“That horrible incident underlined something I’d learned in SEAL training and that I believe even more strongly today: You can’t anticipate al the challenges that are going to be thrown your way. All you can do is prepare yourself to the best of your abilities.” Don Mann, Inside SEAL Team 6, p. 100 Mann [...] Read more »
Assisting with a recent concealed handgun instructional module in a high level executive protection course revealed a number of items which apply to everyone carrying a concealed weapon for self-defense. This particular course had representatives from the military, law enforcement and the security industry. There was also a very skilled martial artist taking the course as a way [...] Read more »
If you train in BJJ or MMA circles, you’ll hear a lot of guys talk about submitting an opponent in a streetfight. Most of the time it is in the context of putting an armbar or jointlock or similar technique on the attacker. If he did not quit fighting or submit, then most practitioners say [...] Read more »
We’ve talked about the need to train in a number of ranges of combat. For hand-to-hand encounters, we are normally talking about striking distance, clinching distance and grappling distance. You need to experience all three of these ranges so you are not overwhelmed by the adversary who changes the distance on you and takes you [...] Read more »
People tell me they want to learn how to defend themselves. But, they want to be able to do it quickly and without too much effort. The fact is that you will have to defend yourself in a situation where the attacker has all the advantages and you have all the disadvantages. You will need [...] Read more »
It’s a case that is not uncommon – two men get into a fistfight and one dies. But how can that be? A garden-variety fistfight usually does not produce enough damage for anyone to really get hurt. But not for one 29 year-old man who died after being punched following an argument over a football [...] Read more »
“At the end of the day, the tool is largely irrelevant. It is the willingness to fight.” Richard Johnson I spent some time yesterday with training partners discussing the difference between the “wide and shallow” vs. the “narrow and deep” philosophies when it comes to skills and equipment. To clarify, the first philosophy would [...] Read more »
The majority of self-defense shootings occur in low-light or no-light situations. Train to overcome and prevail with this workshop. April 16, Saturday, 5-10PM Subject: FIGHT AT NIGHT: Live-fire training at dusk and dark Location: Usery Mountain Shooting Range, Arizona Registration/Warmup: 5PM Workshop:6-10PM FEE: $30 Required: Handgun, strong side holster, extra magazine or speed loaders, [...] Read more »
I just reviewed a book on women’s self-defense which was recommended to me . The author contends that both weapons and martial arts training is of little value for women who want to defend themselves from violent crime. My experience with teaching and training with thousands of women puts me squarely in the “disagree” column. I, too, [...] Read more »
I had the pleasure of assisting in a PFC protective driving course this month in Las Vegas and I found several lessons you can benefit from even if you are not in the protection business. You are in and around your car for a large portion of your day and it’s statistically likely that you [...] Read more »