Active Survival Training Posts
News: Rule #1 for Surviving Somali Pirates: Lay Off the Doobie
Though it's unlikely you'll ever have a need for hostage survival skills, it never hurts to take in a few tips on what to do in the event of being accosted by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa. Wired has tracked down a HowTo guide that addresses such a scenario. Though most of the advice is fairly general, one important point addresses the dangers of lighting up with the enemy:
How To: Save your life by sawing your trapped arm off à la Danny Boyle's 127 Hours
How far would you go to save your life? For James Franco, who plays real-life hiker Aron Ralston in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", staying alive means cutting off your own arm with a dull pocketknife. If you've seen the movie (or even heard about all the people who fainted and threw up after watching it), you know that it presents one of the most grueling self-amputation and bone breaking scenes in movie history.
How To: Tie the "Asheley's flower knot" flower knot variation
In this how-to video from the TyingItAllTogether Channel, learn how to tie Clifford W. Ashley's flower knot. Ashley is the author and illustrator of a book he wrote about tying various types knots, including ones that he created himself. In his book, Ashley shows how to tie this knot, but does not show in his illustrations how to actually hold and tie the knot in one's hand. This video tutorial seeks to clarify those steps. You will need to begin with a piece of rope folding it in half to eff...
How To: Tie an emperor's hat knot with paracord
For all of you who are knot fans, here comes a video tutorial showing step by step and in detail how to tie an Emperor's hat knot that realistically resembles one of the hats worn by Chinese emperors in the old days. In this video, a white piece of rope hanging from a hook is used against a black background. You will see each one of the twists and turns in slow speed (not in slow motion) so that you can easily follow what is being shown. The final result is a complex knot done in less than fi...
How To: Tie an elastic Solomon bar bracelet with paracord
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie an elastic Solomon bar bracelt with parcord. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying round stitched switchback yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie bush bar and belt (alternating KBK bar) knots with parcord
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie bush bar belt and belt knots with parcord. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying these knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Use the Universal Edibility Test to Identify Safe Plants to Eat Anywhere
You're lost. You're cold, thirsty— you're hungry. What if you're not much of a hunter? Maybe you're a gatherer. So, then you'll eat plants. But what if you eat something poisonous? What if you're allergic to it?
How To: Tie a perfect "good luck" knot
In this knot-tying tutorial, we learn how to fasten a perfect "good luck" knot—a knot so named because it is said one requires quite a lot of luck to tie it properly. Not so, says video creator TyingItAllTogether. For all of the relevant details, and to get started tying this knot yourself, take a look.
How To: Tie a knarr viking merchant ship knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a knarr knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying perfect knarr knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a KBK bar fusion knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a KBK bar fusion knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying KBR bar knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a perfect double plafond knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a double plafond knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying double plafond yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a stitched switchback strap
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a stitched switchback strap. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying round stitched switchback yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a round brocade or six-flower knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a round brocade or "six-petal" knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying round brocade knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Make dogbane cordage or Indian hemp
In this tutorial, we learn how to make dogbane cordage. Dogbane is also known as Indian hemp, which is a plant which is used to make cordage. Once you identify the plant outside, you can process it into a raw and finished product. First, you will simply peel the bark off of a branch of the dogbane. After this, you will squeeze along the inside of it and start to peel the layers back. You will then get a bushy type of wood that looks like it's hair. After this, you can tie these together or br...
How To: Modify your machete for the bush
In this video, we learn how to modify your machete for the bush. First, you can sharpen your blade on a piece of wood. You will produce wood shavings that will produce fire as well. Push down on the sides of the knife as well as base and on the tip and middle. Make sure you slightly sharpen the back as well so you can use it to open up coconuts. Once you do this, you will have five useful edges on your machete that you can use for many different purposes while you are out traveling. You can a...
How To: Prepare your vehicle for winter weather
When winter rolls around, you get some pretty unpredictable weather: hail, snow, rain, ice, black ice, nasty stuff. Being properly prepared is extremely important because you never know what can happen to you while you're on the road. In this video you will learn how to prepare your vehicle for winter driving.
How To: Preserve tracks properly during your expedition
Whether it's research, a school project or term paper, going on an expedition, what have you, having to preserve animal tracks should be a part of your bag of tricks that you can do. But don't just grab some random plaster of paris and just start pouring. Check out this video first and learn how to properly preserve the animal tracks that you find in the wild.
How To: Make Welsh laverbread with seaweed (Porphyra umbilical), bacon and oatmeal
Porphyra umbilical. Most know it as laver, a type of edible seaweed found along the Wales coastline, and also other areas in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Porphyra umbilical is best known for the Welsh delicacy of laverbread.
HowTo: Survive a Plane Crash (Demonstrated by Flight Attendant Hotties)
HowTo go viral or HowTo survive a plane crash... take your pick. A bunch of Philippines flight attendant cuties demonstrate flight safety procedures to the tune of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. The company later stated:
News: Boob Support = Life Support
Dr. Elena Bodnar proposes a silly idea. Why not wear a bra that double as a gas mask? No point in being ill equipped (in the event of fires, terrorist attacks, dust storms or a swine flu outbreak). The instructions are simple: In the event of an emergency, remove bra.
How To: Tie a snake belly bar knot
The snake belly bar, in essence, is a product of multiple snake belly knots, tied together in series. This great bar makes a great bracelet or strap and is easy to make if you know the right pattern. In this video you will get an up close look at how to tie this knot from start to finish.
How To: Tie a genoese zipper sinnet knot easily
The Genoese Zipper Sinnet is actually a fusion of both the single Genoese Bar and the Zipper Sinnet, obvious reasons for the name. This knot can be great for making a strap, bracelet, or necklace. In this video you will learn how to tie the knot up close and personal, giving the video great detail and insight into the knot tying process.
How To: Harvest amaranth grain (aztec rice)
Amaranth grain is somewhat like rice and was a staple food of the Aztecs. But most seem to grow like weeds and they are tough to harvest as well. If you've found some Amaranth plants and are looking at how to harvest the grain out of them, check out this video. He gives you an explanation of what Amaranth is and how to harvest the grains from it.
How To: Make sign posts and marks for indicators and also trapping
When going into an area that you're unfamiliar with, the first thing you need to learn is where the animals are and what you can use to bring them in, trap them, and well, you know the rest. In this video you will learn how to create sign post traps that use visual and smell based attracts that will bring in curious animals giving you the time to strike.
How To: Tie a bent solomon bar on a line
The Solomon Bar is one of the more versatile ties in the paracording genre of knot tying. Although most prefer the straight line, in this video you will learn how to tie a bent line in your knot. You will get a full tutorial of the entire process with each step shown up close with extreme detail.
How To: Use a recurve bow and a beginners guide to bow hunting
Sure, you could start hunting with a rifle, but the true hunters do bow hunting. If you're interested in getting into bow hunting in general, this video has all the info you will need. You will learn the anatomy of a recurve bow and also the proper way to fire, hold, and knock your arrows. This video is designed with beginners in mind!
How To: Use a parang knife (Malayan machete) in the tropical wild
If you're ever stuck in the jungles of Southeast Asia, then your only hope for survival is the parang knife, which is a Malayan type machete. This is the ideal tool for the jungle, especially in Malaysia, where the typical vegetation is more woody, and needs something thicker for stronger chopping action. A parang has three different edges: the front is very sharp and used for skinning, the middle is wider and used for chopping, and the back end (near the handle) is very fine and used for car...
How To: Make an emergency fire with bamboo friction
In this video, you'll learn about friction fire lighting using wild bamboo sticks. So, if you're ever stuck out in Thailand on a cold and damp night, cut down some bamboo and light your own campfire to stay warm! This video shows you this very common technique in Southeast Asia, but takes a little work… and a sharp knife!
How To: Survive on a cold and snowy mountain with a storm shelter
If you can't find your way back from your hike up the snow covered mountain, and there's a winter storm brewing, you better hope you have your storm shelter in your sack! This video will show you what a storm shelter can do for you when stuck up high on a mountaintop with a windy snowstorm coming in. There's not much to it. Just have one on you, any size, rip it out of the bag and cover yourself up.
How To: Find wild food and wood in a city setting for urban survival
Forget surviving the wilderness— surviving the city is hard enough! This video talks about herbs, bushes, plants and trees that you can use in a survival situation in an urban environment. If you're down on your luck, forget about coins on the street corner and survive off your natural environment.
How To: Save your life with chocolate and a soda can
Learn this useful survival trick that could one day save your life! Survive by using this soda can and chocolate trick. Basically, you will create a fire with a leaf. Get tips from this how-to video, especially on how to best use the polished surface to point the sunlight into one small "dot."
How To: Read a map and use a compass
Watch as "4-H Forestry Facts" shows you how to survive in a forest or any other environment using a map and a compass. When holding a compass the needle will always point to the direction of north because of the poles of the Earth and the magnetic pull of the compass. After knowing which direction is North you can then figure out what direction is South, East and West. Then looking at the map you can see where it is you need to go. Watch the rest of the video to learn all the tricks and never...
How To: Get a pattern for a wool blanket shirt
In order to pattern a wool blanket shirt, you'll need a blanket, scissors, a needle, and thread.
How To: Tie cylinder, mat and ball Turk's head knots
In this Disaster Preparation video tutorial you will learn how to tie cylinder, mat and ball Turk's head knots. To tie the cylinder, first tie the double coin knot as shown in the video. Then put it around a staff and make the 3-lead 4-bight Turk's Head. After you finish with this, tighten and trim the rope. To tie the 3L4B Turk's Head as a mat, remove the Turk's Head from the staff and follow the steps as shown in the video to make the mat. You can watch the video and learn how to tie the ball.
How To: Make a shirt out of a wool blanket
In this video, we learn how to make a shirt out of a wool blanket. This is great if you need something really warm to sleep in or wear out around. First, design the shirt so it's longer on the back than it is in the front. That way, when you sit down you will have extra wool to help keep you warm. You don't need to sew a collar on it,, because it will just take too much work. Make the arms extra long, depending on how large your blanket is. If it's too long, you can fold the ends over, or cov...
How To: Prepare yourself for a major disaster
In this video, we learn how to prepare yourself for a major disaster. If you haven't planned ahead for storing water, you are going to be in big trouble. Your first option is to go purchase liters of water from the grocery store. The recommended quantity to store is 1 gallon per person per day. If you don't want to spend money at the store, you just need to fill up empty bottles with water from the tap and store these after cleaning. You can also fill the water in a large jug, just make sure ...
HowTo: Drink Your Own Pee (Safely)
For my sake, for your sake, for everyone's sake: I hope it never comes to this, but you never know. Dire times call for dire measures.
How To: Make a cheap billy can out of an empty paint can
A billycan can be used as either a water tight container, or as a pot for cooking food or boiling water. You can make a billy can for less than three dollars using an empty and clean paint can, a drill and a few small pieces of hardware.
How To: Make an outdoors survival shelter out of mud, soil and clay
Oh no! You're lost in the wilderness without an adequate survival shelter! Protect yourself from inclement weather by using soil, clay, mud and other materials found in nature to build your own mud hut for protection from the elements.
How To: Be prepared for outdoor disaster
Whether it's a political or economic collapse, a natural disaster or even the zombie apocalypse, follow these outdoor survival tips to make sure you are prepared! Learn how to make a shelter in the wildnerness, proper preparation techniques for supplies, and become a better survivalist!