nate bynum: about
Growing up in the countryside, most of my childhood was spent wreaking havoc on my family's farm. Being relatively isolated and not particularly aggressive, there was little need to learn to scrap. However, the tales of high adventure spun by my favorite authors inspired countless hours of researching medieval war craft and tinkering with improvised weapons as well as providing the theme for visual art projects and my own writing. As I grew older, academic study overtook my interest in martial arts and carried me through college and into graduate school. It was there I would take an abrupt turn from student to musician, a new path that would eventually bring me back full circle to the fighting arts.
In my mid twenties I was introduced by a band mate to a local Tai Chi/QiGong teacher. What happened next was something out of a cheesy new-age self help book. However, while my teacher was highly skilled, the fighting side of Tai Chi was not in her repertoire. I began to hunger for the combative elements that my training was missing. Sensing this, my teacher pointed me in the direction of Filipino combatives.
American Maharlika Kuntaw became my new passion. The pragmatic, open-minded philosophy of Kuntaw resonated with my eclectic nature and gave me a strong base from which I was free to explore and assimilate other arts. As an extra benefit, I was fortunate to befriend a group of dedicated martial arts players with a diverse array of talents. Because of them, new doors are opening daily- which brings me to the present and my involvement in the Defense Craft collective.
This is our experiment. It is not the first of its kind, but it is ours and unique in its own way. I am looking forward to seeing where Defense Craft takes us and, as paths on the journey wind and converge, who we will meet and what we will see along the way.
Welcome. - Nate
systems of study
Base Arts: Kuntaw, Tai Chi / Qi Gong, Judo
Other Arts Studied: Silat, Kuntao-Silat, Modern Arnis, Tactical Knife, Natural Spirit Intl., San Yun Do, Silat Zulfikari.
Currently Studying: T’ai Chi Ch’aun, Peaceful Dragon School, Ann Arbor, MI.