What Lies In Wait

[Fred Fuller]

There's some good things happening out there in the blogosphere, and this one seemed particularly useful. Share it with family and friends...

http://mausersandmuffins.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-lies-in-wait-lessons-in-self.html
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
What Lies In Wait - Lessons In Self Defense

 

[Cougfan2]

A very good read.

 

[conw]

Good on mindset but her understanding of fights seems to remain very weapon-centric. The "rice crispy treat" simulating her gun just didn't come out fast enough before he closed the distance...etc, etc. She attributed this to a deficiency in her speed rather than in her overall approach to dealing with that problem...I feel that trying to speed-draw on a rapidly advancing attacker is a losing proposition in real life. I thought maybe the training she got addressed that mindset/skillset issue, but I had to shake my head as the issue reared its head once again toward the end of the article:

"Put the muzzle of a .45 between you and his hands. "

Bad idea! Gotta deal with those hands, not just expect a weapon to psychologically stop someone close enough to touch you...

Then there is the issue of her faith that her karate (I think it was karate right?) buddy could execute some kind of neck breaking move, or shove the small bones of her nose up into her brain...these are moves that are impossible to practice against pressure because if they do work, they are very injurious...so no one knows anyone who actually executes those moves enough to be proficient in real life.

I believe the combat sports guys have it right: practice moves that are effective but not inherently maiming/lethal, because you can work them under pressure. Trying to do that strip-mall karate stuff that you haven't practiced full-tilt, and your sensei hasn't practiced full-tilt, and HIS sensei didn't practice full tilt, etc...is not a good way to become proficient at really defending yourself. Totally unverified material, if you ask me.

Hate to be that guy who picks apart something other people enjoy and like, but this is S&T and I don't like to see fallacies promoted. The article did contain some valuable and good thoughts, too, however.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Perhaps like all of us, she has very good ideas mixed in with very bad ones. I love her attitude of never, ever going to a secondary crime scene. But she advises dropping to the ground, and only fighting if the attacker tries to pick you up. Lying on the ground exposes you to the one deadly weapon that almost everyone has: their shod foot.

 

[conw]

Ouch, I missed that one.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Hate to be that guy who picks apart something

We are all students always, if our minds are in the right place. None of us will ever know everything there is to know. It is no disservice to gently point out a flaw in another's thinking.

 

[conw]

Most-repeated line in S&T: But this is S&T.

Lee, thanks for your attitude.

 

[Fred Fuller]

thanks for your attitude.

Hey, I learned it from years of association with guys who wore floppy green french hats. Biggest bunch of perpetual students I ever saw, and some of the best teachers I ever saw at the same time. Credit where credit is due...

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good read As the Gunny told us be nice to every one you meet and have a plan to kill them if needed.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Friend in the military used to do VIP protection/security before he joined, and between him and the MMA fighter (ah the times I heard "damn your a squirmy little... tap out already" as my vision turned read and the blood pounded in my ears)

Gist is, in a gun fight END the threat before they close on you. Once it becomes a fist fight it's a loosing proposition. He also taught me to blade my body, extend my off hand to prevent them from grabbing my gun. Held in Center hold and empty it as you go down.

 

[thefamcnaj]

blade my body

from:shadow7d
What does this mean? I'm curious as I've never heard that.

 

[conw]

Lee, one thing I've noticed about my favorite instructor is that he conducts his classes in that exact manner. And everyone respects everyone. It's mandatory to take the ego out as much as possible and not take things personally if you want to excel at learning difficult material, let alone this particular brand of difficult material.

Shadow, that sounds...problematic. I'm going to shut up after this unless you want to hear my opinion, but almost anyone who works or is in a town of more than 100 people or isn't a recluse of some sort gets close enough to others daily that a "threat" may be nearly in touching distance by the time we really know what's going on.

And as far as blading your body...I disagree with that because I'd much rather stay upright! My priorities in a fight: Stay conscious; stay mobile; neutralize the threat or escape. In roughly that order, 'cause #3 ain't happening if #1 or #2 aren't satisfied. Also your idea there sounds like a good way to shoot your own hand.

 

[conw]

What does [blading the body] mean? I'm curious as I've never heard that.

I believe Shadow is referring to turning the hips and possibly shoulders to a 90 degree angle (perhaps less) to the attacker/threat. Often the far leg goes back in an attempt to stabilize the platform, a la Weaver stance.

I believe that's a pretty good depiction of Weaver stance. A lot of people (including me before I got better training and came to different conclusions) blade up more than that though, with even the shoulders turned, and only the head and lead foot facing.

Proponents usually argue that they can shoot better this way. Another argument made is that you present a smaller target to the bad guy. Cops do it, whether due to training or just imitating what other cops have done, or intuitively, because they can turn their gun-side away from you (these people usually say they are "protecting their weapon").

Here's why I don't like it: your mobility is compromised greatly, and so is your stability in the case of physical contact. If you are carrying and utilizing a handgun in a self-defense situation, you should be prepared for contact with one or more bad guys. Being "bladed up" is a Very Bad Thing if you should be hit. There is a reason people doing combat sports, boxing, and football keep their hips as square as possible: it keeps your butt from going down onto the ground. And as I said a moment ago, you can't run forward or sideways very quickly if your hips aren't oriented properly. Try moving quickly with your hips twisted in a different direction from your head/torso...

 

[jbkebert]

Good read. I wish my wife would take some of this stuff more seriously. I am not a tin foil hat guy. I try to be prepared and try to know what's going on around me. I guess for others ignorance is bliss.

 

[thefamcnaj]

Thanks for the info. I try to soak up as much of this type of information as possible, because to be honest the only training I've had was my ccw class and tips from my shooting buddies. There is only one place around here that offers classes and they are pricey! I just don't have the money for them right now, as my hours have been reduced. That said I'm not a new shooter at all but don't have a tactical foundation I guess you could say. I try and shoot from various positions at the range. One handed, off hand, off hand one handed and from a kneeling position. Sometimes when I'm the only one there I'll set up the trash cans and shoot from behind them. I agree staying square makes the most sence to me, that was drilled in me for my 10 years of foot ball
The only advice I got from my ccw instructor was, " if you realize you are going to have to use your weapon in self defense scream loudly to get witnesses"

 

[Shadow 7D]

The idea was taught with 'VIP' protection, it's part of the whole move, sorry let me expound

you blade (go past a la weaver) and extend the hand to prevent them from grabbing your gun, this is for a charge/physical attack.

when then hit you, you are shooting from retention, with the off hand maintaining distance and hopefully not getting holes in it, as you either defect them sideways, or go down via throwing them (with the help of you leg and off hand using your body as a fulcrum) and come back up as part of the roll. You are effectively absorbing their energy, shooting them and when done correctly, back into the fight quickly.