How to tactically, mentally, and physically prepare for the worst.

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avdrummerboy

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Hey all,

This seems the best place for this. There is plenty of information regarding the need and unalienable right of self-defense by any means, a firearm being quite effective in this field. I was wondering if anyone knew any good websites, books, etc. that go into how to tactically, mentally, and physically prepare for the worst? In other words, what exercises can be done with your firearm to prepare you.

A little background on me. I Live in the gun restrictive state of California. I am only 20 but as soon as I turn 21 I am getting my gun (a Glock 21 most likely.) Thus, CCW is most likely out of the question. I always have my knife on me.

But what kind of drills are there to do once I get my gun. Aside from learning to draw quickly and such?

Hope this question makes a little sense.
 
I suggest you go through a few boxes of ammo doing some calm, controlled, target shooting, to get used to your gun and break it in. If you're new to guns, especially handguns, practicing drills and quickdraws ain't the best idea. Good way to shoot yourself, someone else, or the TV. Once you're used to the pistol and shooting (eye and ear protection are a must!), then seek out a professional s/d trainer and take a class in it.
 
My knee-jerk response is to start saving up for a class like LFI-1 (very well known shooting/legal training by even more well known trainer/proponent/author Mas Ayoob).

How close to Oregon are you?

http://www.thunderranchinc.com/

Also, keep an eye on this:

http://www.ayoob.com/LFIschedule.html

Both the above links are worth exploring from a book/video perspective as well. Be sure to get the Ayoob book "in the gravest extreme" (before you turn 21). It may not be the final word, but it is probably the long-standing top contender for the first word in books of this nature...

FWIW.
 
Here's a good mental drill:

1. Try imagining getting attacked at various locations/times (example: while walking to your car...imagine a potential mugger doing an "interview" with you.)

2. Then think of ways of either avoiding, evading, or diffusing the situation. What physical barriers can you place between you and your potential attacker? Which direction should you move towards? Where can you run for help if need be? What do you have on hand that can be used to distract your attacker? IF YOU DID NOT HAVE A FIREARM ON HAND, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? At what point, would you draw your gun? (In other words, what specific act would be a triggering point for you?

3. This is a good mental drill.....that avoids "tunnel vision" of focusing only on using your firearm. Remember, if the only tool you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail. This is a good mental drill.......even in "Castle Doctrine" states. (Since you live in an oppressive anti-gun, anti-freedom state like California, then you must practice this type of mental drill even more so. In such a place like California, your self-defense actions will be second-guessed by the liberal jury in favor of your attacker. (By the way, if you live in California, it's time to wake-up your friends concerning the sorry state that CA is in with regards to personal right to defend one's self.)
 
Consider the odds.

Consider the stakes.

Then make an objective set of decisions based on those two parameters regarding how much time, effort and money you are willing to put into training and practice. For some of us, consuming every waking moment and every cent we have still would not be sufficient to prepare us "for the worst."

The key word is OBJECTIVE. Here in S&T, we often refer to it as realism.

Another board I know postulates the existence of bad guys who also train and prepare for their roles as criminals. There are indeed some out there who do just that, who are every bit as dedicated to training, practice, and preparation as any of us on the other side of the line. I know of two of the US military's absolute best who went rogue, for example- one Navy Seal and one Delta operator.

Could you ever get good enough to singlehandedly take on a Tier One operator who breaks into your house with evil intent while you are sleeping, no matter how much time, effort and money you put into training and practice?

But the bigger question is- what possible reason would a rogue Tier One operator have to break into your house? In the instance I'm familiar with, that reason would be if you were female- rape was his object.

So- are you going to become an ascetic warrior monk, or are you going to live what most of us here think of as a more balanced life? If you'd rather have a "normal, ordinary" life, then let's work more on realistic threat levels and not that whole "worst" thing, OK? I understand the idea that being prepared for the worst case means anything less will be manageable. I don't want to sound unreasonable here. But in most things in life, as with self defense, there has to be some sort of balance achieved.

"Good enough" will do for most of us, most of the time. When it comes your turn to draw a card at Felon Poker, how likely is it you will get a Tier One operator as opposed to some toothless crackhead, or a teenager crossing the major felony line for the first time?

How likely is it that 'good enough' won't BE good enough- say there's a whole squad of toothless crackheads when it's your turn to take the dance floor? Just how good do you really need to be? Just how much can you afford to dedicate to being that good, and still have a life?

I think that's a better question to work on here... and it's open to discussion.

hth,

lpl
 
I like your response...Lee. Good points. It's easy for a person to get so wrapped up in thinking of "how to defend my life against an attack" that they forget to have a life quality that is worth defending. We should not forget to live balanced lives.
 
Lee. That is with out a doubt the smartest and most practical post i have ever heard on the subject. Very sound advice.
 
Great post, Lee. I'd only add that any training process is just that, a process along a continuum. For me, I slowly, but steadily, move along that line in part because I enjoy it, and enjoy spending time at it, thus killing two of those birds one small stone at a time. I'll never be a top tier operator; but at least the days of being helpless are equally far away.
 
it has been said that "prudence is the better part of valor"

I personally feel that the mental and physical energy that I put into living a prudent lifestyle return greater dividnends towards personal security than the time I spend training with firearms.

I still train, but mainly because I enjoy it. And yes, my level of training is far short of that advocated by many on these boards.

None the less, of the half a dozen times I've been to the range with my co-worker, who is a qualified marksmanship coach in the USMC reserves, the only time I haven't out shot him was when he introduced me to the "Table III combat marksmanship" ;)
 
That's right along my lines of thinking when people scoff at folks buying cheap guns just for fun shooting, the guys that rate every firearm by it's tactical and combat attributes. Like the folks that treat others like idiots because they bought a High Point carbine just for plinking fun, the "why'd you buy that junk? You should have bought the uber-tactical, high-cap XXXX carbine for only $2000" crowd.
 
Lee's post is actually what I was thinking, don't know that it came out in words quite that way. Yes, I know there is always someone bigger, better, faster, stronger out there that I won't be able to keep up with. There is always that situation that you won't win (if six MS-13 members come up and want to kill you for example.) We train for worst case to that any other case is somewhat better.

I just want down to earth things that I can do without paying for military/ SWAT/ police gun training.

For rondog, that is what I meant. Learn to shoot, handle, takedown, put back together you firearm first. Then practice drawing your gun UNLOADED until you can do it without thought.
 
prepared

I have had guns since I was about 10,I am 85 and have never been attacked and lived in Boston for 10 yrs.I have carried of and on since the first.(it was different culture then).you want to learn join the Marines.you will grow up and get a practical world experiance.and learn to be and stay alert to your suroundings.it will carry you thru the rest of your life.:rolleyes::uhoh:
 
AVDRUMERBOY, some good advice above. I suggest after you've become proficient with your new handgun, familiar with safety, fundamentals, etc., seek out an IDPA club, join, and get some practice in various scenarios.

IDPA isn't perfect, of course, but you'll find out what it is like to shoot at "bad guy" paper targets with some stress added. Also, you'll meet some likeminded people.

Just last night I shot an IDPA match that was a "night time/flashlights only" shoot. Because it's been a long time since I shot a "night shoot" using a flashlight, I did not shoot nearly as well as I'd like. I'm going to practice on my flashlight, drawing, acquiring the target, and shooting technique. It is not at all unusual for a self defense shooting by a civilian to take place at night in the dark or very low light.

IDPA = International Defensive Pistol Assoc.

Be careful carrying a knife in Calif. They have some weird laws re knives there. (I lived 35 years in Los Angeles. ;) )

L.W.
 
Amazed at the lack of responses suggesting military service.
Educational in more ways than you can count.

Must be a generational thing.
 
Training helps but it is mind set and attitude that will get you through. Your best weapon and tactics are sitting on your shoulders. I will win. I will not be defeated. That type of attitude is picked up by street people.

Semper Fi
 
A little background on me. I Live in the gun restrictive state of California. I am only 20 but as soon as I turn 21 I am getting my gun (a Glock 21 most likely.) Thus, CCW is most likely out of the question. I always have my knife on me.
Click to expand...

Learning to shoot is very very expensive. Hundreds of rounds will have to be fired just for a basic level of compentency. You'll save a lot of money if you start with a 9mm or .38 special, .45 literally costs twice as much to shoot and stock as 9mm. Just something to consider.

If you carry a knife for defense, learn to use it properly. Go learn Kali, or some other serious knife based martial art. I used to think I knew what to do with a knife after years of striking based martial arts, then I took a few months of Kali and have a healthy respect for what a guy can and can't do with a knife. The other thing I learned in Kali was footwork, which applies when fighting with sticks, knives, empty hands, or with a gun at short range. If you want to find a Fillipino martial arts school, go to fmatalk. com and ask about schools in your area.
 
FWIW, avdrummerboy, the best short summary I know to prepare for self defense is "Do the work." It's pretty much an old hat saying in a lot of places, but it sure fits. "Work" is not just physical- "work" is MENTAL as well. And as has been suggested here already, the mindset that is necessary for successful self defense is your primary consideration.

There is IMHO a simple, inexpensive textbook for mindset. Just go to http://www.paladin-press.com/product/772/27 and order yourself a copy. Then- do the work. It's an old book, and the man who wrote it is no longer with us. But it's a classic, a touchstone, the place many of us got started however long ago it was that we did get started. It'll work for you too, if you'll use it.

I'd also suggest some reading and study at:

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/

http://www.teddytactical.com/

http://www.defense-training.com/quips/quips.html

http://www.corneredcat.com/ (Yeah, it's pink. Get over it.)

http://www.spw-duf.info/

Crawl/Walk/Run,

lpl
 
This is why I suggested becoming a Marine, if they will have you.
Click to expand...
First time "Join X/Y/Z" comes up with a caveat that makes sense. I agree that joining the military or LE may be the best way to be prepared tactically, mentally and physically for a violent encounter, especially price/quality-wise. However, there's a real possiblity that the OP can't do just that, for whatever reason (family to take care of, medical/physical condition, doesn't qualify academically for LE...)... Lots of folks seem to be forgetting that.
 
berrieberrie said:
However, there's a real possiblity that the OP can't do just that, for whatever reason (family to take care of, medical/physical condition, doesn't qualify academically for LE...)... Lots of folks seem to be forgetting that.
Click to expand...
But how would we know? When someone gives us incomplete or limited information, all anybody can do is guess at an answer.

Scott
 
On training ...

Great thread here. But it raises another question, in my mind anyway: It is easy to suggest that one should join the military or get good training; but what if this is not an option? What are the options for the guy who works a 40 or more hour week, mows the lawn and fixes the family car on weekends and coaches his son's little league team? It would be difficult to justify his spending, at the expense of a family vacation, his only vacation time (not to mention the money) at Gunsite or Frontsight or any number of training academies. This isn't to suggest that the training is anything less than first-rate, only that it may not be feasible for the average Joe the Plumber (sorry).

So my question is this: What training options are available to those who cannot afford "good training." And is it possible to train onesself through reading and/or video courses? I'm not suggesting; merely asking.
 
SR,

"Good training" is where you find it. There are a lot of very good local trainers who will never have a national or international reputation, but who can still teach you more in a few hours than you'd learn in years by yourself or with a couple of friends on the flat range. The time, ammo and related expenses you save, the steepening of your learning curve plus the bad habits that get straightened out quickly or never learned in the first place make "good training" worth while. Having an educated and experienced eye watch you go through drills will sort out problems you never even knew you had, and quickly. And they don't charge arms and legs either.

But you have to want to do it. Most people just don't want to seek professional training at any level, for whatever reason. There are lots of convenient excuses. At this point in life I just don't want to go there. Suffice it to say that anyone who wants to train will find a way to do it, and anyone who doesn't want to will find an excuse.

Yes, you can do yourself a certain amount of good reading, studying, watching videos, practicing on your own and competing in various practical shooting sports. But few people will reach their full potential- or will reach it nearly as quickly- as those who seek out "good training." No matter where they find it...

I'm working on a list right here in S&T- it might help a little ( http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=396584 ).

JMHO, YMMV,

lpl
 
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