Howard assisting with promotional photography.
Howard Bell was born at Brighton near Dunedin in New Zealand in 1952. He has two older brothers and a younger sister. Howard’s father served in World War II spending four years in the desert with the engineers maintaining and working on steam engines. He told Howard of how they were pushing a railway up through Egypt and how the Germans constantly bombed them.
Prior to World War II he served his time at Hillside Railway workshops in Dunedin and on his return from the war was told he would have to start his apprenticeship again and not carry on where he left off. So he decided to follow in his father's footsteps in his father's business as a barber and eventually took over the business from his father.
Howard has a brother that is a retired bank manager and another brother that is a very successful businessman and his sister is a physiotherapist.
Howard first met Lynette, his later wife to be, at Brighton primary school and they started dating when he was 19 and married in 1978. Lynette, after leaving high school, was an office worker then an enrolled nurse and later qualified as a registered nurse. Howard’s wife Lynette is a much respected nurse and works taking care of the terminally ill at the hospice. She, like Howard, is liked and respected by all and is a very good kind and caring person. They are a great couple that share the same values qualities and ethics.
His elder son Kieran is a mechanic and his daughter Rebecca is a hairdresser and younger son Hayden is a refrigeration engineer currently living in Western Australia.
Howard attended Brighton primary school and then Kaikorai Valley high school where he played 2nd 15 rugby as his school sport until finishing his fifth form School certificate year and leaving. Outside school he was actively involved in Sea Scouts and the surf lifesaving club competing in surf lifesaving events. He begun sea scouting at age eight and continued his involvement until his mid-20s and worked up to being a Sea Scout leader teaching sea scouts such skills as sailing.
Howard played rugby right through to the age of 28 as centre for the Brighton rugby club and their top team which was in the senior third-grade division. Howard joined the Brighton surf club when he was still at school and competed mainly in craft which is the surf canoe. Patrolling the beach and surf lifesaving was all part of surf club life including training in preparing for competition. Nationally, Howard, representing Otago, won both a bronze and silver medal at the National surf lifesaving chairmanships.
Howard rescued a man once who was clinging to a rock and taking a pounding. Howard recalls he thought he was in more trouble than he was and through fear simply would not let go of the rock. Howard got to him first and had to reassure him he was safe and then when another helper arrived they both managed to get him from the water and safely back on to the rocks and onto the beach.
Howard and the late Johnny Burt, another respected long-term Todd Group member learnt to dive together at Dunedin's Moana swimming pool. Howard has spent many years SCUBA and snorkel diving including spear fishing and does more snorkel diving nowadays and very much enjoys it.
After finishing high school in 1969 Howard joined the meat inspecting service with the Ministry of agriculture and fisheries at Burnside freezing works. He received not only on-the-job training but also completed a term at Lincoln College. He achieved a diploma in meat inspection over two years starting out with basic veterinary science then studying anatomy and physiology. He worked at Burnside freezing works until its closure in 1988 racking 19 1/2 years there.
He worked with some hard men and real characters in the freezing works men like unarmed combat specialist Johnny Burt and professional and amateur boxing champion Joe McNeilly as well as another top boxer and tough ring competitor Brian Chettleburgh. One of the Burnside workers that Howard remembers is the late Joe Idler the coach of the St James wrestling club and a former European wrestling champion and prisoner of war.
Howard enjoyed the environment of the freezing works where there were some characters and real rough and tough guys. He remembers they mostly got along well working hard and when there were any differences or agro it was normally sorted out at the pub in the car park after work.
Howard’s interest in CQB began when as a Surf club member they would go to local weight training and unarmed combat instructor Tommy Bolton for strength training. By the time Howard was going to Tommy for strength training to help with performance improvements for paddling the canoe in competition Tommy had stopped instructing unarmed combat. Tommy used to identify his unarmed combat students from the strength and fitness students he trained downstairs and this was after a minimum of one year’s training and then the chosen few would move upstairs for unarmed combat training. Howard remembers Tommy being very standoffish until he sussed you out and liked you.
Howard's Brighton friend and fellow meat inspector Johnny Burt had been through the Tommy Bolton unarmed combat system and had told Howard about it. Howard was looking for unarmed combat training as he was not interested in traditional martial arts and when he read an advert for the Todd Group in 1984 he signed up and later he brought Johnny Burt along.
Howard after the freezing works closed worked for a year as a fencer and then went sheep shearing for four years. Howard had his own farm and found the long hours of shearing left little time to work his own land and livestock so he went to work for his brother in the food industry in Dunedin for the next eight years. Since then Howard has been working for Kowley “Cowboy” Mitchell on his dairy farm. This came about through Cowboy and me talking at training and how he was looking for a good man to help them on the farm.
I suggested Howard and the rest is history and my two top CQB instructors now work together on the farm during the day and train together at the old Todd Group HQ every week. Howard remembers a saying of one of his respected unarmed combat training partners Graham Reid, when one door closes another opens and how true this is. Howard is regarded by all Todd Group members not only as a great guy but also is well respected not only for his skills but also his mental toughness and physical fitness.
While he has not had to use skills often to defend himself he has had to intervene and break up confrontations or go to the aid of others being assaulted. Howard states through his CQB training he has developed a sense of awareness and has enabled him to identify not only threat situations that become immediately apparent but also through being aware of risk areas and persons through advanced consideration can simply avoid such places or people.
From joining the Todd Group in 1984 Howard passed his gruelling phase 1 test in 1985 when the Harry Baldock extreme physical fitness and endurance components were included in the test phase. He passed his second phase test in 1987 and has been a phase 3 exponent and instructor to phase 1, 2 and 3 exponents ever since. He completed phase 3 training and was tested and passed the phase 3 requirements December 1988.
Howard on specialist training course
The following are but some of Howard Bells awards and achievements in military unarmed combat.
1985 most achieved trainee in group.
1986 number one CQB exponent in group.
1987 number one CQB exponent in group.
1988 dedication to CQB/group award.
1990 group dedication award.
1991 No1 military elite combative instructing award.
1993 number 1 A team combative exponent in group.
1994 number one phase 3 exponent in group.
1995 number one phase 3 exponent in group.
1996 life membership Todd Group.
Between 1997 and 2007 the annual prize giving was not conducted.
2008 loyalty to group award.
2009 number one close combat exponent in group.
2010 Harry Baldock memorial for excellence.
2011 promotion to the rank of CQB Master Instructor.
Howard has also instructed and trained at the Todd Group every week for the past 27 years and has instructed on every annual Todd Group International/national course since 1996. He was the first to qualify as an instructor to the military in CQB under the Todd Group.
Howard is the only other CQB instructor to have trained under the Baldock, Nelson and Applegate systems directly from those late great evolutionary military combative pioneers. Howard was training at the Baldock Institute before it became the Todd Group and when Harry was still the chief instructor.
He was my personal training assistant on my first trip to meet with and learn from Col Rex Applegate in Oregon.
Howard accompanied me to New York and completed a course of instruction under Charles Nelson and also was with me at Fort Bragg on familiarisation when I first met Larry Jordan a Special Forces chief instructor of hand and combat. In fact Howard’s first trip out of New Zealand was when we went to train from Col Rex Applegate in 1990.
Howard with Paul Gerasimczyk, Fort Bragg
Howard conveys this thoughts and impressions of his training from the combative legends.
Well when Geoff and I arrived for training from Col Applegate we both knew how privileged we were and to find out as far as hand-to-hand combat went we were the sum of those that he had trained in the special operations unarmed combat since his military days really confirmed just what an honour and privilege this was. Col Applegate held Geoff in the highest regard as an instructor and later certified him as an instructor of his system.
Howard describes Col Applegate as a man of huge stature a fantastic person who took us on made us feel very welcome and gave Tank full access to all his close combat programs and documents.
Col Applegate left us to watch a DVD on day two of our visit and returned to ask us what we thought of the DVD.
Geoff replied that it was not what he considered practical or for military close quarters use and Col Applegate smiled and said to Geoff you are definitely not one of the flowing robe brigade.
He gave us the run of his private collection including all his personal combative paperwork and film collection. This was a time when he had enlisted the services of a clerk to take care of sorting and filing his copious amounts of close combat material.
Much of this was being destroyed and he gave Tank unlimited access to take notes on whatever they wanted.
Being part of this and privy to such training information and material was very special and has proved valuable to the future of such training to the military that the Todd Group delivers. Col Applegate showed us film footage gave us the tour of his collection and allowed us to freely handle all his weapons and inspect the entire collection.
Col Applegate's method of practical instructing as Howard remembers was born out of surprise, shock and deceit.
He would use distractions and cunning to ensure you were unready for what he had in store for you.
Howard recalls one moment browsing at the collection and the next moment the iron claw a steel restraint device being racked up above his elbow on the sensitive ulnar nerve.
On Col Applegate’s balcony one minute he had us looking at the view and the next minute he had seized and secured tank and had a knife at the ready showing and stating this is how you kill a sentry with a knife.
Howard recalls how Col Applegate told us of experiences during and immediately after the war including when they were cleaning up post-World War II and of armed and unarmed combat incidents and employments of various skills and weapons. Howard remembers handling the riding crop concealed blade that Col Applegate put clean through the enemy and that his son Rexito had claimed as the item he most wanted from Col Applegate's collection.
Over dinner at his home and the following day during lunch at his country club he told us of his colleagues and associates and their skills and weapons including Fairbairn, Sykes and O'Neill.
He talked to us of Charles Nelson and although they had never met how he heard of him and read of his life time’s service experience and expertise.
He regularly referred to traditional martial arts as the flowing robe brigade.
Howard remembers his the time at Col Applegate's and how he took us through a lot of subjects and showed us a long of film footage from his collection.
From firearms to century removal and riot control and lethal unarmed combat he would in an irregular force manner state and demonstrate the primary option in a skill set and say this is how this should be done.
He would explain the design features of knives shields and riot sticks and the like and demonstrate the best way to use them.
He knew from the list Tank had sent him prior to our arrival of what we wanted to learn and he accommodated us in every possible way.
He introduced us to some of his oldest family friends and Mrs Applegate and Col Applegate opened their home to us and cooked for us and made us feel so welcome.
Howard has an Applegate Fairburn fighting knife he got from Col Applegate that is a treasured part of his collection.
Col Applegate reckoned I reminded him of Crocodile Dundee as I worked on the land and could shear a sheep faster than anyone he had ever met Howard recalls.
He would mention this to Tank years after when he asked how I was doing.
Memories of a special training time with Col Rex Applegate.
Howard describes Charles Nelson as another amazing person in his own right but very different from Col Applegate.
Although Charlie was getting on in years it was amazing how he could move and manipulate the human body and his knowledge of leverage and practical self-defence.
The training at Charles Nelson School of self-defence New York was more like regular force type training in skills but still small group tuition.
Charlie was truly a master of self-defence and had the history service and experience to support it. He was constantly working out ways to counter newly identified and reported types of violence and really enjoyed having Tank return to train as a liked the fact that we had a facility in New Zealand with a long history that was teaching his skills as part of our training programs.
Howard can remember training with Charlie's different students and especially enjoyed Association and training with Paul Gerasimczyk and Herb Kantrowitz.
Tank Todd, Charles Nelson, Herb Kantrowitz (background), and Howard Bell
CQ firearm disarming with Charlie.
Tank and I were shown the greatest hospitality and stayed with Paul Gerasimczyk at his parent's house for two weeks.
Paul drove Geoff and I down to Fort Bragg for his familiarisation where we had a captain from the 82nd airborne as our point of contact who took us out to the woods as the Americans call it to observe chief instructor Master Sergeant Lawrence Jordan training US special forces soldiers.
We were also privileged to be given guided tours of various training while at Fort Bragg including mass parachute jumps.
Howard's immediate observations and impressions was how similar the skills that master Sergeant Lawrence Jordan was instructing were to the Todd system.
Training out in the bush as we would call it or woods as it was referred to in the US on the uneven ground practising practical principles and skills that were all about taking out your enemy confirmed once again we were in the right and best combative company.
This was exactly what we were doing back home and were looking for in our associates.
Tank and Larry hit it off straight away and it's all history now and they have been friends ever since and have instructed together on courses all over the world.
We later went back to Larry's office where Geoff and Larry established their professional working relationship and friendship.
This was right in the middle of preparations for Desert Storm deployments which was not general public knowledge.
Experiencing a traffic jam at 5 am in the morning getting into Fort Bragg was unbelievable coming from little old New Zealand.
Howard describes travelling from New Zealand to the United States and New York as a culture shock but a very special trip that has established friendships and working relationships in military hand-to-hand combat since then.
Tank and Howard, New York.
Howard worked as a contract instructor to the army for the Todd Group back in the East Timor times when troops had returned from East Timor and others were preparing to go. He also worked with soldiers at the Todd Group HQ as an assistant instructor on army CQB courses.
Howard always keen to assist.
Howard remembers instructing on a course we conducted in Sydney as part of the international close combat instructor’s convention and meeting Major John Whipp and Blue Curran a pioneer in Australia military unarmed combat and a former World War II commando.
Blue and Howard, Sydney training camp
This course instructors included Larry Jordan, Johnny Whipp, Motosada Mori, Blue Curran, Charles Campbell, Tank Todd and was set up and managed by Dave Stevens and was a great time.
Howard describes Harry Baldock as getting on in years when he was training at the Baldock Institute in unarmed combat but Harry was still running the gym and still working out every day including Sundays on his own in the gym which he referred to as going to church.
He was still massaging clients and he ran a very tight and tidy set up.
Initially when we were just using the facility for evening hand to hand combat training and while Geoff was learning other aspects of the business in preparation to take over during the days including program writing and massage therapy we had to ensure everything was in its correct place and as it was before we started or there would be hell to pay the next day.
He was a hard task master stickler for detail and he loved his Baldock Institute and really cared for those understudies.
He considered some of our combat training a bit too rough and too dangerous at first but he warmed to us and when we got to know him and he got to know us there was a special friendship and bond between us all.
Although you would get a frown if there was a likelihood of any damage to his facility or equipment you would get to see that pleasing subtle smile when we executed practical close tough unarmed combat skills.
This was a very special place to Harry and he had spent his entire life developing the facility and the teachings and once he trusted us and knew we wanted to continue with this work we won him over and he felt at ease with the Baldock Institute becoming the Todd Group and provided Tank with all the training over and above the unarmed combat and combat sports to enable him to take over as chief instructor. Harry was a pioneer in New Zealand physical culture strength and conditioning combat sports self-defence and unarmed combat.
Harry was a Sergeant Major and chief unarmed combat instructor at Burnham camp during World War II.
Even Col Applegate and Charles Nelson were impressed and surprised at the history of the facility and how it had been operating longer than any other training organisation of its kind in the world including their own facilities.
Howard has not only trained from Col Rex Applegate, Charles Nelson and Harry Baldock but has also received training from Larry Jordan, Johnny Whipp, James Webb, Michael Janich, Ron Evans and others.
Now to Howard's amazing physical capabilities.
On a combative survival course in 2000 at the age of 48 Howard was the physically fittest of all the young buck exponents both in the water and on land blitzing the hill run leaving some seasoned runners and fitness freaks for dead and making the top of the extremely steep gravel road hill and coming back down before others were halfway up.
Unknown to Howard at the time there was going to be an amphib CQC training component so it was strip down to his undies and into the sea.
Back in the early 80s when the Todd Group conducted regular outdoors combative fitness and conditioning training courses I can personally remember this new fit exponent well used of swimming and running the hills on his farm at a beach battle fitness training session.
I knew I was in trouble in the run just being able to stay in sight of Howard and when we got to the long distance final military crawl pride took over as the instructor and I gave it everything I had to finish first including burying my vomit in the sand and just making it to the finish line with the wily Howard Bell right on my heels.
It was clearly evident in training in CQB that Howard was a realist and practical person committed to self-improvement and who punched way above his weight.
Physically he identified himself from the start as being very physically capable fast off the mark with good endurance and physical strength.
He has always and continues to lead by example and one of his sayings really rings true as a description of himself it goes like this, if you want a job done ask a busy person not a lazy bastard.
No matter how busy Howard is with own farm working on Cowboys farm shearing sheep in the weekends etc he's still makes training and is the instructor of the phase 2 and 3 groups in my absence.
Howard recalls his phase 1 test with the physical component being conducted at Bathgate Park and consisting of copious amounts of physical fitness and strength exercises including tossing the caber before heading to the Hillside Railway Hall for the combative phase.
Jon Moke was there, overseeing much of the phase test and commented on how superior Howard and his old training buddy Edwin Stewardson were compared to the other candidates.
Howard demonstrating a reverse hip throw on Edwin Stewardson,
part of the familiarisation with enemy fighting arts.
Howard remembers Jon requesting Tank to be the enemy party for the combative phase and how much more difficult that was with your instructor up against you and countering you out.
This phase test attracted some keen exponents and observers including Mick Foley, a well-known and revered street fighter, whose son Michael was one of the enemy party for Howard's phase 1 test.
Howard's impressions on the Todd System today, it’s just phenomenal not only with everything from the methods of joining for new exponents but right through all three phases of training and the testing it is so refined and just works so well.
The three phases fit together so well and the whole system works practically and with ease.
The joining training and testing is now spot on and focuses completely on the skills and mental toughness over the old regime of Harry Baldock where there was a huge emphasis on physical culture and combat conditioning.
The systems are streamlined and as good as they get but Tank is continuously monitoring violent threats and ensuring the skills give us the best chance of winning.
Geoff really respects his former instructors and the chain of command and as such waited until it was his time as chief instructor to make necessary changes and it has really evolved and is as current as it gets.
He encourages us to be part of the training team developing testing and approving new skills.
I have had the good fortune to not only train and test but to be part of the Todd Group work assisting on the development of equipment weapons and in the making of training DVDs and writing of manuals. Howard says he has met so many skilled military and police instructors in this time at the Todd Group and there are always special visitors to the Todd Group that are those that have the credentials and records of service that seek out the old facility and its people.
This makes it a very special place and we are a very tight knit group in the words of Howard.
I also worked as a bouncer with the crowd control team back in the 80s and early 90s when it was very different to the regulated PC doorman setup of today and was more like the wild West.
He recalls we had a lot more of a free hand back in those days to deal with problems and they were good times.
There was not such a problem with cameras complainants and false witnesses and when someone made a move on you or stepped you out they certainly wouldn't lay an assault complaint when they come out on the bad side of a good hiding.
This was a great time to prove a lot of our self-defence and control restraint skills on a regular basis up against likely lads.
We certainly cleaned up a few problems around venues and never lost in the over 20 years we worked venues renowned for a bit of rough-and-tumble.
Getting to see Tank on many occasions deal out required justice was very encouraging and a confidence builder to me and the team back in the day.
Howard really enjoys instructing phase 2 training both at the HQ and on the annual course at the camp and he enjoys the training and phase 3 especially the development and introduction of new skills. In the armed combat training Howard states he is far more proficient with knife combat and stick combat over firearms usage.
Coming from a freezing works and farm background where he is well accustomed to slaughtering stock with a knife combined with his 25 years of knife combat practice and instructing knife combat is his weapon of choice.
Howard has been involved with the development of the baton training and the testing phases of the TSB 45 baton at the Todd Group and considers riot sticks and bludgeon type weapons to be another of his preferred training weapons.
Howard practicing detainee handling with TSB45.
The Todd Group are actively involved with conducting wrestling training for children juniors and seniors and Howard has been very involved with the administration and conducting of competitions for a wrestlers. He has also been involved with many promotions the Todd Group have conducted in combat sports such as Thai boxing, boxing and mixed martial arts.
Wrestling with it being a sporting version of European military close combat plays a large role in the Todd Group in relation to providing training for members children and for CQB exponents combat conditioning training and the ability to compete over the non-competitive dirty and deadly military close combat.
The work that Howard has put in at the Todd Group in regards to preparing for courses maintenance and repairs assisting with constructing equipment and shearing the sheep out at the camp and so much more is testament to his long-term commitment to the Todd Group and training and instructing military armed and unarmed combat.
Howard explains when an exponent passes the phase 1 test he has earned his place and right to train in advanced phase 2 and they are so much more confident and committed to advanced learning which is exactly what he is looking for in exponents as an instructor and he gets great reward in their achievement.
Howard's treasured close combat possessions include his Applegate-Fairburn fighting knife his Todd knives and his book combative book collection personally signed after training from the authors as In Charles Nelson, Col Rex Applegate, Tank Todd and Larry Jordan.
Howard has a next-generation Todd Group member in his son Hayden who passed his phase 1 test in 2001.
Tank, Howard, and Hayden
Hayden like is dad is a quiet achiever who commits fully to whatever he put his hand to and has also competed in wrestling and submission grappling and is now living in Western Australia where he is continuing with this training in combat sports.
In 2002 Hayden was the Todd Group recipient of the Harry Baldock award for excellence at the annual prize giving.
Howard describes Kowley ‘Cowboy’ Mitchell the Todd Group HQ 2IC as one of the finest exponents we've ever had the pleasure of training and one in 1 million.
Howard demonstrating enemy controlled movement.
He is hard-working always willing to assist has great skills and has been a great assistant in the development and construction of training equipment and weapons including the TSB 45 for Tank.
Cowboy Mitchell is held in such high regard for just his combative abilities that are considerable but also for his long-term service commitment and willingness to participate and help with all aspects of the group and its functions and services.
Cowboy is loyal genuine has no aspirations of grandeur or alternate genders he simply gives his best and does his best always leading by example and is a great group member.
Howard and I both consider above and beyond CQB and all that Cowboy has done and continues to do he is a true friend for life.
Howard believes the camp is a great facility and has given us the ability to conduct some realistic training in the great outdoors and although it is close to town it would seem you are miles away and can focus completely on your training.
Howard describes the phase tests of today over yesteryear.
The phase tests now are a lot better in the fact that in the early days they were a lot more focused on physical fitness and there was a lot of time spent on physical training over CQB training and today the level of CQB skills are a lot higher. The intensity is greater and required actions and reactions requirements immediate.
He explains you shouldn't have to be super fit to fight using dirty tricks or deadly skills and age or other physical aspects should not matter as much as using the best skills to win quickly and quietly and being mentally committed and ruthless.
After all Tank tells us always presume your enemy is bigger fitter faster highly skilled and determined to kill you and possibly armed and as such take them out do not take them on.
In years gone by a candidate may well have been able to get through on just above average physical skills and brute force and ignorance but today if you didn't have the highest level of skills combined with high levels of commitment you would simply fail and be removed from the test.
The Todd systems are really living packages and this is why they are constantly evaluated and so are the test phases as the standards are never lowered but are increased if and when required to ensure the system continually advances and the highest levels are set in relation to exponent requirements.
Howard explains the standards have never dropped and to do so would be to admit defeat and fail in our constant pursuit of setting and maintaining military close combat standards this is why we have failed far more than we have passed.
I asked Howard after being a senior instructor for so long how did he feel when he was promoted to master instructor knowing their have only been three master structures in 84 years. Howard joins Harry Baldock and I in achieving the rank of CQB/CQC master level instructor.
He replied he was very surprised and humbled and by nature he explained titles don't necessarily stand well with him but I was very honoured to receive this one.
I asked Howard about the leading male and female group members he has worked with at the Todd Group and this is not only in relation to combative abilities or combat sports but more about the all-round personal attributes the commitment they have shown and the service they put in combined with their skills levels.
He identified Kowley Mitchell and Graham Reid as well as Debbie Davis and Rebecca Stewart and this is Testament to Howard's experience and service as I to agree and would have made the same selections.
I asked Howard of his preferred skills and he quickly come back with Palm heel strikes and leg stamps both primary unarmed offensive options indeed.
In conclusion Howard Bell has earned his promotion to master instructor over the past 28 years by continuous commitment involvement and support of the Todd Group and Todd Close Combat Systems. His record is not only unbroken in duration but also there is not a single blemish in any way shape or form.
He has never shirked duties or responsibilities and he is both a leader and a respected team member that has learnt his combative trade over a very long period of time and has probably forgotten more than most than most will ever learn in military armed and unarmed combat.
He is the epitome in CQC of the quiet professional a grey man quietly confident and extremely competent that has the full respect of his peers.
He identified himself long ago as a CQC leader and number one in line for achieving master instructor rank and that Cowboy Mitchell my 2IC and I fully endorse.
The reality is such a rank can only be achieved by decades of unselfish committed professionalism and a clean impeccable record and the highest levels of expertise as a proponent instructor and course manager.
Like with phase testing there is no way of hiding or changing the facts and the fact of the matter is Howard constantly without wanting anything in return or any accolades has given his all.
I see exponents today not keen on doing anything outside their training and certainly not keen on getting their hands dirty or doing some hard manual work and there potential can easily be gauged by this.
The lifers all understand humility and aren’t phases by hard difficult and dirty tasks and Howard bell epitomises this.
To me personally individual acts to gain attention recognition or telling me how dedicated or good one is does not convince me of anything other than attention seeking or other agendas on the other hand decades of loyal service commitment to self-improvement and assisting others without expecting anything in return tells everything.
I was honoured to promote Howard Bell to master instructor as it is testament to having what it takes and giving everything unconditionally, he truly is the top 1%er of CQB/CQB proponents and instructors and this has been but a glimpse at his long and special combative commitment and service to date.
