Survival and the Start of a Zombie Apocalypse?

Well, I haven't made too many posts lately, martial arts related or otherwise, but this topic has come up recently and it is interesting, so I'm going to address it :P

First of all, let me start by having you read this article by New Scientist Magazine: Drug Could Turn Soldiers Into Super-Survivors

I would like to point out that if this drug works as intended, it would be a great step for modern medicine, and a miracle for our soldiers. That said, what if it doesn't work as intended? At this point, they have only tested it on animals (and I have to say that the testing they are doing to those animals sounds very cruel, and I'm amazed I haven't seen anything from animal rights groups) and those tests have been what they are basing their claims on. When they use this on humans, I can see it starting of a type of zombie event.

Allow me this disclaimer--I am not one of those mentally unstable survival nuts who believes that every end-of-the-world scenario out there will happen. Even with this drug, anything happening that even resembles a zombie event is well nigh impossible. Still, I think that it is safe to assume that a drug that modifies your DNA to make you resistant to death might be capable of doing other things to you as well. Just putting it out there.

On a related note, but with slightly more budo-related content, survival scenarios in general (not just zombies) have been growing increasingly popular. End-of-the-world movies have been around for a long time, but the past few years we have been starting to see an increase in post-apocalyptic ones as well, rather than just movies about the events that will end the world. Due to recent earthquakes and other natural disasters, people have also been growing more aware of the potential for more events like those. Even the morning show on KTAR, our local talk radio station, was talking about preparing for a disaster scenario this morning.

As I mentioned above, I am not a mentally unstable survival nut, but really, I'm not a survivalist in the "traditional" sense of the word. I do not have a stockpile of 5 years' worth of food, guns and ammunition hidden in some out-of-the-way compound with a wood-gassifier-generator and water purification system. What I do have is more short-term and basic--the kind of stuff that a lot of people may have, regardless of preparing for a disaster.

I have some weapons, sure--the fact that I have trained in multiple martial arts also gives me a step-up in this department, as I know how to defend myself not only with firearms, bladed weapons, and sticks, but with my bare hands. Practicing martial arts has a lot of benefits, and one of the chief ones is that of preparing you to defend yourself and your loved ones, and you may very well have to do those things in a disaster situation (even if there are zombies, just watch out for biting :P). The fact that it keeps you in good physical condition is certainly not a bad thing either.

Aside from weapons, I have a 5 gallon jug for water, and enough water purification tablets for a few refills of that jug. As I said, it may not be long term, but it should be enough to get you somewhere--out of the desert and up to the mountains where there are streams and food to be found, for instance, or even just to some sort of aid station. To go with the water, we do have some canned food and dehydrated potatoes that we haven't used, but certainly could in a survival situation, and we have a small cooler and some ice packs. They wouldn't last long, but again, they should last long enough to get you somewhere. To go along with that "somewhere", I have rope and military grade 550 parachute cord, a cheap hatchet and hacksaw, various knives, and a few skills I've picked up along the way in life from friends, family, and even the internet.

There are a few things that I should probably pick up to complete this short-term-kit, like a tarp (had one but ended up throwing it away after we lined animal pens with it) and a small firekit (I already have a firesteel, but having some ready-made tinder would be helpful). We have a first aid kit, but it needs to be restocked because when we run out of Band-Aids, guess where we know we have extras? For the most part, though, what we currently have should be enough to get us to safety in a disaster, whether it be natural or man-made. Or zombie-made.

The real survivalists out there are probably cringing at my lack of preparation :P

Another Apocalyptic Belt

This one I just finished for a customer in India (my first international order!)


And two more artsy photos:

First Sheath from JK Handmade Knives Collaberation

This is the knife--a Michigan Trail model by John Kiedaisch of JK Handmade Knives:
In the sheath:

Out of the sheath:Background removed, logotype added:

And here are a few artsy photos:

Thanks for looking!