One of my goals for this blog and for the Introduction to The Armed Lifestyle project is to introduce people to information and resources that will help them build and refine a robust mindset, equip themselves, pursue quality instruction, grow their knowledge base, and sustain themselves as they hone their skills.
I still find myself overwhelmed with the sheer volume of content available to a fledgling self-defender. Even for those in whom the thirst for knowledge is great, it’s hard to drink through a firehose. Although only 50-some years have passed since the late Jeff Cooper founded Gunsite Academy, the depth of the literary canon about defensive pistolcraft alone that has accumulated in that time is daunting. Add to that the internet and social media, and the information overload is enough to make your brain ache. For newcomers to the brave new world of self-defense—and especially for those who may only consider themselves gun-curious—I can only imagine how much that feeling is magnified.
With peepholes into more disciplines than you could learn in a thousand lifetimes at your fingertips, where do you start? Both to answer that question and to drive some much-deserved attention to several people that I greatly admire, I’ve provided some links here.
Time and finances permitting, it would be much longer. I plan on revisiting and updating it in the future.
- Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training
- Alex Sansone (The Suited Shootist)
- Annette Evans, creator of On Her Own
- Lucky Gunner
- Jonathan and Sarah Hauptman of PHLster
- Mickey Schuch (https://carrytrainer.com/)
- John Correia, Mike Willever, and Neil, Stephanie, and Natalie Weidner (http://www.youtube.com/@ActiveSelfProtection and http://www.youtube.com/@ASPextra)
Some other blogs and content creators I follow:
- Claude Werner, The Tactical Professor (https://thetacticalprofessor.net/)
- Karl Rehn and cadre (https://blog.krtraining.com/)
- Dr. David Yamane (https://gunculture2point0.wordpress.com/)
- Nick “Chewy” Albin (http://www.youtube.com/@Chewjitsu)
- Dr. Sherman House (https://civiliandefender.com/)
- Tamara Keel (https://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/)
- Memphis Beech (https://www.memphisbeech.com/blog)
- Uncle Zo (https://unclezo.com/)
- Salvatore DeGennaro (https://reflexhandgun.com/)
- Nathan Parker (https://thatshotgunblog.wordpress.com/)
- Justin Caroll (https://revolverguy.com/)
- Mark Luell (https://www.growingupguns.com/)
- Primary & Secondary (https://primaryandsecondary.com/)
- Shawn Lupka of Antifragile Training (https://antifragiletraining.com/blog/)
A few books I recommend:
- Straight Talk on Armed Self-Defense: What the Experts Want You to Know edited by Massad Ayoob
- Violence of Mind by Varg Freeborn
- The Dry Fire Primer by Annette Evans
- The Gift of Fear by Gavin DeBecker (in spite of his hoplophobia and misandry)
General vendors that I know and trust: Big Tex Ordnance, Midway USA, Brownells, AIM Surplus, Palmetto State Armory, Primary Arms, SKD Tactical, Natchez Shooter’s Supplies, GunMag Warehouse
People that make quality holsters: PHLster, Henry Holsters, NSR Tactical, JM Custom Kydex, Keepers Concealment, Safariland, TENICOR, Dark Star Gear, KSG Armory
To feed your firearms: SGAmmo, Lucky Gunner, Target Sports USA, Ammunition Depot, AmmoSeek.com
Where I get submitted train BJJ: https://stouttrainpitt.com/
Mental health resources:
Fire Carrier Defense 