Joshua Swanagon has been involved in martial arts and self-defense for decades. He has over 20 years of extensive training in Hakkoryu JuJutsu, Daitoryu Aiki JuJutsu, Mugai Ryu Iaido, Ving Tsun Kung Fu, minor studies in FMA (Filipino Martial Arts), MCOLES certification in PPCT, and combatives practices.
He also has firearms experience as a former long-time NRA Certified Firearms Instructor (until COVID) and held MCOLES certification in firearms. He now shoots for the love of shooting and writing about it.
Having grown up backpacking the Colorado Rockies, Joshua has also understood the importance of a good knife since childhood. This led to a lifelong passion for edged tools and weapons. Over the years, he has carried knives in the wild places across the United States and the Amazon Jungle.
Joshua has leveraged these experiences as a freelance writer for a range of publications in firearms, knives, self-defense, general outdoors, and wilderness survival for over a decade and a half. He also served as print editor of Knives Illustrated magazine from 2016 through 2019, founded Knife & Gear Society, and most recently spent the last five years as a Senior Digital Editor for Athlon Outdoors.
