The Challenge...

[Brian@ITC]

Alright, we have updated “The Challenge” because people said it needed to be done from concealment and they were right.

What is “The Challenge” you ask… well, it is simply a video clip we put together to see if you can draw and “shoot” (dry fire) before you get cut. Okay… you aren’t really going to get cut; the screen is going to turn red when the attacker cuts a stick that represents you.

We deal with a lot of people who THINK they can get their gun out and use it in a fight. Truth of the matter is that things will happen MUCH faster than what you think it will. And, you won’t have as much time to react as you believe you will. Lateral movement is not the ideal direction of movement in a lot of situations because you would easily get cut and possibly even be taken out of the fight should you choose to move this direction.

The purpose of the challenge is hopefully to get you to realize where your true skills are in regards to you reacting, drawing and shooting ONCE you have identified a potential threat.

Going straight for your gun is not the answer in a lot of situations. So, do you think that you can perceive the attackers movement and identify a threat, draw, and shoot in less than one second AND hit your target AND take them immediately out of the fight? Well, of course we cannot tell you that you will or will not hit your target and take them immediately out of the fight. But that’s what would need to happen in order for you to stand the best chance of survival.

We can only help you to realize whether or not you currently have the ability in a CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT to react, draw, and shoot before the attacker cuts you. After all, if you can’t do it “here”, then you won’t stand a chance at doing it in the real deal!!! Of course, there are far more variables in a real fight than we can present on a short video clip.

So, if you dare, take “The Challenge”.

 

[JohnKSa]

I thought it was pretty well established that inside 21 feet it was highly unlikely that a person could draw and fire before a contact weapon was used against them...

It should go without saying that at half that distance or less the same applies.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Hey Brian, that was fun. Didn't blow up my laptop and it was fun.

Used my appendix IWB .38 Snub setup (and I did it ONLY once!)

The guy telegraphed his attacks. Watch is face. Also, being on 'condition orange' I had my left hand grip my t-shirt (yea I cheated, but then what does Clint Smith say about that?)

5 ft was belly-to-belly distance so I shot retention/hip. Maybe the .38 would have stopped him (one shot), maybe not...

Only when it got to 10 ft did I feel I had a good chance of two rounds.

But that video is a good lesson on how fast someone with a hidden knife can stick you (keep in mind I was in 'orange'), if I'd been in yellow I doubt I would have had time to do anything but bleed or block and go H2H.

This is also a lesson on why you need H2H skills! If I had of had the gun in a more deep concealment rig I would have never have gotten it out in time and thus H2H may be your only option.

Good video Brian. If only the DPS would allow us CHL instructors to use that kind of video it would supprise lots of would-be pistol packers.

 

[CryingWolf]

Yep, I would have to say anything under seven yards and you are already engaged. Only true way of defending against this attack is to stop it before it happens. IE. Strange guy in the park lets keep our distance, or try a different park. Maybe a small pistol in a pocket holster that you can fire through. I think the key here is not to let him get that close without showing his intentions and moving if and when the attack comes.

 

[CryingWolf]

@Deaf Smith,

Pocket pistol was the only thing I could come up with. Agree with the thought I would have my hand on the pistol in the situation I was seeing. Knowing H2H or a good surprise movement here anything that throws the attacker off balance would be good.

 

[Brian@ITC]

Deaf Smith,

Glad to hear you TRIPLE CHECKED your firearm like the video says to!

I "tried" to give it away without over doing it. We take this video to gun shows and I have numberous takes of it with different cues that people SHOULD pick up on. However, we find that A LOT of people are oblivious to most of the signs.

Yes, one of the purposes of the video is to hopefully enlighten people that H2H skills are NECESSARY!!!

 

[TallPine]

You know - I am dead set against government control over anything ...

but I am starting to think they should outlaw websites with dark backgrounds and light text

 

[Brian@ITC]

Hey... I could make it REALLY tough by making the text black also!!! And... it MIGHT flash long enough to scratch your head to make you think that you saw something or question whether or not your monitor is going out.

 

[TallPine]

Well, if you want to sell something, it might be best not to assault your potential customers eyeballs

 

[ilbob]

but I am starting to think they should outlaw websites with dark backgrounds and light text

and annoying music.

and videos with spelling errors in them (see 3:21).

if I see someone shifting back and forth like that clown was, I am not going to be standing there looking at him. I am headed off in another direction.

It does make the good point of how fast something can happen.

 

[CraigJS]

To me it seems that movement (to increase distance) as soon as the threat is seen along with drawing your weapon is a large part of surviving an attack..
To stand there like you've grown roots is ASKING for trouble. Moving increases the time you have to react.
Be safe, CraigJS

 

[dogtown tom]

ilbob: ...if I see someone shifting back and forth like that clown was, I am not going to be standing there looking at him. I am headed off in another direction...

+1

Either the guy was cranked up on meth or he needed to pee real bad.

Staying within thirty feet of anyone who is dancing around with aggressive body language like that is stupid. Distance is your friend.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Brian,

How about after the guy charges you show a fake bullet hole on the screen and have the audio give a real loud gunshot! Nah, better not, some might have weak hearts.

 

[MostlyGenius]

JohnKSa: The only thing that the Tueller drill ("21 Rule") actually established was that most people can move about 14 ft. per second.

The video has a guy standing there for 10 seconds making pre-assaultive gestures for about ten seconds prior to his sub-second attack. The video makes a great point about reactionary gap, but the premise is a little flawed to my thinking. A potential threat at 5 ft. means you need to be doing something. Creating distance and issuing verbal commands are on that list.

 

[Brian@ITC]

Sure, there are flaws in everything. The video is JUST a tool. I stood there because I didn't want anyone to be able to "predict" when I was going to attack which is the way that it really is. Yes, there are signs of an attack, and that is part of the drill. But, A LOT of people are oblivious to those signs and that is a reality.

Again, a lot of people think that they can get their gun out and use it when they don't practice. We have found that when conducting this drill at gun shows most people cannot draw and shoot because they haven't practiced. Or they say, well, I would have just sidestepped or whatever. Again, lateral movement is not good in many situations because it doesn't create distance quickly enough.

We have also found that people normally go straight for their gun which isn't a wise idea either much of the time. But, that is what A LOT of firearms training teaches people, therefore that is there "first" reaction which isn't always the correct thing to do.

All we are saying is that IF you are forced to REACT and you go for your gun, CAN YOU DO IT? We are just trying to encourage people to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

 

[BOONER]

lateral movment is good at times.
oblique movment is better.

reward isnt always good as we have shown in class many times that a
foward moving attacker can run you down faster than you can move in reward. direction.

going hands on isnt always a win win either,

FOF is a great tool as well.
certian shooting postions. and fighting can be intoduced such as shooting from retention while blocking as well

 

[MarshallDodge]

Except for the music, I liked the video.

It makes for a good training aid.

 

[doc540]

What was so hard about that?

Burr headed, jiggy perp puts his hands in his pockets and looks at me like that...POW!

He should've watched some Youtube vid's and learned how keep his distance from me.

 

[Brian@ITC]

He should've watched some Youtube vid's and learned how keep his distance from me

Now that is just FUNNY!

 

[Brian@ITC]

TallPine,

I changed the color of the font on the website JUST because of you. Now, if that isn't special, I don't know what is.

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

Sure, there are flaws in everything. The video is JUST a tool. I stood there because I didn't want anyone to be able to "predict" when I was going to attack which is the way that it really is. Yes, there are signs of an attack, and that is part of the drill. But, A LOT of people are oblivious to those signs and that is a reality.

Agree.

There is simply no way to make a real-life, 100% accurately interactive internet web video to portray what you were attempting to communicate.

Point is, people need to realize how fast a crazy person can be on you. Rember: THEY KNOW what they're thinking and what they're planning on doing--you, as the potential target/victim, can only guess or assume. Already has you at a disadvantage and the video shows just how fast TARFU can change to FUBAR.

Again, a lot of people think that they can get their gun out and use it when they don't practice. We have found that when conducting this drill at gun shows most people cannot draw and shoot because they haven't practiced. Or they say, well, I would have just sidestepped or whatever. Again, lateral movement is not good in many situations because it doesn't create distance quickly enough.

Again, agree.

Lot of people say a lot of things when their heart isn't racing, the sweat isn't starting to run and the adrenal glands aren't doing their best to shut down your brain's line of cohesive, rational thought.

Assaults take most people by surprise.

We have also found that people normally go straight for their gun which isn't a wise idea either much of the time. But, that is what A LOT of firearms training teaches people, therefore that is there "first" reaction which isn't always the correct thing to do.

The going for the gun is pure reflexive reaction. Gun is seen as the King Arthur's sword able to slay dragons by its mere presence.

I WISH it worked that way.

At five feet closure distance, you're ALREADY ENGAGED and your holstered gun is pretty much useless.

All we are saying is that IF you are forced to REACT and you go for your gun, CAN YOU DO IT? We are just trying to encourage people to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Agree, but my caveat would be to THINK, THINK, THINK about these kind of situations so you can REACT, REACT, REACT when they BEGIN to occur rather than letting them get as far along the way as the video portrays.

Jeff

 

[mbs357]

Pretty neat website thar. I like the 45 degree cross stepping video as well.

 

[hankdatank1362]

I'm thinking that a low front snap kick, maybe from his jewels to his stomach, ought to keep him a little further than arms reach, giving you enough time to do your best to block with your weak hand and draw with your strong, firing from retention.