James A. Keating of Combat Technologies is widely known in martial arts and combative circles by the title "Master at Arms."  Though he is probably best known for his reverse grip and bowie knife work, as well as the FMA influence present in his materials, Mr. Keating often defies description.  He is eclectic, remarkably knowledgeable, extremely personable, and very good at what he does.

Mr. Keating's credentials can be both blessing and curse, however, in that he has a knack for making even the most complex techniques seem simple and easy to do.  This must be kept in mind whenever watching him move, for what Mr. Keating does with ease might  take considerable practice for the student to achieve.  This does not detract from the value of the huge body of work Keating and ComTech have produced, but it must be kept in mind when absorbing the material offered.

The ComTech Combat Bandanna series looks at the kerchief, otherwise known as the bandanna or the panu, as a tool for survival.  "'Survival' is a more accurate description of what we do," states a text crawl that prefaces the first volume.  The tape approaches the bandanna as an expression of flexible weapons in the Spanish-Filipino tradition, knowledge that Keating and ComTech consider universal in application.

As I watched the tapes I followed along (that's me at right) and applied everything I could, drafting a training partner when necessary.  While I do not believe I mastered all the techniques demonstrated in the time I practiced the material, I achieved a much greater appreciation for flexible weapons in general and for the bandanna specifically.  I believe this points to the genuine utility of these tapes, though I think you'd have to be as accomplished a martial artist as Mr. Keating to be able to do with comparable efficacy everything he demonstrates.

Tape One covers knife defenses, dealing with secondary attacks, and "miscellaneous ideas for development."  Tape Two is devoted to basic engagement skills, "oxygen denial" (choking techniques), intermediate fighting concepts, and the bandanna's uses as a survival and emergency tool.

Production values on both tapes are quite acceptable.  The blue cloth background is very... blue... but the video is bright enough (except for a little darkness towards the lower portion of the screen) and the techniques are demonstrated with reasonable clarity.  The sound is a little hollow, but audible throughout.  In both volumes, graphic text appears over the video at the bottom of the screen to emphasize certain points as Keating makes them, drawing the viewer's attention to key ideas.  Camera angles change as needed to focus on the action.

VOLUME ONE

In Tape One, Keating welcomes the viewer and introduces the concept of the bandanna.  He explains that any flexible weapon, from a belt to a rope to a sleeve, can be used with the techniques he demonstrates on the tapes.  He then demonstrates tying a knot in the end of the bandanna (not a Thuggee knot in the middle) and promises to show the viewer how to "load" the bandanna to make it a more effective striking tool.

"A lot of people think this is a joke," Keating explains, "But it's a serious weapon."  He is quite right;  I have heard the "Fighting Bandanna" concept derided before by those speaking from ignorance.  Mr. Keating appreciates, as should we all, the need to adapt common objects to the cause of self-defense.

Keating then demonstrates snapping the bandanna using the knotted end as a handle, practicing his targeting in both horizontal and vertical directions.  The backhand, overhand, underhand, and inward snaps are all demonstrated.

The substance of Tape One is defense against the knife.  Keating demonstrates several techniques -- while cautioning students never to train with a real knife -- that involve using the bandanna (and the thumbs of your hands where applicable) to deflect, trap, redirect, and otherwise counter incoming blades, following up as applicable.  Many of the techniques involve wrapping the knife itself with the bandanna, using the flats of the blade to avoid having one's kerchief cut in two.  This is probably the most difficult part of this material to achieve in real life, at least in my opinion, as one must be extremely precise in dealing with an incoming knife in this way.  Mr. Keating, of course, does it with little effort, as one would expect from someone of his ability.

The integration of footwork and other tools -- kicks, head butts, etc. -- is not neglected.  After covering several different knife defenses with the bandanna, Mr. Keating stops to review what he has just covered, which nicely sums up the segment for the student.

In the segment on dealing with secondary attacks, Keating demonstrates using the bandanna to deal with weapons other than knives.  He uses it to attack the haft of a tomahawk, for example, and also discusses reverse grip variations.  Some of his techniques turn into other maneuvers like wrist locks.  There are times when he seems to be relying on the protection of the leather cuff he wears on his wrist, which is fine if you regularly wear such a thing (as Keating does in most pictures of him I've seen).

As he covers dealing with punches from the off side as well as other secondary attacks, Keating reiterates the point of the Fighting Bandanna tapes -- the use of less-than-lethal force to subdue and enemy.  "I'm not saying to be kind to an enemy," he points out.  "Be cruel.  But control them without doing lethal force.  That's what this video is about."  He also states, more than once, that the bandanna as flexible weapon should be approached conceptually -- not as a catalog of techniques, but as a body of principles that can be applied to any flexible tool.

"Remember," he tells the viewer, "It's all mental."

What looks like FMA, Aikido, Ju Jitsu, Wing Chun, and a host of other techniques is all on display as Keating continues to demonstrate various counters and takedowns with the bandanna.  In one sequence he practically hogties his opponent with his kerchief.

In the the segment on miscellaneous tools for development, Keating fulfills his promise to show the viewer how to "load" the bandanna with an end weight to make it a very effective striking tool.    He also shows how to use the bandanna to secure a knife in the palm of one's hand.  He demonstrates how to tie a few useful knots, such as a fisherman's knot and bowline knots, then makes a double loop to convert his bandanna into a pair of makeshift handcuffs.  The tape even includes advice on how to use a light scarf to work one's arm muscles.  The volume concludes with contact information for ComTech.

VOLUME TWO

In the second tape in the set, Keating focuses on defeating an unarmed adversary.  He speaks again about loading the bandanna for striking and also examines using it as a sling to hurl projectiles.  Going back to targeting with the bandanna as a striking tool, he emphasizes hitting the hands and face (because strikes to the body will do little effective damage by comparison).

The segment on basic engagement skills is devoted to "baiting" the opponent -- drawing him in to reduce the variables one faces, effectively countering attacks on various lines.  Taking the opponent's balance, redirecting his attack, parrying, and drilling both sides of the body in developing these skills are all covered.

The first thing of which most people think, when considering the bandanna or any flexible tool as a weapon, is that it can be used to strangle or choke an enemy.  That is the topic discussed in the segment on "oxygen denial," during which Keating demonstrates using the bandanna to both counter an attack and transition into a choke and/or control maneuver.  He uses the bandanna to great effect in moving his opponent's head around, levering him about and dominating him mechanically.

Moving on to what he considers intermediate fighting concepts, Keating uses the bandanna for both "speed trapping" and one-hand trapping.  This is really more of an overview than anything else -- one that points to Keating's exceptional skill.  (I've mentioned that several times in the course of this review, but it's impossible not to comment on it when watching Mr. Keating work.)  "Random thoughts and ideas" are presented to give the student a variety of techniques and concepts with which to work, including traps and counters used against kicks.

Finally, Mr. Keating speaks about using the bandanna for "healing" -- what I would consider emergency preparedness and survival techniques.  He touches on everything from using one's kerchief as a head cover, particle mask, head band, pressure-point binding tool, tourniquet, and defense against snow blindness to using the leverage it affords to stretch another person's spine.  He walks the viewer through the correct application of the bandanna in each case.

"Concentrate on the healing aspects as well as the fighting aspects," he exhorts.  This is an important message, for it points to the mission of ComTech as more than simply fighting efficiency.  I think the term "holistic survival" does it justice.

More than once, Keating encourages students to experiment with the tools and principles presented, learning what they can do and exploring the concepts.  "Everything we do can be defeated or 'overrode," he says early in Tape One.  "...Don't compete.  Don't horse around.  ...Work together."