[TimboKhan]

So, I was talking with a buddy of mine today, and the subject of self defense came up. After expounding on my theory of self defense for a little bit, he asked me a hard question: How do you know how you will react? I answered him honestly and told him that I thought that I would react similar to how I reacted in Desert Storm and Somalia. I ran towards the sound of gunfire as opposed to away from it. I can truthfully and legitimately call myself a combat veteran, and because I have been there/seen that, I feel a certain confidence in how I will react.

Still, once I got home and got to thinking about it, I started to realize that A: the situations are much different at home, and B: You sort of don't know whats going to happen until it happens to you. I still maintain and have confidence that I would react "properly" to a home invasion, and I really have no doubts about some sort of street confrontation, but it still begged the question: How do you condition yourself to fight rather than run? I know for me it was something that was more or less drilled into us in boot camp, but thats me. How does someone else learn?

I might be wrong, but it seems like this is an issue seperate from physical, tactical, marksmanship or combat training. You may fully well know how to move, find cover, etc..., but when that icy ball wells up in your gut, how do you condition yourself to get past it? Factor in the sudden and intense stress of the situation, the probability that your going to be making, literally, life or death decisions in the blink of an eye, and the fact that not every criminal is going to just stand there and let you shoot him or her. Start adding to that the possibility that the crook might have rattled off the first few shots already, or that there might be more than one crook about, or a million other little factors, and then maybe you can see where I am coming from.

So, lets keep this serious and relevant. How do YOU train yourself pyschologically? If you have had to react, what happened? Were you surprised at your actions? Were you prepared or caught completely flat-footed? Keep in mind that I am not interested in hearing about firearms training in the sense of actual shooting. I am interested in learning more about how to train yourself to react than I am about technique.

BTW, I am going to the lake for a little mini-vacation tomorrow afternoon, and I might not be able to post until sunday night or so, so if there are any questions, I am not ignoring you!

[ShackleMeNot]

In my opinion formal, relevant and realistic square range training augmented with quality Force on Force training is the best way to mentally and physically prepare for fighting.

Read these threads for student reviews of classes we've done:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=280162

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=157436

Scenario-based Force on Force isn't about draw stroke, shooting or marksmanship. Although those things are important, at its core FoF is about decision making under stress. The best way to find out how you will react in a situation is to be put through it.

Some recent pictures:
http://www.warriormindset.com/hosted/seymour_04_07/seymour_fof20.jpg

http://www.warriormindset.com/hosted/seymour_04_07/seymour_fof16.jpg

http://www.warriormindset.com/hosted/fof_murf4.jpg

http://www.warriormindset.com/hosted/fof_murf_2007/fof_murf3.jpg

http://www.warriormindset.com/hosted/fof_murf_2007/fof_murf7.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n55/cda24/FOF%20Class/IMG_3226.jpg

[Titan6]

Your A and B points are quite valid. Combat is quite different than one on one. You have buddys that will back you up reliably (or you know which ones won't) and cover your but if needed. You have more resources at your call as opposed to whatever you brought. You are led and/or in charge, this builds morale and confidence. That said combat can last for much longer than any SD encounter you are likely to have so you need more of edge to stick around when your mind is telling you to get out of there.

I have to ask; what is wrong with running away? Why run to the shooting? Are you concerned about self defense or are we getting involved in the defense of others business? This is an important distinction and will effect your actions to no end. I am not making a judgement here just wondering what your mind set is.

[TimboKhan]

Well, really it's an academic question, but one that I think has some merit. Since I don't know how to answer the question, it would be nice to have some basis to do so. Like I said, for me, it's not a particular concern.

what is wrong with running away

Nothing is wrong with running away, and sometimes that is the best solution. However, it is hard to run away in your house.

[hawk84]

I dont have any training unless you count some martial arts/highschool wrestling

Anyway, when I was in college I heard my name outside my dorm room, so I opened the door to see 3 men Id never seen before. The directly across from me(<10 ft) reaches into his waist and begins to pull an airsoft gun. i didn't know it was an airsoft gun.

Before it had left his waist. I had run him across the hallway into the cinderblock wall, driving my shoulder into his chest and then my knee onto his ribs as he fell. I now had possesion of his real enough looking 1911 and was turning on his 2 friends, which was about the time I realized that I was infact holding a toy, and these 3 Mensa Members were friends of my roomate

I would like to think this is how I would respond again. Then again, if I was 30 feet away, I would have been scrambling for cover.

Moral of the story, don't pull out a gun or anything that looks like one infront of someone you don't know, you may not like the results

[CraigJS]

Fighting a war and defending ones self (at home) are 180 degrees different. The object of carrying a defencive weapon at home is to get out of trouble, your first choice if possible, is to withdraw.. And if you can get out of trouble without firing a shot, you've already "won". At home firing should be your LAST resort. Wars just don't work that way. IMHO
Be safe..

[TallPine]

Do ya'll think wildland firefighting would be of any advantage?

We run to the flames rather than away from them.

[DogBonz]

In war, you have rules of engagement. In most places you have some legal duty to retreat or not engage if you could have avoided it. I'm not saying that if the stuff goes down you have to cower under your bed, but if some criminal opens fire two blocks away, you might not be legaly allowed to run over and shoot at him.

[DragonFire]

In the lone instance where I thought I might really have to draw my gun, my only thoughts were to check what was behind the potential BG, and (kinda weird) that I'd never trained for what to do if their was two of us with guns (I was with a much more experience friend who I knew was carrying).

It surprised me, that I wasn't scared (sort of excited though), there was no second-thoughts about maybe having to shoot another human being, nothing but "if he pulls a weapon, I will take one step back while drawing and draw".

It was at that point that I knew I was training properly.

I do not train to fight or to flee. I try to be aware of my current situation, and to react in the best way I can. I've walked away in some instances when I thought things could escalate into something bad, I've taken defensive posture (condition red) and postions (back against a wall) when I couldn't walk away, and was ready to draw if that became necessary.

I don't plan to ever run towards the sound of gunfire (unless it's inside my own house), nor do I want to be a hero, or feel I have to defend anyone but myself and my family. I do feel I'm committed enough to do whatever I have to to defend myself and family.