A great question! - martial-arts

It's a distrust that we went back and forth with for a minute ourselves many moons ago. The "how" and "why" of our conclusions may be of some interest. Whether or not any person agrees with them, well at the least you'll fully absorb the basis for them.

The difficulty is this:

Why does Fairbairn stress the above-board thumb in line with the barrel, even for one handed shooting?

Years ago when we first began our challenge to sort out the mechanics, methods and reasoning at the back this type of shooting we had the exact same question! It certainly is an brilliant question.

We need a a small amount chronicle here. When a group of us on track to "experiement" with this approach of shooting we had all been indoctrinated and educated in one or both of the current "practical" shooting methods extant. One being the "cutting edge method" of the time, that owing to Jeff Cooper and the methods being skilled at Gunsite. The other being the comparatively average FBI clone known as the "Practical Handgun Course". Most control recruit education of this dot emphasized the PPC tactical avenue of fire over any other method, plus the much touted "Weaver". Full sight alignment, "positive" grip with a two-hand "isoceles", block firing with both distinct and bend in half action(most departments agreed wheel guns) all done at not to be trusted distancesand a number of series firing positions. The only time Something approaching "instinct" shooting was even mentioed was at the six foot range coldness when demise commentary went amazing like. . . . . . . "Maybe you won't be able to get the gun all the way up, so. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "

This was the customary location at that time for those engrossed in "combat" or "practical" shooting any by aptitude or hobby. To make matters worse, MOST if not all "civilian" coaching STILL was based on the old "Olympic" style of competitve affect work.

Now Commit to memory this was at a time when expressly taught units like ESU or SWAT were still in their infancy! And William Shatner's ONLY claim to fame was as Boss Kirk. When cops went on a job they were fully predictable to carry it. ONLY the most Excessive situations were responded to by "something" resembling a distinctive tactics unit. At BEST most departments had only a semi-organized squad of "hats and bats", and that was it. So the avenue cop responded to EVERY type of call and was FULLY likely to alias anything urgent situation arose.

So that gamut runs from Bank alarms, to convenience store robberies, to building, warehouse and housing searches, from alleyways and stairwells to rooftops and basements. From time to time you creep and every so often you run. From time to time you know there's a ability threat, every so often it just leaps out at you. Every now and then there is a lot of light(good and bad), every now and then just a dim streetlamp near an passage that YOU have to clean out. Sometimes, and more often than not, there is NO real light, just dark. And shadows!

Search a warehouse for a be wary of and you may get shot from a distance, from at the back cover or concealment. Examination an high-rise shop or classified residence for a be suspicious of and you may get shot from "sneezing" distance. You may see the intimidation and "prepare' yourself, or maybe the danger just SPRINGS out at you. Maybe the badguy is in front of you, maybe he's lurking and creeping just there at the back you.

Maybe it's a car stop gone bad. Maybe it's a "nut" who approaches YOU while you're in a group unit sipping brown and shooting the shit with your partner. Maybe you're off duty.

The point is this: In the real world Something can and maybe WILL happen. As bad as it gets, is about as BAD as it WILL GET.

Now add THIS: Will you be wounded, injured, or in one way or another incapacitated, less than at optimum ability. Will you be firing your duty weapon, or will you be using your "back up" or has the shit degenerated to the gradation that you have to use your last ditch "hide out" piece. I've known situations where an executive has HAD to grab and use one of the "downed" perps weapons, to save his hurt partners life. What Arrangement will you be in when all hell breaks loose? Maybe you CAN'T run for cover, maybe there is NO cover. You can do the lot RIGHT and still die, and you can do the whole lot WRONG and survive. Life's kinda crazy that way.

The clear part of this, at least to an open-minded and "thinking" being is that it IS hopeless to train and/or coach for EVERY situation, every contingency. Can't BE DONE.

What CAN be done is to assume out what fashion or approach of instruction will GIVE YOU the BEST all about generally homework for survival.

The "PPC" wasn't the answer, and neither was Copper's "Modern Pistolcraft". A bit was missing.

A round about way to come back with a definite question, huh? Well exclusive of accepting the origins or the seed that all of this begins with and the "base" of be subjected to that Compulsory a variety of questions to be asked and answered the whole point will be missed. The "straw man" arguements will flair up, and the whole "thing" will turn into a pile of shit. And NO one will learn a goddamn thing.

The group of men that fashioned the core of our "cadre" so to speak were commonly cops drawn as one firstly by safety in other areas than firearms. Most I had met thru my aggressive arts training, some were from the "iron" pit(what a shithole, I loved it), some we met at competitive "practical" matches. We had at one time or a further guys from local, state, and central agencies. A tremendous quantity of come into contact with and the appeal to certainly "train" was the bond(not the shaker joints and sundries). A rare class for cops in those days.

So we weren't stumbling in the dark here. We had the access, time, occasion and means(most of us were distinct and creation a cute good payday) to especially travel, and train. And. . . . get in a whole helluva lot of range time. There was one point where at any given time I had quite a few 5 gallon pails packed with spent brass in my trunk behind you for their weekly drop off at my buddy who was a reloading fanatic. With no real responsibilty in life you can live Attractive LARGE(right Boyoo?).

Frank Behlert(remember him?) still had his old shop on Lehigh Ave. in Union. That was a great hub of action and a great place to meet all sorts of appealing characters. It was also one of the first seats that especially took an actice role in almost the "practical" shooting matches in the metro area.

Now when some lane "cherries" or FNG's get out of the arts school and hit the streets they clam up tighter than an asshole in a bath house. From time to time it is good to just shut the fuck up and keep your eyes and ears open. But by the same token, if you don't ask you don't learn. So when ever a dicey job arose I would constantly "debrief"(sometimes that took on a WHOLE 'nother meaning) for my part and sort out what went "good", what went "bad", what could have been done change for the better and what could have hit the fan. If I desired to ask a touch I did. Still do.

Alot of the older cops were certainly live the old "salty dawg". 30 years and a wake up and the identification were in and off to Florida they went. Maybe to drop dead of heart breakdown in a year. Life sucks and then you die, or life sucks, you put somewhere else to Florida and THEN you die. Doesn't matter, end conclusion the same.

Still these guys were a TREMENDOUS basis of knowledge. On a whole RANGE of "police" correlated subjects. Most, if not all of these men were combat vets of WWII or Korea. So when I had a ask I asked. If my crazy facial articulation betrayed my distrust at the answer, I commonly heard the subsequent refrain(if I had a dime. . . . . . ), "Listen wet nose, that's the square, the real deal, just bring to mind I got more time in the shithouse than you have on the road". . . . . . followed ever by. . . . . . . "So just shut the FUCK up and learn". Well as equipment go, I never did learn to shut the fuck up, but I did learn.

"They teach you what they teach in the conservatory 'cause they got to". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "The lane has it's own rules, and only the road certainly knows what the hell those are". Rule # 1 - CYA. Rule # 2 - Never EVER disregard rule # 1.

So where does this lead us? Well, this approach amid what is "percieved" as real and what especially is REAL caused us to constantly question, examine, and re-examine the whole thing we were "taught" to do alongside all we "really" DID.

The bulbs exceedingly began blinking when we got hold of a copy of "Kill or Get Killed" followed by "Shooting to Live". At first we all, in my opinion included, looked at these old pictures, drawings and "dust covered" verbiage as agreed outdated, "know what I did at some point in the BIG ONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " bullshit! But "Get Tough" had my sincere interest. One of those old timers I mentioned had been a US Navy "landing force" coach all through the "BIG ONE". I had seen him in achievement for real, unflitered "Lucky Strike" killing out the side if his mouth and wreaking holy havoc on some young "puffy chested" bucks. It was a thing of beauty! I on the other was "fighting" these guys and looked like I was "rode hard and put away wet".

Something didn't add up. The methods my tour sargeant used WERE right out of "Get Tough", even how he handled a "nightstick" and BOY he did that with relish(remember NO ONE knew what a camcorder was!). Maybe there was a touch to this "Farburn" guy. I mean, up to this point "Fairbairn" was a good tan we got at some point in "I & I" down at LBI. And "Applegate"? Sheeet, that was the appearance to an orchard, right?

So then we In fact on track Conception these texts. Exceedingly frustrating to keep an open mind. After ALL if "Guru" Jeff said it was so, well damn youngin' IT'S SO!

Now here's the "bitch" in the whole thing. . . . . . . . . . . . Pretty much EVERY analyze WEF and Colonel Rex GAVE for the authenticity of the methods(THEY ARE Altered BOYS & GIRLS) were faithfully what we all knew were "missing" from the "practical" shooting we were doing. The alteration in a nutshell. . . . . . . "How you are SUPPOSSED to do it, and how you Certainly do IT".

Yes, if I have the "drop" on a supposed badman, like on a hinky title 39 stop when YOU KNOW the shit is just execution in front of that fan READY to go SPLAT all over everyone, then YES, ALL the "rules" get followed. If I had to arrest a assume on a crime warrany or who was a known "A & D" then yes. . . . . . ALL the rules got followed. In those situations assessing, decision and heartrending to real "cover"(as conflicting to just concealment) was viable, in reality everything else was STUPID. If that was NOT an choice then jacket the skel from a calm consider absolute "Weaver" or "isoceles" with assured sight alignment and all clothes neat and tidy was the way to go. Something else would have been STUPID.

BUT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . then there were those crowd of OTHER TIMES.

SEE there is a HUGE differentiation among having "IT" your way, in concert your "game", Performing by your rules and being enforced to "REACT" to a big shot else's "gamebook". You get affected into before a live audience the other guy's game and you're doubtless gonna lose. Above all when the rules adjust constantly.

So let's key this "job" together. Arranged up and no bullshit. You're operational the burial ground tour mid-week. From your be subjected to you assume that this tour on this day is as a rule cute quiet. So it's about 3:00 am, you have made your "beat" rounds, done your shift reports, answered a few calls, shitcanned them and now need a barely "resting of the eyes". You coop up. Oh YEA, it's frost time. Snow, ice, and it's bone alarming cold out. Just as you find that "comfortable" attitude and alight in the radio goes bananas. Two seperate definite alarms at a warehouse that has been hit numerous times before. OFF to the races you GO!

No siren, just the overheads, a duo of blocks away you go "silent". You make a fleeting pass in the unit and spot the probable arrange of enrty (an open window, in JANUARY). Maybe. Maybe these guys followed the "rules" and closely left a back up opportunity of avoid existing to them. Maybe you get a back up unit, maybe you don't. Doesn't matter, you gotta roll with punches and you got a JOB to do. The warehouse is HUGE, absolutely dark, multi-level with more "nooks and crannies" than a Thomas's muffin. And it's BEEN months since YOU answered a call here (or maybe never) so the blueprint is NOT "fresh" in your mind.

You attempt the chance guardedly and appreciate that the snowy, slushy, muddy base beneath has a clear set of LARGE boot prints, NO, wait, TWO sets of apparent footprints. Let's see. . . . . . . . . okay the chance has been jimmied. Cute assure developed window. These pry marks were done by a touch beautiful big and appealing sharp. Keep that in mind.

Enough bullshit, time to go into the "party".

Let's stop for a instant and take stock of our situation:

1. NO light, each inside(if we could even find them) or OUTSIDE. 2. At least two capability threats. 3. Nameless area of operation. Hardly if any idea of how the joint is layed out. 4. At least one perp is armed with a bit big, and sharp. At the LEAST. 5. Have other officers to worry about. 6. Cold as a sonofabitch. Stiff, draining iciness uniform, can't move all that well. Adrenalin pumping like a MOTHER. 7. Why didn't I be converted into a dentist like Mama wanted?

So you go IN. Your partner or your back up takes the "shit catcher" arrange at the rear, you carry the "flush". C'mon now, in you GO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I know what I've done in those situation, I know what OTHERS have done in those situations, and I KNOW how we were Qualified to do it, and MOST importantly, I know how it was Certainly handled. Here's the "rub". . . . . . . . . . . . pretty much the whole lot WEF states in Shooting to Live is Faithfully what I have seen, and qualified BOTH in my OWN dealings and those of others. ALL well trained, assiduous and "good" cops, knew their business. AND this was ahead of we EVER heard of these methods or researched these sources.

SEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THIS was the Lost link that we all KNEW, but COULDN'T exceedingly pin down. This was IT. You can not recall the "stats", the "percents", close the eyes to the over SIX decades of emprical data from agencies all over the WORLD plus the FBI, the DOJ, and almost every major area all over the free world( not even to declare a worldwide bushfire then went on FOR years). Not remember all of that. I KNOW what my "instinct" was and what was the "instinct" of a host of others in alike situations. Does that make it RIGHT or WRONG? Does it matter? It is what it is. Kinda like death and taxes, or at least death. You can talk up a storm about it, still is what it is.

Okay. So, comparing what I knew to be appropriate in my come into contact with and having seen first hand, as well as thru a choice of first anyone accounts, the reasoning that WEF outlined as WELL as the logic of use and mode of Direction made a great deal of sense to me, as well as others whose opinions I had grown to respect. What we HAD skilled was IN that a small amount old manual.

The task NOW was to do more do research and to make these methods come alive. That meant studying as much data as we could find on this topic, and then appreciation it and perfecting it.

BUT, you may ask, what about the "instinct" part. Didn't you KNOW this already? Yes, we did KNOW how many(certainly not all) those will react when located in rapid life and death disaster situations. The JOB was to rip this fashion apart, find any flaws, find any strengths, and to make it fully our own. ONLY then, once we especially KNEW what the hell we were doing(and conversation about), could we Choose if it accessible any REAL solutions to us. No matter which less than FULLY studying, inculcating and Appreciation the fashion would constitute INTELLECTUAL FRAUD in terms of any real keen and Decent assessment with any other "method".

How the hell do you judge a touch devoid of that mind-set.

During this period(mid to late 70's) there were a budding add up to of "experts" incoming the field. Cooper first and foremost, then names like Taylor, Farnam, Ayoob, and many others. For the most part, all "towed" the party line. Weaver was IT. The whole thing else was outdated, obsolete and "old" fashioned. Well, at this point I happening collecting All I could about shooting. Everything. From the oldest manuals and books to the most up to date. Magazine upon magazine, and of avenue constant Concrete training. What I was constantly education was actually eye opening.

Studying McGivern, Hatcher, Roper, Nichols, Weston, Gaylord, Askins, Jordan, "old" works by Copper, and so many other men and other sources like Leatherneck and the Infantry Journal, old issues of the American Rifleman was astonishing. My delve into assortment has NEVER closed growing. I don't "stop" learning, but more on that later.

The only contemporary voice in receipt of a diminutive play in the common gun journals was Brad Steiner. Much of what he wrote reflected what I had known to be true based on MY experience. There actually WAS a gap and a need for methods that dealt exclusively with CLOSE QUARTERS GUN BATTLES. The only certainly close quarters approach being bantered about at this time was the "speed rock". Steiner's contemporary articles were very exciting and he stirred alot of anger and controversy.

I commit to memory one slam made aginst Steiner and John McSweeny by Mas Ayoob. It anxious the use of a mirror to check and change firing poistion, alignment and so forth. This was a approach advocated by MANY "old timers" as a tried and true way of DAILY attempt away from the range. Easy. Simple. No "brainer". Each one has a mirror. Made achieve sense to me. And it WORKED. Great! Well, Ayoob likened this to "mental" masturbation. I'm not actually one to mince words, it's usually(not always) advance to just speak plainly. I couldn't help but astonishment what the effect of men like Paul Weston of the NYPD(who advocated this mirror instruction highly) or "Jelly" Bryce would have been to that comment. I also pondered what Brad Steiner's reaction, and conceivably more SO, John McSweeny's corollary would have been to Mr. Ayoob had he made that commentary nose to nose as a replacement for of in print. Basically, what Ayoob was saying, delicately cloaked as it was, was, you're a "jerk off".

Where were we? Oh YEA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What to do with ALL of this information, both new and "old". Well, logically the thing to do was to look at the most basic evils obtainable by any location and BUILD from there.

Easy enough. Right? Well, in fact no. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

First thing we did was to Circumscribe the terms that we would use. When so and so said this, made this statement, what did he Exceedingly mean? When Pistol A talks about this to Firearm B are they Actually accepting the terms being USED. Or is one party Arrogant he knows what a a selection of couch or descriptive term means. Damn, w're back to that commonsense foundation jammy again. Let's see. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I stop some guy on the lane and tell him in NO doubtful terms that I LOVE his wife, and all the time will. As a be relevant of fact, I have loved her for years. The man may be attractive shocked, he would have a right to be, maybe even take a swing at me. But, if we definite what was certainly said, well, the location changes. The guy's wife is MY sister. And yes, I love her deeply, at all times have, and constantly will. Ahead of any frank up front dialogue seeks to edify we must make sure we're on the same page. That was job 1. As I said something less is intellectual fraud.

So we did a thorough job of crucial the terms we used and what they meant.

Now we brutally went about tearing apart the lot on both sides of the hill.

What does the Realism of the road teach us, and how do we find REAL beneficial solutions to those troubles presented.

AND, here's the REAL catch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . how does all of this tie in to the LEAST customary denominator. In other words what is the MOST basic complete attempt to these problems, charming into bill first and primary the least in ability, skill, encounter and knowledge. If we can begin to build on that, then we have a touch actually worthwhile.

So here are the "problems":

1. Visibility. Accurate to zero.

2. Acute close range hasty violence. Unprepared. Reactive. Prepared. Active.

3. Enagaging adversaries at not to be trusted distances and/or heights/360 degrees. Close/medium/long range. Actual transition. Committed and reactive.

4. Aptitude to manuever and fire.

5. Capacity to air fire on a heartbreaking target.

6. Capacity to fire from dis-advantage or bulky positions.

7. Capacity to fire from cover and/or concealment. Two assorted tactical problems.

8. Capability to fire with both hands. Tandem-strong and weak. Single-strong and weak.

9. Aptitude to fire when ability to see is impaired.

10. Capacity to transition from bat to weapon.

11. Crisis reloading and malfunction clearing.

12. The MUST DO shot.

We did NOT adopt certain tactical problems. This list was considered for the MOST basic by and large mechanism facing every type of "shooter" anyway of "job" specificity. A six three 200lb. law enforcement tactical executive could face these "problems" in the same way that a 5 foot five 100lb. housewife may have to. Sounds silly? Think about it.

How we put as one the syllabus-

No compulsory or cumbersome positions or manuevers. Everything based to the Best coverage achievable on gross motor skill, actual body dynamics, and "instinctive" action/reaction. takes into checking account next to worst case scenario and works from there(worst case being you're previously dead).

The full classification be supposed to be as not to be faulted as possible. One factor dovetailing with another. Not just a "grouping" of techniques autonomous of one another. As broad as doable to cover the most amount of contingencies. Weak offhand shooting is collected of the EXACT same technicalities as TWO HANDED braced firing. The essentials are Certainly retainable and apply during the total shooting system. The grip on the draw is the same grip for firing. The grip when running, climbing, jumping is the same for cartoon and firing. The grip when prone is the same when kneeling is the same whenusing braced barricade, is the same when using the "pop out" and fire. This is a bad thing under the stress of real world violence?

The system? That we have to be a further long winded thread(if I continue this one). But for many of you, it won't be what you think or what you have "pidgeonholed".

FINALLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the GRIP!

Okay. First. Re-read all these parts over again. Exceedingly put some attempt into agreement what is being said here.

Fairbairn admonishes us to broaden the thumb along the "slide release"(for clarification). Mentions it more than a few times. WE DON'T teach that grip as part of the basic syllabus. We accomplished it alot and some liked it and some did not. BUT that's NOT the issue here.

The grip as advocated by WEF is distinct to the bat shown, NOT to WEF. Many gunners of the cycle in many assorted manuals and sources advocate the same grip for THAT weapon. For the . 45 ACP. It was just about de rigueur. Did it help some do the values for it that WEF set forth, MOST certainly. For others it was a far less booming venture. Some enhanced with practice, others did not.

Now we have to find out why? Colonel Applegate had HIS come back with and we had ours(more on that later) BUT still we required to appreciate why WEF advocated it and what we might have been missing.

First we have to bring to mind that "Shooting to Live" was in black and white in it's fundamental form(we have the manual) as a blue-collar for the SMP. An ordered Dress control agency. "Shooting to live" is an lengthened account of the earliest SMP manual. Why is that important? For the reason that the SMP, like most agencies issued a detail "duty" weapon. A average pistol. That was the . 45 ACP. But that wasn't all! The . 380 ACP was ALSO issued and for a VERY related reason. The use of the thumb comprehensive grip advocated for the . 45 ACP had more to do with the Aim of the stick than with whatever thing else. The angle concerning grip and barrel is such that a full "convulsive"(there's that term again) grip with thumb wrapped DOWN will appearance the horizontal barrel to floor alignment that is so crucial to ALL forms of exact shooting. MORE so in the approach skilled by WEF. The thumb augmentation helped seat the stick from backstrap to quiet in a "better" way for THAT gun. A full "fisted' grip tended to drop the quiet DOWN. Also, WEF had absolutely large hands and a great grip. He also realized this and adjusted accordingly. Officer's with less important hands who could NOT bend or use the . 45 ACP were issued the less significant . 380 ACP. Now become aware of the line cartoon on pg. 19 of STL. These drawings were made completely from still photos. Look at how far the thumb is comprehensive in the picture. I have absolutely common size hands and a fair grip, and my thumb doesn't come near to that position. I am definitely NOT alone in this problem. WEF recignized it too, THAT is why he issued lesser pistols for some officers.

Again, this blue-collar was done beforehand the be with world war and done with the Average issue . 45 ACP or . 380 ACP in mind as a Dress piece of ordinance. WEF use of the extensive thumb index was also clear in his approach of firing both the M1 A1 carbine and the Thompson sub-machin gun. He liked this method.

Colonel Applegate had another ideas. His duties exposed him to a VAST add up to of handguns that WOULD be used in combat in unreliable countries. From the Luger to the Walther, from a Colt handgun to an automatic, from a Browning to a Mauser. Applegate wanted A Definite logic of campaign firing that was applicable to ANY handgun, someplace in the world. THIS is why Colonel Applegate advocated the "point shoulder" sheltered wrist, raging grip method. That arrangement alone would allow a person to grab ANY revolver and be able to fire with effect(his words-Man Carnage Accuracy). Since each blueprint had a altered angle amid carry out and muzzle, differing weight, balance, prevent from speaking length, sight gap and so on he devised a singular approach to ADAPT to a GREAT come to of handguns. That is GENIUS! So on this point I be dissimilar with WEF's approach. How about all the other shootists? Like Bill Jordan. Look at his grip, about as tight fisted and spastic as you can get. And he is one of many that took a differing accost from what is shown in STL. All I want to do is keep it to the MOST basic FIRST. MOST BASIC FIRST. MOST BASIC FIRST! M O S T B A S I C F I R S T !

Was Applegate entirely HAPPY with what he educated at some stage in WWII. NO, he wasn't. He told us for myself that he would have qualified FULLY sighted fire FIRST, then "point shoulder" if he had to do it again. YEP! Nobody is in black and white in stone!

There are other SOLID reasons at the back the differences concerning WEF and Applegate, as well as others extant at some stage in this time. But, hell all that's in the past. Who cares, right?

Okey dokey. Back to WEF and the absolute thumb. NOW. . . . . . . try this. . . . . . . . . . . . even if you like the absolute thumb for your . 45 put back that auto with a further auto, large/medium/small frame. How's the "feel", bet you alter with each differing piece.

Now grab a wheel gun. Try it WITH THAT! Hmmmmmmm. . . . . how's that functioning out? No, not the Model 29 S&W, the small frame two inch. . . . . . try that. Well I don't see HOW that complete thumb grip works AT ALL with a revolver. Not for alter ego achievement most certainly!

SO now what? How about this. . . . . . . . . . . You carry a core duty mace that is a large frame auto. Okay. You also carry a small frame "snubby" on your ankle. . . . the "just in case" gun. And, maybe a Beretta . 25 as your "oh SHIT" gonna be late for banquet piece. THREE altered guns, three Another grips and THREE differing "feels". Or look down the firing line at ancestors who are looking to YOU for instruction. All shapes and sizes, all atypical in so many ways, and doubtless all preferring a atypical handgun. Damn, you HAVE to find the most deep-seated first point.

My answer? A strong, accepted and (dare I say it) spastic grip. The same GRIP you have used since Babyhood to hold and use tools and objects, to make a fist, to lift weights, etc. etc.

Opposable thumb. Simple. This is THE most basic battle possible. All and sundry can do it. All understands IT. And it is APPLICABLE diagonally the board for a GREAT array of hand types, builds, disabilities and WEAPONS. It can be used for any size autoloader or any size wheel gun.

NOW!!!!! READ THIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Did I EVER SAY IT WAS THE ONLY OR BEST METHOD? NO, I did NOT! I only said it was the MOST basic!

What I did say was that it was the most basic, simple, affable GRIP to USE as a FOUNDATION. Get a bit SOLID under your belt NOW, then work towards doesn't matter what logic and/or goal you wish. AND all the MORE power to you!

My thinking in a nutshell: I could teach you very efficient techniques that would take a bit of time to master. But along with that I can teach you a little you can USE right now when you leave here and cross that deserted parking lot. Master BASICS first and then the sky's the limit. Even WEF said given more time he would have trained another methods. Ernie Cates when he set up the USMC close combat agenda with Nakabyashi decide his basics carefully. he told me that rule one was: The part of the hand with NO hair is the palm! At it's core that's all I'm saying.

I'm sure I've missed some main points (combat draw and some other issues), but I've done in a whole day on this and I'm appealing atrophied by now. I did my best to offer sound reasoning. That's all I can do. This line of brain wave can be useful to just about anything, absolutely all aspects of armed and unprotected close-combat.

Copyright 2003 www. thetruthaboutselfdefense. com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the belligerent arts with judo at the age of 7 under the bearing of Yoshisada Yonezuka. At some stage in the past forty plus years Carl has enthusiastic his life to studying the aggressive arts, hand to hand combat systems, annals and religion. He is persistently humanizing himself all the way through his studies. What makes Carl exceptional is his blend of bellicose arts, law enforcement, forces and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a crowd of citizens with a wide brand experience. The next is a list of some of Carl's ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu

Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle

Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)

Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada

Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki

Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu

Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson Approach of Self Apology under Charlie Nelson