I prefer to carry a handheld light that protrudes past my palm when I hold it in the typical hammer fist grip. There are two reasons for this: first, it is easier to point and light things up with the Bezel unobstructed by the hand. Second, I like having the ability to strike with the... Continue Reading →
Necessary Skills for the Armed Citizen in 2022
As I continue to train in and practice personal protection my evaluation of the world that surrounds me continues to evolve. A thought exercise that I have done for quite a few years now is try to prioritize the most essential elements of self-defense for the civilian. Occasionally, my criteria changes based on my further... Continue Reading →
CCX2 Interview with Kelly McCann
The CCX2 show started back for our third season last night and we kicked off the year with none other than Kelly McCann. For those of you who are around my age and were martial arts or shooting enthusiasts back in the 90s and early 2000s Kelly is probably a familiar entity. This was an... Continue Reading →
AAR: Basic Combatives with Kelly McCann
You probably know the name, maybe you have seen the DVDs, or clips of his instruction on Youtube. Kelly McCann is certainly synonymous with modern combatives. I will admit that I have always wanted to train with him. McCann is a noted combatives teacher, as well as a firearms instructor who proved a true innovator... Continue Reading →
The Support Hand Knife
Any amount of combatives training leads the practicing handgunner to realize the value of a blade for contact distance fighting. There is no better place to carry this knife than in the appendix position so that it is accessible quickly, from most positions, and accessible to either hand. The priority, however, should be in using... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Gunfight! An Integrated Approach to Shooting and Fighting in Close Quarters by Rich Nance
Gunfight! Is a good book worth having if you are a serious practitioner of defensive pistolcraft. Based on my own combatives and close-quarters gunfight training I don’t subscribe to everything the author offers, as I favor some different techniques for certain things, but this is the norm: once an individual travels down the training path... Continue Reading →
Weapon Strikes with a Modern Polymer Pistol
One might wonder why they would need to strike someone with a handgun rather than just shoot with it. The fact remains that many fights start at contact distance, or end up at contact distance. If at contact distance before your gun comes out you should rely on combative skills to get yourself into a... Continue Reading →
Training Advice for the Ammo Drought
Well, we are there again. For those of you who were shooters in 2013, you may recall the great run on guns, and the great ammo drought of 2013. The ammunition market did not come back strong for a couple of years. We are there again, perhaps worse. The reality is, if you can get... Continue Reading →
Self-Defense Training: Fantasy Band Camp versus Useful Endeavor
When it comes to self-defense training, there are many gimmicks out there, a lot of idiots with naive followers, and, of course, a lot of excellent teachers and thought leaders as well. Sifting through the entire mashup can be the foremost challenge for many just getting into preparedness and self-defense. However, even for those who... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Facing Violence by Rory Miller
One of the best books I have ever read on human conflict is Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected by Rory Miller. I read this quite some years ago, actually, though this is the first time I am reviewing it. Rory Miller, a very experienced ex-corrections officer, offers an excellent overview of human predator types,... Continue Reading →