FIGHT! Realistic & Practical Tactics for Concealed Carry
July 9th, 2007 by Syd
This fellow has some interesting ideas and techniques. He also has some techniques that I question, particularly the crossover footwork while moving away from the attacker. It may be great for a karate blackbelt who has done katas involving crossover footwork for years, but for ordinary folk, is there a danger of getting your feet tangled up and falling while trying to move. After you watch the video, please leave a comment with your thoughts on his techniques.
Geez he moves his hands sooo much while he talks that it’s pretty distracting.
The crossing of feet was the first thing that came to my mind, also.
I was a wrestler in high school (long time ago…the day after dirt was invented), but I still remember my coach saying “DON’T cross your feet!” because of the danger becoming vulnerable by tripping while moving relative to your opponent.
Coach always said to bring one foot toward the other, but not cross them. Perhaps that would help those of us who, like me, may not have the same level of skill presented in this video.
I appreciated how the advantage gained by the 45 degree backward movement was explained. I wouldn’t have thought about that until too late. I always appreciate learning something new to stick away in my WTSHTF file.
Thanks for sharing this, and thanks to the author for taking time to produce it!
Jeff
As the instructor pointed out, if you don’t practice the moves you do not have the skills. If you take the time to practice the moves you are going to use in certain situations you then will have the skills to defend yourself, thus increasing your chance of survival. Makes sense to me.
I have been training in the martial arts since Feb. 1967 and teaching since 1969. The first important movement to learn was to automatically move .45 degrees from the attacker. Moving forward, at an angle, was the most important because it closed the gap with your attacker and allowed you to put him away. He can’t hurt you striking where you used to be.
I now carry concealed due to both multiple attacker’s and/or people who like to shoot from moving cars, etc..
That was an over simplification of the conditions one might encounter. How will a victim react while at an ATM? Or leaving a store while carrying bags? What about the older person who can not move or is not very agile?
Not everyone is standing in an open field. Ever been in a shopping mall parking lot during holiday season?
Like he said, he’s been practicing “cross stepping” for years. Nice technique, but not one you’ll “master” in an afternoon of intro and shooting.
Another point, he claims to be making a smaller target by turning. That may be true, but now he gives the BG both lungs… And if hit he would be on one foot or the other, not good for balance while experiencing trauma. If you stay focused on the threat while moving on the diagonal, you will keep your CG above your feet, if you’re given enough time to reach full extension in your firing grip. If retreating while fending off an attack, you may need your off hand to protect your own centerline, or ward off other attacks, making firing from retention your only option. This again leads to a more “centered” body position, making survivability easier.
As to tripping, or running into other threats, yea, it’s possible. But the BG is going to dealing with me, and not watching where they’re going, either. If I end up on the ground, anything above me is a threat, and will be dealt with. Nice safe direction of fire, also. No innocents to worry about.
Good info to add to our “toolboxes” of technique and options. Just remember that the BG isn’t going to be standing there watching you run away. Figure you’ll have to fight while moving, and advancing to the rear is always slower than charging in.
Thanks for the tips!
Blasternaz
Like George, i too have practiced martial arts since Viet Nam in ‘66 and think these tips are sound advice for those who want them and situations that warrant them. And of course they have to be practiced.
Anyone who takes on the responsibility of carrying a gun should practice moving and thinking as a martial artist because that’s what we have embraced: the resposibility for our own (and others’) defense by whatever means that are reasonable and necessary. Do we not practice our awareness, decision to shoot, draw stroke, marksmanship and a host of other skills that were not familiar when we started carrying?
As i tell my students in CCW class, all decisions concerning a person’s battle technique are up to the individual. As for me, i will enjoy experimenting with this information (part two is on that same link). This man has also brought up a point not stressed often: The sidearm is only one of many tools availible to keep you and yours from harm, the brain is #1.
Thanks much for the link.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am also a martial artist. However, that is not a complex stepping drill, and I think the criticisms of it are not warranted.
Go into your back yard and try running backwards, and try his method. I don’t think you’ll find it any easier to run backwards, so what is your alternative? Are you suggesting you don’t move? Stay planted?
If you are going to move, you should practice moving, just like you practice shooting. But that movement is not that complicated, and I believe it is going to feel just as, if not more natural than running backwards, and I wouldn’t hesitate to teach it. Bottom line, practice both and do what feels most comfortable and stable for you.
As to the wrestling comment, I don’t think it’s germaine to the topic. When you’re squared off in the ring with a wrestling opponent, I’m sure it’s good advice. Again, I don’t think running backwards, for most people, is any more stable than what he’s recommending.
Get out of your chair and go try it! Don’t think about it, try it! I think you may like it. Practice both for several tries and see how you feel.
I like it. YMMV.
I concur that moving at 45 degrees is optimal. In martial arts training, the movement is directed along the BG weak side, ie. left side of a right handed attacker. This has the advantage of keeping your strong side toward the attacker if you are also right handed and forcing your attacker to come across his body for the attack. Since the BG will be in “homing” mode he will adjust to track you but this may buy an additional second in the fight.
The foot crossing technique of movement as explained in the video takes years of practice and while reducing your cross section to the attacker also aligns all the critical organs, lung - heart - lung, for a single “lucky” hit.
My personal preference is for a foot-to-foot movement as I maintain balance over my feet, and though squared to the target I am unlikely to be knocked off my feet by whats behind me. Admittedly it does create a blind spot behind you and in the concentrated focus of dealing with the danger in front you could be surprised by additional BG’s.
I still think the single best technique to master is living in a condition “orange” state, so you are aware of whats around you and the threats that face you. This gives you the advantage of time and distance, and done properly prevents the fight from ever developing as you are simply not at the convergence of opportunity and victim.
Good lesson and reminder to break the linear thought process as the unexpected reaction of the victim often saves the day.
From the perspective of a non-martial artist (i.e. “a regular joe”), I found the video informational and thought-provoking. Those of us that may not be in particularly optimal physical condition and may not have the opportunity to practice specialized maneuvers on a regular basis can benefit from his simple, logical, and well illustrated demonstration. The 45 degree backward movement he demonstrated is one that can easily be practiced in your own backyard and performed by almost anyone regardless of their size, shape, or physical fitness. This method also brings to mind many of the techniques taught by M. Ayoob, and Gabe Suarez. For the majority of us the following facts need to be remembered: (1) an attack will probably come as a complete surprise, (2) reaction time will be further reduced as the mind processes the information and makes that critical fight-or-flight decision, (3) adrenalin level will sky-rocket, and (4) the action/reaction will be based on the quickest & easiest, most natural movements and techniques. It is therefore beneficial to practice arm-chair – “what-if” scenarios in your head. The other observation I made from the video and one that bears constant reiteration is the necessity of becoming so comfortable and confident in your carry method that the draw, presentation and re-holstering of you firearm becomes second-nature. As demonstrated, you should be able to smoothly and effortlessly deploy your gun and re-holster it without looking or fumbling.
An interesting video, but the footwork is far too complex for the ‘average’ CCW holder. Most of us are Not ‘martial artists’, and the best part of the video for normal (less than skilled) humans is to MOVE at the earliest possible moment.
thanks for bringing this to our attention, syd!
Scott
Some good advice regarding seeing and reacting to a threat. The safest method is, of course, to recognize the potential threat and taking steps to thwart it before it can become a real threat. When that’s not possible, moving in a 45 degree angle makes you a more difficult target. I do take exception to his comment that his peripheral vision will help in 45 degree laterals. In my experience, your focus will be on the threat and peripheral vision is reduced, unless you move your eyes or your head.
I’ve used a shuffle-step for years and it can be fast, but not as fast as a “natural” step over longer distances. Movement in normal locations should, ideally, be to put you behind cover or conceallment. Secondarily to make you a harder target to hit. Just remember to practice shooting while moving as motion makes it hard to score hits in both directions.
What he failed to mention is locating the best position that maximizes cover. We need to practice in real-life situations where the threat is likely to occur; urban areas where the attacker can increase the odds in his or her favor. Awareness of your surroundings, especially noticing changes or inconsistencies, greatly reduces an assailant’s chances for a surprise attack, and increases your chances for survival.
I have no problem with moving at 45 degrees to the threat.
I do question this gentlemen’s cross stepping technique which
borders on stupidity. To teach this to someone that won’t practice it constantly is insanity. Considering the auditory
exclusion and tunnel vision that accompanies the adrenaline
dump in a gunfight (negating the peripheral vision he claims to be relying on), this may be just one more way to lose
the gunfight.