I am stil stuck in the suburbs.
I feel I need to add something here.. yes,going to the range often wil help your skills..at the range. Try going to the range when you are out of breath from running through the bush and havent slept or ate for a couple of days. THAT wil help your shooting skills for when it counts!I am not saying you have to do this every time you go shooting, but do throw it in there.
Do not train for the worst case scenario in the best of circumstances.
Start with the basics,then advance.
What is the best way to store drinking water?I’m told to add a small amount of bleach.(1/8 tsp per gal.)Is this safe?
Most city tap water has a higher concentration than that.
I like my new pellet pistol, we got roof rats around and me and dog play rat patrol several times a day. its a p23 by gamo, and spits them out at 450fps, looks like a makarov..now i conserve my ammo, stay in practice, and dont scare the neighbors..and the dog now patrols ad reports on his own now. He sees the gun come out and hes ready for action…
This is a good way to start, but each weapon is an individual, with its own characteristics. You need to practice with each weapon that you have access to.
Kathryn,
You’ve got it right. When I go to the range, I carry all my weapons, and use all of them while at the range. Pistols, carbines (for CQB), long rifles (long range), etc. I try to get to the range at least once a week, and it makes a major difference in skill levels.
Anyone who goes to the range only once as year or so is not going to be in the running for survival. Please think on this folks.
I used to take all my guns, but I aquired too many. Now I concentrate only on my .45, AR15 and my .22 and 30/30. Those are the weapons that seem to cover any an all possiblilties, except of cousre my sawed off 12 gauge, but it dosent require that much practice ;-)
My husband and I are just in the learning stages with 5 young children and we are just getting started…how do we prepare and what are the “basics”?
I have 3 kids: 6,3 and 2.. It’s rough getting out of the house on time since they wake up when or before I do at 5:30. Cancelled the gym membership because there is no time for it. Luckily , my job requires a lot of walking, lifting, stairs etc. Prepping has become a topic of discussion between my wife and I, but I know it requires more.
Range skills are great, but just having basic nessecities on hand would be my key advice to anyone. Water, food, medicine, fuel (vehicular and for cooking), sanitation, all these. Just imagine your household items, but without power or the ability to replenish supplies by heading out to the local store. If you can’t live a week without relying on the tap for water or the store for food, put enough away to cover that week. Then when you can afford it, put one more week away. Like saving money and investing in your future, it requires diligence, but being able to supply basic needs for your family when times are tough (natural disaster or otherwise) will be a much better way to spend money that would otherwise go to a few weekends at the range.
(I love shooting/target practice anytime I can, but if your starting out, fix things up for the family first)
Hello you all. Thanks for this great website. I’m also just starting to look into prepping. I have begun by deciding on what my goals are to start. First being prepared for one month off grid. Trail or in suburbs is home to stay as normal. Having enough to hold out a mnt. Then a pack to last 2 weeks if needed after mnt. To bug out in mountains.I’m a vetran and have some skills. Plus a hunter of 30 years.anything beyond 6 weeks or so will fall into facing whatever my Lord brings. This is my start. I think one needs to set a goal as to how long and far they are intended to prepare for. Just got started last night working on list. Thanks you all for all the great help! KeepLookingUp+
Good comments from all!
Forget the gym crap, walking and doing pushups, situps, ect.. using your own body weight will benefit you more. When you’re out in the woods grab hold of a tree branch and do some pull ups, run along the path, stop and drop do those push ups and situps.
Learn how to grow food and protect it not just from other animals but pests and plant diseases. Learn how to hunt and find water. Learn how to treat disease. Learn what wild foods are edible and how to make a fire. Also learn how to survive without a gun if that situation arose which in something like a plane crash or ship wreck would be a high probability. And other skills like basic car mechanics, hot wiring vehicles, having enough gas………..Water, Food and Shelter is first without that, game over.
What’s with all the gun talk? Sounds like gym-going tough guy talk…let me guess, you all must be in the US right? I’m from Australia, and I’ll tell you what, nothing like a good solid punch from an Australian to set you straight. None of this tough guy gun talk! We don’t use guns, we use our manhood. And that’s what will set you right for survival.
P.s. The USA seems to have a lot of mass shootings…if you all are so good with guns, how come I’ve never heard of a civilian shooting back at one of these mass shootings? All I see is the aftermath, running, crying, FBI raids etc….but no hero saving the day! Riddle me this?
Hi,
I’m a kid and I want to get a lot fitter, how should I go about this without much supplies.