Bear Grylls Q & A

I have never met the man, but I know who he is solely through the TV shows. At first I found him a bit too military, a tad beyond what most folks would be able to do, and therefore somewhat of a showoff. I have come to respect his ways over time, however. He is in really good shape, this is for sure, so if people wish to copy the fella, they should start with being in shape... that's always a good thing.

The 2nd question in the link you provided seems appropriately addressed, I cannot fault the man on his response. I understand who he is referring to by Joe Blog; effectively the sheep of the world.
 
I really enjoy the show. I believe Bear is a true gentleman, and a highly skilled outdoorsman. His referance to Joe Blog, or Joe Blow, or John Q. Public, etc., is an example of what some nuts would do. He is only showing us how to operate in the worst case scenerios. He is not advising people to be foolish and try these things. If one were to find oneself in these type of situations, the way to deal with it could be helpful. He is very squared away, and to see normal looking people, versus the weirdos that are on shows like survivor and other "reality shows", is a blessing. I say keep up the good work, and keep showing people with manners, class, good upbringing, etc., on t.v. The other reality shows that seem to be the "norm" now, are just a reflection of the open sewer style, that many people in our society are evolving into.
 
I agree that some things he does might seem a little foolish, although everything has a purpose. He's already explained why he does what he does.


As for his show, well, its entertainment. He's already saved the lives of at least two kids. (Was on the news awhile back, they fell through the ice on a lake, they remembered what Bear did in Man Vs Wild and that allowed them to stay alive).




A few people said they don't believe he should have a survival show, I disagree. I think he is more qualified then 99% of the people out there, his show would simply be 'better' if they had better management. The British SAS is no joke, its regarded by many as one of the top Special Forces units in the world. Climbing Everest is also pretty impressive. And lets not forget breaking his back.

As for the people ragging on him for training Ninjutsu its more of a endurance/agility discipline then anything else.
 
Anyone see when Les Stroud drank the muddy water and said "That tastes better then elephant poop, anyway.":D
Les Doesn't know everything either, but that's the beauty, he has the theory and tries it out himself, sometimes he succeeds and sometimes he doesn't.
Bear knows it all, including climbing down waterfalls and finding the best deals on hotels. What's the point of having a survival show if you tell people not to bother doing half the stuff?
I'd watch Ray Mears if I wanted to see how to do it right away, and Bear to be entertained. (because it is a funny show, I watch it whenever it comes on.)
 
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ICEAGE said:
I agree that some things he does might seem a little foolish, although everything has a purpose. He's already explained why he does what he does.


As for his show, well, its entertainment. He's already saved the lives of at least two kids. (Was on the news awhile back, they fell through the ice on a lake, they remembered what Bear did in Man Vs Wild and that allowed them to stay alive).




A few people said they don't believe he should have a survival show, I disagree. I think he is more qualified then 99% of the people out there, his show would simply be 'better' if they had better management. The British SAS is no joke, its regarded by many as one of the top Special Forces units in the world. Climbing Everest is also pretty impressive. And lets not forget breaking his back.

As for the people ragging on him for training Ninjutsu its more of a endurance/agility discipline then anything else.
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I am in total agreement with you. As much as people rag Bear, how many of us could do what he does? I mean really have the skill set/knowledge to survive in not just one environment, but in multiple environments. Do I hold him up as some demigod of survival? No. I learn things when I watch the show and try to glean as much information as I can so that if, God forbid, I ever came into one of the scenarios he has placed himself in, I could survive. As far as the ninjitsu goes, it is a martial art. It is not about climbing walls and jumping thirty feet in the air. It is a discipline, like many others (karate, aikido, judo, etc.). Nothing more, nothing less. :)
 
Do you really think bear has the skills to survive in the wild?
I think many people here would do much better then him.
 
Its just a tv show. Whispering: and he's not really lost. And when he drinks the effluent from elephant dung, its not because he actually thinks the home viewer can benefit from this newly-acquired skill. Its so you'll watch the show which allows the Discovery Channel to sustain its network advertising rates. :thumbup:

Tomorrow's lesson: Jack Bauer never actually diffused a nuclear bomb. :D
 
As mentioned above, the SAS and British Special Forces are very highly esteemed groups, and not to be taken lightly. These guys are typically rumored to have a screw loose to begin with, but they are top notch soldiers who don't know the word "fear". I think SAS soldiers have an automatic benefit when it comes to survival simply because of their strong mental focus, resistance to panic, and tremendous physical conditioning. Bear is undoubtedly of this breed, and suggesting he is incapable of extreme survival is simply a display of ignorance. Anyone calling this guy a phoney, well, it's those people I would NOT want next to me if the loaf ever hit the fan out in the bush.
 
He was a survival trainer for the SAS, and probably knows a thing or two, but his show is a joke nonetheless.
 
powernoodle said:
Its just a tv show. Whispering: and he's not really lost. And when he drinks the effluent from elephant dung, its not because he actually thinks the home viewer can benefit from this newly-acquired skill. Its so you'll watch the show which allows the Discovery Channel to sustain its network advertising rates. :thumbup:

Tomorrow's lesson: Jack Bauer never actually diffused a nuclear bomb. :D
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Take it back!

The REAL Commander said:
As mentioned above, the SAS and British Special Forces are very highly esteemed groups, and not to be taken lightly. These guys are typically rumored to have a screw loose to begin with, but they are top notch soldiers who don't know the word "fear". I think SAS soldiers have an automatic benefit when it comes to survival simply because of their strong mental focus, resistance to panic, and tremendous physical conditioning. Bear is undoubtedly of this breed, and suggesting he is incapable of extreme survival is simply a display of ignorance. Anyone calling this guy a phoney, well, it's those people I would NOT want next to me if the loaf ever hit the fan out in the bush.
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This has probably been beaten to death here, but I recall reading he wasn't actually in the SAS.
 
There are good points and mistaken points here. If you read his web site he maintains he was in 21 SAS which is the territorial army unit for the SAS in the Southern part of England. 23 SAS covers the North. In the T.A. because of the part time commitment it takes an awful long time to pass selection let alone acquire your "core" skills and the "specialist" skills. Selection is broken down to three phases for each two week "camp" commitment you are required to do every year. Hills first year, Jungle second, Escape and Evasion and Resistance to Interrogation in the third year.

Pass those and your badged but a probationary member until you assimilate your "core" skills. Checking his Biography he would just have had enough time to get through selection and do some "core" skills. Read elsewhere as to making many of the programmes and also who he would recommend for survival courses and it is clear that he uses "contractor" instructors for any given environment he is in....guys with the specialist knowledge for that climate....so it is unlikely he is the "fountain" of knowledge he might portray himself to be. More like a front man for the show.

In contrast....the guy who writes as "Lofty Wiseman"....who was regular 22 SAS ( fulltime unit not T.A.) for his full career and the full time survival training instructor....he does have the "knowledge" and is the real deal. His son is also a survival instructor and someone who has lived "off nature" for years in the wild before setting up a survival school. He also is a "fountain" of knowledge.

Bear is someone however of immense strength of character.....anyone who can regain health and fitness after the injuries he sustained is worthy of respect...but at the end of the day he is just making a living as a more extreme form of a T.V. version of Ray Mears. Ray Mears however whilst not being "military" in his programmes....does have encyclopedia levels of knowledge on the subject of Bushcraft....far more than Bear has and many other so called experts.
 
For those who don't know, Territorial Army = Army Reserves. Weekend warrior. Weekend Warrior Eddie spent three years in the reserves and spent about half of that hurt--SURPRISE! Best evidence that he didn't complete training: Mister Self-promotion never mentions it. Instead, he very carefully says he "served with SAS". Only recently does he admit it was reserves.

Ron Hood (survival.com) and Rick Mears have forgotten more than Eddie Hotel will ever know. I must admit that Eddie is useful in demonstrating how to DECREASE your chances of survival. He's just the first guy with a British/Aussie accent that came along after Discovery lost their last idiot with an accent.

For those of you who have to Bear my rants in the past, please forgive the duplication.
 
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