Ohio area Beckerheads....anyone else interested in this class?

I think that a lot of the issues that happened with Dave were blown out of proportion. Now this isn't to say the man is a saint or anything, but ultimately it just doesn't matter. Speaking for myself, shows like Dual Survival and Man vs Wild and Survivorman are a big part of what got me here. I will freely admit that a lot of the knowledge I have found over the last couple of years came from Dave in a nice easy to understand manner via his plethora of videos on YouTube. Now that isn't to say Dave is of the same caliber as someone like Mors Kochanski, but the guy knows a lot more than I do, and I have learned a lot because of him.

Looking at the location, I figured it was going to be pretty far out of the way, but looking it over, that is pretty darn close. I dunno, you might see me up there Tanner.
 
DerekH said:
I think that a lot of the issues that happened with Dave were blown out of proportion. Now this isn't to say the man is a saint or anything, but ultimately it just doesn't matter. Speaking for myself, shows like Dual Survival and Man vs Wild and Survivorman are a big part of what got me here. I will freely admit that a lot of the knowledge I have found over the last couple of years came from Dave in a nice easy to understand manner via his plethora of videos on YouTube. Now that isn't to say Dave is of the same caliber as someone like Mors Kochanski, but the guy knows a lot more than I do, and I have learned a lot because of him.

Looking at the location, I figured it was going to be pretty far out of the way, but looking it over, that is pretty darn close. I dunno, you might see me up there Tanner.
Click to expand...

That would be cool. I know it took me 10-11 hours to drive from Columbus to Norfolk. Would prob take you less time then it would take me to get to Ethans. People in my last class were from all over. The Goinggear.com guy drove from Alabama...or Georgia, I forget. There were guys there from all over. Bring a Machax...I've still never seen on in person!

Last time I talked to Dave, he was pretty excited about the new school location and said it was better than the last one. That should be something, because I thought the last one was like my dream bug out property. He said the game is waaaaay richer. Should make all the trapping/hunting stuff more interesting. I went back and looked at his Facebook posts in the group, and I know they have secured a 130lb hog for the pit baking demo. Since it is a seminar, not a scenario training course, the "after hours" around the fire are always fun, when you can just chill and talk to people and play with knives.

As for Mors, He's definitely an old skool master, But eventually Dave will be recognized more. Two things I like about him: A) He never stops learning himself. Right now he is at a Fur Trappers Master certification course. B) He's always coming up with some new trick that someone should have thought of earlier. He doesn't just rehash old material. I bought that Mors book, but I HATE pics that are just drawings. Someone should update it with photos...then it would be a gem.

Him deciding to leave Dual Survival was the best thing ever. All survival shows are stupid in concept (maybe not Survivorman....as much) because they take people that know a lot and make them act out doing stuff in ways they would never do it. IOWs, THEY would never be in that situation because they would have specific tools, and thus you never really see what they could do. They have to jury rig stuff. And regular people dumb enough to be out and about without a basic kit aren't going to be bright enough to know those tricks. So dumb concept.

He has built that school and his store probably 500% since I was there. The stuff he sells is well thought out. He's constantly traveling...doing trade shows, meeting people, coming up with new items. He has something coming out in December that everyone will want to buy. However I am sworn to secrecy. I will say that I learned about it when I sent him a link to a contractor company that can make SS Canteens, and I thought that would be a great idea for those of us with lots of canteen kits. What he showed me blew that out of the water. He came up with and perfected the slingbow concept (though I still stink it can be improved using the german guy from The Slingshot Channels bands).

I still find time for reading people like Cody Lundin. His Urban book is the best, IMO. Following Dave works for me because I live an hour from him and the area he trains in is the area I live in, so it is most applicable to me from a survival training standpoint. But there are always other things to consider Survival-wise. Urban skills are a must.
 
Last edited:
panzertroop said:
Tanner,
Thanks for posting your perspective on Dave. It's always good to hear both sides.
Click to expand...

No prob. Although I am not, He's also a pretty devout Christian now, and that colors his attitude. Pretty much anyone can approach him and ask for an autograph or a photo and he's always happy to do it. I can't emphasize the ad hominem angle enough when that stuff came out, and how it was exactly like my ghost investigation experience. A lot of people that live their hobby cannot STAND seeing someone else get famous, and will make it their goal in life to tear them down. I won't name the forum, but one on particular was behind it. When I poked around there once, I couldn't stand the elitist "I'm better" attitude there. People thumping their chest. I've even seen Cody taking veiled shots at Dave on Facebook because of his rise through youtube. What you won't see? Dave doing that stuff.

And because I HAVE defending him on this many times, if I ever did see something, I'd be quick to call him out on it. But ultimately, we are all human and all have our slip up moments, and like I said earlier "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

I would say he HAS done a lot of interesting stuff in the Army. He told me some stuff over the fire that was pretty darn interesting...describing some of the improvised anti personnel traps Columbian drug types use to guard their crops. He's definitely done ground time snooping around South America. And I know from my own DD214, it doesn't always paint the clearest picture of your experience, and I'd bet it doesn't show everything for shooter types.
 
I'm going to try and hit a basic class next year, this year has been a ball-buster busy one.
 
Three days and a wake-up! Last call! DerekH?

I know several of the people going. Lots of really cool folks!
 
It was last weekend near Chillicothe. It was awesome. Learned some great stuff and ate a lot of pig. Actually had a piece of bacon that was alive 8 hours earlier. Had a cold night Saturday night....got down to 33. Going back in 2 weeks to help build parts of the the new school. Sold my BK2 to Panzertroop, and got me a "Like New" Military 4 piece sleeping bag system, so no more cold nights. Still got $50 leftover to spend on something....haven't decided what yet.
 
I wish I still lived in Ohio, or I would totally be willing to come to this.

Oh, and I wish I wasn't currently in school as well :P.

Have fun, and take some pictures for us.
 
Great meeting you today. Thanks again for the knife. Plan on playing with it more this weekend. You have pics from your DC weekend? Interesting in learning more about DC and his school. Keep us posted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top