Defences against Knife attacks, Firstly if at all possible get yourself and anyone else out of the potential danger area…..RUN AWAY.
Yes you heard right, run away. This is not a cowards way out, this is sensible. After all your potential assailant could be on drugs or just plain crazy. Nobody needs a dead hero.
However if you can’t get away or you are cornered, try to talk your way out of the situation, tell the guy what he wants to hear or give him what he wants, if it’s a mugging, but only if you think this will pacify him…
Let me explain. If it is apparent that your assailant is going to stab you whether you give him all your money or not then you must do something about the situation before this happens, either way you may get stabbed. Thats why this is a last resort and only attempted if YOU are certain he is going to attack you no matter what.
It’s a judgement call that only you can make and if you ever do end up in that situation it won’t be easy.
So, you’re in that nightmare situation. How do you tackle him ?
Do you use the knife defences you learned in your martial arts classes ? I hope not because you’ll very soon be bleeding to death if your assailant has any idea how to use the knife.
I tried an experiment about 5 years ago now with my training partner who is very fast with his hands and can handle a knife. We used a dummy knife (Thankfully) with some red ink on the end of it and I wore a white Gi.
I had at this time been training in the martial arts for about 16 years and had learned many many knife defences from many different styles so I was sure that whatever he came at me with I would be able to handle it.
He moved the knife very quickly from hand to hand and attacked from a variety of angles, slashing, lunging and really going for it. I successfully disarmed him several times, but each time he had also stabbed me several times (This is why the Police and Prison service use riot shields and several officers when dealing with knife attackers).
We worked this scenario using all the knife defences we had both learned from many different styles over the years but the one factor that kept coming up was the fact that this was simulating a real situation, so the attacker wasn’t in stance and didn’t come with a single attack in a straight line, he’d attack several times from any angle very fast.
What we were looking for was something that kept your vital organs as far away from the knife as possible whilst allowing you to attack the assailant.
Here’s what we came up with: (This is just my opinion, based on over 20 years martial arts experience, and this one worked time after time. But remember only use as a last resort)
First you must take your attackers mind off what he’s thinking about (I.e. stabbing you !) ………Spit in his face, not nice but remember this guy wants to stab you !
This gives you a fraction of a second to move.
Next, drop to your side, fast ! (Side breakfall) As you do this hook one of your feet round the back of his front foot and with your other foot, stamp hard onto the front of his knee. This will either snap or dislocate it (Again not nice but this guys going to stab you !) It also doesn’t matter too much if you miss with the hook as you can still get the stamp in on the knee.
Either disarm him while he’s on the floor and wait for the Police or just get out of there, he won’t chase you.
The fall and hook take some practice to get fast but it’s worth it as this is one well worth having in your arsenal.
Any comments or feedback would be welcomed
Paul Swift has been a student of Martial Arts for 22 years attaining the grades of:
5th Dan Karate Jitsu
3rd Dan Ju Jitsu
1st Dan Freestyle Karate
1st Degree Tiger Claw Kung Fu
Also studied the following arts without taking any grades:
Boxing, Muay Thai, JKD, Wrestling.
More information of this subject and martial arts in general can be found at: http://www.make-your-martial-art-grow.com
I received a returned video from a well meaning, but severely misguided, former customer. This is a rarity since over the past 2 plus years and hundreds upon hundreds of videos shipped; I can only count 3 returns. One was unopened, one included a note that the recipient thought the videos would be something else, but he intended to buy the rest of the videos we offered, hmmm smells a little fishy (incidentally, this person has been banned from buying anything from us again). And lastly, this well-meaning person. The note inside prompted me to write this article. He identified himself that he was an orange belt in Krav Maga and that he has been instructed to “relax” and be loose during a life or death struggle. Now, I have not trained in Krav Maga nor do I know anything about the modern version of it. My focus is on the “relaxing” strategy; which I have heard from a variety of different “experts” during my 30 plus on the mat.
For efficiency of movement and economy of energy, there is NO DOUBT, that being relaxed is better. In combative sport it is essential that you conserve your energy and use it when an opportunity presents its self. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works when your neck is on the line. There are two instances that “relaxing” in a real fight can happen. The first is you have had hundreds of life and death confrontations. This allows you to be inoculated against the stress (some times). In that case, I want to meet you. Now it is IMPOSSIBLE to replicate fighting for your life in training. You can get intense, but it’s not even close. Because deep down, you know you’re not going to die, no matter how intense you train.
The second is you’re a sociopath. In that case you should be arrested.
Let’s look at a non-fighting example:
Most of us drive, some better than others. When you’re driving and you get cut off, what happens? A shot of adrenalin and your moving before you can even think about it. Your hear rate increases, you start to breathe rapidly and you spit out the nearest obscenity. Are you “Relaxed?” Most of us drive EVERYDAY. If it’s something as mundane as driving (unless you’re driving with Clint, in that case it IS a life or death situation) why aren’t you able to RELAX when you are about to crash? Simple, because you realize that your life is at risk and your body prepares for the worst. And there’s NOTHING you can do about it. Now don’t start telling me about some Grand Dragon Wizard Master. I’m talking about you.
Here’s another example:
First responders, people who deal with life and death regularly, Fire Fighters, EMT’s, Police and Soldiers all get that gut-churning feeling when they know SOMEONE’S life is at stake. No matter how many times they go to a call, they get the same feeling. That’s why training is simple, routine and repeated thousands of times. You need to perform common tasks during uncommon circumstances. And this is the ONLY way to do it. It’s only your training that prepares you. And it’s the repetition of high percentage techniques that will save you at that critical moment. It has to be instinct. During these times, your body is only going to allow you to perform certain functions. Relaxing is not one of them, pissing your self is. On the site I talk about the effects of your body’s mobilization for battle (www.how2fight.com). These are biological functions you can not over ride. IT IS AUTOMATIC.
This is where combat sport and real combat part ways. No matter what is “allowed” in competition, you know the other guy is not going to kill you. It doesn’t matter if it’s the UFC or the Olympics, you may get beat up, but you won’t get dead. You will be nervous, tense, and even scared. But deep down you know that if you get into trouble, the fight will be stopped. This is ALL the difference. Men like Carl Cestari, Charlie Nelson, W.E. Fairbairn, EA Sykes, Biddle, Applegate and others all experienced this first hand. Even Bruce Lee talked about using the “straight blast” when really pressed. Why not use the straight blast EVERY time?
This is the value of the videos @ www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com are why they are so successful with military, police and seasoned martial artists. They know the difference.
When you fight for your life your body operates in a way that is beyond your control. You need to train in such a way that allows you to operate in this “zone”. Did you know that a typical adrenaline blast lasts only 30 seconds? Then you need about 3 minute to “reboot”. That is a lifetime when you are fighting the unknown. Weapons, multiple assailants, broken bottles on the ground, snow, sleet- all must be factored in. Standing toe to toe and practicing your contrived techniques….where does this happen. Even trying to practice your breathing is ludicrous (not the rapper, that’s ludakris). How many first hand accounts start with “He came out of no where” or “he suddenly appeared”. If you see him or “mark” him, chances are he will pick another victim. He will come out of no where!
The other element that should be mentioned is your assailant. Personally, I train for the meanest, toughest SOB I can imagine. I picture him appearing at my door. I think about him coming into the door of my dojo and only one of us is going home. And I guarantee you, if some one is standing between me and my family- there’s no question of the outcome. Incidentally, you should feel the same way too. It’s easy to practice to beat your training partner; it’s easy to do something on your friends or even the local blow-hard down at the pub. That’s 70% of the world. You should worry about that psycho 1% and let the other 99% take care of its self.
If you think that you ARE trained you will be surprised what happens when you are in this situation. You never think you are going to act the way you think you are.
True story: Famous Okinawan Karate man, was serving as a Marine in Viet Nam. This person had trained in Okinawa under Choki Mobotu for several years prior to his deployment in Vietnam. During his training with Mobotu he endured endless hours of makiwara training and bogu fighting. During a firefight in Viet Nam the conflict degraded in to hand to hand. As I am hearing the story, I was waiting to hear how he decimated a V.C. Platoon with a reverse punch, I mean real “One shot- one kill”. Since grenades was all he had left and they were too close to throw them, he proceeded to bash people in the head with the grenades. After that, did he start knocking dead with a front kick, no he proceeded to use his helmet as a club and smash guys the enemy in the face. Was his training a waste of time? Definitely not, in fact, it was probably his training that gave him the stones to do what he did. Did he ever imagine his reaction, no. But it worked. The point is even if you think you’re “trained, you won’t know what will happen when your life is on the line. When your gross motor skills kick in and you CAN’T EVEN SPEAK, do you think you will be able to “RELAX”.
©2005 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com
Damian Ross is the owner of Zenshin and instructor of Tekkenryu jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. He started competing in the combative sport of wrestling in 1975 at the age of 7 and began his study of Asian martial arts with Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16 in 1984. In 1989, Shinan Cestari gave a seminar at Sensei Ross’s dojo. Sensei Ross has trained under Shinan Cestari’s direction ever since. In addition to Tekkenryu Jujutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do, Sensei Ross has also studied Bando. Sensei Ross continues his study of Judo under the direction of 8th degree black belt Yoshisada Yonezuka and Tekkenryu Jujutsu under it’s founder, Carl Cestari. Below are is a list of some of his title ranks
Yodan (fourth degree black belt) Tekkenryu Jujutsu under Carl Cestari
Shodan (First degree black belt) Kodokan Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University under Thad Turner
2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do
http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com
It’s a question that we went back and forth with for awhile ourselves many moons ago. The “how” and “why” of our conclusions may be of some interest. Whether or not anyone agrees with them, well at the least you’ll fully understand the basis for them.
The question is this:
Why does Fairbairn stress the straight thumb in line with the barrel, even for one handed shooting?
Years ago when we first began our attempt to sort out the mechanics, methods and reasoning behind this type of shooting we had the exact same question! It really is an excellent question.
We need a little history here. When a group of us started to “experiement” with this method of shooting we had all been indoctrinated and trained in one or both of the prevailing “practical” shooting methods extant. One being the “cutting edge method” of the time, that owing to Jeff Cooper and the methods being taught at Gunsite. The other being the fairly standard FBI clone known as the “Practical Pistol Course”. Most police recruit training of this period emphasized the PPC tactical course of fire over any other method, including the much touted “Weaver”. Full sight alignment, “positive” grip with a two-hand “isoceles”, barricade firing with both single and double action(most departments carried wheel guns) all done at varying distancesand various battery firing positions. The only time ANYTHING approaching “instinct” shooting was even mentioed was at the six foot range distance when passing commentary went something like…….”Maybe you won’t be able to get the gun all the way up, so……………”
This was the prevailing situation at that time for those interested in “combat” or “practical” shooting either by vocation or hobby. To make matters worse, MOST if not all “civilian” instruction STILL was based on the old “Olympic” style of competitve target work.
Now REMEMBER this was at a time when specially trained units like ESU or SWAT were still in their infancy! And William Shatner’s ONLY claim to fame was as Captain Kirk. When cops went on a job they were fully expected to handle it. ONLY the most EXTREME situations were responded to by “something” resembling a special tactics unit. At BEST most departments had only a semi-organized squad of “hats and bats”, and that was it. So the street cop responded to EVERY type of call and was FULLY expected to handle whatever emergency arose.
So that gamut runs from Bank alarms, to convenience store robberies, to building, warehouse and residential searches, from alleyways and stairwells to rooftops and basements. Sometimes you creep and sometimes you run. Sometimes you know there’s a potential threat, sometimes it just leaps out at you. Sometimes there is plenty of light(good and bad), sometimes just a dim streetlight near an alleyway that YOU have to clean out. Sometimes, and more often than not, there is NO real light, just dark. And shadows!
Search a warehouse for a suspect and you may get shot from a distance, from behind cover or concealment. Search an apartment building or private residence for a suspect and you may get shot from “sneezing” distance. You may see the threat and “prepare’ yourself, or maybe the threat just SPRINGS out at you. Maybe the badguy is in front of you, maybe he’s lurking and creeping just there behind you.
Maybe it’s a car stop gone bad. Maybe it’s a “nut” who approaches YOU while you’re in a patrol unit sipping coffee and shooting the shit with your partner. Maybe you’re off duty.
The point is this: In the real world ANYTHING can and probably WILL happen. As bad as it gets, is about as BAD as it WILL GET.
Now add THIS: Will you be wounded, injured, or in someway incapacitated, less than at optimum ability. Will you be firing your duty weapon, or will you be using your “back up” or has the shit degenerated to the degree that you have to use your last ditch “hide out” piece. I’ve known situations where an officer has HAD to grab and use one of the “downed” perps weapons, to save his wounded partners life. What POSITION will you be in when all hell breaks loose? Maybe you CAN’T run for cover, maybe there is NO cover. You can do everything RIGHT and still die, and you can do everything WRONG and survive. Life’s kinda crazy that way.
The obvious part of this, at least to an open-minded and “thinking” individual is that it IS impossible to train and/or prepare for EVERY situation, every contingency. Can’t BE DONE.
What CAN be done is to figure out what method or system of training will GIVE YOU the BEST all around overall preparation for survival.
The “PPC” wasn’t the answer, and neither was Copper’s “Modern Pistolcraft”. Something was missing.
A round about way to answer a single question, huh? Well without understanding the genesis or the seed that all of this begins with and the “base” of experience that FORCED certain questions to be asked and answered the whole point will be missed. The “straw man” arguements will flair up, and the whole “thing” will turn into a pile of shit. And NO one will learn a goddamn thing.
The group of men that formed the core of our “cadre” so to speak were mostly cops drawn together initially by interests in other areas than firearms. Most I had met thru my martial arts training, some were from the “iron” pit(what a shithole, I loved it), some we met at competitive “practical” matches. We had at one time or another guys from local, state, and federal agencies. A tremendous amount of experience and the desire to really “train” was the bond(not the shaker joints and sundries). A rare quality for cops in those days.
So we weren’t stumbling in the dark here. We had the access, time, opportunity and means(most of us were single and making a pretty good payday) to really travel, and train. And….get in a whole helluva lot of range time. There was one point where at any given time I had several 5 gallon pails filled with spent brass in my trunk waiting for their weekly drop off at my buddy who was a reloading fanatic. With no real responsibilty in life you can live PRETTY LARGE(right Boyoo?).
Frank Behlert(remember him?) still had his old shop on Lehigh Ave. in Union. That was a great hub of activity and a great place to meet all sorts of interesting characters. It was also one of the first places that really took an actice role in pushing the “practical” shooting matches in the metro area.
Now when some street “cherries” or FNG’s get out of the academy and hit the streets they clam up tighter than an asshole in a bath house. Sometimes it is good to just shut the fuck up and keep your eyes and ears open. But by the same token, if you don’t ask you don’t learn. So when ever a dicey situation arose I would always “debrief”(sometimes that took on a WHOLE ‘nother meaning) myself and sort out what went “good”, what went “bad”, what could have been done better and what could have hit the fan. If I needed to question something I did. Still do.
Alot of the older cops were really playing the old “salty dawg”. 30 years and a wake up and the papers were in and off to Florida they went. Probably to drop dead of heart failure in a year. Life sucks and then you die, or life sucks, you relocate to Florida and THEN you die. Doesn’t matter, end result the same.
Still these guys were a TREMENDOUS source of knowledge. On a whole RANGE of “police” related subjects. Most, if not all of these men were combat vets of WWII or Korea. So when I had a question I asked. If my screwy facial expression betrayed my disbelief at the answer, I usually heard the following refrain(if I had a dime……),
“Listen wet nose, that’s the square, the real deal, just remember I got more time in the shithouse than you have on the road”……followed invariably by…….”So just shut the FUCK up and learn”. Well as things go, I never did learn to shut the fuck up, but I did learn.
“They teach you what they teach in the academy ’cause they got to”…………………………”The street has it’s own rules, and only the street really knows what the hell those are”. Rule # 1 - CYA. Rule # 2 - Never EVER forget rule # 1.
So where does this lead us? Well, this attitude between what is “percieved” as real and what really is REAL caused us to constantly question, examine, and re-examine everything we were “taught” to do against everything we “really” DID.
The bulbs really began flashing when we got hold of a copy of “Kill or Get Killed” followed by “Shooting to Live”. At first we all, myself included, looked at these old pictures, drawings and “dust covered” verbiage as absolutely outdated, “know what I did during the BIG ONE……………” bullshit! But “Get Tough” had my sincere interest. One of those old timers I mentioned had been a US Navy “landing force” instructor during the “BIG ONE”. I had seen him in action for real, unflitered “Lucky Strike” hanging out the side if his mouth and wreaking holy havoc on some young “puffy chested” bucks. It was a thing of beauty! I on the other was “fighting” these guys and looked like I was “rode hard and put away wet”.
Something didn’t add up. The methods my tour sargeant used WERE right out of “Get Tough”, even how he handled a “nightstick” and BOY he did that with relish(remember NO ONE knew what a camcorder was!). Maybe there was something to this “Farburn” guy. I mean, up to this point “Fairbairn” was a good tan we got during “I & I” down at LBI. And “Applegate”? Sheeet, that was the entrance to an orchard, right?
So then we ACTUALLY started READING these texts. Really trying to keep an open mind. After ALL if “Guru” Jeff said it was so, well damn youngin’ IT’S SO!
Now here’s the “bitch” in the whole thing…………Pretty much EVERY reason WEF and Colonel Rex GAVE for the validity of the methods(THEY ARE DIFFERENT BOYS & GIRLS) were exactly what we all knew were “missing” from the “practical” shooting we were doing. The difference in a nutshell…….”How you are SUPPOSSED to do it, and how you REALLY do IT”.
Yes, if I have the “drop” on a suspected badman, like on a hinky title 39 stop when YOU KNOW the shit is just hanging in front of that fan READY to go SPLAT all over everyone, then YES, ALL the “rules” get followed. If I had to arrest a suspect on a felony warrany or who was a known “A & D” then yes……ALL the rules got followed. In those situations assessing, finding and moving to real “cover”(as opposed to just concealment) was viable, actually anything else was STUPID. If that was NOT an option then covering the skel from a stable picture perfect “Weaver” or “isoceles” with positive sight alignment and all things neat and tidy was the way to go. ANYTHING else would have been STUPID.
BUT……………….then there were those multitude of OTHER TIMES.
SEE there is a HUGE difference between having “IT” your way, playing your “game”, ACTING by your rules and being forced to “REACT” to someone else’s “gamebook”. You get forced into playing the other guy’s game and you’re probably gonna lose. Especially when the rules change constantly.
So let’s answer this “job” together. Straight up and no bullshit. You’re working the graveyard tour mid-week. From your experience you figure that this tour on this day is usually pretty quiet. So it’s around 3:00 am, you have made your “beat” rounds, done your shift reports, answered a few calls, shitcanned them and now need a little “resting of the eyes”. You coop up. Oh YEA, it’s winter time. Snow, ice, and it’s bone chilling cold out. Just as you find that “comfortable” position and settle in the radio goes bananas. Two seperate confirmed alarms at a warehouse that has been hit several times before. OFF to the races you GO!
No siren, just the overheads, a couple of blocks away you go “silent”. You make a cursory pass in the unit and spot the probable position of enrty (an open window, in JANUARY). Maybe. Maybe these guys followed the “rules” and immediately left a second avenue of escape available to them. Maybe you get a back up unit, maybe you don’t. Doesn’t matter, you gotta roll with punches and you got a JOB to do. The warehouse is HUGE, completely dark, multi-level with more “nooks and crannies” than a Thomas’s muffin. And it’s BEEN months since YOU answered a call here (or maybe never) so the layout is NOT “fresh” in your mind.
You approach the window cautiously and realize that the snowy, slushy, muddy ground beneath has a distinct set of LARGE boot prints, NO, wait, TWO sets of distinct footprints. Let’s see………okay the window has been jimmied. Pretty secure industrial window. These pry marks were done by something pretty big and pretty sharp. Keep that in mind.
Enough bullshit, time to go into the “party”.
Let’s stop for a moment and take stock of our situation:
1. NO light, either inside(if we could even find them) or OUTSIDE.
2. At least two potential threats.
3. Unknown area of operation. Little if any idea of how the joint is layed out.
4. At least one perp is armed with something big, and sharp. At the LEAST.
5. Have other officers to worry about.
6. Cold as a sonofabitch. Stiff, wearing winter uniform, can’t move all that well. Adrenalin pumping like a MOTHER.
7. Why didn’t I become a dentist like Mama wanted?
So you go IN. Your partner or your back up takes the “shit catcher” position at the rear, you handle the “flush”. C’mon now, in you GO……………………………..
I know what I’ve done in those situation, I know what OTHERS have done in those situations, and I KNOW how we were TRAINED to do it, and MOST importantly, I know how it was REALLY handled. Here’s the “rub”…………pretty much everything WEF states in Shooting to Live is EXACTLY what I have seen, and experienced BOTH in my OWN actions and those of others. ALL well trained, diligent and “good” cops, knew their business. AND this was before we EVER heard of these methods or researched these sources.
SEE………………………THIS was the MISSING link that we all KNEW, but COULDN’T really pin down. This was IT. You can forget the “stats”, the “percents”, ignore the over SIX decades of emprical knowledge from agencies all over the WORLD including the FBI, the DOJ, and virtually every major department throughout the free world( not even to mention a worldwide conflagration then went on FOR years). Forget all of that. I KNOW what my “instinct” was and what was the “instinct” of a host of others in similar situations. Does that make it RIGHT or WRONG? Does it matter? It is what it is. Kinda like death and taxes, or at least death. You can talk up a storm about it, still is what it is.
Okay. So, comparing what I knew to be relevant in my experience and having seen first hand, as well as thru various first person accounts, the reasoning that WEF outlined as WELL as the method of use and mode of INSTRUCTION made a great deal of sense to me, as well as others whose opinions I had grown to respect. What we HAD experienced was IN that little old manual.
The task NOW was to do more research and to make these methods come alive. That meant studying as much material as we could find on this topic, and then understanding it and perfecting it.
BUT, you may ask, what about the “instinct” part. Didn’t you KNOW this already? Yes, we did KNOW how many(certainly not all) individuals will react when placed in sudden life and death emergency situations. The JOB was to rip this method apart, find any flaws, find any strengths, and to make it fully our own. ONLY then, once we really KNEW what the hell we were doing(and talking about), could we DECIDE if it offered any REAL solutions to us. ANYTHING less than FULLY studying, inculcating and UNDERSTANDING the method would constitute INTELLECTUAL FRAUD in terms of any real incisive and HONEST comparison with any other “method”.
How the hell do you judge something without that mind-set.
During this period(mid to late 70’s) there were a growing number of “experts” entering the field. Cooper first and foremost, then names like Taylor, Farnam, Ayoob, and many others. For the most part, all “towed” the party line. Weaver was IT. Everything else was outdated, outmoded and “old” fashioned. Well, at this point I started collecting EVERYTHING I could about shooting. Everything. From the oldest manuals and books to the most up to date. Magazine upon magazine, and of course continued ACTUAL training. What I was constantly learning was really eye opening.
Studying McGivern, Hatcher, Roper, Nichols, Weston, Gaylord, Askins, Jordan, “old” works by Copper, and so many other men and other sources like Leatherneck and the Infantry Journal, old issues of the American Rifleman was astonishing. My research collection has NEVER stopped growing. I don’t “stop” learning, but more on that later.
The only contemporary voice getting a little play in the popular gun journals was Brad Steiner. Much of what he wrote reflected what I had known to be true based on MY experience. There really WAS a gap and a need for methods that dealt specifically with CLOSE QUARTERS GUN BATTLES. The only really close quarters method being bantered about at this time was the “speed rock”. Steiner’s contemporary articles were very interesting and he stirred alot of resentment and controversy.
I remember one slam made aginst Steiner and John McSweeny by Mas Ayoob. It concerned the use of a mirror to check and adjust firing poistion, alignment and so forth. This was a method advocated by MANY “old timers” as a tried and true way of DAILY practice away from the range. Easy. Simple. No “brainer”. Everyone has a mirror. Made perfect sense to me. And it WORKED. Great! Well, Ayoob likened this to “mental” masturbation. I’m not really one to mince words, it’s usually(not always) better to just speak plainly. I couldn’t help but wonder what the reaction of men like Paul Weston of the NYPD(who advocated this mirror training highly) or “Jelly” Bryce would have been to that comment. I also pondered what Brad Steiner’s reaction, and perhaps more SO, John McSweeny’s reaction would have been to Mr. Ayoob had he made that comment nose to nose instead of in print. Basically, what Ayoob was saying, thinly veiled as it was, was, you’re a “jerk off”.
Where were we? Oh YEA…………………………………………………….
What to do with ALL of this information, both new and “old”. Well, logically the thing to do was to look at the most basic problems presented by any situation and BUILD from there.
Easy enough. Right? Well, actually no………………………………..
First thing we did was to DEFINE the terms that we would use. When so and so said this, made this statement, what did he REALLY mean? When Shooter A talks about this to Shooter B are they REALLY understanding the terms being USED. Or is one party ASSUMING he knows what a certain phrase or descriptive term means. Damn, w’re back to that logical foundation jammy again. Let’s see…………….I stop some guy on the street and tell him in NO uncertain terms that I LOVE his wife, and always will. As a matter of fact, I have loved her for years. The man may be pretty shocked, he would have a right to be, maybe even take a swing at me. But, if we defined what was really said, well, the situation changes. The guy’s wife is MY sister. And yes, I love her deeply, always have, and always will. Before any honest up front dialogue seeks to edify we should make sure we’re on the same page. That was job 1. As I said anything less is intellectual fraud.
So we did a thorough job of defining the terms we used and what they meant.
Now we ruthlessly went about tearing apart everything on both sides of the hill.
What does the REALITY of the street teach us, and how do we find REAL useful solutions to those problems presented.
AND, here’s the REAL catch………………………….how does all of this tie in to the LEAST common denominator. In other words what is the MOST basic overall approach to these problems, taking into account first and foremost the least in ability, skill, experience and knowledge. If we can begin to build on that, then we have something really worthwhile.
So here are the “problems”:
1. Visibility. Perfect to zero.
2. Extreme close range sudden violence. Unprepared. Reactive. Prepared. Active.
3. Enagaging adversaries at varying distances and/or heights/360 degrees. Close/medium/long range. Effective transition. Active and reactive.
4. Ability to manuever and fire.
5. Ability to effect fire on a moving target.
6. Ability to fire from dis-advantage or awkward positions.
7. Ability to fire from cover and/or concealment. Two different tactical problems.
8. Ability to fire with both hands. Tandem-strong and weak. Single-strong and weak.
9. Ability to fire when vision is impaired.
10. Ability to transition from weapon to weapon.
11. Emergency reloading and malfunction clearing.
12. The MUST DO shot.
We did NOT address specific tactical problems. This list was designed for the MOST basic overall components facing every type of “shooter” regardless of “job” specificity. A six three 200lb. police tactical officer could face these “problems” in the same way that a 5 foot five 100lb. housewife may have to. Sounds silly? Think about it.
How we put together the syllabus-
No forced or awkward positions or manuevers.
Everything based to the GREATEST extent possible on gross motor skill, natural body dynamics, and “instinctive” action/reaction. takes into account next to worst case scenario and works from there(worst case being you’re already dead).
The entire system should be as seamless as possible. One component dovetailing with another. Not just a “grouping” of techniques independent of one another. As general as possible to cover the greatest number of contingencies. Weak offhand shooting is composed of the EXACT same mechanics as TWO HANDED braced firing. The fundamentals are EASILY retainable and apply throughout the entire shooting system. The grip on the draw is the same grip for firing. The grip when running, climbing, jumping is the same for drawing and firing. The grip when prone is the same when kneeling is the same whenusing braced barricade, is the same when using the “pop out” and fire. This is a bad thing under the stress of real world violence?
The system? That we have to be another long winded thread(if I survive this one). But for many of you, it won’t be what you think or what you have “pidgeonholed”.
FINALLY……………………………..the GRIP!
Okay. First. Re-read all these parts over again. Really put some effort into understanding what is being said here.
Fairbairn admonishes us to extend the thumb along the “slide release”(for clarification). Mentions it several times. WE DON’T teach that grip as part of the basic syllabus. We practiced it alot and some liked it and some did not. BUT that’s NOT the issue here.
The grip as advocated by WEF is particular to the weapon shown, NOT to WEF. Many gunners of the period in many different manuals and sources advocate the same grip for THAT weapon. For the .45 ACP. It was almost de rigueur. Did it help some achieve the standards for it that WEF set forth, MOST certainly. For others it was a far less successful venture. Some improved with practice, others did not.
Now we have to find out why? Colonel Applegate had HIS answer and we had ours(more on that later) BUT still we wanted to understand why WEF advocated it and what we might have been missing.
First we have to remember that “Shooting to Live” was written in it’s original form(we have the manual) as a manual for the SMP. An organized UNIFORM police agency. “Shooting to live” is an expanded version of the original SMP manual. Why is that important? Because the SMP, like most agencies issued a specific “duty” weapon. A standard pistol. That was the .45 ACP. But that wasn’t all! The .380 ACP was ALSO issued and for a VERY pertinent reason. The use of the thumb extended grip advocated for the .45 ACP had more to do with the DESIGN of the weapon than with anything else. The angle between grip and barrel is such that a full “convulsive”(there’s that term again) grip with thumb wrapped DOWN will effect the horizontal barrel to floor alignment that is so important to ALL forms of accurate shooting. MORE so in the method taught by WEF. The thumb extension helped seat the weapon from backstrap to muzzle in a “better” way for THAT gun. A full “fisted’ grip tended to drop the muzzle DOWN. Also, WEF had fairly large hands and a great grip. He also realized this and adjusted accordingly. Officer’s with smaller hands who could NOT adjust or use the .45 ACP were issued the smaller .380 ACP. Now notice the line drawing on pg. 19 of STL. These drawings were made directly from still photos. Look at how far the thumb is extended in the picture. I have fairly normal size hands and a fair grip, and my thumb doesn’t come near to that position. I am certainly NOT alone in this problem. WEF recignized it too, THAT is why he issued smaller pistols for some officers.
Again, this manual was done before the second world war and done with the STANDARD issue .45 ACP or .380 ACP in mind as a UNIFORM piece of ordinance. WEF use of the extended thumb index was also obvious in his method of firing both the M1 A1 carbine and the Thompson sub-machin gun. He liked this method.
Colonel Applegate had different ideas. His duties exposed him to a VAST number of handguns that WOULD be used in combat in varying countries. From the Luger to the Walther, from a Colt revolver to an automatic, from a Browning to a Mauser. Applegate sought A SINGLE method of battle firing that was applicable to ANY handgun, anywhere in the world. THIS is why Colonel Applegate advocated the “point shoulder” locked wrist, convulsive grip method. That system alone would allow anyone to grab ANY handgun and be able to fire with effect(his words-Man Killing Accuracy). Since each design had a different angle between handle and muzzle, differing weight, balance, muzzle length, sight aperture and so on he devised a singular method to ADAPT to a GREAT number of handguns. That is GENIUS! So on this point I disagree with WEF’s approach. How about all the other shootists? Like Bill Jordan. Look at his grip, about as tight fisted and convulsive as you can get. And he is one of many that took a differing approach from what is shown in STL. All I want to do is keep it to the MOST basic FIRST. MOST BASIC FIRST. MOST BASIC FIRST! M O S T B A S I C F I R S T !
Was Applegate completely HAPPY with what he taught during WWII. NO, he wasn’t. He told us personally that he would have taught FULLY sighted fire FIRST, then “point shoulder” if he had to do it again. YEP! NOTHING is written in stone!
There are other SOLID reasons behind the differences between WEF and Applegate, as well as others extant during this time. But, hell all that’s in the past. Who cares, right?
Okey dokey. Back to WEF and the extended thumb. NOW…….try this…………even if you like the extended thumb for your .45 replace that auto with another auto, large/medium/small frame. How’s the “feel”, bet you adjust with each differing piece.
Now grab a wheel gun. Try it WITH THAT! Hmmmmmmm…..how’s that working out? No, not the Model 29 S&W, the small frame two inch……try that. Well I don’t see HOW that extended thumb grip works AT ALL with a revolver. Not for double action most certainly!
SO now what? How about this………..You carry a primary duty weapon that is a large frame auto. Okay. You also carry a small frame “snubby” on your ankle….the “just in case” gun. And, maybe a Beretta .25 as your “oh SHIT” gonna be late for dinner piece. THREE different guns, three DIFFERENT grips and THREE differing “feels”. Or look down the firing line at people who are looking to YOU for instruction. All shapes and sizes, all different in so many ways, and probably all preferring a different handgun. Damn, you HAVE to find the most fundamental starting point.
My answer? A strong, natural and (dare I say it) convulsive grip. The same GRIP you have used since INFANCY to hold and use tools and objects, to make a fist, to lift weights, etc. etc.
Opposable thumb. Simple. This is THE most basic action possible. Everyone can do it. Everyone understands IT. And it is APPLICABLE across the board for a GREAT variety of hand types, builds, disabilities and WEAPONS. It can be used for any size autoloader or any size wheel gun.
NOW!!!!! READ THIS………………………..Did I EVER SAY IT WAS THE ONLY OR BEST METHOD? NO, I did NOT! I only said it was the MOST basic!
What I did say was that it was the most basic, simple, accessible GRIP to USE as a FOUNDATION. Get something SOLID under your belt NOW, then work towards whatever method and/or goal you wish. AND all the MORE power to you!
My philosophy in a nutshell: I could teach you very effective techniques that would take a bit of time to master. But along with that I can teach you something you can USE right now when you leave here and cross that deserted parking lot. Master BASICS first and then the sky’s the limit. Even WEF said given more time he would have taught different methods. Ernie Cates when he set up the USMC close combat program with Nakabyashi choose his basics carefully. he told me that rule one was: The part of the hand with NO hair is the palm! At it’s core that’s all I’m saying.
I’m sure I’ve missed some salient points (combat draw and some other issues), but I’ve wasted a whole day on this and I’m pretty wasted by now. I did my best to offer sound reasoning. That’s all I can do. This line of thought can be applied to just about anything, certainly all aspects of armed and unarmed close-combat.
Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©
Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. He is continually improving himself through his studies. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement, military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.
Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle
Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)
Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada
Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki
Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu
Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson
