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Resistance See other Resistance Articles Title: Train Like Your Life Depends on It Train Like Your Life Depends on It Jeff Cantor | Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 4:30 pm (Here is another in a special series of articles by Jeff Cantor, an expert on personal security and close-quarter combat.) So many people love to talk about their training, whether they go to the local shooting range and throw some lead at the targets or they hit the local martial arts school for a self-defense class. Some folks have even spent years training in one thing or another to prepare themselves to defend against anything from muggers to madmen. Over the decades I have had many martial arts and self-defense instructors come through my door with a foundation they thought was geared to the “mean streets.” That is, they believed their training was truly and authentically practical for street survival. From my experience, however, I have found that the vast majority of these people – and with no disrespect to them — have studied concepts and techniques in an organized, progressive system of self-defense. They have learned how to “fight.” And though those skills certainly warrant value, they won’t help them deal with real violence, like a ruthless, murderous, sneak attack by a career thug. Then there are those who like to go to the shooting range. Yes, it’s fun and entertaining. You may even pick up some good tips and tricks. But it’s not training. Are you training to save your life or just punching holes in paper? Ask yourself … Are you “target shooting,” punching holes in paper and looking for good groupings? Or are you training for a bloody shootout with a crazed gunman? Most shooting ranges will not let you draw your weapon from your holster on a target or multiple targets – even if you don’t fire it. And don’t even think about trying a quick draw under stress. So that removes a substantial aspect of practical firearms training right there. So target shooting at a range is not preparing you in any way for a violent encounter. So it’s not training, either. Let’s clarify the concept of “fighting” versus “violence” because many people confuse the two and they are quite different. Someone is “fighting” when they focus on hitting you, punching you, kicking you or beating you up. It is what everyone thinks of when they hear the term “barroom brawl” … but it is not about what I call “violence.” In my world, “violence” means facing experienced criminals and psychopaths. These scumbags strike with little or no warning. They often ambush their victims, be it at night in the darkness or from behind. They almost always use weapons that they are familiar with. And they will strike to kill you as quickly as possible or to inflict savage wounds that will leave you helpless and in shock. And it will be over in a matter of seconds – one way or another. In contrast, here’s how most fights go among normal folks. When I was a very young man, I had a friend named Steve. He was an average guy from a normal home. He did some exercise, played sports and drank beer. One night a group of us went out to the local watering hole to celebrate Steve’s birthday. While he was at the bar getting a beer, Steve apparently “bumped” into another young man standing next to him. The situation escalated as the guy said, “Hey, what’s your problem?” And then the long, cold stare between the two “combatants” began. Luckily the observant bartender called over one of the bouncers. And the hired muscle told them both to walk away, which they did … for that moment anyway. About an hour later, the guy at the bar walked over to my friend Steve and whispered in his ear that he would be waiting outside for him. Sure enough, we all walked outside and there the guy was with his friends. Well I think Steve was nervously amped up at the sight of this guy and his friends. And I don’t think he really knew what to expect. He did not have to wait long to find out. The other guy quickly shoved him and then punched him in the face. The two men grappled and fell to the ground together, wrestling and hitting each other. It ended when several of us broke them apart. Steve was bleeding from his face and ear. The other guy didn’t seem to have a scratch on him. While not downplaying the fight that happened, punches were exchanged, there was bruising and some bleeding, but both people walked away. The margin for error in this type of situation is great. On the other hand, when violence rears its ugly head, you can suddenly find yourself trapped in a life-or-death struggle. Don’t believe me? Just turn on the TV news. You’ll be inundated by stories about brutal home invasions, carjackings, assaults, rapes and murder. Poster Comment: Punching holes in targets is not training. Be like Dirty Harry and hit what you aim at. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: BTP Holdings (#0)
I am a pistol instructor these days and also train permit to carry. I also train Systema twice a week. I have been doing that for about 5 years now. I live in a bad neighborhood and know full well how quickly things can escalate. Just because you don't have to worry, does not mean you shouldn't train. I do indeed train like my life depends on it. I also train people because their lives depend on it. "Call Me Ishmael" -Ishmael, A character from the book "Moby Dick" 1851. "Call Me Fishmeal" -Osama Bin Laden, A character created by the CIA, and the world's Hide And Seek Champion 2001-2011. -Tommythemadartist
Soon I will have my Dillon loading press set up here. And then my 9mm pistol that is in the safe at work. I carried that in Chicago in the late 70s when I did cosmetics deliveries for this woman in old neighborhood. She had this purple fluid that took the kinks out of the blacks hair. I would deliver it be the gallon to the beauty shops on south side. She told me, "Don't take any checks from those people." I collected CASH. By the time I was done, I had $500 to $800 on me. Never had any trouble and I stayed off the side streets. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Can't you carry at work and home?
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
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