More Info About the Zombie Combat Manual
I’ve received a lot of emails the other day about the upcoming Zombie Combat Manual, so I thought I’d do another post to share my findings.
The book is based on the existing website, Zombie Combat Club and it is a fun read. There are a ton a instructional how-to articles on how to evade, and ultimately, take down the dead. Each example is well written with some great artwork drawn alongside of it. The website also goes into detailed weapon descriptions, including some videos, But hey, don’t take it, check it out. I’m guess the book will match the overall tone of the book. Here’s a cook snippet from the site:
What is the most effective hand-to-hand zombie combat weapon? Is it the Shaolin spade? The Japanese katana? The Swiss halberd? This question has been argued time and again by soldiers and civilians alike. The answer is actually quite simple: the best weapon is the one you have in your hand at the time of attack. A hand-forged samurai sword worth thousands of dollars is useless if it’s lying in your sleeping bag as a zombie clutches your throat. Likewise, a ten-dollar crowbar can provide years of faithful, defensive service if maintained well and used properly.
For an excellent historical example of weapon improvisation, look to Okinawa as a guide. In 1609, the island was captured and occupied by the Japanese Satsuma Clan. Shortly thereafter, the Clan banned possession of swords and firearms by all commoners and the peasant community. In order to defend themselves, the largely farming Okinawan population turned to their everyday agricultural tools, and developed them into the weapons-based martial art known as Kobudo.
Implements that were used to dig furrows (sai), carry baskets (bo), and harvest rice (kama) were transformed into the weapons that are still present and practiced hundreds of years later. Two of the most popular Kobudo weapons seen in the West are the nunchaku, made popular by the late martial artist Bruce Lee, and the tonfa, which has been modified for law enforcement use as the side-handled PR-24 baton.
The Zombie Combat Manual also has a large active facebook page and a twitter feed. This is looking like a fun read that will take zombie killing to the next level. Put down the gun, and pick up the crowbar … it’s time to get involved with some wet work.
Zombie Combat Club (zombiecombatclub.com <- new window)
Zombie Combat Club Facebook Page (facebook.com <- new window)
Zombie Combat Twitter Feed (twitter.com <- new window)
[...] info about the Zombie Combat Manual for you, in case handing out an ass-whupping to a zombie sounds like a good idea to you. (A World [...]
Good follow up, and good historical perspective.
I’ve used some of the weapons mentioned in the excerpt, practice martial arts, and studied Japanese history. Even been to Okinawa for a while! What they, and many other people have done, is impressive. I’ll still take a powerful hand cannon, a shotgun, or better yet (for me) a precision rifle, anyday.
The undead nature and the infectious nature of Z’s, depending on which kind of Zach (which story, film, or game) you’re talking about, makes it a totally different ballgame I think.
Close combat is REALLY a last resort. If you can reach Z, Z can reach you, and even a minor physical injury can be as bad as death if you turn undead. We also won’t have the relative “luxury” of occupation by Z’s. The Satsuma Clan didn’t try to exterminate the native Okinawans by eating them! We wouldn’t have time to train people to fight until establishing a defensive live and secure zone.
We would all of course use whatever the hell weapon we could when the crap hits the fan, but I’d suggest everyone better start training now.
I do love the koma. Such a fun thing to use.