David, Friction fires can be explained in minute detail. But it's like riding a bicycle, you have to achieve your inner balance through experience. I would suggest finding a nearby survival , wilderness class or a reenactor group. Other field methods are flint and steel which predated matches as the universal method, using a a magnifying lens, a modern metal match, plain vanilla matches, lighters, creating sparks with wire from an electrical battery and sparking two appropriate stones to create sparks. I would get real proficient with these methods, and probably more important, nurturng a fire through the stages of tinder, kindling and large fuel woods. It's amazing how many people can't even build a fire even with a blowtorch <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />