We are thrilled to be able to offer a wide-spectrum of training to you.
Following our May Cowboy Karate combatives class with Ace from Delta2Alpha, we have a selection of classes for Fall.
Our new flagship class, Urban Survival, Evasion & Escape class, will catapult you into a resilient, capable bad-ass who can handle tough, dangerous situations. Think Jason Bourne, but for real.
We are also back to offering Covert Entry, both for public enrolment and an Agency-Restricted version. If you’ve ever wanted to develop an understanding and capability of physical security systems and how they can be compromised (so that you can prevent it).
Our November Counter-Custody & Mixed-skills class will empower you to self-rescue from restraints and abduction.
Finally, we end the year with our Disaster Preparedness class. We cover static and mobile preparedness to build an adaptive and resilient plan for yourself, your home and your business. Don’t be left unprepared.
If you or your group are looking for tailored or private training, Contact Us directly.
w/ Ace Johnson (Delta2Alpha Design)Saturday & Sunday, May 9/10, 2026 – Toronto
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We are back to training and we are thrilled to once again be bringing Ace Johnson from Delta2Alpha Design to Toronto. This time we are going to be doing a deep-dive in combatives, with a twist. Beyond “self-defence”, Cowboy Karate is an unorthodox approach to physical altercations adaptable to any environment.
In Two days: You will learn the Striking Foundation Ace wishes he learned +25yrs ago.Cowboy Karate is a High Speed – Low Drag Striking System: It is is designed from the ground up to be:
*FAST & EASY TO LEARN
*SIMPLE TO PRACTICE
*EASY TO APPLY
As a “Low Tech High Effect System Designed to deal with “The Bigger Better Bad Guy”, you will be learn how to:*Hit Hard*Control Space & Use Angles*Respond Reflexively*Engage Pre-Emptively
MOST IMPORTANTLY: The Next Time You Feel Threatened, YOU’LL HAVE A PLAN!
No Prior Training Required. If you have Prior Training we will tie into it.
Participants Will Require:*Workout Clothes & Street Clothes (Jeans, T-Shirt, Jacket or Hoodie) *Soft Soled Shoes*Mouth Guard & Groin Protection (Precautionary)*Shin Pads (Thai Style, Leather w/ Instep Protection)*Small Boxing Style Focus Mitts (Leather or Fake Leather)*Water, Snacks & A Great Attitude
That’s right – we are proud to be offering out latest book – Travelcraft – to everyone out there.
We have been working on this book for almost two years, integrating several trips and travel lessons from our own experiences both personally and professionally.
Travelcraft: The Art of Safe And Secure Travel. Real-World Risk Management for Everyday Travellers.
The purpose of this book is to provide travellers with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to evaluate and mitigate risks in order to stay safe while exploring the world. Drawing on insights from security professionals, travel experts, and real-world experiences, we cover a wide range of topics, from personal security and health precautions to information security in the pre, during, and post-travel phases to ensure a holistic approach to the entirety of the topic.
Stop Being a Target. Start Mastering the Art of Travelcraft.
The global travel landscape of 2026 has changed. While the world is more accessible than ever, it is also defined by high-velocity digital threats, asymmetrical security risks, and evolving geo-political instability. Most travel guides tell you where to go; Travelcraft teaches you how to get there—and back—safely.
Written by Boris Milinkovich, a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) with over 20 years of high-level security experience, this is not a book of fear—it is a manual for empowerment. From the “Rule of Stupids” to the technical nuances of digital “juice jacking,” Travelcraft provides a tripartite framework for security before, during, and after your journey.
Inside this comprehensive guide, you will discover:
The Situational Awareness Superpower: How to establish environmental “baselines” and identify anomalies before a threat manifests.
INFOSEC & Digital Hardening: Practical methods to protect your identity, including the use of “USB condoms,” Faraday pouches, and VPN lifelines for the digital nomad.
The Solo Traveler’s Edge: Specialized safety protocols for women traveling alone and students on international exchange programs.
Hotel & Transit Security: How to secure your “home away from home” using simple tools like door wedges and UDT mitigation tactics.
Emergency Preparedness: Advanced first aid essentials, “Traveler Insurance” vs. “Travel Insurance,” and exfiltration strategies for crisis situations.
Whether you are a corporate executive managing duty of care, a solo adventurer seeking a worry-free trip, or a parent sending a teen abroad, Travelcraft transforms you from a vulnerable tourist into a “hard target.”.
Travel can be a wonderfully enriching experience, offering opportunities for exploration, adventure, and personal growth. However, it also comes with inherent risks to one’s safety and well-being. This book provides a detailed guide to travel safety, equipping travelers with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to mitigate risks and enjoy safe and rewarding journeys.
Don’t leave your safety to chance. Grab your copy of Travelcraft today and travel with the confidence of a professional.
Grab your copy – either paperback, ebook, or both – on Amazon worldwide. And get it NOW, BEFORE you travel. Being forewarned is forearmed!
After such a great response from the last class we had where we hosted Ed Calderon & crew (April 2025) this iteration went even better.
The Urban Movement class was designed to enable students to navigate a hostile environment in an urban setting. This was a very well-attended offering here in Toronto. Students came from as far away as Alberta and Los Angeles. Several American attended as well as people from different provinces. I was somewhat pleasantly surprised by the mix in the turnout.
From the Manifesto’s Website, the course is described:
Protecting yourself from pick pockets to escaping a foreign country as it’s collapsing, you will learn how to observe – exploit and disrupt.
The world’s most unpredictable environments aren’t always overseas—they’re often the streets we walk every day. Urban Movement, designed by renowned unconventional security specialist Ed Calderon, is a deep dive into the mindset &methods of staying one step ahead wherever you are.
Blending street-level criminology with field-proven tradecraft, this course reveals how to see the world through the eyes of a threat actor—whether it’s a pickpocket, scammer, or violent criminal—and use that perspective to sharpen your own situational awareness.
A wide breadth of topics were covered in this class: Social engineering, urban “flow” and dynamics, discussion of contemporary examples of the use of these methods, discussion about entry methodologies as well as building structures and codes.
There was a great deal of discussion and coverage about the technical side of surveillance and counter-surveillance, namely how various tools are employed against you and what you can do about them. We got to discuss the Flipper Zero, along with other devices which are complimentary. One of the fascinating angles covered was one’s electronic signature and how much you actually emit from your personal devices when you’re casually just walking around. To this end, the discussion then turned to things like burner phone and of course, considerations and best practices of how one would travel safely with technology.
One of the fascinating lessons was on the use of various information platforms out there and how they can be leveraged in both offensive and defensive intelligence roles if you suspect you may be compromised or even just a target. This then led down the path of how to source and build various tools which could aid in building a multi-layered defensive posture using easily-sourced equipment. From there we moved on to so interesting show-and-tell (and try) with access cards and IDs, and then *SURPRISE* how to apply all this stuff within the context of the events that were unfolding that morning in Mexico, especially alternative communications methods and access denial in a travel mode.
This all led to our final exercise where students were tasked with leaving the “safe house”, finding NFC tags with instructions, connecting with a contact, getting a clue which they then had to follow-up on to get their next task which, when completed, would direct them back to the safe house again. This all took place outside and then in a sketchy mall just to make things interesting. All in all, the entire weekend was full of huge gobs of information, plenty of involved taskings and a great deal of fun.
Absolutely loved having Ed, Eddie and Zach back up and we are looking forward to next time.
Till then, stay safe and Stay Crafty!
Shout-outs to: Atlantic Avenue Athletic Club for allowing us use of their space; Ten Catering for the awesome food; Survival Tactics for the nifty giveaways; Urbex_gta for the medical and logistical support. Thanks to everyone who attended. See you again soon!
Our host.When Mexicans come to Toronto in February.Become Ungovernable.Learning…Spittin’ factsTech…lots of tech.On the streets of TO.The stuff you see…Dealing with emerging situations…So much knowledge!Mystical.
Last year I started dipping my toes into watches. Not ultra-luxury nor cheap things, but rather some proper tool and dive watches.
For the past couple of years I have begun to procure some higher-quality tool/dive watches. Mostly for reliability, function and then form. As a recreational SCUBA diver and sometimes-adventurer, I want to ensure I have something rugged and reliable on my wrist. As ex-Military and ex-law enforcement, I also want something that’s “bad-ass”-reliable, yet stylish and somewhat of a conversation starter. Something notable. A watch that would get a nod. More recently, however, I have wanted to support Canadian brands specifically, and Marathon has been on my radar for a while.
I have been thrilled with all aspects of my experience with Marathon – from the amazing customer service, the support in customization and of course, the quality and comfort of the watch itself.
The Maple Leaf edition of the 41mm GSAR is a special edition variant of the Government Search and Rescue watch Marathon has had available for years. Issued to Military and Search & Rescue personnel worldwide, it is a solidly-built reliable tool watch which easily navigates extremes of depths, pressures, temperatures and shocks. It features a Sellita SW200-1, self-winding automatic movement with Incabloc shock absorber and 26 jewels for accuracy and a 41hr power reserve. The lume is provided via MaraGlo and tritium gas tubes for easy legibility. A screw-down crown and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal complement the stainless steel case for a water resistance of 30ATM (300m/1000ft). More than I’ll ever need. I suppose if I went overboard at some point and the crabs ate my body, I could be identified by the watch. The customized engraving and “Frankensteining” of the parts to create a unique timepiece for me says a lot about the company as well as the individual piece.
My watch from Marathon is a bit of a custom-Frankenstein: it is a 41mm GSAR with Stainless Steel bracelet, BUT with a Red Maple Leaf, rather than the grey one. Marathon had this combo with a slightly older movement years ago in a 41mm case and when they upgraded the internals also moved on from the Red Maple. So, that means Marathon currently only has a Red Maple on the 46mm or the Arctic White 41mm. They were super-kind to customize mine with a red leaf on the black face and then do some fantastic case engraving as well.
Custom 1 of 1. Love it.
First impressions: this watch is SOLID. I own other tool watches (Doxa Sharkhunter, Momentum SQ30 Eclipse, Scurfa MS-25 PVD, Citizen Pro Diver, and others) but this one is an absolute unit. It sits a bit tall but not to the point that it impedes anything I wear. It fits well on my wrist and the bracelet and watch are both comfortable to wear. I thought that the crown might dig in a bit but I was pleasantly surprised that it never does.
The 41mm fits my wrist just right, and the micro-adjustments on the stainless steel bracelet are spot-on and very comfortable.
I have worn this watch a lot, in both outdoor and work environments and have had zero issues. Accuracy has been spot on with no issues other than when the reserve runs out and I have to re-set the time. I have since received a watch winder and when it’s spinning it maintains accurate time to the extent that I can’t really tell any deviation. Though it is a lot taller than some of my other watches, it is still unobtrusive and wears easily in any context. The crown doesn’t dig into me in any way, which was a concern when I initially tried it on.
The Tritium lume is wonderful at night. I have had no issues with it. It is bright and clear and legible in the dark. By far it’s the brightest late-night watch I have. The indices are clearly marked and the different colours make telling the time easy.
On thing I will say is that I have not taken it diving…yet. I will be sure to do so the next time I go and update this post when I do. Suffice it to say, I left it in a waterfall for an hour and it just got cold – no skew in timekeeping or function at all. I do wear it in everything else I do, so rough days, workouts, building and getting dirty has zero negative effect on it. Perfect.
I left the GSAR in an ice-melt waterfall for an hour and there were no issues. It was just really cold when I put it back on.
The extra care and work the Marathon team put in to this piece – and how they cared about the entire process was a refreshing change from the world of customer experiences which have seemed to have gone downhill over the past several years. The Marathon crew was awesome in that they delivered my watch to me at the Toronto Timepiece Show ( https://www.timepieceshow.com ), which was a nice treat as I got to meet the fine folks involved in making it happen.
Meeting the Marathon crew at the Toronto Timepiece Show was a real treat. Made the watch more special as I met everyone who had a hand in making it happen.
Another thing I am fond of with my Marathon GSAR is that, amongst watch nerds and “operational” types, it has instant caché and recognition as a solid watch. Reliable reputation and it’s also a cool watch to discuss with other nerds like me. Though it’s not a Rolex or Omega, I feel that, in a pinch, it could be traded for something like safe passage or some food or money during an emergency while abroad. The bezel, with its solid clicks do make rudimentary navigation by watch easier. Of course, in these days of crazy tariffs and whatnot, paying less for a watch because there’s no import fees or duties, can make it a more affordable watch than some alternatives.
Bottom line: this is an awesome TOOL WATCH. Hands-down, it’s a workhorse which embodies the ethos of “use your tools”. It does what it’s supposed to do: it keeps accurate time, in harsh conditions, is comfortable, reliable AND it looks sharp. The heft of it makes you know it’s there. The look of it draws the eye. The insides keep the time and lets you forget about having to check it it’s working or not.
Marathon offers several variants of their 41mm SAR watches. For me, this was the perfect one.
My Marathon GSAR on a hike – complimented by my cool Wild Geese Explorer’s Club patch. I’m in good company.
The 41mm fits my wrist just right, and the micro-adjustments on the stainless steel bracelet are spot-on and very comfortable.Custom 1 of 1. Love it.Meeting the Marathon crew at the Toronto Timepiece Show was a real treat. Made the watch more special as I met everyone who had a hand in making it happen.
Protecting yourself from pick pockets to escaping a foreign country as it’s collapsing, you will learn how to observe – exploit and disrupt.
The world’s most unpredictable environments aren’t always overseas—they’re often the streets we walk every day. Urban Movement, designed by renowned unconventional security specialist Ed Calderon, is a deep dive into the mindset &methods of staying one step ahead wherever you are.
Blending street-level criminology with field-proven tradecraft, this course reveals how to see the world through the eyes of a threat actor—whether it’s a pickpocket, scammer, or violent criminal—and use that perspective to sharpen your own situational awareness.
What You’ll Learn:
Environmental Exploitation
Criminology
Technology & Tactics
Surveillance & Counter-surveillance
And much more
Whether you’re a civilian traveler, a law enforcement professional, or a military operator, Urban Movement equips you with an adaptable framework for navigating uncertain environments.
Why Take Urban Movement?:
This is not a course about theory—it’s about experience. By training your perception, sharpening your decision-making, and practicing deception from both sides, you will learn to see the world differently. You’ll walk away with a heightened awareness, unconventional problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt in dynamic, unpredictable environments.
More than a class, this is a mindset—a way of seeing the invisible patterns in the urban landscape, and learning how to move through them
For those of you who may not know, 2025 has been an incredibly challenging year. It all started with a move that didn’t go quite as planned…and then all the turmoil that followed.
In a nutshell, due to a variety of circumstances beyond our control, we were waylaid by life’s fickle nature and find ourselves in a position where the “retail” part of our business has suffered immeasurably, and that has likewise affected everything else we do. On top of all that, our Instagram account is down. We will look to continue corresponding through our website and are looking into options on how to proceed…Me*ta doesn’t like us.
To that end, we are making the difficult decision to take a step back and re-tool, well, everything.
(Don’t worry, all orders still not shipped will be soon as we replace lost and destroyed inventory and try to fulfil orders as quickly as possible).
We will be closing the web store temporarily while we sort out our offerings and inventory. We will also be stepping back from social media and instead focus on developing new products and training for you – the real bread & butter of what we do. Gear is good, but skills are better.
We have a few projects on the go, including an upcoming new book, as well as some training courses in development. We are also exploring other ways to bring content to you.
We will keep our products (Books, audio books and e-books) on Amazon (around the world) and also ensure the TNT Storefront updates more regularly (see bottom of this post). We will continue to work with trusted partners to bring you new and innovative offerings.
Our sincere goal (and hope) is that we can come back stronger, more streamlined, and in a better place to offer you only the best training and knowledge available.
We will still continue to run classes and put out materials, but only in a very limited capacity. We will also remain open to providing private classes for groups (civilian and gov’t) to keep current and offer training to those who want or need it.
We have Ed Calderon returning to Toronto in February for Urban Movement (sign up directly with Ed), and we are delivering a module at the Home Invasion Defense Symposium being held by Full Spectrum Defense in Kitchener.
Thank you everyone for your continued support, and be sure to spread the word and get your friends to sign up for our newsletter.
Stay safe, stay crafty and cultivate resilience.
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Branded Products
Our merch store will still continue to be up and running and we have other items to add to it soon. Pick up your stuff and check back regularly.
Through all the chaos that we have been through in 2024, we look forward to the possibilities of 2025.
2024 brought with it many challenges for True North Tradecraft. Challenges and triumphs. We are humbled by all of it, and by your support, and are looking forward to some pretty great things on-tap for everyone.
In review of the year past, lets take stock of what we managed to accomplish:
We released our third book – Gut Checks & Go Bags;
Launched audiobook versions of two of our books;
This past year, we ran several seminars. We had a slew of people through, teaching Disaster Preparedness, Personal Safety & Security, along with Covert Entry.
We had the privilege of teaching Covert Entry to the RCMP ‘H Division’ ERT.
We were guests on CTV’s The Social, to discuss personal safety.
We were guests on several podcasts (incl. The Collective IG, The Secure Dad and The Distinguished Savage);
We exhibited at the National Women’s Show;
We were featured in an article in the Epoch Times, discussing preparedness;
We had a great trip through Europe and dropped several scavenger hunt NFC tags and shared safe travel tips along the way;
We did some cool collabs – more to come;
Launched our “SETEC ASTRONOMY” and “You Can’t Handcuff the Wind” stickers;
One of our articles were featured in Covert Entry Magazine Vol. 2.
…and so much more behind the scenes to deliver to everyone.
2025 will have some big things in store for everyone, including:
Training will be kicking up again, starting with two (2) seminars in February 2025 (see sign-up links in the Webstore);
A new book will be coming out in the New Year…we will be launching (sign up to the newsletter for early drop info);
We will be streamlining and cleaning up our website, webstore and inventory; and…
We will be moving. Yes, we are removing in the Spring. This will expand our ability to create content AND to host small-scale training in-house.
Didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas? Sign up for a class. Buy a book (or all 3) and gear up.
As we end off the year, tie it off nicely by setting yourself up for success in 2025. Join us for training, starting in February, and invest in yourself and the insurance that comes with building capability and cultivating resilience.
There have always been events on the horizon which have caused people to be concerned with their future due to ongoing tensions or turning points. Fears of nuclear war (Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War), economic collapse (various market crashes), Y2K (existential predictions), COVID/SARS/H1N1/Swine/Monkey-pox/Ebola and now the renewed real threat of war amongst Super-Powers and their proxies around the world.
As tensions continue to escalate on various fronts (Middle East, Ukraine, China, etc.) some nations are reaching back into their Cold War preparedness archives and resurrecting their approaches to very real threats and moving towards preparing their citizens for war. Countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Finland, which have historically been wary of Russian aggression, have begun to issue their citizens updated Preparedness and Civil Defence literature.
You can read articles about how this is being rolled out across these and other Nordic nations HERE (I’ve also linked several articles). The underlying goal of these pamphlets and their supporting information campaigns by the various governments is to begin to develop a preparedness mindset in their populace while shoring up essential supplies to ensure a level of resilience across their country to lessen the impact of a possible attack. If a country (such as Russia) were to attach, say, Finland, it would almost certainly involve the compromise of key infrastructure and supply, impacting electricity, communications, fuel, food supply and transportation, all in an effort to soften resistance against an invading force. Indeed, there are sections in the pamphlets speaking to how the citizenry must resist invading adversaries and support the defence of the nation – and doing so begins with their own preparedness and self-sufficiency as supplies may be in short supply. It is now their DUTY to be prepared and self-reliant so that they may form a more resilient front against the enemy. This is a significant step-up in direction towards civil defence than has been the norm in past years of wonton sabre-rattling.
The same applies to us here in North America. More and more, I am reading reports of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure by hostile actors. Thankfully, much of the impact of these attacks has been mitigated by the fact that the damage is localized and that many of the systems have not been inter-connected. It also helps that some of the protection and recovery measures have been effective. That said, knowing that these threats exist and what their potential impacts could be should be a call to action for people everywhere to take steps, however small, to increase their level of resilience to the unforeseen which may impact their daily lives.
Hence, why we preach and teach preparedness – not just as a “thing to do”, but rather as a way of being. Being prepared, coupled with a positive and proactive mindset, makes coping with adversity far more manageable. It is this which these Nordic nations are trying to instil across their social psyches in an effort to strengthen the resolve of their citizens in the face of potential threat.
You, too, can do this. Though if you’re not wanting to prepare for war, you can prepare for the impact a winter storm, or a power outage might have on you, and possibly your business. Taking pointed steps to build resilience is an investment in yourself and need not be a futile pursuit.
Oftentimes, people don’t know where to start. We suggest you join us for a class, read our books and take steps to implement the concepts discussed. I have linked the pamphlets below. You can also pick up copies of our books HERE and sign up for an upcoming class HERE. Whatever you do, learn, anticipate, execute. No one in a crisis ever regretted preparing for it.
