The realities of training for armed self-defense

Let me start by stating that I truly hope nobody ever has to use their firearm to defend themselves. It's not like the movies and even if you are able to walk away without injury, there will be other implications.

In this article, I am speaking to training for an armed self-defense scenario in an urban theater (not a combat theater). While several of the critical considerations are similar, there are also significant differences. I am also not speaking to legal aspects as I am not an attorney. I am also not a medical professional. If you want the legal implications, speak with an attorney.

So what is it that I am trying to describe? A combination of:

1. Human Biology (specifically adrenaline response)
2. Bio-Mechanics (fine-motor skills, tactile response)
3. Environmental Factors (light, structure, weather)
4. Equipment Failure

Taken individually, you can no doubt understand each and provide a rational explanation of how to train. The challenge is that they should be considered in combination.

Human Biology

Adrenaline is an amazing thing. When a human is confronted with a critical or high stress scenario, millions of years of evolution take over, and human biology results in increased adrenaline. In some respects this is a valuable reaction and it can allow for quick reaction times and the ability of the mind to over-look things like injury or pain. The problem is that a high level of adrenaline will also introduce other effects that work adversely in gunfight.

Adrenaline can cause increased heart rate, rapid breathing, narrowed or blurred vision, and mitigation of tactile feel or response. In a defensive scenario this leads us to Bio-Mechanics.

Bio-Mechanics

As adrenaline increases our vision can become affected. When our vision narrows, we may lose focus of the area around and beyond the attacker. Where our vision might blur, we may have difficulty in obtaining a good sight picture or sight alignment. This may present unintended or collateral risk to others, and we also might not be able to stop the threat.

We can also lose what are normally fine-motor skills, where we can clear a malfunction, or perform an emergency reload. Similarly, loss of tactile response in our digits (fingers) can impact our trigger press and trigger reset.

There may be other symptoms of adrenaline such as shortness of breath, loss of balance, headache, etc. (the examples being illustrative, not exhaustive).

Environmental Factors

One of the things that we cannot fully control is our environment. Low light or darkness obviously happens in the evening hours, but can also happen as the result of cloud cover, structural density (like a closed alley or a hallway), or failure of lighting. Other environmental factors can include rain, snow, extreme heat, glaring sunlight, and excessive noise. While these may not appear to be critical, when combined with adrenaline and loss of fine motor skills, the result can be significant.

Equipment Failure

I have several types, models and brands of firearms. Each of which has advantages, disadvantages and intended purpose. In the case of defensive carry, my weapon system is a Glock. There are many other options both good and not good. I will leave that to you to decide. I just prefer my Glock and largely due to experience. I have never yet had a failure to fire or failure to feed. It always "goes bang". That doesn't mean that it won't fail me at some future point. It is a piece of human engineering and over time they fail. It's pretty hard to think of anything a human has designed and built that hasn't at some point failed or isn't subject to failure. Think about it.

That all sounds dire. What can I do about it?

The good news is that you can address all of the above to a great degree. I am doubtful that most people can control the release of adrenaline. Anything is possible, but I also suspect it would take years of focused mental and physical discipline. Rather than suggest trying to rely upon a level of biological control, know that adrenaline will increase, expect it to happen, and train for it !

In our more advanced training offerings, we include situational drills that we try to make as real-world as possible. For those who have verified as being physically able, we also introduce a series of rapid calisthenics with intent to increase adrenaline, rate of breathing, and stress, with very carefully managed range drills (very strict safety protocols and procedures are followed).

We also introduce not only multiple targets at varied target distance, but also varied target styles, target colors and target sizes. Our range drills cover multiple rounds fired combined across all of these target variations. We also add the increased pressure of time. We also drill for shoot and no shoot decisioning.

For Bio-Mechanics, we introduce malfunctions and reloads. These are critical in a defensive gunfight. The bad guy(s) are not going to politely wait while you clear a mis-feed, failed mag, or you run your weapon system dry and need to reload. We also teach how to move off the line of fire, and how to utilize cover and concealment.

For Environmental Factors, we try to introduce variations of light, structure and where possible weather.

Equipment Failure is interesting. Even with a new weapon system, there is a chance of failure. For this, the recommendation is get a weapon that works well and is generally reliable. Keep it clean ! I know Glock fans that have run 5,000 rounds through their weapon and never cleaned it. It stills goes bang - at least for now. However, my perspective is a bit different. If I am in a gunfight, I don't want at the most critical life and death moment to encounter a failure that I could have simply avoided by having previously cleaned my weapon. It's not that time consuming to clean a firearm, and honestly I find it almost therapeutic.

Engineering failures are more difficult in that rarely can you anticipate them. Also, when they occur they are not always simple to correct. The best options here are to inspect your firearm for obvious flaws and failures, train for malfunctions and if possible to have some form of backup.

In all of this, training is perhaps the most important and valuable. What I have described are honestly only the "big animal" topics. There are many other training considerations.

Generally speaking, think beyond the static target. Get additional training from someone who is experienced and knowledgeable, and practice ! Training with a firearm results in a learned set of skills. They are perishable. So... train, practice, repeat.

Above all, SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY ALWAYS! Know and implement the safety rules. Never skip them or take a short-cut. Watch and listen to your instructor and range safety officer, Pay careful attention. Have a question or don't understand ? Stop and notify your instructor or range safety officer. Stay safe !

Remember....

Always in the fight.. Never quit. Adapt, Overcome, Prevail.