Take Your Bushcraft Skills to the Next Level with James Gibson
If you've attended a Georgia Bushcraft event, or really if you're involved in the bushcraft community in the Southeast, there's a good chance that you know Mr. James Gibson. He's a familiar face at Georgia Bushcraft, teaches at several schools and events, and is a respected bladesmith, knife designer, and instructor. We couldn't be more excited to offer a three-day course in May where students will have the opportunity to learn from this expert woodsman and knifemaker in his Advanced Bushcraft course.
James grew up in the Smoky Mountains and spent his early years exploring the area with friends and family members who were well-versed in the natural world. Many of the skills we now consider primitive or bushcraft were normal life skills not that long ago, and James has carried many lessons from previous generations into his teachings.
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His passion for wilderness skills truly took a spark in 1976 upon discovering Larry Dean Olsen's book Outdoor Survival Skills. James attended Tom Brown's Survival School in the early 1990s, and he also trained with the classic camping legend Steven Watts over the years. In a class with Mr. Gibson it doesn't take long to pick up on his wide range of influences. Beyond his in-person training, James is also a voracious reader and has amassed an impressive library covering a wide range of survival, crafting, religion, and art topics.
James has been making knives for nearly 45 years. In that time, he honed his craft not only by developing his own style but also by learning from legendary bladesmiths. He's studied extensively at the American Bladesmith School, including training with Dr. James Batson. Mr. Gibson has been a certified Journeyman Bladesmith since 2003.
Along with making custom knives at his own shop, Knob Creek Forge, James has designed a number of production knives. Most of these have been produced by the fine folks at ESEE and include the JG3, the JG5, and the Pinch. He also made the prototype of the PR4 for Randall's Adventure & Training Instructor Patrick Rollins. James has been an instructor alongside Patrick at the RAT Farm for many years.
All of this might seem like a lot, but it's just the tip of the iceberg for Mr. Gibson. He's also an incredibly talented flint knapper. James has been crafting stone blades for over 20 years and co-hosted the Clinch River Knap-in for a decade. He also holds a 6th-degree black belt in Ninjutsu, and he's been studying martial arts since the 1980s.
Advanced Bushcraft with James Gibson
In this upcoming class, James will lead students through a variety of projects that focus on going beyond the immediate needs of wilderness survival. Students will learn techniques that aid in survival priorities, such as advanced fire-starting methods, and also skills that aid in long-term living, such as constructing primitive traps for securing food in the wild. Through hands-on practice, you'll also develop woodworking skills by carving functional utensils and other simple tools. James' approach to bushcraft is unique and all-encompassing. An opportunity to learn from him is not to be missed. Spots in his upcoming class are extremely limited, so don't delay signing up.