Thad Forester

Ep 050 – Tim Larkin | Sometimes Violence is the Answer – Part 1

February 12, 2018 By Thad Forester

The Most Effective Self-Protection Training in the World

If you don’t know the name Tim Larkin (@TFTTimLarkin), that’s probably a good thing. Why? Because most civilians who come to him have already had a violent encounter and been a victim.

Tim Larkin is the founder & creator of Target Focus Training, the world leader in personal-protection training. For more than 25 years he’s taught everyone from US Navy SEALS to regular citizens how to survive unavoidable violent attacks.

Tim gave me a lot of time and went into detail about his background and why he started Target Focus Training. He also explains why he uses the methods he does, because they are unique. He emphasizes the tools he teaches have nothing to do with your athleticism, size or strength.

Here in episode 1, you’ll understand how he prepared himself for this type of work, for his military career and why in the world he was taking cold showers as a young teenager. In episode 2 he’ll go into more detail about how to protect yourself and provide real-world examples both by his students and other random acts of violence. Then you’ll understand why it’s absolutely crucial to know how to survive the most critical 5 seconds of your life.

Visit Target Focus Training and sign up for 10 free videos

Buy When Violence is the Answer

Buy Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women’s Self-Protection

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Ep 049 – MSGT Israel Del Toro | Man on Fire

January 29, 2018 By Thad Forester

israel del toro

Israel Del Toro (aka DT) was angry that he wasn’t left to die on the battlefield. Later when he saw his face in the hospital, he went thru his darkest hour.

After losing his parents as a young boy, DT joined the Air Force and became a Tactical Air Control Party member. Then, in 2005, his vehicle hit a roadside bomb and over 80% of his body was severely burned (third degree) and he lost most of his fingers.

The doctors told him he would never breath on his own and wouldn’t walk again. Two months later he walked out of the hospital unassisted. But the moment of truth was yet to come. How would his son react after seeing his dad, wrapped up like a mummy, for the first time since deploying?

His reaction; he hugged and squeezed his dad like he never had. DT said that was the greatest feeling in the world. All his son wanted was his dad.

Del Toro has accomplished much since that day: he’s the only person to return to active duty in the Air Force after being 100% disabled, was awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service in 2017, jumped out of planes, won medals in the Invictus Games, and become a mentor and role model to many.

And why did I almost title this “Stairway to Heaven”? Well, it’s his favorite song and each time he goes under the knife, they play that song in the pre-op room. I mean, he’s only had 120+ surgeries.

Episode 048 – Bart Decker | Original Horse Soldier in Afghanistan

January 18, 2018 By Thad Forester

With the release of “12 Strong“, I’m replaying my interview with Bart Decker (Episode 008). He and his Special Operations team were some of the first men inserted into Afghanistan after 9/11. They arrived by helicopter and then realized horseback was the only way to move to their target location since many of the ledges were 2′-3′ wide. These men were covert operators named Task Force Dagger that joined up with the Northern Alliance to defeat the Taliban.

The team rode on horseback to capture the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Once they arrived, the Taliban had moved out and his team were welcomed as liberators. Bart also tells us how he controlled his emotions when interacting with John Walker Lindh, the American who converted to Islam and took part in a violent uprising after his capture in Afghanistan.

Decker is now retired after 20+ years serving in the Air Force. He said he wouldn’t go back and change a thing. He loved his time serving his country and has no regrets.

He and his team are forever honored at One World Trade center with a 13’ bronze statue of an American Commando on a horse. Glad to see this story finally making the big screen. I’m sure Decker won’t be mentioned or portrayed in the movie. After all, would you be surprised that an AF guy be highlighted whenever there are SF and/or SEALs in the picture? I don’t think Bart is complaining.

And here is a good article by Jack Murphy describing some controversies with the movie.

More info here:

“First In” by Gary Schroen

“Horse Soldiers” by Doug Stanton

Americas Response Monument at One World Trade Center

Sgt Macs Bar on Horse Soldiers and Bart Decker

*PTC is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Episode 047 – Darren Sapp | Fire on the Flight Deck

January 15, 2018 By Thad Forester

Darren Sapp What would a fire on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier that’s miles from land be like? You have nowhere to go and it’s up to you (the crew, especially those trained) to handle it.

There have only been 5 major flight deck fires in our history and fortunately Darren Sapp never experienced one, but he did write about it. After many years of being asked about the dangers and adventures of working on an aircraft carrier, he wrote a novel that explores that experience and climatic nature of a huge fire on the flight deck.

Before this interview, I’d never heard of the different color shirts on aircraft carriers (yellow, red, blue, etc). Sapp was on the inaugural crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the 80’s and we cover several topics:

naval aviation in late 1980’s
being plankowner of USS Roosevelt
Darren’s in-depth study of Aaron Bank, Father of the Special Forces (Green Berets)
death of shipmates – blown off deck and another hit by propeller (very sad)
his work with orphans and trafficked children in Ghana
his connection with former guest Ron White on the Afghanistan Memorial Wall and creation of book
Sapp’s other books
WWII history

Visit DarrenSapp.com

Update from interview: Darren later corrected the date of the Green Beret’s birth to 1952

*PTC is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Episode 046 – Roger Long – From Cane to Conquering Kilimanjaro

January 1, 2018 By Thad Forester

Roger Long - kili

Roger Long was living the American dream in his 30’s–good, stable job with very profitable company, home like they’d always wanted, 2 healthy boys and married to the love of his life. Then, Young onset Parkinson’s disease attacked and changed his life forever.

He gained a lot of weight, walked with a cane and medically retired. Then, a phone call from his deployed son in Afghanistan gave him the kick in the tail he needed. When his oldest said “Dad, I don’t think I’m going to make it out of here alive”, Roger knew he had to be available to walk with his son when/if he came home.

So, he started walking with a goal in mind – to walk a continuous 10 miles in his neighborhood. He dropped his cane and did it. He also quit all his meds and got to the point where the effects of Parkinson’s would come back only when he didn’t exercise regularly. Roger had to walk most days of the week in order to feel good.

In 2012 he completed the Bataan Memorial Death March with this oldest son, physically aiding him across the finish line. Later, reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro ten years after his Parkinson’s diagnosis was the culmination of a life-changing turnaround that set him on a new life course. Africa changed him. It showed Long what’s really possible and to think beyond himself. In the end Roger said goals help us recover.

He documented his diagnosis and journey climaxing with standing on top of Kili in his book:

Push the Rock: Second Chances on the Road to Kilimanjaro

Read more about Roger at First Summit Project

*PTC is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download