Intermediate Weapons

I was recently ask after a class by a good friend and student; “What do you do to get better at shooting”. I did not have an immediate answer for him. After a minute’s thought the fog lifted and I was able to tell him what I do. This article is a direct result of that conversation.

There are about as many ways to train as there are colors in the spectrum. That goes for anything; physical fitness, rock climbing, whatever. In the context of self defense, there is an equally long list: Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun, Knife, Hand to hand (which is massive in and of itself), mentally training, so on and so on. That said, the way I do things is a way, not the way. If you like it and it works for you, take it and run with it. I have developed this methodology over time and still allow room for modification.

This approach and process can be applied to any skillet. We will use handguns here, as that was the original context.

I take the approach of getting better like I would if I was to eat a whale, one bit at a time. When I go to the range, I go to get better at head shots at 10 yards from the holster, or get better at unsupported support hand shooting and reloading, or whatever I am improving.

I do not go to the range to “get better”. If you go to the range just to get better, you never will… What I do, and what I recommend students try is profound, are you ready!? Here it is: “Focus on one thing at a time!” See, not so hard right? But it’s so obvious, there must be more to it, well, there kinda is.

Let’s say you want to get better at shooting handguns, overall. Your groups are spread out and sometimes you miss all together. How does fixing one thing at a time help? Well, I’m thrilled you asked. Everything! Remember, what I said about the whale? One bite at a time. You will not become an expert shooter in one range session, not gonna happen. That takes time and practice. What you can do however, is get a little better each time!

When you go to the range to get better, start big and get small. Meaning, work on your big actions (stance), and move small (trigger control). So, you are at the range, and shooting all over the place. First things first: be consistent! If you are nothing else be consistent, you cannot improve until you are doing the same thing over and over.

Once you are doing the same things constantly, you can begin to improve what you are doing! Start with your stance. Make sure you have a good, solid, comfortable, and repeatable stance. Once that is solid, go smaller, how about your grip? Is that a great grip, or is it meh? Get it great and move smaller. Trigger control and sight alignment are the most critical functions for accuracy, they are also the smallest.

Now, about 90% of what makes you a better shooter can be done by dry firing. Please make sure you are being incredibly safe while dry firing! Follow all safety rules and remove any ammunition from the area!

When I go to the range, I will go with at least 100 rounds. I will spend all 100, more or less if that is what it takes, to work on one particular skill. If I need to work on my trigger control, then each shot is slow and analyzed to death. If I want to practice speed reloads from running dry, I will only put a round or two in the magazine so I can maximize my reloads, while still working on a shooting skill.

Do not try to do too much at once. That will frustrate you and you will not improve, because you will never know what works and what does not. Be particular, and take your time. Change one thing at a time, otherwise you will end up “chasing the bulls eye” and you will only become frustrated. When you train, train with a purpose, do not go shoot just to waste ammo and money. Nor should you swing a knife around and call it training, use these principles in all areas of training and watch yourself grow. Training implies improvement, and we should always be improving.

What can we learn?

  • Be consistent! You will never improve without constancy.
  • Once you are consistent, you can move your group
  • Focus on improving one thing at a time. Do not change too many things at once, if you do you will never know what works and what does not.
  • Start big and go small. Start with stance, move down to trigger, one step at a time.
  • Dry fire training will make you better when done correctly and safely
  • Be patient

I hope this helps, Nighthawk.

 

Stay Sharp,

Adam

BACK UP! GET BACK! Those are a couple of examples of what you may hear or say to create space between you and a threat, real or perceived. Creating space between you and a subject is officer safety 101, but it not limited to public law enforcement. It applies to you and your self defense strategy just as well. Creating distance has numerous benefits, some of which we discuss below.

In the “industry” we call the gap we create using different tactics the “Reactionary Gap”. One of the primary reasons for this aptly named concept is to allow us time to react. Common sense, and a little bit of physics, tells us: the greater the distance of an object traveling towards us the greater the time it will take to reach us. Traveling is a prime example. If you visit your friend down the road, it take a couple minutes, to visit your relatives 300 miles away, it will take several hours.

This concept is what started the 21 foot concept in the 80’s. (Learn more about the 21′ “rule” HERE). Lt. Tueller, in a classroom setting determined that on average his students could draw and fire in the time it took another student to run 21 feet. This highlights the importance of creating space and distance.

But! And it is a big but; can you reasonably keep 21′ or more space between you and everyone you encounter. Although we may wish that was the case sometimes, no, that is just not reasonable. What is reasonable in most cases, however,  is “our bubble”. Take your hands and stick them straight out to the side, like you would if you we pretending to be an airplane. The circumference you make when you turn 360 degrees is your bubble. This is you space. No one has any business being inside of that space uninvited.

What this means is: a reasonable reactionary gap is your bubble. The downside here is you do not have much time, and most certainly not time to get to a traditional tool. So, you must learn to buy  time with what you have. That leaves something already in your hand, or just your hands. Keys, a purse, a cell phone, etc. can all be employed as an intermediate weapon if need be.

Another benefit of the reactionary gap is the cost. It’s free! The self defense world can get expensive; with all the gadgetry, tools, training, etc. So, when we stumble across that beautiful gem that we can learn and employ for next to nothing, there is no reason what soever we should not become proficient on the topic.

This brings us to our final concept: Using objects. Using objects to buy us time, even when distance is not available, gives us a reactionary gap. You may be just across a low fence from a threat, but that fence must be overcome before the threat is valid.  In the case of a dog, that fence may give you such a reactionary gap, there is no threat.

The reactionary gap may sound like a technical new phrase, but the concept is something we employ everyday. While driving we create distance between us and the car ahead of us to allow time to brake. We put things between us and a threat: a fence, a car, a table, etc. Don’t fret the terminology, you already know and understand the reactionary gap as a concept; now you just need apply it to your self-defense strategy.

 

What can we learn?

It’s free, master it

Creating distance of space and/or time allows us time to react to a threat

Use objects to create time. Knock a chair over, trash can, get behind a car.

If the threat cannot physically reach you, they must have a tool that can close the gap. If they do not have such a tool, you have effectively neutralized the threat (to a point).

A substantive reactionary gap is not always possible. Develop techniques and skills to forcibly create distance.

 

Stay Sharp,

Adam

Grammatically speaking, Violence of Action is a nightmare, not to mention confusing. To further complicate matters, it is difficult to define in finite terms. Violence of Action (VoA) is a concept and ideology. A well rounded self defense strategy will include VoA, and employ it properly.

Traditionally a military term, VoA is common within that community; however, it has struggled making the leap to civilian life and application. VoA can be defined as: the unrestricted use of surprise, speed, strength, and aggression to achieve dominance against your adversary. While the military implications are far different than that of civilian individual self defense, the concept remains the same.

Where the military may employ coordinated air strikes combine with artillery, infantry, and whatever else they may have handy. For you and I, we have much less to work with. Our hands, firearms, intermediate weapons, and the like are all we have. So, how can we employ VoA, what does it look like?

Using the above definition; let us look at a scenario. You are walking down the street at night and get “jumped”. They guy has a knife, not time to go for your gun. With lethal force legal here; you explode with everything you have, lashing out with your hands striking the attacker in the face and throat with everything you have. No warning, no pleading, just action. This is VoA.

You used the following components of VoA to react:

Surprise: You gave no warning that you would fight back. Your response was instantaneous and explosive.

Speed: An effective hand strike will be fast, if not it is easily defeated or avoided.

Strength: You don’t hit someone with a knife in your face like you’d pull a paper towel off of the roll. You hit with everything you have.

Aggression: Hello… you just throat punched him; that qualifies as aggression.

If done properly and effectively, you have achieved total dominance over your attacker. I assure you, a good hard throat punch will disable anyone, no matter how tough. If nothing else it will buy you a second or two.

Violence of action is not only employed for defense, but in attack. Think: ambush. The bad guy can use VoA just the same as you. Think about it; if a guy 100 feet away said he was going to rob you, would you continue on? No! You would avoid him and the area. They require VoA to be successful in their attempts.

VoA requires quick thinking, problem solving, and skill. You must be able to process and act fast in order to defend against, or employ VoA. If not, it is just violence or action. This comes with time and training. The more you think about and train using VoA the more natural and instinctive it becomes.

What can we learn?

Violence of Action is critical to a successful defense strategy

The grammar ( or lack there of) is terrible…

Action is critical, explosive, surprising action is better

The more you do something, the more natural it becomes. When you train, train with VoA in mind. That way, when you need it, you don’t think you just act.

 

Stay sharp,

Adam

 

March 1983 was revolutionary for Law Enforcement Tactics, but should it have been? Dennis Tueller a now retired Lt. with the Salt Lake City Police Department, developed and conducted a drill to find out How close is too close? Today, the Tueller drill has become more than was ever intended, and not in a good way.

Lt. Tueller’s findings were first published in SWAT Magazine. The intended audience was, and to a certain degree is still, law enforcement. However, the principles and tactics apply well to your self defense. I highly encourage you to read Lt. Tueller’s article from the March 1983 issue of SWAT magazine titled, How close it too close?, find it Here.

The Tueller Drill was intended to answer two questions: How fast can the average officer (person) draw their firearm, and what distance can a threat cover in that time? A great drill and great questions! However, it is far from being a rule! Yet, there is this HUGE misconception that this drill constitutes a rule, even among leaders and professionals in law enforcement and law.

Here is why the drill is great, but, the “rule” is bogus:

Bogus Rule:

  • Each person is different. Tueller’s findings were based on a class of a couple of dozen new recruits he had in his firearms course. This is an extremely small test pool.
  • The 7 yards/21 feet was arbitrary, for all intents and purposes. It was a distance they were comfortable at and had the availability to use.
  • The drill was conducted for the benefit for his class; it was not scientific and conducted in laboratory conditions.
  • The time that was determined to draw and put two rounds on paper at 7 yds was determined to 1.5 seconds. The time to cover 21 feet was determined to be an average of 1.5 seconds. This is a good baseline, but in no way assures stopping the threat. They are literally on top of you in that 1.5 seconds.Even if you make those two rounds count and the threat is killed instantly, they are likely to fall on top of you and still cause injury.

Great Drill:

  • In conducting your own Tueller drill, you can determine your personal reactionary gap (the distance that can be covered in the time it takes you to recognize and react to a threat.)
  • You can gain a good understanding of your skills as they pertain to drawing and engaging a threat.

Points of interest and of note

It is important to note that in 1983, almost all police departments we using revolvers, leather holster with snap retention exposed on their hips, and the tactics were vastly different. Here are some things you need to know as a citizen who carry’s a concealed handgun legally for self-defense.

The draw dynamic is quite different for you than an officer. Officers have retention holsters and carry them openly, you likely do not on both counts. You have to consider the time it takes to recognize a threat, present your handgun for access, draw, and get on target, and fire. Officers just have to overcome the retention, and they may even already have their sidearm drawn due to the nature of the call.

Tactics have changed too. How we draw and shoot have evolved over the last 33 years. You can even get training for reactionary/reflexive, etc. shooting (close quarters emergency shooting, typically a “point and shoot” training, not much sight work)

Physical ability varies from person to person. The drill was conducted by people who had to meet certain physical requirements. Your right to self defense has no minimum requirements. If you have a handicap that prevents you from drawing your handgun like Billy the Kid, then you need to know and understand that.

Cover/Concealment is a basic and fundamental part of combat. Where the rule is, the more bulletproof the better; in the context of a hand held threat, any trip hazard is a help. Putting furniture, a fence, etc. will slow them down and give you time

What can we learn?

Do your own Tueller drills and get a good grasp of your own time, and get a distance. This should become your “hazard zone”

Use cover and concealment. Any object you can place between you and the threat will slow his time and in turn give you more time to act and react.

There have been many, more scientific, tests and studies performed since 1983, I recommend you poke around the internet and look into “The Force Institute”. They have turned out some great studies.

Don’t get caught up in buzzwords. The Tueller drill is a great tool, but it is no rule!

Stay Sharp

Adam

When we are faced with a self defense situation, often times we want to stick our hands up. The movies and TV have ingrained that immediate response into us. But, we have another option! We can react effectively with our hands by quickly reaching out, not up.

We have discussed using everyday tools as weapons, the one set of tools we did not discuss is, our hands. The tools we use most, and are required for almost all other tools, cannot be left out.

Our hands are one three most valuable assets when it comes to self defense. The others being your mind, and your words. Without our hands, we cannot handle a firearm, intermediate weapons, or even a door knob.

Now, let me insert a brief disclaimer here. There are a great deal of effective techniques and processes that can be done without using your hands. Feet, elbows, knees, head, along with other body parts can be used with profound impact when employed properly. But, this week is all about the hands.

Turning our hands into weapons is simple and instinctive. To turn them into effective weapons takes some work, and to become proficient take a great deal of time and effort. We believe that anyone can become effective with a little bit of time and effort, then, like anything else we must train to keep up with our effectiveness.

There are a great deal of programs and techniques that offer basic defense education. I recommend plugging into a good one. You will know pretty quickly if the education is good. Hand to hand defense is instinctive and a good program will feel natural in many ways.

A good program will teach basic, specific techniques for common strikes. For example, being pushed, a hay-maker, straight punch, being grabbed from behind, head locks, so on and so on have specifics techniques that can be taught and learned easily. Hours of repetition will burn it into your head so that when the moment comes, there is no thinking, just reacting.

Beyond basic techniques you can learn from the internet, you will learn principles and concepts. These will cover a great deal of possibilities. There is no way you could train for every kind of attack specifically. However, it is entirely reasonable to learn a handful of specific common defenses, and cover the rest with theory.

This entails vital points, critical points, counter-attacks, use of force, etc. Knowing there is a pressure point in a given area and connecting with a palm or fist could mean lights out, regardless of technique. Knowing areas that can shut the body down temporarily and permanently is important for use of force application. Applying too much can get you in trouble, applying too little can get you killed.

Our hands are great tools and they should not go to waste. We train to use our hands to employ other tools, but can get so caught up in that process that we forget (or ignore) the invaluable resource that lies at the end of our arms. Learn to use your hands in their full capacity, don’t allow them to go to waste or under utilized…

What we can learn:

Our hands can be very effective weapons when properly employed

To use them is instinct; to use them effectively takes some training; to use them proficiently takes a great deal of time and effort.

There are innumerable training programs that teach hand to hand techniques and application. When you are considering a program, do a little research and ensure it is a good one with a good track record.

Use of force applies to our hands too. Apply the proper amount of force for the situation.

Don’t let one of your only non-removable tools/weapons go to waste.

 

Stay sharp,

Adam

 

Websters dictionary defines a tool as: A handheld device that aids in accomplishing a task. I would be willing to expand that to devices beyond what we can hold in our hand; have you ever tried to hold a bulldozer? A weapon is defined as being: a means of contending against another. At Strategic Defense Group we believe that all “weapons” are just tools. When proper application is applied to tools, they become weapons.

We live our lives surrounded by tools, poised, prepared to become a weapon at any moment, IF, you know how to look. It is not hard to take a tool and turn it into a weapon. The conversion is simply a mental process called perception.

Here is a very limited list of tools ready to become weapons with proper application we interact with countless times a day:

  • Pen/Pencil
  • Keys
  • Knives
  • Belt
  • Computer mouse
  • Magazines/books
  • Cell phone
  • Chair
  • Clothes hanger

Do not be afraid to modify and build tools and turn them into weapons. Do not limit yourself to obvious choices.

Several of the tools listed above are what we at Strategic Defense Group refer to as “Intermediate weapons” which are a commonplace tool or device with a designed function other than application of force; employed as a weapon. These intermediate weapons are not made to be a weapon, but can become one and employed effectively if need be. Pens are my go to for this. A common, everyday object that can provide pressure point control, nervous system damage, muscle damage, bleeding, loss of sight, the list is as long as you are creative. A pen is in no way designed to kill, however, it can be used as an intermediate weapon with great effectiveness.

Beyond learning how to identify intermediate weapons, we must learn to employ them effectively. Seeing a pen as a weapon is far different from knowing where control/pressure points, or major arteries lie. Knowing that a hanger can be applied as a weapon does not mean you are ready to defend yourself with such a device.

Just like using a gun, knife, or any other tool designed for application as a weapon, it takes training and practice. In martial arts we learn certain forms called Kata, and specific techniques for combat. We repeat these techniques and Kata thousands of times until we no longer think about it. Now, it is unreasonable to ask and expect you to train extensively with every possible intermediate weapon.

However, there are basic general practices and principles you may become proficient in that carry over to a multitude of applications. Knowing that if a bad guy can’t see or breathe, he is out of the fight. So, making the eyes and throat a standard target simplifies things greatly! Keys, pens, books, fingers, eye liner, etc. can all be used with great effectiveness to this target. Spending time and effort in learning human anatomy as well as the anatomy of a fight will allow you to use intermediate weapons with great efficiency and effectiveness.

What can we learn?

  • Definition of Intermediate weapon: A commonplace tool or device with a designed function other than application of force; employed as a weapon
  • Right now, as you read this, stop. Look around, and identify 3 tools that can be used as an intermediate weapon. Now is the time to determine what tools you will reach for in an emergency.
  • Make a habit of identifying and recognizing potential intermediate weapons and how they may be employed effectively.
  • Learn key points of the anatomy of a fight and the human body. Knowing and identifying a few vital and critical points on the body will help you become effective with most any intermediate weapons.

 

Stay sharp

Adam

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Let’s face reality, we do not always have a gun on us. There are situation in which carrying a gun is not an option. There are many specific settings, but just use your imagination for this discussion.

You are out in public without your trusty holstered companion, you are suddenly forced to defend yourself. Stop, time out! This is not the time to decide what you are going to do. You should already have a game plan. You have already decided to always carry something that can be used as a weapon. A good metal shaft pen, a solid pocket knife, keys, get creative. You have thought about and practiced using that item as a weapon.

Ok, time in: Now you are left with two choices: Fight or Flight. If you fight you may be going up against a superior weapon, so be aware of your disadvantage here. Fleeing may be the best option, only you will be able to make that decision in the moment.

Without an even match, how can you possibly defend yourself. Well, there are several options here, two of which are instinctive. Run and Hide are always an option and it is a natural response. Now, there are ways to run and hide that are most effective.

Running: A moving target is statistically 4 times more difficult to hit, try it sometime in a safe training environment. So, the simple act of running decreases your chance of falling victim by 75%! But, now you have to know where to run to! The movies will get you killed. I am at an absolute loss as to why people always run up the to roof, or up the stairs etc in movies when they are fleeing, I mean they cannot possibly have a game plan, I digress. Part of being aware of your surroundings means knowing where the exits are. In the mall, stores have a back delivery door, restaurants have a back kitchen door. There are many ways to escape effectively, you just have to know where and how to look.

Hiding: There is a good way and a bad way to hide. Bad way – collapsing where you are, not taking adequate shelter,making too much noise, etc. Good way – finding secure cover that you can lock down and maintain control of the area. (Quick note: Cover = Bulletproof, Concealment = Not visible but not safe from fire. A good example of cover is a nice thick concrete wall; concealment would be an average wall in your home. ) If you plan to hide and wait the event out, you need to know how to secure and lock down an area the best way possible. Find a small controllable space, Lock and/or barricade the entrance, be quiet, prepare for war and arm yourself and anything you can.

When outmatched with rifles v car keys, I recommend running, however there are times when that is not possible. That is why you learn how to identify weapons in everyday objects and then learn how to employ such items effectively. It is not always a rifle v car keys, sometimes it is just hand to hand. Some basic training, simple techniques, and strategy, can go a long way in hand to hand when practiced and perfected. More on that later.

What can we learn:

There are times in which we cannot employ a firearm for defense

Learn to use the world around you to your advantage. Take cover, hide, create weapons

Train hard

It is ok to run. “He who runs away, lives to fight another day” – Maverick, Mel Gibson

I will leave you with my favorite Bruce Lee Quote: – “If a man comes at you with a sword run; Kung Fu does not always work.” Simply put, there is a time for fighting, and a time for running, learn the difference now, not when your life depends on it

Stay Sharp

Adam