30Nov05

On preparing for the widest possible spectrum of eventualities, from one of

our Instructors who works security at an upscale nightclub:

"In July of this year, the ring finger on my right hand was badly ma ngled as a result of a dog bite. Fractured in several places, my entire hand was in

a cast for several months. I am right handed.

I continued to work the floor of our nightclub during this time, and the jealous boyfriends and assorted drunken idiots with whom we deal regularly c ut me no slack because of my injury! For the first time, I realized why you emphasize being able to handle guns and knives with either hand! I was su ddenly glad that we had practiced so many support-hand-only techniques during training. I'm still not sure I=80=99m an expert, but I didn=E2 =99t have to learn it all on the job!

It is falsely comforting to think that we can ever rely upon the all-inclusive availability of favorite weapons, favored hands, and favored tactics. This episode showed me that it is delusional to naively believe such things will always exist and be conveniently available when critically needed!

We never know what fate has planned for us, but we can pretty much count on

it being a 'come-as-you-are war.' What we can do to prepare is to be well practiced with both hands, both eyes, all kinds of weapons (not just our ' favorite' ones), in all kinds of lighting, footing, and states of e xhaustion. To spend all our training time practicing only those things at which we=80 re already adept, is to kid ourselves, dangerously. Ask me how I know this! "

Comment: Critical skills, such as one-handed shooting, reloading, and gun

handling, that are, by their nature, awkward and clumsy, are important and need to be learned and drilled regularly. The purpose of training is not t o make us look good. Indeed, when you "look good" during tra ining, it means you' re not challenging yourself adequately!

As Attila the Hun put it, "If victory is always easily gained, you a re simply striving toward the insignificant."

/John

30Nov05

Sage Comments form friend and colleague, Mas Ayoob:

"Tell your bouncer buddy that next time, he should ask the doc to dy e the cast 'tactical black' and install some chrome knuckle studs facing outward. Better to be feared than mocked (at least in the bar at closing time)... "

Comment: Mas' depth of knowledge constantly amazes me. You rule, M as!

/John