preparation

Evaluating New Techniques

October 10, 2012 By Justin White & filed under All Articles, Defensive Training Concepts.

One of the more popular, though misguided, sayings in combatives training refers to a new technique as “just another tool for your toolbox.” It’s one of those comforting industry truisms that makes a good soundbite without actually explaining anything. As teaching goes, it’s really no different than “because I say so.” The problem with the…

Safety in Rural Environments

September 12, 2012 By Mike Riter & filed under All Articles, Defensive Issues, Family Self Defense.

I’ve talked to numerous friends, coworkers, students, family, and others about their perception of security in rural environments. The majority assume that living outside of heavily urban or suburban areas decreases the likelihood of their encountering a situation in which they would have to defend themselves or their loved ones from a lethal threat. I…

Psychological Principles of Combat Training

September 11, 2012 By Rich Nable & filed under All Articles, Defensive Training Concepts.

What I hope to impart to the reader in the next 1490 (or so) words is a better understanding of some of the psychological principles that provide the framework for combat training techniques and tactics. I would like to begin by pointing out the difference between “complex” and “complicated.” If something is complex, it has…

Readiness Considerations

August 15, 2012 By Chris Fry & filed under All Articles, Defensive Issues, Personal Defense.

Considering the recent active-shooter killings in Colorado and Wisconsin, these spontaneous/flash-type domestic “terrorism” incidents are a burgeoning personal protection problem. Though such an incident may not have occurred in your area, that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t. Because of this, our personal and family awareness levels have to be elevated and congruent with the…

Zombies on the Range: Benefits of The Undead Craze

July 11, 2012 By Andy Loeffler & filed under All Articles, Defensive Training Concepts.

As a kid, I was a huge fan of B-grade horror movies. Truth is, I still am, to my family’s occasional exasperation. As time has gone by, my enthusiasm for creepy mansions and mad scientists has been tempered by the mundane demands of reality — but it has never really gone away. So unless you’ve…

Deter. Detect. Defend.

July 11, 2012 By Chris Collins & filed under All Articles, Defensive Issues, Personal Defense.

Deter. Detect. Defend. is a phrase used for many things, including identity theft awareness and various military units. I picked it up while serving in 3rd FAST Company, and it has served me well ever since. I believe that when this approach is applied to the concealed carry holder, it will greatly increase their awareness…

Integrating Medical Knowledge Into Combative Wisdom

January 13, 2010 By Robert Smith & filed under All Articles, Defensive Fitness.

“Experience is only good if you learn from it.” Humans are a unique biological system. When placed in the context of defending itself, a human characteristically attacks and defends itself based on a complicated series of generational learning and unique anatomy and physiological constructs. In the initial evaluation, a human does not look very threatening…

Don’t Bring a Gun to a Knife Fight

January 13, 2010 By Michael Janich & filed under All Articles, Non-Firearm Defensive Tools.

The Other Side of the Close-Quarter Dilemma Since Sean Connery’s unforgettable scene in the movie The Untouchables, the concept of “Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight” has become almost a cliché in the firearms training world. Indeed, most firearms training programs that include close-quarter shooting techniques advocate dealing with a knife-armed attacker by immediately…

Getting Students’ Attention

January 13, 2010 By Paul Haberstroh & filed under All Articles, Defensive Training Concepts.

While preparing a personal safety lecture for a local group, I was looking for an opening that would get everyone’s attention. My audience was a group of teen and pre-teen girls and a few parents. The inspiration for the class was the recent abduction and murder of a seven-year-old girl. Being in an upscale community,…

Shooting: Balance of Speed and Precision

January 13, 2010 By Rob Pincus & filed under All Articles, Defensive Training Concepts.

As we launch the Personal Defense Network, we realize that a huge portion of you are going to be interested in firearms training for defensive use. As I looked over the dozens of topics that I expect to be covered here in the coming years, it was not easy to pick the most important ones.…