If you can create three things, you can win any physical altercation no matter what weapons are involved. Your mind is the weapon, a gun and knife are just tools. Here are the elements you need to win the fight; Speed, Shock Force, Violence of Action.
I was taught these years ago by an old Gunny in the Marine Corps. I have no idea where he got it from but it has shaped my thinking about fights for the last 10 years, including combat tours in Iraq. They seem simple because they are.
Speed
Speed is relative to what your opponent is doing. You don’t have to move fast, just faster than he is. Think of the simplest Hollywood gunfight, two gunman face off in the middle of the street prepared to draw and fire at each other old west style. Doesn’t matter how fast the winner really is, he just has to be faster then the bad guy that one time. This is true for any fight. That includes thinking (yes you have to think in a fight, it’s a chess game). You need to get inside his OODA Loop (Observe, Orientate, Decide, Act). This could be accomplished by simply stepping to the side while drawing. The bad guy has to see you moving, understand what is going on, decide to track you with his gun and fire, then actually move his arm and fire the gun. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you can draw and fire your weapon in less then 1.5 seconds, you don’t need long to get the tide to turn in your favor.
Speed is also used against groups. Believe it or not, if it is a group of people against you, you have the advantage of speed. The larger the group, the longer it takes them to close the OODA Loop and actually act. Then, when they do act, they have to act together or will literally trip over each other.
The way to be able to act faster than the other person is to act without thinking. Your movements should be second nature. Moving, drawing, firing should happen without direct thought. Think about driving a car. Do you have to think about braking, or how hard to brake, or that you have to move your foot to the brake pedal? Nope, you just stop the car when the car in front of you stops. In a fight, you want your actions to happen with that little thought. That requires thousands of repetitions of practice. Start slow, speed will come with practice, economy of motion, and smoothness. Today is a good day to get a little extra practice in (so is tomorrow and the next day).
Come back tomorrow for Part 2; Shock Force.
Stay Safe,
Ben
This may not be at all what mean, but i sort of gave the same advice to my son. He was 6 and terrified of a kid who was 5 and mean. My son was sure the child would beat him up. I tried to explain frightened bullies. Finally, I explained for two weeks that he would not have to fight the kid, just scare him into thinking he would and could. I had him practice a loud scream, mean face and jumping toward the kid–all at the same time. He ran inside for two weeks, infuriating me. I did not want him to fight and assured him the kid would run. Finally, instead of running inside to hide when the kid came by our house, he came in and told me it worked. He said the kid ran away. We moved.
At our new home and school, I don’t think he was ever afraid of a kid again. Anyone who tried anything was dealt with immediately. First came the mean face. My kids learned a good stink eye from me…lol. Everyone respected him and liked him, but the bullies knew better than to ever come his way again.
Cool way to deal with a bully. Nice you are teaching your kids early to stand up for themselves and to deal with fear.
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Thank you! This has been very helpful! Great tips, easy to read and understand!
Thanks for the Comment PJ. Hope it helps if you need it, but hope even more that you never need it.
Good stuff Ben. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment Rick!