Posted on July 1, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Safety in Crowds and During Events

Happy 150th Canada!

Today we will look at how to be a bit safer when attending large events and being in crowds. As we all head out for the festivities this weekend, we will find ourselves in large crowds. Most people don’t think about what can go wrong in such an environment and are focused on the strong Canadian beer and flood of Canadian Pride. But if something does turn the tide of the crowd, it can easily go from a fun time to a deadly mob. A fire, a terrorist attack, active shooter…all can turn the tide quickly. A stampede of people trying to get out of a night club, or a park that is fenced-in can result in injuries and death as the mob moves. The panic that a real or perceived event causes is enough for people to take leave of their faculties and just charge.

So, how do you give yourself the edge in situations like this?

Maintain Situational Awareness: Keep your wits about you and observe your surroundings. Identify the baseline of the crowd. How does it move? What is the average behaviour? Is there anyone moving against the grain, or seems out of place? Is there someone that doesn’t seem to fit? Try to identify these things by putting your phone away and actively scanning your surroundings. That doesn’t mean you should be afraid, just aware and in-tune.
Take Note of Changes: Look for and identify specific examples of “off” behaviour outside of the norm or baseline. Like the one person wearing wearing a Hawaiian shirt at a funeral. Also, try and get a “feel” for the mood of the crowd and react to its changes. If things suddenly go from fun and festive to uneasy and twitchy, get moving towards an pre-determined exit.
Pre-Identify Exits and Escape Routes: As you arrive to a crowded area or event, take mental note of your evacuation options. If everyone is coming in through a particular gate or door, look for other options. Are there emergency and fire doors off to the side? Are there windows? Stairwells? Employee doors with “Authorized Personnel Only” signs? Maybe walk by some of those doors to ensure they aren’t chained or bolted and that they are viable options. Check for a window you might be able to break to get out. Most of the crowd will head back the way it came if it decides to stampede. Alternate exit options will give you a better chance of getting out faster and intact.
Cover & Concealment: Look for spots that provide cover (ballistic protection from projectiles and shrapnel) and concealment (obscuring you from view). If something goes down (like an active assailant begins shooting or stabbing people) and the exit isn’t an option, your next best thing is taking cover to protect yourself.
Get Moving!: If something begins or you feel it might, get moving. Get to the edges of the crowd or to a wall and make your way to one of the pre-scouted exits you had selected. Use the crowd momentum and relative direction to funnel you towards your target, moving forcefully in a diagonal path. You can’t fight the crowd, but you can use it to your advantage.
Carry the Right Gear: Make sure you tailor your on-person equipment to be viable for the environment. A small knife and/or multi-tool, bandana, water bottle, lighter, metal-bodied pen and possibly lock picks. Dress appropriately and ensure you have the necessary tools to support your escape plan.
MOVE! If it’s go-time, move. Don’t hesitate, just get moving. Act in a decisive manner and get to your objective.

Additional point to keep in mind:

Stay to the edges of the room or crowd;
Keep panic in check, and;
If you want to ensure you minimize the risk, DON’T BE THERE! Watch the event on TV. You can’t be harmed if you’re not there.

Don’t forget..if you SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING! Let a police officer or security know if you see something wrong. They’re likely better equipped to deal with it than you are.

Till next time, have fun, stay vigilant and of course, stay crafty.

Happy Canada 150!

Posted on June 23, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Every Day Carry – My Take

So, here we are. A pretty vast topic with a bazillion opinions on what is right and what isn’t.

For the uninitiated, Every Day Carry, or EDC for short, is a collection of items which you carry on your person at all times (every day) to expand your level of preparedness and resilience in your daily activities and also to provide an edge in unforeseen situations. This doesn’t always have to be a life-or-death catastrophe. It can be something as simple as needing emergency cash, or cut packaging, but if you don’t have simple, quality, accessible tools for such things, you’d be at a disadvantage. In a graver scenario, if catastrophe strikes and you’re unprepared, you’ll be less-likely to weather the storm. Either way, you should always have an escape plan.

In a larger sense, your EDC is only a small part of a larger personal resilience plan, however, I’ll write separate posts for vehicle, office, home and emergency kits later on. Right now, lets start at the most basic.

At the end of the day, I believe in three principles to follow when developing and gearing-up your Every Day Carry (EDC).

FLEXIBILE: Is your kit adaptable to changing conditions? Can it be scaled-up/down as needed?
EFFECTIVE: Are these items useful for multiple scenarios?
APPROPRIATE: Will this be too much to carry, too attention-grabbing, or are the pieces of low quality and will fail you in your time of need? Is it appropriate for your environment (Toronto, ON versus Manatoulin Island, versus Dallas, TX)? Carrying a gun in Toronto is far different than Dallas, or in the woods of Manatoulin versus a courthouse in Toronto.

A publication I recently read listed the appropriate EDC of a security-conscious individual as this:

Cell or Smartphone
Concealed carry handgun (WTF?!)
Extra magazine (again, WTF?!)
Flashlight
Folding knife
Lighter
Pen & Paper
Multi-tool
Money
Watch

That said, you’ll notice that concealed carry handgun(!) is on the list, as well as an extra magazine. Now, that may fly in the US, but anywhere in Canada, you’ll be looking at jail time with that load-out. Most of the rest on the list is pretty good, but again, assessing your daily EDC with the 3 Principles mentioned above should allow you to ensure your one step ahead of a problem. Learn unarmed self-defence, use a steel-barrelled pen and a low-profile impact weapon of you need, but for the love of all that is imagined holy, don’t carry a gun around in Canada unless you want the cops after you.

Here is a picture of some of what I carry on me on a daily basis in Toronto, Canada.

The above include:

Fisher Space Pen (writes consistently, small size)
Mini Bic lighter
Tiny USB key
Subway tokens (never know when you might need to abandon your car).
RAT-1 foldint knife (not “tactical” looking, just a simple, sharp, disposable blade).
Band-Aids (because you never know if you or someone else would need one.
Lock picks (several sets, because you just never know).
Diamond wire rod (again, because you never know).
Cash (because cash is king, and you might need a slice of pizza sometime).
Low-pro clip wallet

I also carry a few more things not in the picture, such as:

1-2 steel-barrelled pens (Like Zebra or Parker) *not tactical-looking.
Tiny Inconspicuous Handcuff Key (because unlawful restraint wouldn’t customarily be conveniently timed).
2-3 6′ lengths of Kevlar/Technora cordage
B.A.T. Coin (by Covert Products Group – read my review here.)
Key chain with my keys (No JI, I won’t post a picture of them
Anything else the day may call for based on my quick intel-dump before I leave – such as weather, traffic, events/protests in the city, etc…
Tiny LED flashlight (review soon…)
The Lolly (from Delta2Alpha.com )

I do also ALWAYS wear a watch and will have my phone with me 99% of the time. (in a dire emergency, I can always barter or pawn my watch for some cash and still have my phone for comms).

I love my watch. Titanium, lightweight, atomic and solar, compass and barometer and more.

For my daily purposes, there won’t be a gun involved in any way and multi-tools are too bulky for my activities. Canadian laws would make me a SWAT-team call-out for a pistol, so that’s kinda off the table.

As a matter of course, I carry lock picks. I’ve received several shocked and troubled looks from people should they find out about this, thinking I’m a burglar or something nefarious, but the simple fact is that I strictly adhere to lock picking ethics (read more about it here) and have used them to either help others (with permission, opened a car door for a guy who locked himself out in a blizzard with the car running – I saw it happen) or myself (lost the key to my bike lock) and only would use them to save a life in a dire circumstance. Otherwise, they’re just tools used for the sport of Locksport. I feel that, in an emergency, sometimes salvation is behind a locked door. Better to make amends later when you’re safe, than not have the chance.

If you want an opportunity to learn how to pick locks, check out this amazing opportunity in Toronto in July 2017. Details HERE!!!

I feel that this load out works for me, for my lifestyle, in Toronto, most of the time. Thankfully it is scalable, can be augmented with things from my car. (As mentioned above, I’ll be doing a piece on other EDC/kits at a later time) I also like that it is near-zero visibility thanks to the clip wallet and my spread placement across my person.

The great thing about EDC is that it’s a wide-open topic with huge on-going debates. I prefer to focus on adjusting mine to my needs and environment (Toronto, Canada) while adhering to the 3 principles I mentioned and looking for new ways to make it more concealed and admissible into non-permissive environments.

The bottom line is this:

Keep some things on you wherever you go that will help you out of a jam if things get tough.

By following those 3 principles and investing in decent equipment, you’ll be miles ahead of the masses who only have their phone when things go sideways.

In the meantime, keep modifying, keep testing, keep improving.

Till next time, stay crafty.

Posted on June 16, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Product Review – TheLolly by Delta 2 Alpha Design

I recently received a pair of tools – TheLolly – from our good friends over at Delta 2 Alpha and have gone about the process of playing with it and seeing what it can do.

***Note, I have both the Lollys – one “Predator Clear” and the other “Phantom Grey” coloured – however, I used only the “Phantom Grey” coloured one for better contrast in the photos.***

Here is what it looks like:

On their website, Delta 2 Alpha describes it thus:

"TheLolly is one of the most low profile, last ditch tools of its type on the market today. Due to its design it boasts a variety of carry options.

TheLolly was developed as a “Fingernail Saver” pocket pry-bar (light duty), and scraper (light duty) that will be less likely to leave scratch marks on glass, metal, and wood, it also features a 1/4″ bit driver. It has been laser cut from Cast Acrylic, a material that is only a few steps down from the canopy of a Tomcat.

The slot combined with our unique Ratchet-Teeth allows for an easy on off, but when twisted 90° (as it would be when held flat against the body) it acts as a cloth grabber for the elastic in undergarments and trousers.
*we haven’t seen the Ratchet Teeth done before, if you have please let us know so we can credit that person".

TheLolly is about the size of a standard house key. It had a lanyard hole, a driver/hex bit hole, the attachment “ratchet tooth” slot, and of course, the chisel tip. It makes for an interesting little tool as it is made from acrylic.

What I like about this design is first and foremost, it’s small. It’s small and non-metallic, making it an ideal EDC (Every-Day Carry) item, even in various non-permissive environments.

The edges are smooth, except for the points on the chisel tip, which are surprisingly sharp. The lanyard hole will easily accept standard kevlar or 550-paracord to create a lanyard. The ratchet tooth area grabs clothing well and is easy to manipulate into concealable places. The inside of my TAD (Triple Aught Design Recon Shorts – in Deception) allowed easy and un-noticed concealment.

I suppose the sharp points on the Lolly are effective enough to puncture or cut certain materials (like packaging, for instance) and to be used for light scraping duties.

An additional use for TheLolly is as a last-ditch impact weapon. Like a key, it can be held in the hand in multiple ways and used to strike an aggressor. Here are some examples:

In the bottom of the fist, like the tiniest ice pick in the world.

To be clear, I didn’t test its durability in a strike, so I am not sure what kind of punishment the acrylic can take in the even you were to strike someone, nor do I know if TheLolly would shatter in your hand and cut you in the even you would use it. That said, it does feel solid, and even so much so that I drove a screw into a window casement to try out the bit/hex function:

Using a standard driver bit with a standard screw, the acrylic Lolly did not bend nor break in the process.

Like the caption above states, the Lolly did not bend nor break nor seem to strain in any way during this process. I was pleasantly surprised by this. It gave great leverage and got the job done. The bit fit perfectly.

All in all, TheLolly seems like a great little addition to your EDC kit, car kit, or travel load-out. It’s acrylic, looks like a key and is non-threatening in appearance. For the $15 bucks, it’s a great deal.

And Delta 2 Alpha is a Canadian company run by some really great bros doing some really great stuff, so check them out at http://delta2alpha.com

And if you’re really interested, the great guys at Delta 2 Alpha have graciously donated a few Lollys to be door prizes during our Covert Entry Concepts Course being offered in Toronto in July! Check it out here!

Till next time, stay safe, stay crafty.

Posted on June 14, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Training Opportunity – Covert Entry Concepts – Toronto, July 2017

For the FIRST time in Canada….

Covert Entry Concepts – 1st Canadian Offering
This course will teach Law Enforcement Personnel, Special Operations Forces, and Government employees and security professionals the principles of lock bypassing and making covert entries into buildings or properties.

This class is entirely hands on. From the moment you enter the course you will have tools in your hand and are working to exploit various locking mechanisms. Students will learn to recognize the vulnerabilities in existing hardware, how they are attacked, or sometimes even bypassed entirely. You’ll walk away with the skills needed to compromise most of the locks used in North America today. Students will be much better positioned to provide service in a variety of tactical areas: check welfare calls, search and arrest warrant service, establishing sniper positions, sneak and peak operations, surveillance operations, fire safe opening, and breaking and entering investigations.

Since the techniques taught in this class are largely nondestructive, agencies will also benefit by having a decrease in civil actions due to property damage.

The cost of the course is $675 USD or $895 CAD with a $200 deposit required to hold your place.

E-mail us at:

[email protected]

for more information and payment instructions.

(***See link to flyer at bottom***)

Schedule is:

Fri July 28: 1800hrs – late

Sat July 29: 0800hrs -1700hrs

Sun July 30: 0800hrs – 1700hrs

Included Equipment:

Included in the cost of the course is a comprehensive set of high quality tools that you can use on the job or practice at home to maintain the skills you’ll build in class.
• High Quality 12 Piece Pick Set
• Set of covert jigglers
• Set of warded picks
• Bump Hammer
• Bump keys
• An ez decoder
• Underdoor tool

***Friday dinner, Sat & Sun breakfasts, coffee and snacks included. Team dinner scheduled for Saturday night.

This course is being offered by The CORE Group (www.enterthecore.net) , supported and sponsored by True North Tradecraft (www.truenorthtradecraft.ca) and Tactical Beaver Ltd.( www.tacticalbeaver.co ) .

Tactical Beaver will have a selection of its Premier Apparel line available for sale during the duration of the course at a discount for attendees.

COVERT ENTRY CONCEPTS_July 2017 flyer

DISCLAIMER: *Nothing in the course offering is intended to be used for unlawful purposes. Consult with your local laws prior to employing these techniques in the field. This is intended for lawful use ONLY. True North Tradecraft and its partners do not condone or advocate illegal activities.*

Posted on June 10, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Training Review – Covert Entry Concepts by The CORE Group

How often have you thought “hey, I wish I could learn that…but the training is only available in the US. So much for that.”? I have. Many times. So, in my quest to build my own skills, I saved up some money and travelled to the United States to attend training I had my eye for months.

In November 2016, I had the privilege of attending the Covert Entry Concepts (CEC) training course in Maryland. It was put on by The CORE Group in their Maryland facilities and wow, what a good time it was.

(*I lucked-out by taking two courses back-to-back at The CORE Groups’ Maryland facilities, the Covert Entry Concepts and Physical Security Analyst. This is a review for Covert Entry Concepts. I will post a review of the Physical Security Analyst soon.)

The purpose of the course, in broad strokes, is to be given an education in physical security, how to identify and exploit any weaknesses with the ultimate goal to test those weaknesses and close any found loopholes for a client to protect them from attack. As a security professional myself, I feel that expanding my skill sets is a responsibility to make me more effective in my job.

About The CORE Group (from their website):

“The CORE Group was initially formed by a trio of security auditors and researchers who had collaborated on numerous projects and conference events over the years. At present, their combined experience in the physical security sector represents decades of hard knowledge and applied work. The CORE Group finds innovative ways to augment typical security auditing and assessment. Most companies incorporate digital penetration testing and web application testing into their standard procedure of self-assessment. The CORE Group offers a variety of packages that can greatly assist in a company’s understanding of their security posture at a fraction of the cost of larger, more “conventional” testing.”

The CORE Group conducts training all over, training Law Enforcement & Military, Government Agencies, Physical Security specialists, Red Team and PenTesters, IT Security and Locksport enthusiasts. They attend many of the “cons” (such as Black Hat, DEF CON, SANS, etc.) throughout the US, many times running the “Lockpick Village” and providing intensive training to professionals all over.

The course was a 2-day, Monday/Tuesday set-up. A mixed bag of Law Enforcement, Military, physical security professionals and “other, government” types. A good group of people to get to know and learn with. Our Instructor, Rob, Chief of the Law Enforcement training division of The CORE Group, was welcoming and professional from the word “go”. After some quick ice-breakers, we moved right into an introduction to lockpicking.

Discussions, anecdotes, slides and practical demonstrations were all used to great effect in training to underline the principles and applications for what were were learning about in that moment. Everything was helped by Rob’s sense of humour, positive attitude, patience and obvious expertise in the subject matter. We worked on a vast array of topics. Lock-picking; bumping; bypasses; construction; safes; tamper-evident seals; elevators; impressioning; the Mace Face Challenge; casting keys; attack vectors; padlocks; restraint escapes and so much more. So much information was covered that, even weeks later, I found myself re-reading the detailed notes I had made in an effort to absorb it all. Not only was it an incredible amount of practical and useful information, but much of it was eye-opening and fascinating as well. Not all aspects are covered in every session that Rob delivers due to geography or other issues, but my experience was just great.

Here is a look at some of the stuff we got to play with:

The tools. The cookie is of the utmost importance.

After enjoying amazing chicken, fantastic bbq, getting to know the other participants and doing an awesome escape exercise preceded by burpees (I hate burpees) it ended up being a really great time.

I felt as if it was a skill-building game-changer. The depth and breadth of knowledge shared and learned was exceptional. Though these are all perishable skills requiring regular practice, the base is unmistakably solid. It certainly opened the door to a world of opportunities. The people I met and the confidence in my abilities were well worth the cost and effort to travel south of the border. I highly recommend taking this training if you have the means and opportunity. It’s a staple of tradecraft and is useful in a myriad of situations (all ethically bounded, of course). Use your powers for good. And if you work hard, you can earn one of these…

NOW…

If you’re interested in taking this course IN CANADA, True North Tradecraft, in partnership with Tactical Beaver, will be sponsoring a unique run of this course in downtown Toronto on the weekend of July 28-29-30, 2017, to be taught by Rob of The CORE Group. This training is not available anywhere else in Canada (to my knowledge – and I’ve searched) and is well worth it’s weight in gold. It will include top-tier instruction, a kit of equipment for you to practice on and keep when you’re done and breakfast daily with dinner on the Friday night. For more detailed information, e-mail us at [email protected] . Spaces are limited and booking up already. Tactical Beaver will also have a table with great apparel available to purchase at a discount.

Check it out. It’s a really great opportunity to learn from an expert in the field and do so IN CANADA!

See you at CEC – Toronto!

-Stay Crafty

Posted on June 2, 2017 by True North Tradecraft

The Jody Mitic Podcast # 38 – Tactical Beaver & True North Tradecraft

Last Saturday, May 27th, Tactical Beaver and True North Tradecraft made an appearance in our nation’s capital. We met with Tactical Beaver fans at a fine pub in the Glebe (Irene’s) and shared some good cheer and made some new friends. And sold some shirts!

It was a great start to a day which would see us as guests of Jody Mitic and the Jody Mitic Podcast.

We had been invited to be guests on Jody’s podcast to discuss Tactical Beaver and True North Tradecraft, our vision, goals and of course, shoot the shit with him. It was all that and more. Jody and Luke were gracious, humble and very fun to spend a few hours with. They even invited us back!

We couldn’t leave Ottawa without meeting with some new friends for breakfast at the Wellington Diner, namely Marc from Hayabusa Ninjutsu and his lovely family. Thank you for the recommendation.

We are looking forward to next time. Till then, check out the great podcast here and follow Jody Mitic, The Jody Mitic Podcast, Tactical Beaver and True North Tradecraft on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to the Podcast to hear more of Jody’s unique take on things and his other amazing guests.

Stay crafty.

Posted on May 27, 2017 by True North Tradecraft

The Okichitaw Project

I recently came across this project. George Lepine is a driving force for the progress of the Okichitaw Indigenous Martial Arts. He is a man of great skill, knowledge and integrity. I have worked with him for many years. He has worked tirelessly to structure, research and make Okichitaw accessible to all who want to learn.

Check out their Kickstarter campaign and support their amazing intiative to bring Okichitaw martial arts to the world. Not only is it an indigenously historic Canadian system, the but it is also effective.

Check it out and support it. It will help bring this piece of Canada to the world.

Posted on May 25, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Review: RAIDOPS Defense Gear – Fighting Frog & Delta

RAIDOPS is a South Korean company which designs and distributes a variety of personal defence gear, knives and accessories made to very high quality specifications. A high percentage of their products are made from titanium, enabling a solid product with a low magnetic footprint and low weight. Their designs are also very practical and low-profile, giving them a minimalistic appearance and also the ability to be carried through many non-permissive environments without undue attention.

I purchased two personal defence products to try out a little while back – the Delta (one of several designs) and the Fighting Frog. They arrived very quickly direct from South Korea to Toronto and came as below.

(Quarter for scale)

Upon taking each one out of their small boxes, I was surprised at how light they were. The titanium was indeed very light and very strong. The small ball-chain they came with felt heavier than the items themselves.

After handling each one, I was also very happy with the ergonomics. Both were very comfortable to hold and use.

They are intended to be used as impact weapons. Held between the index and middle fingers of a closed fist to facilitate acute damage to an assailant (See below).

Small, light, but VERY sturdy. And no pain when hitting a tree, so a person should be just fine. By the way, it took some chunks out of the tree (I didn’t have my phone for pics at the time – sorry!) so I can only imagine what it could do to a person.

Though their prices may be a bit steep ($48 USD for the Fighting Frog and $40 USD for the Delta) it isn’t too out of line with similar weight titanium products.

You can even double them and jewelry in non-permissive environments and you’ll still have an accessible impact weapon if needed. Here I am wearing it overtop my Triple Aught Design Tradecraft Shirt for a better view.

Again, lightweight, low-profile and easily worn in more non-permissive environments. No issues to wear in a Canadian context, as at that point, it’s a fashion statement.

One thing I may look at, is the collection of RAIDOPS finger spinners. This is essentially a fidget toy that is made of titanium but doubles as an impact weapon. Here is an example. Though somewhat pricey ($110 USD) I may consider getting one.

At the end of the day, the strength, low weight, comfortable ergonomics and durability of the Delta and Fighting Frog make them effective and reliable. I recommend checking them out.

Stay Safe. Stay Crafty.

Posted on May 25, 2017November 29, 2019 by True North Tradecraft

Review: The BAT Coin by Covert Products Group

A while back I came across a Kickstarter campaign for the BAT (Bring Anywhere Tool) Coin from Covert Products Group. https://www.covertproductsgroup.com They were just starting off about a year about and when I read through the campaign details, I was intrigued. They had designed a “10-in-1” tool that was small, lightweight, inexpensive, useful and capable of carriage through airports and other non-permissive environments. So I supported the campaign, if for no other reason to see if what they had designed was worth having.

Having recently received my lot of coins, I began to carry and test them. I am pretty impressed with this little guy. BATs go for about $25 USD each on the CPG website and I also received a sticker and morale patch along with it. Fast shipping. Nothing to complain about.

From their website, here are the BAT Coin features:

1) Modified Phillips head screwdriver with three prongs so the BAT lays flat in your pocket

2) Safe, semi-sharp captured edge for opening boxes

3) Scribe point or hole punch

4) Small-gauge wire stripper

5) Fire-steel scraper (use it with any ferro rod survival fire starter, Swedish firesteel or similar item)

6) Flat head screwdriver

7) Serrated fire-steel scraper (throws sparks well)

8) 3M SOLAS reflective sticker you can attach to the back for emergency signaling, or leave if off for stealth carry

9) Friction saw that can cut through zip ties or cordage without cutting you

10) Bottle opener

Features of the BAT (Bring-Anywhere-Tool) Coin from Covert Products Group. A nice little addition to your EDC.

(Picture from https://www.covertproductsgroup.com/products/b-a-t-coin-bring-anywhere-tool )

I look at it as a minimalist, last-ditch or tertiary backup to my regular Every Day Carry (EDC) but because it is both innocuous and concealable, not to mention relatively effective, I am happy to have and carry it.

The BAT Coin came with it’s little case, SOLAS sticker inside, CPG sticker and morale patch. (Quarter for scale.)

For something so small, I’d thought maybe they’re reaching a bit, however, upon using it here and there, though it may not be an equivalent to a full-sized tool times ten, it does manage to do each job fairly well, especially in a pinch. I would recommend, as CPG does, to use something like a key ring to give you extra leverage to open bottle caps as the diminutive size of the BAT makes it hard to get enough leverage.

The BAT is made out of stainless steel and has a nice finish to it. It is small, lies flat and is about the size of a Canadian twoonie (The Canadian $2 coin for those of you who don’t know). As it is smaller than any other tool and is not intrinsically disallowed, both CATSA and the TSA allow it with you through security at airports.

I’d recommend the BAT Coin to anyone who would like to have a little something to add to their EDC that will add some functionality without bulk and the added bonus of being as inconspicuous as loose change. I will also keep an eye on CPG for future product developments and releases.

Stay Safe. Stay Crafty.

Posted on May 25, 2017 by True North Tradecraft

Thoughts on Personal Resiliency

re·sil·ience

rəˈzilyəns/

noun

the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.

As we go through life we face challenges. Some benign and yet some are scarring and life-altering. Either way, it isn’t always the WHAT which defines us as people, but rather the HOW we deal with those events that define us. These are usually things we suffer through, in whatever way. As unfortunate as it is, we learn most through suffering. Through heartbreak, loss, pain, catastrophe – overcoming and surviving those events teach us something about life and about ourselves. For every bruised knee we endured falling off our bikes as kids, we became tougher, stronger, better at falling and bouncing back to deal with bigger and worse things. This mental posture developed through various trials is what builds our resilience in life. It is for these reasons that the Military, for instance, trains its people so hard, pushed them to physical and mental extremes – so that when the day comes to face something truly terrible, they will be better prepared, more resilient, to meet the challenge and survive. I have translated this concept into a personal philosophy. I try to make myself uncomfortable, to try new things, challenge myself, and fail trying, just to learn from those experiences and to build that level of resilience in myself. It’s also about being prepared. Not for the Zombie Apocalypse per se, but for an event that may threaten you. Small habits, tools, preparations and knowledge properly put into use before something bad happens can mean the difference between an inconvenience and something serious. Seeing that guy on the corner eyeing you can give you the tip-off that he means you harm. That second or two may give you the edge. I am always learning, always challenging myself to be better and always looking for ways to improve.

Don’t wait for something to happen to you to start getting tough, start now, so when it does happen, you can fight back with all you’ve got and have a better chance of coming out on top. It is for this reason I started True North Tradecraft.

Tradecraft, as defined by Wikipedia: Tradecraft, within the intelligence community, refers to the techniques, methods and technologies used in modern espionage (spying) and generally, as part of the activity of intelligence.

So, skills used by spies, agents, soldiers, operatives and their vast knowledge is advantageous to us all. These people are trained and paid to put themselves in dangerous positions and survive. They have developed strategies to keep themselves alive through tradecraft, through these skills. If they can use it to be safer and more resilient in their day-to-day lives, why can’t you?

Years ago I had an epiphany, where I realized I was far from the level that I wanted to be. I wasn’t prepared to defend myself from true aggression to the level I wanted, and certainly unable to bring to bear force against someone who would threaten me or my family. I was also suffering from a lack of real skills. Skills and training which would genuinely prepare me to be better than I was. I have poured much time and effort into correcting that. I believe anyone can improve with guidance, drive and the will towards change.

True North Tradecraft was envisioned to bring such techniques, strategies, knowledge and support to a wider audience from a Canadian perspective. I have found through my personal encounters with members of both the Public and Government that overwhelmingly, the masses are apathetic in living in the bucolic lives supported by governmental systems. Relying on others for your safety and security is folly. Taking responsibility for yourself is the first step in resilience. Too often such resources are framed within an American context. This is not, in itself, a bad thing, however I have yet to read an EDC blog or book, or have a conversation where a firearm is not included. As great as it would be in some cases, guns are a non-starter here in the Great White North. So, as it is a less-permissive environment, other avenues for personal security and preparedness must be explored. Just because you don’t have a gun doesn’t mean you can’t be safe, or dangerous, or both. You just need the right knowledge, training and mindset.

If you value your personal security, safety and well-being, I look forward to helping you grow, as I have, into a more resilient person, better prepared for threats and hazards and living a life in-tune with your environment. And that too will come.

Stay Safe. Stay Crafty.

If you want an opportunity to learn how to pick locks, check out this amazing opportunity in Toronto in July 2017. Details HERE!!!

For the FIRST time in Canada….

Covert Entry Concepts – 1st Canadian Offering This course will teach Law Enforcement Personnel, Special Operations Forces, and Government employees and security professionals the principles of lock bypassing and making covert entries into buildings or properties.

Since the techniques taught in this class are largely nondestructive, agencies will also benefit by having a decrease in civil actions due to property damage.

The cost of the course is $675 USD or $895 CAD with a $200 deposit required to hold your place.

Included Equipment:

This course is being offered by The CORE Group (www.enterthecore.net) , supported and sponsored by True North Tradecraft (www.truenorthtradecraft.ca) and Tactical Beaver Ltd.( www.tacticalbeaver.co ) .

Covert Entry Concepts – 1st Canadian Offering
This course will teach Law Enforcement Personnel, Special Operations Forces, and Government employees and security professionals the principles of lock bypassing and making covert entries into buildings or properties.