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Download the Be a Martialist Booklet
By Phil Elmore
This is the first booklet written by Phil Elmore on the philosophy of martialism as promulgated in The Martialist. It is available for free and may be distributed to anyone provided it is not altered in any way. Be a martialist!
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The Coming Dark Times
By Phil Elmore
With political leftists ascendant once more, the dark times are coming for those of us who believe in self-defense and emergency preparedness. Brace yourself. We'll be here for you.
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Understanding Trolling: Online Interaction, Pax Baculum, and The Martialist
By Phil Elmore
Take some time to ponder the environment in which The Martialist and its online forum are read.
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The Inevitable Demise of The Martialist's Hosted Forum at MartialTalk
By Phil Elmore
In a community of people who are supposed to understand self-defense, the difference between martialists and so-called "martial" artists is sometimes very stark.
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Fitness and Self-Defense
By Phil Elmore
There's no doubt that you should be as fit as you can manage to be. There's also no doubt that not everyone is physically fit – but everyone needs effective self-defense.
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Sheeple, Grasshoppers, and Ants: The Menagerie of Self-Defense
By Phil Elmore
Those whom the sheep of the world characterize as "paranoid" are all too often simply prepared.
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Home Invasion at the National Level
By Phil Elmore
We must put a stop to the tidal wave of illegal immigration threatening our economy and our society.
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The Myth of "Pressure Testing"
By Phil Elmore
A lot of people love to talk about the "pressure testing" in which they engage. Don't buy the hype.
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The Psychology of the Spectator
By Phil Elmore
There are a lot of people speaking loudly about the martial arts who are merely jeering from the sidelines.
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Why the Buddhist Peace Fellowship is Wrong
By Phil Elmore
The publication of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship does it no ideological favors.
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Raging Ignorance in Self-Defense
By Phil Elmore
Why are so many people so powerfully ignorant of practical self-defense, yet so willing to speak up about it?
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Liberate Yourself from Hero Worship
By Phil Elmore
If you limit your sources to only those voices that meet arbitrary standards of "authority," you'll do yourself and everyone else a disservice.
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What Type of Guy Are You?
By Phil Elmore
Are you a sportfighter? Are you an RBSD guy? Do you call yourself an MMA guy? Are you some other type of guy (or gal)?
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Seven Lessons from Miyamoto Musashi
By Phil Elmore
The classic writings of Miyamoto Musashi offer us much; they are timeless in their wisdom.
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Going Armed: Understanding Utility and Hoplophobia
By Phil Elmore
Those who are quick to mischaracterize armed citizens suffer from some or all of several problems accepting reality.
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Guns, "Gun Control," and "Martial" Artists
By Phil Elmore
The firearm is the most practical and effective means of personal protection. Those who deny this are denying reality.
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The Case for Insecurity in Your Fighting Skills
By Phil Elmore
Are you insecure about your ability to fight someone? You should be.
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Creation versus Criticism
By Phil Elmore
It's a lot easier to complain and criticize than it is to create something of value.
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Why You Should Hate The Martialist
By Phil Elmore
This publication makes many enemies, for good reason.
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Self-Defense in Context and within Constraints
By Phil Elmore
What you'd like isn't always what's an option.
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Monday Morning Hindsight Second-Guess 20/20 Quarterbacking
By Phil Elmore
It's easy to claim someone should have done something about a terrorist attack when one makes one's claims long after the fact.
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Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics – Again
By Phil Elmore
Statistics can be valid or they can be misleading. Learn how to tell the difference, rather than dismissing them all or accepting them all.
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Finding Yourself on the Outside
By Phil Elmore
Making the choice to leave a martial arts school can be very difficult and may have serious repercussions.
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Who Are the Armchair Martial Artists?
By Phil Elmore
Have you noticed that those who are quickest to categorize others as somehow unworthy are themselves rarely paragons of worthiness?
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Politics as Personal Security Risk
By Phil Elmore
If you're a political activist, you'd better take some time to consider the risks you are willingly accepting.
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Enemy, Thy Name is Complacency
By Phil Elmore
Many of us follow the Glorious Path of Least Resistance, bowing before the exhortation, "Don't get involved." This is wrong.
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Is Sportfighting the Answer or the Problem?
By Phil Elmore and Matt Wallis
Mixed Martial Arts are not primarily self-defense training, but a lot of people sure seem to think they are. Examine both sides of the issue in this point-counterpoint editorial.
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On the Word, Warrior
By Phil Elmore
The term "warrior" is overused. How narrowly should it be defined?
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Traditionalist Cliquery and Self-Defense
By Phil Elmore
Among traditionalist martial artists, if you're not "in the club," you're nobody.
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Non-Traditionalist Cliquery and Self-Defense
By Phil Elmore
Dismissing all traditional arts is just as foolish as upholding traditionalist snobbery.
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Self-Defense: The Individual Right
By Phil Elmore
When you understand the philosophical basis for self-defense, you understand that it is an inalienable right.
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The Internet as Medium of Self-Defense Instruction
By Phil Elmore
Just what can you learn about self-defense from the Internet?
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Unreality Based Self-Defense
By Phil Elmore
A martial art that is not based on reality is not a martial art at all, but a delusion.
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A Critical Look at FM 3-25.150
By Phil Elmore
Even the United States' armed forces are not immune to the popular misconceptions about the utility of popular grappling styles.
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Complexity and Efficacy in Personal Combat
By Phil Elmore
How universal a standard is the concept of "gross motor movement?" How complicated can an effective martial technique be?
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Combatives and Martial Sports
By Phil Elmore
There's a big difference between combatives and martial sports. This article touched off what would be one of the most heated ongoing controversies with which The Martialist deals.
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The Before and After Rule
By Tony Manifold
Tony describes how to prepare yourself for the legal context of self-defense -- before and after the fact.
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Making Your Martial Art More Combative
By Tony Manifold
Combatives exponent Tony Manifold takes a look at how to improve what you already do.
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Confessions of a Rogue
By Anonymous
An individual who claims to have lived the life of a societal predator offers some advice from that standpoint.
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A Lesson in Confidence
By Phil Elmore
Confidence is the most important mental aspect of self-defense, at least after awareness.
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Preemptive Strikes Point/Counterpoint
By Phil Elmore and David W. Pearson
Should you strike first? Can you afford to do so? Can you afford not to do so?
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A View from the Dark Side
By James Keating
Master at Arms James Keating examines the more sinister side of the martial arts – specifically, failing to use restraint in applying potentially lethal techniques.
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The Knives of Columbine
By Phil Elmore
What can we learn from the blades carried by the Columbine murderers?
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