Gun versus Hand. Gun versus Stick, Gun versus Knife. Gun versus Gun. Gun versus Crime. Gun versus War.
WHAT IS SURVIVAL CENTRIC: GUN?
“Under the gun.” “Behind the gun.” “Running with guns.”
Learning to gunfight is about shooting moving, thinking people who are shooting back at you. You are “under the gun,” under pressure, and under threat. This requires a different level of preparation, one that goes beyond static range work and into realistic, scenario-based training.
Being “behind the gun” means more than holding a firearm. It means all of you, your awareness, your decision making, your physical ability, and your mindset, working together under stress.
“Running with guns.” Remember when you were a kid and you were told not to run with scissors? Here we are, running while holding a firearm! A bit more dangerous than tripping and falling with scissors. Plus you have to know how to “run” (operate the gun.)
This course addresses the full spectrum of conflict, before, during, and after the moment a weapon is drawn. A core belief of this program is that every gunfighter, especially those carrying handguns, must also possess unarmed combatives skills. Many real-world gunfights happen at close range, or become close in a split second. Physical confrontations like fights and crimes often begin before a weapon is ever drawn and the physical fight sometimes continues during the draw itself.
This is a simulated ammunition course. I do not teach live fire. I can, but I choose not to. There are many excellent instructors dedicated to live fire training, and I encourage students to pursue that path consistently. I have so many friends that do a good job I hate to name a few and not name them all. My focus is different. Since 1995, my specialty has been safe, interactive, simulated ammunition training in all its forms. This includes Airsoft, gas and electric systems, rubber projectiles, Simunitions, and other practical tools that allow for realistic, human versus human training. There are no paper targets in this course. The emphasis is on learning to survive against real people in dynamic, unpredictable situations with repetition training.
A key concept in this training is “External Focus” versus “Internal Focus.” Terms developed through research associated with the Force Science Institute. Force Science Institute research indicates that an external focus (concentrating on the target/threat) is superior to an internal focus (concentrating on body mechanics/weapon handling) for, shooting performance, speed, and accuracy under stress.
External focus means your attention must be on the threat, the opponent, the environment, and the unfolding situation. Internal focus, such as stance, grip, and mechanical preparation, is important, but it can dominate too much of traditional training. In a real encounter, your attention must shift outward.
If you are not simply a recreational shooter or a target competitor, but someone preparing for violent encounters, whether in self-defense, law enforcement, or military contexts, then your training must evolve from internal to external. After developing internal, fundamental gun handling and marksmanship, you must engage in interactive, external human versus human training. You must experience what it is like to be targeted, to have incoming rounds, and to make decisions under pressure.
That incoming threat in training might come from Airsoft, paintball, training rounds, or even improvised tools. The exact method depends on resources, safety considerations, and training goals. What matters is that something, or someone, is actively working against you. Living, thinking opponents are essential for credible gun combatives training.
Despite this, such training remains relatively uncommon compared to traditional range shooting. The internal focus, range-based model dominates in time spent and availability. While range training is critical, it is not complete.
You should train with live fire regularly to build and maintain your ability to operate your firearm effectively. That foundation is mandatory. However, it does not replace the need for interactive, scenario driven training against moving, thinking opponents. The reality is this. Your adversary is not a flat target. They are a three-dimensional, adaptive human being with intent, movement, and unpredictability. They may be running, closing distance, grappling with you, or firing back, all within complex environments that may be urban, suburban, or rural. This course is designed to prepare you for these realities.
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The Survival Centric: Gun Course Ten Level Training Course Covers:
- Gun vs. hand.
- Gun vs. stick.
- Gun vs knife.
- Gun vs. gun.
- Gun vs. crime.
- Gun vs. war.
- Use of Force Continuum, Ethics, Morality and Law.
- Stress Combat Quick Draws & Counters to QDs
- Walking Point! How to search the outsides and insides of rural, suburban and urban areas. (This includes room and building entries under fire.)
- Pistol and Long Gun Retention) from the holsters, carry sites on up to and through use.)
- Concepts in Disarming Pistols and Long Guns.
- Counter Gun Threats Psychological Strategies.
- Criminal and Enemy Soldier Tricks and Ambushes.
- Controlling Captured Criminals and the Enemy.
- Move, Cover and Shoot Training Under Simulated Fire
- Low Light Combat Shooting Concepts.
- Tactical Medicine Advice.
- Simulated Pistol and Long Gun combat scenarios.
- How to run realistic scenarios.
- “Riding the Gun Down! Gun Arm Grappling. (One of the most important close quarters gun tactics you need to know.)
- Live fire – taught in conjunction with live-fire experts.
Important SC:Gun Combat Scenarios
- Street and/or parking lot and elevator robbery scenarios.
- Miami/Dade Shoot-out scenarios
- The “Mexico Escape” and Bodyguard sims concerning auto ambushes, transport and other activities
- Bodyguard scenarios.
- Car Jacking scenarios.
- Diner’s Dilemma – Restaurant robberies scenarios.
- Bank Robbery scenarios.
- Stakeout scenarios.
- Business and home invasion scenarios.
- Hostage Survivor “Parking Lot ‘WalMart’ Madness.”
- SWAT sims (for Defender-Police Judo practitioners).
- Stairway to Heaven – Gun fights in stairways.
- Arrest, control and contain scenarios.
- Small war games.
- The Breakheart Pass Drill.
- Close Quarter Gun Arm Grappling
- Armed Ground fighting.
“Remember, the one who plans, cheats, outsmarts, connives, fools and deceives can win the gun fight. Fortune favors the prepared.” – Hock
