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
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