Post
by slingshot » Fri May 18, 2012 11:47 am
Many of us in this forum, do not conceal carry a firearm.
I always carry a small blade on me. My EDC is a Boker Subcom with a keychain and keys. It is unobstrusive, does not look like a blade, small and the ring of the keychain holds my little finger, making it very difficult to disarm. I also carry a hand held impact device...a pointed ball point pen will do nicely. In my car, I keep an old scuffed baseball bat and a ball. What I am trying to say, is that we need to be prepared all the time.
I have written this earlier somewhere on this site and I am re-producing my comments here as they might be relevant on this thread too.
As a long term student of Krav Maga (and I mean no disrespect to any other combat form), I can vouch that we do not relate to books during a situation of physical stress. There are usually 4 possible levels of physical threat :
1. Competition : Usually, governed by rules and there is no major threat to life. I do not mean that people in MMA or boxing or other combat linked sports do not get hurt. They do. However, the intent is to compete, showcase skill and the sparring is usually governed by rules that safeguard the competitors from definite death.
2. One on one upmanship : This is usually what you see in Bars or on the road. Heated tempers, lots of shouting, jostling, pushing. There might be a possibility of more than one attacker. However there are possibly people who will intervene and separate the parties or might join in the fisticuffs. This situation has a higher risk of physical harm than the first situation. This is street fight or a bar brawl and the situation is free flowing. Chairs, bottles and other improvised weapons could be in use. However the threat of losing ones life is somewhat remote as this is again a situation where there are witnesses, police, parties that can intervene and better counsel can prevail after tempers are cooled down.
3. Definite physical harm : Now this is a bad situation. I can assure you that you will get hurt. This is premeditated and you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time. For example you have just arrived at a lane where 3 muggers are waiting for a victim. There are usually more than one assailant, they will be armed and if it is knifes, you will be definitely cut. Only a high level of training and repeated practice that allows your body to ingrain the technique into muscle memory can help you get out of this. No book, theory, knowledge can help. There is no thinking, remembering or planning. You are simply flowing, reacting, attacking, knowing fully well that you will get hurt, but with the singular determination to survive and cut down the opposition without any remorse or hesitation. You are the weapon.
4. Armed combat : This is when you are in armed combat in the military, para-military against an enemy. It is kill or be killed.
As a rule, please only train for situation 3 and situation 4. The first two situations will take care of themselves if you follow this approach. Please learn a blade technique. Possibly the Kerambit in Silat Gayong or a cut, thrust, slash technique. Also, know how to handle a firearm. In situation 3, you will be surprised to know that most criminals have a point and shoot technique. Crude. It might help you to neutralise the situation if you can learn some basic disarming and accurate shooting.
This approach takes practice and time. But then we all have one life. Why lose it to some street trash with a bad knife!
There is no downside to Freedom!