Ardi made the news!

This past weekend, Ardi was shooting at the Illinois Sectional competition (USPSA) in Milan, IL, and managed to get herself interviewed on camera by a local news station.

Go to their website: http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?s=11015804 then click on the "Shootout Just For Fun" link to see the story.

Defensive Tactics 101 - Firearms Short Course

On August 8th, 2009, the NHA held an "Introduction to Defensive Tactics - Firearms" class for students who were already safe, experienced shooters. It was very short, only about 3.5 hours, but gave the students the beginning basics regarding defensive tactics in general, plus specific uses of the handgun as a defensive tool. This wasn't the official full "DT 101 - Firearms" course that will be offered by the NHA, but it did contain some of the basics from it.

The course started with the standard introduction of the safety rules and range procedures, and went directly into the DT draw-and-fire sequence, including practice gauging the trigger reset requirements for quick followup shots.

Students then began working on quick transitions between targets, and later graduated to movement-while-shooting.

Throughout the initial "skill builder" drills, the students were continually told that speed was not the goal in this case---proper technique was the goal. Learning proper technique enables them to later (on their own) work the drills for greater speed.

After the basics of movement were practiced, moving off-line and to cover were discussed. Lastly, the students were given several defensive problems to solve, after which a discussion was held on effective use of cover, movement, and tactics.



Something that should be reiterated here:

This is a study of Defensive Tactics---not shooting tactics. We study Defensive Tactics to keep ourselves safe, and we learn the use of tools (such as firearms) for that purpose. Unsurprisingly, many common themes are found with various tools using this method. This wasn't a shooting class for self-defense, this was a self-defense class focused on using firearms as tools.

First: Awareness
If the student is aware of possible situations about to occur, then the likelihood of not being in it climbs sharply. In addition, awareness allows the student to be prepared for danger, and deploy tools as necessary for self-defense. One of our drills included finding out how far an criminal can move and attack in the time it takes the student to draw and fire two shots. If the student is aware and prepared (has the tool available and in-hand), the chance of surviving lethal-force situations climbs sharply.

Second: Movement
Once a self-defense situation has begun, the goal is to get to safety unharmed. As such, use of a firearm is merely use of a tool to enable the student to get to safety.

As such, immediately once the lethal-force situation has begun, the student needs to start moving to safety. If safety is not immediately available, the student needs to move to cover (localized safety). If cover is not available, the student needs to move away from the threat and create distance.

No matter what, in a self-defense situation (if the choice is possible) the student should be moving while drawing/shooting/defending.

Plenty of other concepts were discussed, and proper use of cover was mentioned (and the difference between cover and concealment), but the students weren't able to practice this much in the time allotted.

Overall, though, the students at the end (during the DT situation tests) gave a good accounting of themselves, shooting from retention, at distance, taking cover, moving, and keeping themselves safe.

At a future, time, we will hold another course that will include the second half of the DT 101 - Firearms course soon to be available from the NHA.

Open Gym today...

For Open Practice today, several people decided they wanted to get out the crashpad, and work on some rolls for height and distance.

Here's some of what happened:



A good time was had by all.

Team NHA: Firearms Highlights

Sabumnim and Ardi participated in the USPSA Great Plains/Iowa Sectional Match on July 12th, 2009. An action pistol match, the Sectional had 9 very complicated stages. Ardi did very well, placing 1st D-Class, and High Female for Production Division. Sabumnim won High Overall and Great Plains Champion for Production division.

Here are some highlights from the match:

Brandon's Last Day in class...

Brandon went off to the military, so we made sure we sent him off right...



As is the custom, everyone got to perform one technique on him---then he got to perform a technique on everyone in return.

Good luck, Brandon.

Courtesy of Hecate's Crossroad:

Something that people should read. Self-defense oriented.

Link with full entry:
http://hecatescrossroad.blogspot.com/2009/01/now-do-something-constructive.html

Important outtake in the middle:

A rangemaster at gun school who was also a sheriff's deputy once told me about a nurse who had serious ex-boyfriend problems. After responding to one of her 911 calls, he told her she should get a handgun. He offered to advise her on weapon selection and arrange for training.

She said she'd think about it, and asked her hospital colleagues what they thought. Thoroughly indoctrinated in pacifist attitudes, they were horrified and told her she should get a whistle instead. That was what she decided to do, and the deputy said he could not talk her out of it.

When her body was later found in the hospital parking lot, the whistle was still between her teeth. She had blown it until it filled up with blood as she died.

You are responsible for keeping yourself safe. No one else can or will do it for you. When the moment comes, it is entirely likely that you will be completely alone.

Most of "self-defense" occurs in your head---because that is the part that causes you to be aware, to stay out of potential situations, and when in one, to act and react appropriately.

Don't let yourself be over-ruled by what "people might think" or what society says is "acceptable behavior." Do what you need to be safe.

Read the whole of Hecate's post.

Response to Women's Self-Defense vs a Hook Punch, Part II...

Awhile back, we posted a response video on YouTube regarding a defensive move vs. a hook punch. We got a video response to our response, and it is shown below. After viewing it, I sent the link to some of my students, from green belt to black belt, and asked for commentary.

Here is the response video:

And here is some commentary from them regarding what they saw:

Matt:

First, his movements were too complicated. In order to make the wind work, you have to see the punch coming and be ready to block, AND AT THE EXACT POINT OF IMPACT transition into a reverse pivot. This is very unlikely, because in an actual attack, it is highly unlikely the woman will see the punch coming until it is halfway there. I would like to see that tiny woman do the complete technique in a dark parking lot, including takedown, to Pete. [Sabum’s note: Pete is a member of our class who is large, very solid, very strong, and very tough. He is one of our test people for self-defense techniques. Saying “it would work on Pete” is a high compliment for self-defense techniques.]

Second, that technique is very one-dimensional, i.e. you have only one or two choices once you initiate the block and pivot. And after turning her back to her attacker, she ducks under his arm and then goes for the armbar takedown. The only other option after the block & pivot is to run away, which I would suggest instead of trying that unlikely armbar takedown. The NHA technique is superior because it is multi-dimensional. After the block, Ardi was "inside" of Sabumnim with all of his primary targets exposed, chiefly his face. Elbows and knees and kicks and reaps could all be applied at that point, followed up by takedowns (if necessary). The initial block also had a "stun" dimension to it unlike the wind.

In summary, the wind looks good on Youtube, and the principal of absorbing and transferring energy is correct, but I have serious doubts about its merits against a strong hook punch.

Travis:

The very last one they did confirmed what I felt could happen, she had a hard time controlling his arm, and I would say she never really did have control of the arm. Then her elbow strike hit his chest every time, and her hand was higher then the point of impact which is bad form (but not knowing her rank I don't put much thought into "Her" elbow strikes). But if the man is much taller than the women it could be hard to strike him in the face, and even if I strike Pete in the chest I don't think it would make a difference.

I think it’s a high level move based on timing, and not practical for lower level students. Working in class on defenses from linear attacks (punch, grab) when I was not allowed to move my feet, I once guided Pete's hand right into my own eye. I knew it was coming and my timing was off just a hair and I ended up with one arm on the inside of Pete's arm and one on the outside of his arm, instead of both arms outside pushing the attack safely away from my own face.


I view the hook punch defense like a baseball bat defense or club, if you are on the inside of the attack (face to face) they lose quite a bit of power.

Also just a thought, could you use his opening and turn it into a sacrifice throw, without taking too much of the force of the punch? [Sabum’s Note: Yep. Matter of fact, a number of throwing arts do precisely that. We actually have techniques such as that, also. However, for women’s self-defense we wouldn’t teach them, as they are low-percentage.]

Julie:

I've also watched the video several times and agree with Matt. The movements are entirely too complicated for a high percentage defensive technique. From a woman's perspective, I like to evaluate techniques based on "what can *I* do quickly, efficiently, and with as little risk to myself as possible." The technique that we use has more positive attributes than the response that Sabumnim received, as Matt pointed out. I would rarely think of a time that I would willingly turn my back on my attacker. My timing against punches is not perfect, and this technique is based on timing the pivot precisely so that the energy of the punch is absorbed and redistributed into the circle and the subsequent elbow.

Additionally, in a self defense situation against an unknown attacker, I would not willingly choose an offensive technique that leaves myself vulnerable, should it fail. The arm bar take-down (elbow break) that is chosen in the response video looks great, but if the guy is large and the placement of my arm is not precise, then I am simply going to be hanging off his arm while he turns and proceeds to wallop me. If, however, my mass is sufficient enough to take him down and I don't break the arm, I am now in a ground fighting situation. Most women are not adequately trained for that situation, and that tends to be an even more difficult situation to get quickly away to safety.

Oh, and prior to the arm bar, there is the small problem of simply lifting the attackers arm over my head to put myself in position for the arm bar. Now, I'll submit that if I time the initial move correctly, absorb the flow of the punch and transfer the energy of my spin into my elbow AND place the elbow precisely in the face of the guy, THEN I MIGHT be able to lift the arm to step under for the arm bar. HOWEVER, the take down/elbow break is dependent upon everything else being done precisely and with exquisite timing.

I like the technique that we initially learn much better. Yes, we are closing with the attacker, but we are placing ourselves in a position that allows us to have further options. Personally, I think I would prefer to block the arm (as Sabumnim and Ardi demonstrate), grab the wrist, throw the outside elbow once or twice (or three times :)) and then take out the leg in a fashion that leaves me standing and the attacker crying for mercy on the ground. I would most likely use a crumple throw in that situation. Although I love the axe kick, I know that for balance and stability, the crumple throw is more stable than the axe kick.

So, to sum up my long-winded response. I like our technique better because it is not overwhelmingly dependent upon timing, it does not force me to turn my back on my attacker, and I am not utilizing an offensive technique that is at times a low percentage technique that would leave me on the ground next to my attacker.

Sabum's Response:

One important thing to bear in mind here is that we aren't trying to compete--the point of this isn't "our technique is better that yours!" or anything like that. We aren't comparing arts, styles, or practitioners. What we are doing, hopefully, is comparing effectiveness of technique, for a given situation. In the videos below, I hope I clearly explain that what we are doing is critiquing the use of the technique, not any given person.

One thing (in addition to my commentary in the videos below) regarding the response we received: The circular movement shown is something that occurs in Hapkido, also. However, we tend to not use it vs a circular attack, particularly if we are moving to the inside. We do utilize it vs a linear attack, most often choosing to move ourselves to the attacker's outside in our rotation. Thus, the linear attack (once we deflect and move offline) has no force with which to impact us, and the outside movement makes followup techniques by the attacker extremely difficult. I may add a short video of what I mean by that in the next post here.

Here is the set of response videos we created: