Tim's World
Self Defense

On Self Defense

dracphelan

On Self Defense

Some of my friends may not know this, but I would like to learn to be a self-defense tactics instructor some day. This is not just shooting. It is how to avoid the situations where you defend yourself, what to do in defense situations, and how to automatically go to the proper level of response. Many people, for various reasons, can’t take actual classes. If you can’t take a class, read a book or watch a video. I have found a great source of video training, it is a television show on the Outdoor Channel called The Best Defense. The show will generally start with a scenario and how you should not handle it. They will then give reasons why they did not work and a better way to handle it. At the end. they will show how it would be best to handle it. Last night’s episode gave a great example that was actually used in my concealed weapons class. You are in a convenience store and an armed man starts to rob it:

  • The first time, the concealed carry holder tries to draw his pistol while the robber has his weapon pointed at the holder. The result is the concealed carry holder is killed.
  • The second time, the concealed carry holder waits until the robber is not paying attention to him, manuevers so that stray shots will not hit bystanders, prepares to draw, and when it appears the robber is unhinged and about to start shooting, shoots the robber. Result is dead robber, upset innocent bystanders, and possible legal problems for the carry holder.
  • The third time, the concealed carry holder ducks down before the robber notices him, carefully observes everything, and calls the cops when the robber leaves. The results are great eyewitness testimony for the cops to find the robber and nobody got hurt. This is the best thing

All of the episodes involve firearms. They also involve techniques in avoiding situations which put yourself in danger, and how to best get out of those situations. They involve setting up things like safe rooms (it does not need to be armored), open hand defensive techniques, and interesting facts (cell phones with no service can still call 911).

It does not have to be this show (or their videos), but look into getting some sort of defensive training and practice it.

On another note: If you have firearms as part of your defensive plans, get a simulated weapon to practice defensive techniques with. There are surpising array of cheap airsoft weapons that closely (if not exactly) match real world weapons. These will allow you to safely practice these techniques.