If you have ever used a funnel to change the oil in a car, while cooking or baking, or even experienced the concept while in construction traffic you understand how funnels work. Funnels take an object, and force it through smaller point. Taking four lanes of traffic and funneling them down to one causes traffic jams for miles, frustration, late arrivals, and sometimes even subsequent accidents.
What in the world do funnels have to do with self defense? Well, nothing directly but, the concept is a perfect analogy.
There are certain points we have to pass through in order to get somewhere else. These may be called choke points, fatal funnels, vertical coffins, etc. Whatever you label them, they are not good for us, hence the daunting names. Much like critical vulnerabilites, fatal funnels are something we must learn to deal with. There are two common examples that we encounter in our daily lives. Real quick, before you see the examples, try and think of two areas that we encounter every day that funnel us. STOP reading and think before moving on…
Ok, now that you have two funnels in mind, analyze them with these factors:
- Does your funnel limit movement
- Is there a way to avoid the funnel
- Must you pass through the funnel to get where you are going
The two primary examples we encounter everyday are: Doorways and Stairs. You are not wrong if you said windows, hallways, etc. If they meet the criteria above, they are a fatal funnel.
Our homes, offices, stores, practically every structure we encounter has doors, if not stairways as well. The issue with them in a tactical situation is just that, we have to deal with them. We cannot enter the building without going through a door.
There are some critical things to remember when going through a door or staircase; they are:
If you do not have to go in, don’t.
- If your child is in that room, to protect them you may have to go in. However, if the threat is the only one in that room, use that to your advantage. Set up and ambush and make him vulnerable in the fatal funnel. Let him know that you have him and police are in route (because they are, right!?)
- Don’t stop or hesitate
- When you have to make entry, don’t stop in the area that limits your movement most.
- Go in, and stick with your decision
- If you decide to go in, do it like you mean it and stick by your decision
- Staircases are especially difficult
- They must be done deliberately, with speed and efficiency. They take time a training to learn how to properly traverse tactically.
Look, I know this is a little “high speed”. You do not make a living kicking down doors and clearing buildings, I know. The point I am making is this: There are especially dangerous tactics; entering a room is arguably holds the first place on that list. You need to know this for your home defense strategy. We offer a course we call SHARP, as well as SOAR. These courses are designed to help you through these tactical hurdles. Contact us to learn more and have us come help you meet your goals!
Do not think that getting a gun is the end all. Just because you buy a car, does not mean you are ready to drive. A gun is a tool that you have to learn how use. Now, GO TRAIN!
What can we learn?
Fatal Funnels suck… No way around it.
We have to train to overcome the issues surrounding the tactical hurdles we face
Learn how to work with and around fatal funnels properly
Stay Sharp,
Adam