From various media outlets, it seems knife attacks are steadily increasing, from New York to Texas knives have bee used to inflict death and serious injury. As a lifelong student of Kali, I have a very healthy respect for knives . I am not going to suggest what martial is best for knife defense, because martial arts are only one small part of the equation. Situational awareness will serve you far better as a starting foundation. The easiest way to win a knife fight is never getting in one in the first place.
Remember distance is the number thing if you are forced to encounter a knife attack, distance from the blade and depending on your surroundings, always trying to get a barrier (table, chair, etc) from the attacker. Many of you out there , have had your rights taken away on obtaining and carrying a handgun, so we leave that off the table this time.
I am bringing this up, because you need to take time and make plan , in case you face this type of attack in a restaurant, church or whatever. Think now, so you will not go catatonic later.
K Gents, heres a preparedness item we men often neglect - When is the last time u had a physical or checkup with your doctor? Screenings can save your ass just as well as the tactical stuff we discuss all the time. Our bodies are, after all, the 1st piece of equipment we need to maintain. So if itโs due for an inspection or preventive maintenance, take that thing to a bodysmith and get it checked out.
This post was provoked by my colonoscopy scheduled today. We will leave it right there.
I try to have my doc look me over once a year. This includes blood tests and physical exams. Also, I am fortunate to be able to go to the doc whenever I want and I take full advantage of it. They probably think Iโm a hypochondriac, but Iโm not taking any chances. My dad and grandfather neglected the doctor and lived shorter lives because of it. Not me.
Thought for the day: Thank you to all who wear the badge. Even through I carry a fed badge now, my work is not nearly as dangerous as when I used to work the streets of a major city. Be safe, returned to your family. Too the LEOโS on this thread, a personal thanks.
Question of the day: If you are an LEO or first responder, what are doing to improve your skills this year?
Need to replace rain poncho. Thx for the reminder!
Iโve noticed that, since my church staff & parochial school staff on same grounds went to ALICE training in December, some strengthening of security, and tighter lips regarding security. Also less receptive, seemingly suspicious, of suggestions regarding security. Iโm an usher and recommended lot checks during mass shortly after I started volunteering. Other ushers said not to after I just up and did it 1st time I was there, said to ask head priest. Been unable to get a response from him or his assistant priests. Seems crazy nobody thinks checking the lot and outside of doors is needed, plus wont discuss it. Physical security like that is so important. So, I keep my head on a swivel from rear of sanctuary during massโฆbest I can do.
I dont understand why โregularโ people dont desire to discuss that which keeps them safe.
Some training may change based on assignment but on my list right now:
Less Lethal Instructor (bean bags and 40mm)
LSDD Instructor (flash bangs)
Breeching (mechanical and ballistic)
Got to check but I may be due for a re-cert on TASER instructor
Couple of other โtrainingโ goals: shoot 20 USPSA matches in 2020 (may get adjusted depending on shifts) and participate in the B2V relay race.
In the training world itโs not unusual to hear โThat IDPA/USPSA will get you killed on the street.โ And usually itโs said by someone with a specific agenda, quite possibly a profit motive, or someone not fully informed.
Many things will get you killed on the street, most of them resulting from dynamics that began before a gun was ever drawn.
The truth is that the more you a) draw your gun, b) practice the operation of your weapons under all possible conditions & scenarios, & c) shoot, then the more likely you will be to survive an armed encounter.
*So does competitive shooting check so those boxes? Absolutely. And if you think competitive shooting doesnโt provide for adrenaline, time warp, and visual & auditory compression & exclusion, oh - & stress, then Iโm going to guess youโve never tried it.*
Thought for the day (2): I have to leave for 5 days, be safe, be aware and watch your 6.
Some items of interest:
For Batman730 and all K-9 officers here:
For 2Jar Slave and other mat warriors:
Batman730: I posted the wrong video, it was supposed to be about field care for you K-9. Truly fucked this up. now, I cannot find it in my notes. Surefire has a canine medical video. The one posted is worth watching. Sorry, brother
Definitely a good video. Iโve been thinking I need to get some better/ongoing tac-med training. Weโve all got IFAKs with tourniquet, chest seals, celox and OLAES bandages, which is great. Problem is, we get 4 hours training every 2 years. Iโm not comfortable with that as a save me/my buddy/the kid hit at a school shooting standard of proficiency.
Completely agree. As I see it the ability to draw, present, identify and engage targets with speed and accuracy (often from unconventional positions), run your gun, reload etc and to do all those things while moving in a complex, unfamiliar evironment would probably be helpful in gunfight. Being able to do it on demand with performance anxiety is even better.
I see it in the same vein as RBSD/krav/combatives instructors who knock Boxing/BJJ/MT/MMA etc. saying itโs a game with rules and it will get you killed in the street. Again, the ability to execute effective strikes, takedowns, and physically dominate and control a fully resistant person is useful in a violent encounter. Can you bite, groin strike, eye-gouge, deploy a weapon etc? Yep. You can also do those things better if you can actually fight.
In my observation the โtacticalโ shooter who looks down on sport shooting and the street fighting instructor who looks down on practical combat sports often wouldnโt fare very well against the competitors they are trying to belittle.
Itโs become something of a pet peeve of mine, actually.
4 hours every two years? Damn, you need 4 hours a week. If some member of your department is called upon to save someone and they donโt , some defense lawyer will wreck havoc on the department for lack of training. ( well, in the US anyway)
A simple drill that is very good at pointing out your deficiencies:
Place an IPSC/IDPA target five yards from the front edge of the box with five-yard spacing between the conesโfiring three to five shots in each segment, depending on gun capacity. Begin at the front right corner, raise or draw the gun and move backward, firing with a two-hand hold. Go around the rear cone and switch to strong-hand-only, firing the same number of shots. At the left-rear cone, do a reload and switch to a two-hand hold, firing as you move forward. At the final turn, change to weak-hand-only and move toward the start.
Training; range work, hotel gym and barnyard workouts out in the hinterlands.
Question of the day:
Based on what I saw last week and especially since someone had a medical issue, did you scheduled that medical wellness check?
