Master At Arms James Keating: Shares The Truth About Machete Fighting & Blade Disarms
Published: 1 week ago
For decades, Master at Arms James Keating has been one of the world’s most respected authorities on edged weapons, historical martial arts, Bowie knife fighting, and practical blade combat. His influence has shaped generations of instructors, military personnel, law enforcement professionals, martial artists, and serious students across the globe.
In this episode of the Tactical Tavern documentary series, we continue preserving the living legacy of James Keating by documenting lessons that few people have ever had the opportunity to experience firsthand.
This installment focuses on one of humanity’s oldest and most effective tools—the machete.
Inside this episode you’ll discover:
• Practical machete fighting concepts
• Defensive tactics against a machete attack
• Blade disarms and when they work
• Functional training drills that build real skill
• How repetition creates speed, precision, and confidence
• The principles behind efficient movement instead of flashy techniques
• Why realistic training matters more than memorizing techniques
• The mindset behind surviving a violent encounter
Unlike many martial arts demonstrations, these drills are built around developing timing, distance, mechanics, awareness, and control—the attributes that actually improve your performance over time.
James Keating has spent decades researching, teaching, and preserving historical European martial arts, Bowie knife systems, combative blade work, stick fighting, and practical self-defense. His seminars have influenced thousands of students worldwide, and his work continues to bridge historical knowledge with modern application.
This documentary series exists to preserve that knowledge for future generations. As many legendary martial artists retire, their experience risks being lost forever. Our goal is to capture these conversations, demonstrations, and lessons so that students, instructors, historians, and martial artists can continue learning from one of the most influential living masters in the field.
Whether you’re interested in:
• Martial arts
• Self-defense
• Knife skills
• Machete training
• Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA)
• Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)
• Bowie knife history
• Survival skills
• Bushcraft
• Tactical training
• Military history
• Outdoor adventure
• Personal protection
• Weapons history
• Historical combat systems
• Documentary filmmaking
there is something here for you.
If you’re enjoying this documentary series, subscribe to Tactical Tavern and join us as we continue documenting the lives, philosophies, and teachings of some of the greatest martial artists still living today.
If you would like to learn from James Keating he offers group classes, private one on one instruction and seminars. Call 541-938-3451 or email here: comtech@bmi.net or message me on Facebook. Group classes held Every Saturday at 10am in Milton Freewater, Oregon (Call for details).
Continue your learning and help support James Keating here: https://jameskeatingscomtech.gumroad.com/
Check out the online library of digital downloads. A wealth of knowledge packed in these videos.
Purchase his Stinger keychain self defense tool here: https://collabs.shop/fr9qat
Click here to check out gadgets, gear, and save money with discount codes: https://tacticaltavern.taplink.ws
???? LIKE the video if you’d like to see more episodes.
???? COMMENT below:
What lesson from James Keating has impacted you the most?
???? SUBSCRIBE so you never miss future documentary episodes.
In this episode of the Tactical Tavern documentary series, we continue preserving the living legacy of James Keating by documenting lessons that few people have ever had the opportunity to experience firsthand.
This installment focuses on one of humanity’s oldest and most effective tools—the machete.
Inside this episode you’ll discover:
• Practical machete fighting concepts
• Defensive tactics against a machete attack
• Blade disarms and when they work
• Functional training drills that build real skill
• How repetition creates speed, precision, and confidence
• The principles behind efficient movement instead of flashy techniques
• Why realistic training matters more than memorizing techniques
• The mindset behind surviving a violent encounter
Unlike many martial arts demonstrations, these drills are built around developing timing, distance, mechanics, awareness, and control—the attributes that actually improve your performance over time.
James Keating has spent decades researching, teaching, and preserving historical European martial arts, Bowie knife systems, combative blade work, stick fighting, and practical self-defense. His seminars have influenced thousands of students worldwide, and his work continues to bridge historical knowledge with modern application.
This documentary series exists to preserve that knowledge for future generations. As many legendary martial artists retire, their experience risks being lost forever. Our goal is to capture these conversations, demonstrations, and lessons so that students, instructors, historians, and martial artists can continue learning from one of the most influential living masters in the field.
Whether you’re interested in:
• Martial arts
• Self-defense
• Knife skills
• Machete training
• Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA)
• Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)
• Bowie knife history
• Survival skills
• Bushcraft
• Tactical training
• Military history
• Outdoor adventure
• Personal protection
• Weapons history
• Historical combat systems
• Documentary filmmaking
there is something here for you.
If you’re enjoying this documentary series, subscribe to Tactical Tavern and join us as we continue documenting the lives, philosophies, and teachings of some of the greatest martial artists still living today.
If you would like to learn from James Keating he offers group classes, private one on one instruction and seminars. Call 541-938-3451 or email here: comtech@bmi.net or message me on Facebook. Group classes held Every Saturday at 10am in Milton Freewater, Oregon (Call for details).
Continue your learning and help support James Keating here: https://jameskeatingscomtech.gumroad.com/
Check out the online library of digital downloads. A wealth of knowledge packed in these videos.
Purchase his Stinger keychain self defense tool here: https://collabs.shop/fr9qat
Click here to check out gadgets, gear, and save money with discount codes: https://tacticaltavern.taplink.ws
???? LIKE the video if you’d like to see more episodes.
???? COMMENT below:
What lesson from James Keating has impacted you the most?
???? SUBSCRIBE so you never miss future documentary episodes.