Gun, Knives and a dose of reality

[mercop]

First this a snap shot in time, a very small glimpse at one force on force scenario.

The student in black started out with his protectee (guy in red behind him, picture your wife (you very homely wife, or kid) on his reaction side walking down the street, so far so good.

He is then confronted as he turns the corner by a man with a knife ordering him to give up his wallet. Our good guy uses his reaction side arm to move his protectee behind him but due to the dynamics to the situation the protectee is now moved to the good guys strong side. This causes three things-

His first instinct is to now get his right hand up to reestablish physical control of his protectee, this becomes exaggerated now because instead of being off to his reaction side his protectee is behind him causing him to stumble backwards. As he falls to the rear both hands come out to the side. His right arm also seems to be pinned against his body hampering a possible draw. This is when you will need open hand skills. The bad guy already spooked advances with the knife.

This did not end well for the good guy.

There is no perfect answer to any of this, I post it to show how with step this way or that way the dynamics of a situation can change dramatically.

[jeremy]

uhhh...

Why not just step into the attack and neutralize the assailant?! I may get stuck, but I guarantee that beats being dead any day.

[mercop]

Hard to move forward once you are off balanced and moving backwards, especially with your hands out to the sides.

[jeremy]

So why move backwards and off balance yourself. Why not continue in your forward motion and neutralize the assailant?

[IUGradStudent]

Originally Posted by jeremy

So why move backwards and off balance yourself. Why not continue in your forward motion and neutralize the assailant?

Because it takes you a second to react and during that second you instinctively reached back to cover your protectee?

Or do you instinctively slam into everyone who talks to you as you come around the corner? It seems to me like you're presenting this as a simple problem -- that seems wrongheaded to me.

[mercop]

There you go.

[jeremy]

Originally Posted by IUGradStudent

Because it takes you a second to react and during that second you instinctively reached back to cover your protectee?

Or do you instinctively slam into everyone who talks to you as you come around the corner? It seems to me like you're presenting this as a simple problem -- that seems wrongheaded to me.

Uhhh...

No I don't instinctively reach back to cover my protectee (is that even a word). Nor do I instinctively slam into everyone who talks to me. Just trying to understand the reasons behind these movements.

I have been in this situation several times in real life and have always reacted quickly into the opponent. Neutralizing the threat.

I am always trying to learn new/better ways to handle problems.

[tyler34]

Originally Posted by jeremy

Uhhh...

Just trying to understand the reasons behind these movements.

I don't think there is a reason behind these movements other than he acted instinctually, and that wasn't a good thing in that situation. which to me equates that we're not all rambo and would be best served to train for these types of situations.

[henktermaat]

Interesting... I'd have to say the second it takes to recognize the man in front of him as a threat has already happened, or the right arm would have not went out to push back the protected. So Jeremy is saying he'd just dive right in, because at that point he would already know/have decided that it's not an accidental bump by an innocent stranger.

[mercop]

Students are instructed to have the protectee on their reaction side about a half step behind and to use their reaction side hand to grab...not push the protectee behind them. The student did this but due to the dynamics of the situation with him, the bad guy and his proctectee ended up with him on the other side. Again, this is a snap shot of time.- George