Core Defensive Skill Sets

[Tinman]

We’ve alluded to it in several threads, how about we put it in one place. Let’s list the skill sets we feel are important in personal defense.

I’ll start with a probably less than comprehensive list:

Tactical medical care
Situational awareness
Maintaining distance
Verbal interaction
Tactical movement (getting off the X to use someone else’s terminology)
Basic striking (eye jab, throat shots, palm strikes, hammer fists, elbows, and knees)
Controlling the clinch (for when we failed at number 2 and 3)
Recovery from a grounded position
In fight weapon access
Contact shooting
Ranged conflict shooting
Fundemental manipulations (malfunctions, reloads, etc)

I’ve seen this discussed on several boards, let’s see what we come up with here.

Tinman….

[Pami]

Originally Posted by Tinman

<snip>

Controlling the clinch (for when we failed at number 2 and 3)

</snip>

What do you mean by that one? I think my newness is getting the better of me here.

[indyjoe]

We also need:

Scream like a girl and Run Away. Both perfectly valid in certain situations.

[SilentWarrior1]

Originally Posted by Pami

What do you mean by that one? I think my newness is getting the better of me here.

Yep. Never heard of that in all of my training.

I think the most important would be the following:

Survival Mindset (Yes, it can be trained)
Survival Skills-
http://www.ar15.com/content/manuals/...ivalManual.pdf
Situational Awareness
Basic Tactical Rifle and Pistol Mechanics/Manipulations
Basic Field Medical Procedures (Buddy Aid)
Communications Etiquette/Operations
Hand-to-Hand Combatives
Fighting from Injured positions
Transitional Combatives

A lot of this will depend upon your Area of Operation and Operational Strength. How many people do you have? Going it alone or have a core group of people(3-7)? Staying in Urban/Suburban areas or going rural? Basics can be taught and re-vamped, and they're good no matter what the situation.

Again... Situation/Mission will dictate training.

[W9ZEB]

Controlling the Clinch.... You are holding on to the BG, usually controlling his head.

If there is more than one BG you use him as a human shield, keeping his body between you and the other BG.

Add lots of knees to his face, ribs while holding in place.... etc.

[Pami]

Originally Posted by W9ZEB

Controlling the Clinch.... You are holding on to the BG, usually controlling his head.

If there is more than one BG you use him as a human shield, keeping his body between you and the other BG.

Add lots of knees to his face, ribs while holding in place.... etc.

Thanks, Lars. So the "number 2 and 3" that we failed at would be the Tactical Movement and Basic Striking?

[W9ZEB]

Awareness, and Maintaining Distance.

[obijohn]

the only thing that i would currently add to tinman's list is personal awareness. his list of essential knowledge and skills is fine, but an individual must know how all those bits work for her/him. as has been said, "a man has to know his limitations." physical and mental limitations need to be sought out and dealt with. for instance, my hands are becoming increasingly arthritic, so grappling and some hand strikes are problematic. i've figured out some work arounds such as hammer fist type strikes instead of open handed techniques i may have used a decade or more ago.

[rhino]

Self-awareness on any substantial level may be the most difficult of all for . . . quite a few people.

[Tinman]

DING, DING, DING, DING, Lars gets the gold star.

You are correct, the clinch is a place in a fight where both parties for some reason have clamped on to one another and are still standing. Head control is more directed towards the classic Thai clinch, we can also control the clinch with overhooks, underhooks, hips, and head control all. Your skill level will determine the choices, and necessary techniquies.

That's a lot of technical terms in one paragraph there, but look at it this way, as discussed in several other threads, an example would be the drunken bear hug. How many bar fights have started with one drunk throwing a big swing at the other, then simply crashing (falling forward) and grabbing a hold of the other in some fashion of bear hug. Generally, because no one involved has a good understanding of the fight at this range, or they're just to drunk to stay vertical, they end up in a mess on the floor. Learning to control this range, make enough distance, and strike out of it is a very important skill.

Additionally, Lars is correct, when we fail to see the threat early, and allow them to close distance, the clinch is a likely (although not guaranteed) result.

Tinman....