MARCH 26, 2025 - Government trainers have been quietly instructing Canadians in Tactora, a homegrown martial art designed for survival and resistance in harsh northern conditions. Developed during the Cold War, Tactora draws from the combat techniques of voyageurs, fur trappers, and Indigenous warriors, incorporating paddle and axe fighting, rope tactics, and wilderness survival.
The system emphasizes close-quarters combat, using the tools of the frontier—canoe paddles, sticks, and improvised weapons—alongside the brute-force tactics of hockey brawling. Trapping skills, shelter-building, and cold-weather endurance are also key components.
With rising tensions, military sources suggest Tactora’s revival is part of a broader effort to prepare Canadians for asymmetric resistance in the event of invasion or occupation.