Fighting To Win!

[Brian LaMaster]

When I was about twenty years old I got in a fight over a “girlfriend” with a guy who was much larger than me. It was actually Easter Sunday when this guy showed up to my door and asked me to step outside. I obliged, and went out to “settle” things with him. He was dancing around like a boxer and when I felt the time was right, I laid into him with all that I had. I hit him hard in the face several times. However, nothing seemed to phase him. He then bulldogged me into the neighbor’s car and I lost my footing in the salt that was on the road and went down to the ground. The guy then proceeded to lay it on me. To this day I do not know why he stopped pounding me. When I think back on it, his punches didn’t really hurt me as bad as I thought they might. I picked myself up off the ground and spat out two teeth and some blood and said, “Let’s go again…” To my amazement the guy got back into the car which someone else was driving and he took off. I guess that he saw something in my eyes that made him think. I was upset that he started something and didn’t stick around to finish it. This is when I realized there is no such thing as a fair fight. I had pictured two guys exchanging punches like men, but that is not at all what happened!

It wasn’t much long after that when I became involved in martial arts training. I wanted to know how to handle myself better. From here on I decided that I would never try and fight a “fair” fight again. After all, there really isn’t such a thing other than in a ring with rules. But, it was a lesson well learned, and it cost me quite a bit of money too.

With that in mind, your life is worth fighting “dirty” against someone who is trying to harm you or kill you. You should use everything in your arsenal to win the fight. If that means biting his jugular vein out, then that is what has to be done! The question is what are YOU willing to do in order to win?

In my personal training time I learn things that will help give me the edge as well as information that I can pass on to our students. I am all about keeping it short and sweet when it comes to “techniques”. One of my favorite things to do is to deliver a distraction whenever possible. If I am more than five feet away from the attacker, more than likely I am going to try and create distance. Well, I might as well throw something at the attacker to distract them. Some items that you may carry with you on a regular basis are, hand sanitizer, coins, breath mints, cell phone, wallet, etc. You may not want to throw your keys because you may need them to get away. Throwing your phone would definitely hurt the attacker if you hit them in the face. But, now they have your phone. That is why I carry an old phone that I no longer use. Ideally you want to cause the attacker to react to what you are throwing by turning their head one way or the other, or closing their eyes and covering their face. If you hit them in the eyes and cause them to tear up, that’s great too! There is a specific method of delivering a distraction that I prefer. With a distraction in hand, simply bring your arm up with your palm facing outward (follow the link for a video demonstration of delivering a distraction). Then push your arm straight out with your palm facing where you want the distraction to hit. The importance of a distraction is critical in your survival. Effectively delivering a distraction can mean the difference between life and death. You can carry a distraction wherever you go, with or without your gun. I am a firm believer that you should carry your gun wherever you go! You should practice throwing a distraction on a regular basis.

So, you are facing an assailant who has made a threat and they are reaching for “something”(photo #1)



You happen to pick up on their movement and being to move back 45 degrees to your right while throwing a distraction, clearing and grabbing your gun. The attacker is probably going to react by turning their head to one side (photo #2 below). Movement in combination with the distraction is key!



As you cross step, bring your non drawing hand in so that you do not shoot it. While at the same time you extract your gun (photo #3 below).



As you step again aim the gun at the attacker and fire if necessary. (photo # 4 below). By now the attacker has turned their head forward searching for you. If you were moving quickly you should now be 30 feet or more away from the attacker, while continuing to create as much distance as you can. However, for photo purposes I did not move very much. (I moved enough to demonstrate the footwork). Now, you can shoot two handed, but I like to practice shooting one handed because I feel this is how you are most likely to be shooting in a confrontation.



This is not meant to be "the way" to move, but rather A WAY to move. One more thing, it doesn't matter at what step you draw your gun as long as you are moving!!!

Train hard, train often, and train realistically!

[Warthog]

Like I said in my email to you, this is a very good idea and one I am going to start practicing.