One of the preeminent personal protection tools we have on our planet right now is firearms. If you are attacked by a violent person having a firearm available whether in your home or on your person is a strong tool to use that could possibly allow you to survive. There are however times when an aggressive attacker might close so fast that you would be unable to deploy your firearm. In this case you need to have retention training. In Instinctive Response Training we utilize tools that generally are identical to the real thing. With the advent of advanced technology there are plenty of firearm simulators that are made out of heavy plastic/rubber that look and feel like the real thing but are of course unable to fire anything and are just a good training tool. I take ready advantage of these types of training tools to practice firearm retention techniques. If a violent criminal closes with you and you are defending your home with a shot gun you will need to not only know how to shoot the firearm but also how to disengage the attacker if they have managed to grab it. There are many circular motions depending on where this person has grabbed that can get the job done. You also of course have the option of thrusting with the shot gun and butting with the stock. Those are both effective means of creating space and disengagement retention techniques. Typically when practicing with a handgun I once again like to have good training tools that mimic the real thing. Look below at the picture for a firearm simulator that mimics a Glock in weight look and feel.
Now hand gun firearm retention as in all firearm retention is tricky. When you are that close to someone and they are attempting to wrestle a firearm from you it is indeed a challenging moment. One of the things that we do in IRT to improve the odds is to choose an angle that is advantageous to our position and then immediately move in for leg destruction’s while maintaining control over the firearm in question. This is particularly noticeable in our hand gun retention training. As the violent attacker moves in to grab the firearm that is in the holster on our hip we in turn would use at least one if not two hands to press down and keep the firearm there. In the meantime we are choosing an angle to attack their leg. Once their leg is in jeopardy of being broken they will in turn forget about trying to hold onto the handgun and at that moment we will have ensured firearm retention for a brief period of time. Then we can continue action, disengage or get out of there if at all possible!
Firearm retention training is essential if you are a tool based martial practitioner who utilizes firearms in your personal protection skill set. Do not neglect this aspect as it literally could be a life saving technique in the moment!
See You On The Mats!
Brian R. VanCise
Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.
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Brian, again you have hit it on the head. I am as far from an expert as you would expect, but at CNC we train in the use of weapons as geometric weapons – not just firearms (like you) but in sticks and blades and flexible. weaponss. So often I see the expression on students faces when the training includes “OK, when you are locked in the guard reach for your weapon …” It is not what you think.
When people think that training in striking and shooting they are failing themselves in the real world. Life just doesn’t work like that. When you are in that situation, you don’t reach for that weapon right away, because of one word – escalation. Things get worse, and when you realize you need that weapon it is often tough to get to. You need to train for that eventuality.
Thanks for bringing a breath of reality to the world of martial science. I gotta get up to Michigan to train with you. I am just in Ohio … not that far!
Keep fighting the good fight.
S
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Hey Bill,
Thanks for stopping by The Instinctive Edge! Tool based martial science is what I teach whether working with a pen, flashlight, blade, blunt object, projectile such as a firearm, etc. Judging by the looks of your post we think along the same lines. Thanks again for stopping by and we will have to get together for some training in the future. Take care.
As I’ve told you elsewhere — I think that weapon retention is a definite problem. Too many folks are counting on various retention holsters and a bare handful of less than ideal approaches… Gotta work on that myself; I like your idea of using your legs to attack theirs!
Hey Jks9199,
I am in agreement with you in that I would never place the value of my life or anyone’s solely in the strength of a retention holster. Instead controlling the firearm with downward pressure and movement to angle off and come back at your attacker with a leg destruction is very effective. With their balance being broken and their leg in jeopardy they either attempt to save the leg or it will be broken. In either case you have a good chance at retaining your firearm and being in a strong position. It is not the only way but it certainly works well. Thanks again for stopping by.
I can tell that this is not the first time at all that you mention the topic. Why have you decided to touch it again?
I touch again and again on certain topics simply because information needs to get out there and hopefully a post will affect someone.