Training other than firearms?

HardKnox

Inactive
Other than shooting and cqb/ handgun courses does anyone else here believe that training other aspects of yourself is just as important?

im a young man, and until recently couldnt even own a handgun. but since i wanted to be able to defend myself i started working out and studying various martial arts (taekwondo, brazillian jujitsu and most recently krav maga) the result is a 250 lb 6'3" man who can stand up for himself compared to the 160 lb out of shape 6'3" teenager i used to be.

a lot what i read on this site and others deal with situations where its not safe to draw and fire, do others here train for those situations? how do you train? what do you do when someone sticks a gun in your back on the subway?

NOTE: i am not criticizing anyones method of training just making an observation and stating my opinion that the majority of situations that occur drawing your ccw wont be an option

ALSO NOTE: i have only been in one situation where i had to defend against an armed person, and he was high on drugs with a long barreled shotgun and i had the element of surprise therefor it didnt count really. who knows what i would do with my traing methods, maybe i would just poo myself and cry, i cant tell you
 
i've trained in karate, tae kwon do, aikido, muay thai, vale tudo and chi na
these were all useful to me in some way or another but no so much as vale tudo and kickboxing (probably because the are both full contact. but i really did'nt ge how to use this training until i started working at a local nightclub as a bouncer..... experience is the best teacher
i've delt with a few guys with knives, bottles and pool cues but never a gun.
a well rounded and experienced fighter, trains often and hard, as well studying various types of combat and fighting styles - using what works for YOU.
 
I used to train in karate, tae kwon do, and jujitsu. I trained seriously for about 3 years. Since then I've had a shoulder surgery and my 3rd knee surgery. I just can't do it anymore, I had to give it up about 6 years ago. Sucks because I miss it, especially the competitions. I recommend it because it teaches you a lot of other things, such as staying calm and thinking thru a fight or conflict. That was the most valuable lesson to me.
Now I train in .45, .357, and 9mm.
 
Besides firearms training I've had;

Unarmed Combat
Weapon Retention

I won't go in to the subduing and cuffing classes, since they are not pertinant to this discussion.

Biker
 
as a bouncer

As a bouncer, I wish I had taken more than just tae kwon do to learn to defend myself. After recently learning more about chi na and muay thai, I am very interested in finding schools here in austin to gain those skills. The worst I ever faced in a bar was a 3-on-me brawl when I tried to escort a drunk out the door. Luckily, everyone other than me was so drunk, it took liitle to subdue them until another bouncer could give me a hand. When I took TKD, we rarely did much in the way of training for multiple assailants so
I was glad to have the help.
 
-Reading people, and rooms.
Often times it is not what one see or hears, it is what is seen and heard.

-Avoiding trouble in the first place, leaving when trouble shows up and knowing how and what to do if trouble shows up.

-Engage without engaging.

-Defensive, Assertive, Aggressive Driving.

-Thinking out of the box.

For instance what normal everyday items can be used in a defensive manner, and/or allow one to stay safe.

"Restricted property" , By law, metal detectors and no gun, no knife ?
Trash can being tossed, used defensively and yelling, cussing and acting plumb crazy will get BGs to back off and Help will come running ASAP.

Guns are OK, just another tool in the toolbox - guns are not THE tool.
 
You nailed it SM. IMHO phisical training is the key and weapon is just as you discribed, a tool.

Stangng at the range shooting at targets doesn't make it as apparent but FOF or even the competion shooters will all agree that being in good phisical shape is foundational.

MOST of the time unarmed SD is what is called for. The weapon is the equalizer or 'final option' as is so commonly heard. It will damn sure stop the action too weather fired or not.

Would rather not list proficiencies. I much prefer to quietly observe and occasionally participate in the discussions here.
 
In my opinion the Muay Thai / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most formidable combination of martial arts for self-defense. I train both and under an ex-SEAL who runs a school here in Northern VA.
 
Avoiding trouble in the first place, leaving when trouble shows up and knowing how and what to do if trouble shows up.

A few years ago, I had a colleague who had been studying martial arts all of his adult life. In his early 40s at this time, he was preparing to take some test to enter "the next level", which from what I gathered was a pretty darned high level. I suggested he'd feel pretty comfortable against some BGs in a dark alley, and he responded by saying an important thing he learned in his training was to avoid the dark alley in the first place. It really made an impression on me.

In a recent article in some gun rag, I read about SD training where the trainees were put in a "situation" while in a car. As I recall, a good number of trainees hopped out of the car and returned fire rather than simply hitting the gas. The point of the lesson was that the latter, rather than the former, was the better option.
 
Other than shooting and cqb/ handgun courses does anyone else here believe that training other aspects of yourself is just as important?

Oh, hell yeah. There may be times when your body is the most important weapon you have. Submisson skills definitely, and maybe a little boxing to back it up.

Behind that, knife skills. A man skilled with a knife is a damn scary thing.
 
krav

A man skilled with a knife is a damn scary thing

That's the truth, I trained in Krav Maga for about a year(until our school shut down:mad:) training against someone armed with a dummy knife really opens your eyes. I used to think I'd try to deal with someone armed with a knife, now I think I'd just get the f**k out of there!

I also love bjj but the last thing you want is to get tangled up on the ground with some guy.
 
I used to know a monsterous Moo Duk Kwan master by the name of Chuck Dokes who beat me into pudding more times than I like to remember. He got me back into martial arts quite late in life. I think he's still teaching in the Chicago suburbs if any of y'all feel like being embarassed in a match.

I have not sparred since I broke a rib last year but I still run a few sprints now and then and lift a few weights. Martial arts and exercise are good for you and it can't hurt to be in acceptable condition in a bad situation.
 
Well, my personal opinion is that your unarmed combat skills are far more important than your “shooting” skills. You can take your unarmed skills with you wherever you go unlike your handgun. There are many times you may not be justified in using your handgun. However, if you do not possess any other skills, your gun may be your only option. The gun IS the LAST RESORT!!! Furthermore, you are not guaranteed to stop the attacker with your gun, so you need Plan B!

I personally train for a variety of situations, both armed and unarmed. The key is to train REALISTICALLY in whatever you are training in at the time. Sure, you have to learn the basics, but you also have to at some point progress to training realistically.

Remember, YOU are the weapon, everything else is just a TOOL!
 
rifle, handgun, stick, knife, empty hand, humor/deescilation and the all important avoidance

All important elements in self defense in increasing order of importance.;)
 
There are many times you may not be justified in using your handgun

Hate to bust this thread's bubble, but I don't see much point in any of it for actual SD. If you are in a situation that justifies using fists, you are justified using a gun. I won't give someone a chance to incapacitate me. I carry a gun to defend myself from attacks, armed or unarmed.
If you are carrying a gun and get into a fistfight, you are giving someone the chance to knock you out and take your gun and shoot you or someone else.
And before you say, "well I woudn't get into a fight I though I could lose", NOBODY gets into fights thinking they are going to lose. No matter how bad you are, there is always somebody badder.
Physical fitness and the mental aspects of training will help, but if you are under the impression that you will be able to fight yourself out of a situation, you need to think again.

Step one is to walk away. If I am prevented from being able to do so, I will defend myself with the limits of the laws without putting myself at risk for any physical harm. Meaning step 2 is to draw my gun, and if needed, step 3 is to fire.
 
...

If you are in a situation that justifies using fists, you are justified using a gun.

I still feel this is untrue. Again, kc, have you shot at everyone that ever took a swing at you?
 
I still feel this is untrue
Regardless of what you feel, I know the laws.
Again, kc, have you shot at everyone that ever took a swing at you?
No. I find that I don't get swung on nearly as often as you seem to. I have the ability to be the bigger man and to walk away, avoiding confrontation. If prevented from doing so and I feel that I am being threatened, see step 2.
 
ahh...

I have the ability to be the bigger man and to walk away, avoiding confrontation.

The "bigger man" with the childish insult, huh? Or the "bigger man" who sees a gun as an out when confronted by an unarmed person? Which "bigger man" are you talking about?
 
The "bigger man" with the childish insult, huh? Or the "bigger man" who sees a gun as an out when confronted by an unarmed person? Which "bigger man" are you talking about?

Wow, you sure are quick to take it as an insult, huh? And to attack me when I said nothing against you at all! No wonder you get swung on so much!

I wasn't even refering to you, I was refering to the other party in a hypothetical conflict between myself and him. It was actually an insult to a nonexistant entity.
As I said, I would be the bigger man and walk away. If I feel I am in danger at that point, then yes, I will indeed shoot an unarmed person. I'm not going to get into a fistfight while carrying a gun. That would be absolutely foolish. Again, what if he gets it away from me?
Of course you've made it clear here in other posts that nobody can ever win a fight against you, so I guess you don't have need to worry, right?
 
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