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Situational training for close quarter combat improves your ability to keep yourself and loved ones safe in the event of an attack. It is a contemporary defense mechanism that is a fusion of several martial arts techniques and law enforcement tactics. Originally designed for law enforcement, it has been taught to civilians to improve their ability to quickly and effectively defend themselves from harm.

What Does This Training Entail?

Close quarter situational training involves learning how to defend yourself when you are unarmed in hand-to-hand combat as Krav Maga. You will also learn how to use knives, firearms, and your environment to your advantage.

During unarmed combat training, you will learn how to perform and perfect strikes, takedowns, kicks, and joint locks that can quickly incapacitate your adversary. In the armed training aspect, you will be taught to properly wield and effectively use weapons such as knives, handguns, and shotguns to quickly stop your attacker and secure your safety.

Firearms

When it comes to close-quarter situational training, the best firearms to have are pistols and shotguns. They are effective and will provide adequate protection for you and your family. Pistols are easy to carry and conceal on your person. They are easy to handle and do not restrict your movement, this makes it perfect to have it on yourself at all times. They also have a high capacity to carry and are easy to reload. Although they have low stopping power, having good aim will easily incapacitate an attacker in close quarters.

Shotguns are not easy to handle and or concealable so they are better suited to be kept at home. You will need to practice often with a shotgun as they are not easy to reload and their weight requires the use of both arms. Though they may have low capacity, they also possess a high scatter ratio which means a higher stopping power and bigger recoil which you will have to compensate for. In close quarters, a single shot can easily end the confrontation. Shotguns are comparatively cheaper than handguns.

What Is The Objective Of This Training?

The objective of close quarter combat training is to be quickly and brutally effective at disarming or incapacitating your opponent. The faster you stop your enemy from moving the less protracted the aggravation is. When you are in close quarters with an enemy, the likelihood of getting badly hurt is high. Quickly countering the advances of your adversary is vital to your survival.

In the event of a break-in, your life and that of your family is at stake. A protracted confrontation may result in bodily harm to members of your household. The best approach is to surprise the intruder and scare them off or quickly incapacitate them and call the police.

Duration Of Training

Unlike pure combat training for soldiers and law enforcement or martial arts, close-quarter situational training can be taught in a much shorter period. Effective and rigorous training can be done in two weeks or less with measurable results depending on how fast you catch on. But it is advisable to practice and do a series of training sessions to increase muscle memory, decrease reaction time, and get accustomed to weapons.

Major Considerations

The three major considerations when it comes to close-quarter situational training. These are; surprise, speed, and violence of action. These three combine to provide effective preparation for unexpected attacks. 

Surprise

When you are attacked unexpectedly, you are surprised and in the first seconds seem overwhelmed. But in close-quarter situational training, you are taught to quickly shrug that off and initiate a surprise of your own. For instance, if you are walking down an alley and you get jumped by someone wielding a knife, you are expected to give in. But if you show that you are capable of defending yourself against the odds, your attacker will be surprised and will most likely take off. 

Speed

Speed defines how quickly you can repel an attack by incapacitating your adversary. As indicated earlier the more prolonged an attack is, the more likely you will get hurt. Moving quickly to stop an attacker will save you. 

Violence of Action

This is an indicator of how destructive your method of defense is. Showing that you are ready to get violent is a sure way of de-escalating a potential attack. Also, how badly you hurt an attacker will determine if they can get away or not.

The combination of these three will guarantee your safety in any close-quarter combat.

When it comes to self-defense, the most crucial thing is to stop the perpetrator within the least possible time. There has been this debate going on for some time on which caliber is best suited for self-defense. The issue with this debate is that everyone has their opinions, so there isn’t a single correct answer as several opinions can be right.

Popular Opinion

In this debate, the three main contenders are the 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and the .45 Auto. For most people, the bigger the cartridge, the better. But what most people tend to forget is that size reflects on speed and recoil. All in all, these three cartridges have both their highs and lows, and we shall be comparing them in this article to try and see which one comes out tops.

Power

A lot of gun enthusiasts love power when it comes to their weapons. So, let’s see which of the three calibers are premier. Cartridge power is determined by kinetic energy and momentum. Comparing the three calibers reveals some fascinating details. Not much separates the three in terms of kinetic energy, but it’s a whole different ball game with the .45 Auto leading when it comes to the momentum. Recoil is an end-product of momentum, and for each caliber, the 9mm Luger seems to produce 66% of a 45 Auto’s recoil but also produces 96% of its kinetic energy and 69% of its momentum.

Speed

How fast a bullet moves is directly proportional to the damage it can do. This is because the increased rotational velocity leads to more tissue damage upon impact. When defending yourself, you want the ordeal to be over as quickly as possible, and a faster bullet that causes severe damage is your best bet.

During a speed test of the calibers mentioned above, it would seem like the differences are not much. However, each caliber is distinct from the others in other ways. The 9mm has a bit of an advantage over the others when it comes to penetration, the .45 expands more on impact, and the .40 S&W is sort of middle ground among the three.

Capacity

Although when you are defending yourself, you want the ordeal to end quickly, it may be an advantage if your firearm carried more bullets than the bad guy. This may be the defining factor amongst all that we have talked about so far. No matter the size of your firearm, it will hold fewer .40 S&W than 9mm cartridges and will also hold fewer .45 Auto than .40 S&W. For instance, a 9mm Glock 17 will hold 17 rounds while a .40 S&W Glock 22 will hold 15 rounds. A .45 Auto Glock 21, on the other hand, will hold just 13 rounds.

When it comes to weight, the 9mm has quite the advantage as the lighter cartridge makes the loaded gun heavier than loaded .40 and .45 pistols. This makes it easier to carry and as it has lighter recoil.

To conclude, the argument must shift from just size or speed to finding the best balance between power, speed, and capacity.

Have you recently purchased a firearm? Then you are presumably eager to go out there and get comfortable with how it shoots. There are five million new firearm owners in the United States, with 40% being first-time buyers. Like any other things, learning how to fire your new firearm will require regular training and confidence; this will make you more experienced and improve your skills. One way to do this is by knowing what time of day you can shoot.

Firearm Shooting Training

Firearm ownership comes with a considerable amount of risk; therefore, simply being a proficient marksman is not enough. Shooting a firearm requires training and regular practice. It is advisable to begin with dummy rounds before live ammunition. However, a common question of many is: what time is available to train to shoot, and which one is suitable? Although there is no explicit rule for the appropriate time for your firearm shooting training, you should consider the purpose of your shooting and a blend of care, good judgment, and safety.

Daytime Shooting

Daytime shooting is considered the most appropriate time to train for game shooting. Upon taking the initiative of training for game shooting, your trainer would assemble a team of like-minded members. Your trainer (or host- if you were invited to a daytime shooting session) will first hold a shoot briefing, which details the arrangement for the day and safety guidelines to be followed for a successful shoot day. Therefore, ensure to be very punctual.

After a few shoots, stop for lunch and continue later in the afternoon. However, other trainees will shoot until around 2-3 pm and close for the day. Daytime shooting is also recommended if you are looking to refresh and socialize, which is essential for a pleasant shoot day. Be sure to ask your host about the needed etiquette such as tipping and the acceptable amount.

Night-time Shooting

Night-time shooting is a safe and effective technique to guarantee that the harm to domestic animals, wildlife, growing crops, and the game is kept within acceptable levels. For produce and livestock farmers, night shooting of foxes, hares, and other ground game is essential to safeguard their properties against such pests. However, it is vital for such property owners involved in pest control to ensure shooting is carried out according to laid-down standards and laws.

For night shooting courses on “small game and lamping,” each day’s activity entails a morning in the study hall to go through firearm shooting theories while lamping. The classroom activity is then followed by an evening or early night training on the field to ensure compliance with the outlined safety precautions, professionalism, and sportsmanship while respecting wildlife conservatism’s interests.

The more you practice and devote to advancing your shooting training, the more proficient you become. Practice various distances to enhance your skill. Becoming a skilled firearm owner requires a ton of practice and repetition. Trainees need to ensure good visibility, especially during foggy weather conditions when it is dangerous to practice.

Most gun owners use their guns for security purposes and recreational activities like hunting. A common debate amongst the community of gun owners is whether to focus on the target or the front sight when shooting. To help you decide on what to do the next time you’re aiming a handgun, we would assess both sides of the coin.

What Is the Front Sight Focus?

When aiming a handgun, the front sight is the small pole at the end of your slide (a fixed part on the gun’s exterior where recoiling moves). The moment you aim a handgun; several elements come into play. These are your vision, the rear and front views of the gun, and the target; this may make your target appear blurry.

You can only focus on one thing at a time, so you must know your “dominant eye.” About 70% of the world’s seeing population is right-eye dominant, with 29% being left-eye dominant. The 1% are believed to have both eyes dominant. So, regardless of which eye is sharper, you should be able to focus only with that vision to get a clear shot. The front sight focus is said to be the key to an accurate shot but is not ideal for defensive shooting.

What is Target Shooting?

Also known as point shooting, this method involves aiming a handgun without using the front sight. Although it seems effortless, target shooting requires skills in handling guns. In specific instances, it is the only logical thing to do when your assailant is about ten yards away from you. It may appear as though you’re looking at the front sight and the gun, instead, you’re focused on the target.

Target shooting requires the user to extend their index finger to the side of the gun (to provide steadiness) while using the middle finger to pull the trigger. Without enough experience, it can be tricky, especially when using a Model 1191 pistol. With these firearms, the slide lock (or stop pin) juts out on the pistol’s right side. Therefore, unlike a South-paw, a right-handed shooter using the target method may inadvertently depress the stop pin and cause a jam.

Which Situations Demand Either One or Both?

You can become an expert in front sight focus and target shooting only after mastering the five fundamentals. These are the grip, stance, sight picture, trigger pull, and follow-through. In weapon handling, a combination of all these and your ability to move swiftly from one fundamental to the other, are critical. For example, some situations may require a series of continuous shots, but without mastery, you will lose focus, resulting in harm.

Front sight focus is perfect for long-range shots like hunting game, because of its accuracy. Some shooters believe front sight focus is an unnecessary complication, especially when you’re dealing with a moving threat. There is some truth to this argument because of our natural tendency to shift focus in real life-threatening situations. Also, since this requires keeping an eye closed, it is dangerous in an active scenario.

On the other hand, target shooting appears to be a favorite among handgun users. Shooting experts recommend using this method when your attacker is actively pursuing you. It is the most preferred shooting method during a heated exchange of gunshots.

It is essential to consider the scenario you’re in to determine which method would be suitable to get the right grip of your gun and accurate shot.

For any gun owner or shooting enthusiast, one of the most invaluable (if not lifesaving) skills you can learn is the ability to shoot with your weaker hand. Shooting with your weak hand means shooting with your less dominant hand. Whether due to an injury or to save time, you may need to rely on your less dominant hand to do the job; a skill that can prove lifesaving.

Importance of Learning to Shoot with Your Weaker Hand

You may be forced into a situation to rely on your weaker hand to shoot. That could be as a result of an injury to your dominant hand. Your weaker hand may also offer the shortest proximity to the nearest fire weapon when you’re pressed for time.

Shooting Techniques for Weaker Hands

You can use two techniques with your weaker shooting hand – the straight hand and the canted technique.

• The straight hand technique: With this technique, drive your weaker shooting hand forward until the elbow locks in place. Ensure that the firearm is parallel up and down. This technique is similar to most traditional standing shooting positions and offers a predictable upward recoil.

• The canted technique: In this method, drive your shooting hand straight out, locking your elbow, and cant your firearm about 10 to 24 degrees. Many firearm users find this technique to be more comfortable than the straight hand style. It also gives your dominant eye a more natural position, even with your weaker shooting hand. However, if you have a dominant right hand and left eye, you may find this technique less advantageous.

What to Do with Your Weaker Hand

Your weaker hand’s position is as important as your shooting hand. If your arm is too injured to move it, you should let it hang until you apply first aid or help arrives. Otherwise, it is best to bring it up to your chest to offer you greater support and balance while keeping the injured hand out of the way. Your injured hand on your chest also ensures that it doesn’t strike anything while you move. It is also essential to gun safety.

How to Position Yourself

Just like any shooting position, you must have the right balance. Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart and your weight slightly forward to prevent you from falling backwards. You can also slightly “blade” your body for better support while keeping you from harm’s way.

Weapon Manipulation with A Weaker Hand

Before you pull the trigger, you should be able to manipulate your weapon effectively.

• Drawing: Reach over with your weaker hand and grip your firearm in an inverted manner, so your thumb faces the magazine. Pull your firearm between your arm and body, and assume a proper grip.

• Reloading: With an automatic, place the gun between your knees with the grip facing up to insert your magazine. Next, hit the slide release. With a revolver, open the cylinder and flick your wrist to allow it to pop out. Push the ejection rod and place it between your belt and your body. Next, drop the speedloader or moon clip in, retrieve your firearm, and push the cylinder in place.

If you know the character John Wick, or have seen the movie, it probably got you asking a couple of questions. You probably ended the movie wondering if you too could use the “John Wick” shooting technique and take on all the bad guys in your neighbourhood. The movie itself is excellent by many standards, with equally outstanding combat and gun battle s

cenes. But any gun owner or shooting enthusiast will be left with some opinions or question marks. Like the question we are looking at: does shooting like John Wick work if trained to shoot that way?

How Does John Wick Shoot?

John Wick uses the Center Axis Relock (CAR) style, which means he holds his gun or weapon at an angle. Doing this ensures that sights are aligned with the cross-eye.

The CAR method is ideal for close-range gunfights, as it is a method of Close Quarters Combat (CQC) shooting style. Many gun experts claim that this style boosts the gun man’s ability to retain their weapon. It also makes it possible to increase the speed of your target transition in close range situations.

The founder of this shooting style, Paul Castle, opined that the CAR follows a typical fighting stance’s biometrics. Think of it as two boxers standing at close range to each other. The stance makes it easier to absorb felt recoil while ensuring a more straightforward reaction to threats from close range.

Does It Work?

So, does this style work when trained to shoot that way? In other words, is this shooting method practical in the real world? Although some gun experts can be trained to shoot this way, the CAR method’s problem is that you hardly find anyone executing it successfully – of course, except John Wick and Paul Castle. But this does not make it an impossible shooting technique.

Being trained to shoot this way may not be enough to pull it off, as you will need constant John Wick Tactical training to perfect it. As we have already mentioned, the Center Axis Relock style is ideal for close quarters or close point shooting. However, another question remains, related to its comparison with traditional shooting techniques.

How Does the CAR Work?

The CAR system comes in two main parts; the high position and the extended position.

The high position allows you to draw in with your body perpendicular to your target; the weak foot stands at 90 degrees to your target with the barrel of your gun up. With the extended position, your support elbow rotates downwards while rotating your strong hand upwards. Doing this aligns the firearm with your dominant eye.

When properly trained, this style creates a very flexible yet sturdy or “locked-in” shooting position. Besides that, the CAR also makes you a smaller target for your attacker.

This system’s primary goal is to have your target in sight as soon as possible while maintaining a sturdy firing position and solid weapon retention.

Over the years people’s opinions on which is the “best practice” handgun stance for defensive shooting has changed. There are three common stances that people use today: the Isosceles, the Weaver, and the Chapman (which is the modified Weaver) and while many argue that one is better than the other, in reality, “best practice” is the one that suits you and you find most comfortable. Whichever stance you choose, it’s important that you have a proper defensive shooting stance and grip as this gives you a strong foundation for all the other shooting fundamentals.

The three stances, the Isosceles, the Weaver, and the Chapman tend to be the most natural stances. They are the most well known and usually the easiest to understand. They each have their own set of benefits and with such a wide range of situations a shooter could find themselves in, it’s difficult to say which one would be best.

The Weaver Stance

The Weaver stance is probably the most familiar one as it’s the one most often seen in movies. The stance was invented by Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Jack Weaver for combat-style matches and is an aggressive, “boxer-type” stance that offers an excellent and accurate platform for delivering projectiles at the target while minimizing the upper body profile. The gun is held by both hands and the strong-side arm is not fully extended and on that arm, the elbow should be unlocked and angled slightly outward. The support hand then pulls into the shooter while the strong hand pushes outward and the support-side shoulder leans into the gun. This creates a very rigid grip on the gun.

The Isosceles Stance

The Isosceles stance gets his name from the fact that if you look at it from above the arms and chest of the shooter create an isosceles triangle. It is a two-handed technique in which the dominant hand holds the handgun and the other hand wraps around it, both arms are held out straight and the elbows are locked. The Isosceles Stance is a simple stance and is natural to perform under stress. It also provides an easier range of motion to accommodate wider angles and allows the shooter to adopt a natural defensive position.

Chapman Stance

The Chapman Stance uses the same aggressive foot position as the Weaver, however, it is a more relaxed stance and the major difference is the strong-side arm is fully extended. The Chapman Stance is slower to assume than the Weaver, but it does require less upper-body strength to execute, and many experts consider the Chapman to be the most accurate two-handed stance available to a skilled shooter.

Whatever you feel is the most natural and the one you practice most is the one that is “best practice” for you because even if you intend to use another stance, you will naturally revert to the one you’re most comfortable in that situation. Having an excellent knowledge of different stances will put you in a better situation to defend yourself in a defensive shooting situation.

Shooting is a skill but like any skill, it needs to be practiced. The problem with shooting is that you can’t practice it everywhere, or can you? Laser training is a great way to get your practice in, but is it as good as a live fire? Well, let’s take a look and see.

You can train more

To train with live fire means you need to go to a range, which means paying for travel time, range fees, and targets. You also have to spend time packing, driving, loading mags, waiting, and cleaning. Laser training can be done any time and anywhere, at home, the office, garage, or basement and it will save you both time and money and you can get more practice in that you can with live fire.

Laser helps shooters to improve

With laser trainers, there is no recoil and no loud noise which can really help shooters to hone their skills. When you practice with live fire it can be distracting because firing a gun is not a natural activity for the body and it causes the brain to release several neurotransmitters and happy chemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, adrenaline, and endorphins. It does this regardless of whether your shot was good or not, so it doesn’t help people to improve.

Laser is excellent for treating flinching

As mentioned, when practicing with live fire there is a loud noise and a physical jolt. The human brain will normally try to avoid situations like this as they are deemed to be dangerous so this natural response is not conducive to good accuracy. What happens is that the body begins to avoid the noise and impact at the very moment the trigger is being pulled, usually by closing the eyes, turning the head to look away, or both. This is commonly called flinching. When training with lasers this doesn’t happen and without the fear of loud noise or physical injury, the brain can improve the skill of pulling the trigger without disturbing the gun.

Laser builds confidence

Learning to shoot a gun accurately isn’t easy and when you’re new to it can be very frustrating. It can be very discouraging when you think you’re doing everything right, but the bullet holes in the target are nowhere near where you want them to be. Training with lasers means you can avoid this disappointment and feeling of failure. Using lasers is helpful from a mental standpoint and a shooter is more likely to remember what they did right as opposed to what they did wrong which will help to build their confidence.

To sum up

There are some major benefits to using lasers for training and as it can help you to develop, improve and maintain your shooting skills, practice your stance, sight alignment, sight picture, breath control, trigger pull, and follow-through just like you would with live fire. Training with lasers is a powerful and rewarding experience and can help you to easily recognize and correct any errors ingrained in muscle memory. Add in the fact that it’s cheaper and you can do it anywhere, then it sounds like the perfect substitute.