Awesome Fat Guy of the Week.

This week's edition of Awesome Fat Guy of the Week is going to be a little different. Most of the men I spotlight here are entertainers. Whether they be actors, musicians, comedians, or professional wrestlers. In fact the only guys I can remember talking about who weren't entertainers are Akebono, Eric Esch, Kim Schimitz, and Louis Cyr. Even then Akebono, Eric Esch, and Louis Cyr were all athletes, of a kind, whose abilities were enjoyed by the masses. Which leaves Kim Schmitz. An entrepreneur who lead an interesting life. Today's Awesome Fat Guy of the Week is similar in that regard but has lead a much less public life. Which means that this post will be light on biographical information. With that said let's get to the main event. This week's Awesome Fat guy Lynn C. Thompson.

So who is Lynn C. Thompson?  He is the President and Founder Cold Steel, a California based company that makes and sells all types of edged weapons. Cold Steel and Lynn are rather controversial. Lynn has led the company to market its items not as tools but as true weapons. Most knife collectors, myself included, define knives as tools. We don't see them as weapons. That is to say they can be used that way but so can a hammer or a screwdriver. Lynn goes in the opposite direction. In doing so he has created a controversial persona and company. Cold Steel does not shy away from the damage their products can do in fact they revel in it. Every Cold Steel catalog comes with DVDs that show the items being used to destroy things. These test are meant to display the sharpness and strength of the blades but also show just how much damage they can do. In fact these DVDs are so over the top that become actually entertaining.

Okay so now that we know what Lynn does for a living let's get to what type of man he is. For starters Lynn is an avid hunter. When I say avid hunter I don't mean run of the mil deer hunter. No, the man is a safari hunter. He has traveled the world to hunt with a number of different types of weapons, from rifles, to hand guns, spears, and blow guns. I know hunting is a rather controversial activity but I look at it from a different light. Hunters are some of the most die hard conservationist. You would be hard pressed to find a group of people more concerned with natural resources than hunters. Don't automatically assume that because someone kills an animal, in as humane a way as possible, that he or she is a bad person.

Aside from hunting Lynn is also an avid martial artist. I know he doesn't look like it but trust me. The man is well versed in hand to hand combat and many forms of weapon based combat. He has studied boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Shoot Fighting, Stick Fighting, Saber Fencing, and Knife fighting. He may appear to be you average fat guy but he is in actuality a deadly combination of martial arts and sharp things. So much so that he has released a line of self defense videos that teach you how to defend yourself. You know in the very likely event that you find yourself in a knife fight.

Okay, so Lynn is a hunter and fighter. He is also a business man that has made a living by selling the idea of "self defense" and a warrior lifestyle. All of that is questionable at best. We live in a world where violence is frowned upon. A world where self defense can quickly become man slaughter. I don't agree with that, nor do I agree with all of what Lynn C. Thompson lives for, but he stands for what he believes in. He has created a business that sells his preferred lifestyle while living that life. He has also managed to do that without trying to force it on others. Lynn is the American dream. You have to respect that. I know I do. I may not agree with the life he lives but I think it is awesome that he goes out and lives it. He is the kind of guy that let's nothing hold him back. He is the Awesome Fat Guy of the Week.

Official Site
Cold Steel
Wikipedia
Youtube

 Before I end this post I have a quick update on Kim Schimitz. Apparently there were some "procedural errors" in the seizure of Kim's belongings. As such it is possible that the authorities may have to return his belongings and fortune. If that happens Kim will be in a better position to defend himself. Read more here.