I got a great article from Mark this morning from the Star-Trib. I am torn about this article because it is a AWESOME article, with a real hero story, BUT it was sent to me instead of being posted on the blog by one of our students! I would have loved to see his opinion on this article.
Shame on you Mark!
I often see people at the gun range practicing "home defense" shooting. They draw a holstered weapon, set the target 50 feet down range at a well lit target. The body they are shooting at is typically a novelty "terrorist of the month" or some barely human cut out.
I often time look at these marksmen and ask, "What the hell are you training for?"
My point is this: If you are serious about a martial art or self defense, you MUST train for reality.
What hallway in your house is a 50 foot clear shot?
What infiltrator is going to stand right in front of you in a well-lit hallway?
Do you normally wear a holster in your own house?
Etc...
These questions rattle through my head every time I see a martial arts class.
Bunch of pajama wearing kids in horse stance punching from unrealistic positions into the air.
Then, I see Jimmy-The-Crack head. Jimmy goes around his kitchen and practices slaping his old lady in the tight quartered kitchen, then his kids, then when the cops show up, Jimmy has his warm-up done, and he fights them too.
When that is all said in done, Jimmy goes to jail, beats up his cell mate, goes into segregation, only to practice waving his hands like he is talking, and springing punches out of his "talking hands".
Who would you rather fight?
Of course, I think people hurting other people (especially their family) is disgusting, and I would never encourage it. But the training theory is much better than the stock broker who goes to Pajama Party with his kids and practices punching air/boards/padded folks at maximum range.
How would your training fair in this article?
Could you be as heroic as these guys?
As Giles says, "There's nothing better they could have done."
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/136920153.html
I totally understand and agree with your point. However, as someone who is going to be doing some of these things for the first time (ie: shooting at a well lit target in a shooting range from 50 feet away)I think there is at least some value in the basic training to start. You have to learn to walk before you can run, and I have never even shot a hand gun before.
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