This short article is intended to close the gap between traditional concepts of street defence against unarmed aggressors and the modern world of aggressors armed with firearms and blunt instruments.
Whilst one would not, by choice, confront an armed aggressor with "Empty Hands", you may end up in a situation where you do not have a choice: aggressors normally choose the time place for their attack.
Defence against an armed aggressor is "extremely hazardous to one's health" and, as a starting point, karateka would do well to remember:
- Rather walk away; your ego will only get you killed.
- Understand the principle of distancing when 'weapons' are involved:
o If you are out of range, you cannot be stabbed with a knife or beaten with a blunt instrument.
o If you are confronted by an aggressor armed with a firearm, you need to be close enough to defend yourself. If you try to attack from far away, you will be shot and possibly killed.
The views expressed here are my own, based on over 26 years experience in practical pistol shooting and over 10 years experience in Shotokan karate. Over the years I have been involved in numerous confrontations during which I have been attacked and shot at by armed and unarmed assailants. There is no romance or pleasure in facing death or taking another's life.
Firearms
Whilst one would not, by choice, confront an armed aggressor with "Empty Hands", you may end up in a situation where you do not have a choice: aggressors normally choose the time place for their attack.
Defence against an armed aggressor is "extremely hazardous to one's health" and, as a starting point, karateka would do well to remember:
- Rather walk away; your ego will only get you killed.
- Understand the principle of distancing when 'weapons' are involved:
o If you are out of range, you cannot be stabbed with a knife or beaten with a blunt instrument.
o If you are confronted by an aggressor armed with a firearm, you need to be close enough to defend yourself. If you try to attack from far away, you will be shot and possibly killed.
The views expressed here are my own, based on over 26 years experience in practical pistol shooting and over 10 years experience in Shotokan karate. Over the years I have been involved in numerous confrontations during which I have been attacked and shot at by armed and unarmed assailants. There is no romance or pleasure in facing death or taking another's life.
Firearms
There are two broad categories of hand guns, namely revolvers and semi automatic pistols. In confronting an aggressor armed with a handgun, the following points are relevant.
- You cannot outrun a speeding bullet, i.e. you have to close the gap rather than extend the gap in most instances.
- If you initiate an attack against an aggressor who is pointing a firearm at you, provided your distancing is correct, you will be able to deflect the muzzle of the firearm away from you before the aggressor is able to discharge the firearm.
- The ability to render the firearm inoperative is a great advantage and for this reason a basic understanding of the mechanical workings of handguns is essential.
Blunt instruments
Other than being completely out of range, it is generally better to be as close as possible when you are being attacked by an aggressor wielding a blunt instrument. The reason for this is quite simply that the end of a blunt instrument travels at greater velocity. The principle of "attack the attack" is of greatest importance in this situation.
Ian McLaren
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