Two Person Armed Defense 5.17.2021

I have attended a class with Rob Pincus as part of his Personal Defense Network Tour every year since about 2015 except for the COVID debacle of 2020.  I have taken Intuitive Defensive Shooting, Intuitive Defensive Carbine and Advanced Pistol Handling multiple times. I have also attended Armed Defense Around Vehicles, Extreme Close Quarters Tactics, and Armed Home Defense Tactics. I am a Defensive Firearms Couch and Intuitive Defensive Shooting Instructor with his I.C.E Training company. However I had never attended or even seen the entirety of his Two Person Armed Defense curriculum. When he told me he wanted to teach it during his tour stop, here in Iowa, I was looking forward to attending.

The context of TPAD was to not turn students into mini two person SWAT teams but to help them use the 3 C of team tactics to better communicate with other responsible gun owners during the aftermath of a potential self defense situation.

The 3 C's

Coordination ( The plan)

Communication ( What you see, What you need)

Cooperation ( Finding work and filling in the gaps)

This was not a shooting class per se. We did start out the day doing some standard IDS drills so Rob could ascertain the base level of shooting competence of the class. The focus was on the processing of information and the communication piece post shooting. 

The advantage to having an additional person is obviously having someone else that is able to process information that you may not be able to do as an individual. We slowly ramped up the dynamic nature of the drills throughout the day. Slowly adding more and more complexity to the drills. The drills themselves were not complicated. Basic Move, Shoot and Communicate however the complexity went from individual engagement to team engagement, communication etc..

Ultimately the day ended on a very complex two team drill with multiple targets and multiple different ways the scenario could play out for either team. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and am looking forward to the next training day.

 

Gracie Survival Tactics Level 1 Instructor Re-Certification April 14- Jun 3 2021

 

In May 2019 I attended at Gracie Survival Instructor Development Camp in Omaha Nebraska. I wrote about it here https://mikemac356.blogspot.com/2019/06/gracie-survival-tactics-instructor.html . As 2021 rolled around it was time for me to re-certify. Due to Covid the option to re-certify online through video evaluation was offered.  This was a better option for me. 

As a recertification candidate I was tasked with performing 23 different techniques including variations as well as teaching those same techniques.

Myself and my training partner had to submit 5 different videos for grading purposes

1. Technical Proficiency Video

2. Freestyle Fight Simulation Video

3. Correction Strategies Video

4. Slice Presentation Video

5. Instructor Candidate background and Information Video

All videos were pass/fail except for the technical proficiency. You had to score a 90% for the technical proficiency video. We had 60 days to accomplish this task. Really though due to both of us working odd/rotating schedules we had about 30 days. 

We had multiple hours of technical practice both together and individually. Ultimately on the day we decided to film and upload videos we spent 9 hours in a garage filming,teaching, and working up a sweat. 

Once the videos were uploaded it took less than 48 hours to receive our results. We both passed and received recertification for another two years!! Not only was the turn around time quick but constructive criticism was thorough and complete. 

In my opinion this video option was much more difficult than the original camp. Taking the video recertification option really forced me to own the material because there was no option to hide in the crowd. I am looking forward to bringing this training option to both the officers and EMS providers at both public safety agencies I work at. 

ECQC 2:1 EVO 5.2.21

Recently I traveled to Wisconsin to attend my 10th( I think) Shivworks course and my second Extreme Close Quarters Concepts class with Craig Douglas. I've reviewed Craig's coursework before in previous posts. It is the standard for the entangled gunfight and how to deal with it. . I thought I would review my own performance during one of the evolutions this time. I am the subject of the evolution. I am wearing a red sweatshirt.

Bottom line up front I wasn't extremely happy with my performance here. I mean I got shot so that's not a win in anyone's book. As Craig often says "no one wears a cape". The first point always hammered home in these evolutions is it is imperative to avoid those situations entirely. Of course, Craig sets them up for the worst-case scenario. 

Let's break down the video:

The video starts off with an aggressive individual accusing me of taking inappropriate pictures. I try to maintain my distance and put a fence up with my hands between us. He kept encroaching on my space and backing me up as I tried to circle within the confines of the space we had. 

:54 

At this point in the video, he was close enough for me to push off his chest. I should have utilized an eye jab or perhaps OC spray to make some space here. 

1:05

As we became entangled I attempted a failed outside trip and then executed a successful lateral drop. I landed on top and moved to side control. I started trying to negotiate with my assailant and get him to calm down. I eventually put him in an Americana submission hold as I negotiated. I didn't know or notice that my firearm had fallen out of my holster during the scuffle. This was a brand new holster and the retention was obviously not adjusted tight enough. 

1:23 

Another individual enters and unknown to me picked up my dropped firearm. He started yelling at us to stop. In my mind I was hearing this but still trying to control the original assailant. I mistakenly tried to negotiate with both of them from a side control position. Perhaps if I would have gone to knee on belly things may not have escalated.

1:41

I get shot for the first time ( didn't notice at first) and go to mount. I try to negotiate with the gun man and keep control of the original assailant. 

2:07

I am shot multiple times

Lessons learned:

1. I was using this course to pressure test some gear. The holster retention failed. I actually count this as a win because it didn't happen in a real situation and can be fixed.

2. I got task fixated on the original attacker. When the second guy came into play I should have moved where I could see them both. It may have been appropriate just to stand up at that point. 

3. I thought I did a decent job of trying to deescalate both individuals while maintaining control but right, wrong, or indifferent the other human has a say. I got shot because I failed to maintain awareness of the big picture. 

There is a lot to mentally unpack in this video. I learned some things not to do and I think some things went well. This is one of several evolutions so much to ponder on from the weekend.

If you carry a firearm and aren't training and pressure testing like this occasionally and think everything will be fine, you are mistaken.

I look forward to the next evolution