Walt Bushey?

**tgace** · Posted On: 10/23/2011 7:34pm

I'm curious as to how he scored an appearance on Penn and Teller as an expert in weapons and "special operations".

His connection to martial arts was never even mentioned on the show, when I found that out it prompted me to start this thread...the martial arts/military/special operations/SWAT/ Police Officer salad is an example seen pretty often around here.

So the LE connection is becoming clear...what about the "special operations"/ARROW Op's claims?

**seant8** · Posted On: 10/24/2011 9:00pm

If you have further questions about his background I would suggest sending him a direct email. You found his website and there is a contact form on there. He is very open and approachable and I suspect you would be provided with the information you seek directly from the horse's mouth.

**tgace** · Posted On: 10/24/2011 9:15pm

Excellent idea...I just did.

**tgace** · Posted On: 10/25/2011 8:51am

From Mr. Bushey:

Glad you saw the show. I served as a USAF Pararescueman until 1984 (that is
the military experience they were referring to). I don't remember any
references to SWAT on the clip, where was it in the segment? I will have to
watch it again and see what I missed. I am currently a Deputy Sheriff with
the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, Detention Center Division, but was
reserving with the New Deal Police Dept. as a patrolman when this all came
about. "ARROW Ops specialist" was a surprise to me, it is not a correct
term. Air Rescue Recovery Wing (ARRW pronounced arrow) and Wing operations
(tasks performed by an air wing) were among the things discussed with the
production assistant who interviewed me. That interview ended up on the
cutting room floor as none of it was aired. I made no request for a specific
tag line for my name so, Command decision of the production assistant. All
in all it was fun.

**tgace** · Posted On: 11/12/2011 5:38pm

The Penn and Teller episode I mentioned can be viewed here:

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/penn...-up-a-car.html

**Rock Ape** · Posted On: 11/12/2011 6:25pm

You know.. As a marksman and someone who teaches others how to shoot it's my job to notice the finer weapon craft details.

1. Trigger control - it's a snatch
2. The follow through - there isn't any, the release is instant
3. The bolt cycle - clunky

Are they marksmanship skills of someone apparently expert enough to appear on TV and in doing so, demonstrate the operation of a specific weapon platform ? Not in my experience they aren't.

Ref the tag lines:

I find it odd Bushey's explanation is there's a mistake from the production crew side when questioned on the tag line: Where was the mention of Pararescue ? - Or doesn't that sound interesting or relevant enough ? I have my suspicions which.

I note however; when the Fire Dept guy's tag line appeared it simply stated what was on his Tshirt "Fire fighter" & "EMS" Apparently the production crew get somethings right.

**tgace** · Posted On: 11/12/2011 6:42pm

Outside my area of expertise, but these are some examples of what Mr. Bushey teaches/practices on the Martial Arts side of the house.

**Rock Ape** · Posted On: 11/12/2011 6:54pm

Ok.. well.. I've had a fairly lengthy discussion with a respected MJER teacher who confirmed my suspicions.

Muso Shinden Ryu Iai (what I study) is the sister system to what Bushey studies, thus I am very familiar with the forms and techniques of both Ryu, the first video includes a technique which isn't even contained within MJER curriculum, not to mention that fact that is likely the most ridiculous example of an entirely impractical application of the tsuba (hand guard) I've ever seen (in over 20 years of training), if people want to know I'll happily explain however, anyone with a degree of common sense should be able to grasp the nonsense.

**Rock Ape** · Posted On: 11/12/2011 7:12pm

I'd be interested to learn if Mr. Bushey has any actual military operational/combat service.

**tgace** · Posted On: 11/12/2011 11:38pm

I have been in e-mail contact with Mr. Bushey; he is aware of this thread and has read it. Mr. Bushey believes that I have been jumping to erroneous conclusions and have some sort of ulterior motive for starting this thread.

Just to be clear...what prompted me to open this thread was the discovery of a person on a nationally broadcast entertainment show claiming LE and Spec Ops expertise using terms (ARROW Op's) that I was unfamiliar with. Compound this with this person teaching/claiming rank in multiple martial arts and it seemed a topic appropriate for this forum.

When a person decides to appear on the Discovery channel as a topic expert, I believe that some degree of scrutiny regarding his claims and titles should be expected.

I have no ulterior motives other than that here. My current employment is all that I aspire to.

As to "conclusions" I don't think I have really come to any. I admit a level of skepticism when I see the Martial/Military/Law Enforcement stew and perhaps that skepticism shows, but Im more than willing to accept proof of claims.