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Self-defense tactics

8K views 45 replies 27 participants last post by  carver 
#1 ·
I enjoyed reading the posts in the recent "scenario" thread. Suppose many of us think alike in that we actually think about personal protection and situational awareness much of the time. For me it's been about 30 years since I learned I was not invincible and since then, I've thought about situational awareness.

I got heavily involved in IDPA for a long time and learned the value of practice and muscle memory (drawing from concealment 1,000's of times). Double-Taps. 2 in the body + 1 in the head. Move and shoot from cover. Speed drills. We came up with more scenarios than I can recall - most based on something that could actually happen or was pulled from headlines in the news.

One prudent point I don't recall anyone mentioning is the 21 ft rule. If a bad guy has a knife and is within 21 feet chances are excellent he can get to you and stick you fatally before you can draw from concealment. This is thwarted by increasing the distance & time it takes them to cover the gap.

I'd like to see more threads involving scenarios.
 
#34 ·
I have had the oppotunity to attend several courses at Thunder Ranch, also with the late Louis Auerbach, Jeff Cooper and with Maas Ayoob.
EVERY ONE of them stressed, preached and practiced, situational awareness and why it is possibly or probably the most important and critical SD tool in our arsenal. As most of you know they even numbered or color coded them.
I also had Tueller as one of the instructors at an advanced pistol course at TR when it was still in Tx.
A very interesting guy who actually laughs at how badly his “21ft” rule has been bastardized. He is not angry about it as opposed to how it may actually cause a problem for someone who applies it improperly.
Bottom line, if your assailant at any distance out to 25 ft suddenly begins an attack against you, you are bound to be injured to some extent depending upon the weapon of his choosing. This may be minimized if you have an immediate reaction of moving to cover or concealment while producing your defense mechanism.
Added to your sudden delemma the fact even if you succeed in producing your weapon and get off a shot or two, did you hit your attacker and if so was it an immediate put down or more likely was he able to get to you even temporarily which results in some form and extent of injury.
After visiting with him during the 5 day course and being able to listen while others did the same it is my conclusion that his “Tueller Drill” was meant to help train LEOs the value and importance of awareness and maintaining safe distances at all times during stops or individual and crowd control. There is much more to it than just the 21’ distance.
UF
 
#40 ·
Bro, that's Doug Marcida that man would cut every artery in your body slit your thought correctly and you'd never see it coming and he wouldn't even spill his coffee. This is a video where he is playing along and furthermore if a man is good or even thinks he is then you won't ever see the blade.
 
#38 ·
Situational awareness is definitely the best tool in any persons SD toolbox. Most any video I've seen where someone is attacked, being aware of what is around you will catch any threat before it is a threat. Now truth be told, Murphy's Law applies here in a big way, so you may not always catch them, or you could even misidentify one. Being able to draw and shoot quickly is always important, and train. And keep training. Train as often as you can, whenever you can, and then train some more. If you can, learn have to hand combat skills, because, yes, a highly motivated person can cover 21 feet in no time.
 
#39 ·
I've trained thousands of time with simunition rounds and rubber knives from a holstered or harnessed weapon. 30' is the minimum range to engage a target with a knife. In my current job as LEO and as a soldier 30' was always the minimum. The old saying he brought a knife to a gun fight is something ( after being stabbed) I don't consider a joke.

Further more fighting off a knife attack there is one hard and fast rule. You will get cut up. Even against someone with no training. Do not hesitate to shoot.

Hesitation kills more people than anything else in a fight for life. In order to stay calm and cool you must practice under stress if you have no one to help you, then run as hard as you can for 100 yards drop do a set of push-ups recover to a standing position draw and fire 3 rounds in 2 seconds then take a look at your groups and where your bullets impact the target.

Learn to draw and fire scan the area for threats then learn to reholster without looking keep your eyes on the threat at all times.
 
#42 ·
At our CCW classes, they taught us to pedal backwards and at an angle yelling stop and shooting if the suspect continues to advance. Your own movements buy time.

Like several have stated, someone that knows the world of knives wllnever reveal the blade that far away. SD against a surprise assailant must be against you from the start unless you have some pretty ninja type skills.

I have no qualms understanding that recognizing an attack is happening and responding in time at 21 ft is probably not going to be successful unless there was something that broadcast their intentions previously warning me. As a rank amateur at self defense, it seems recognizing body language clues is my best defense coupled with avoidance if possible.
 
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