Pistolcillian
“Medicine for what ailes us.”
With the all the pros out to give a helping hand with what ails you, I suspect that there is a few folks that may wonder what I take issue with and what may serve you well. We all have things that we just discount as “the way that is” and move. I plan on steering some conversation around what I think is important and make us better able to defend ourselves. Most of the conversations will be centered on the T.E.A.M. acronym (Tactics, Equipment, Attitude, Marksmanship) that the cognoscenti’ of Jim Higginbotham and Tom Givens came up with a few moons ago. I like rules, and as I have stated before, they are what define us as the good guys. The T.E.A.M. acronym is no different. So I will just hit on each now and get into the “meat and potatoes” of more specifics later. Tactics is just an urban word for moving in a gunfight, or moving wherever. Generally learned by someone or something, and generally oversimplified. The trick to “tactics” is to keep it simple... Cutting down on what you have to do is important as you undoubtedly have a lot going on at the moment and having to add complicated actions to achieve the same end goal (which is living) is goofy. Simplicity of motion. Fingers and toes begin not to cooperate when stress and shock come over us. Keep your training motions as simple as possible. Simple as drawing a sidearm. Step 1, draw and shoot. The “12-step draw” works too, but not for you. Keep it simple. If the term “tacti-cool” comes to mind when you first see or try something new, it may not be worth learning. Equipment is also one of those things best kept simple. Whatever you decide to add to your collection of stuff, remember to add about 100 hours of perfect practice to get it right. Now 100 hours may be a little overboard for SOME things, but certainly not everything. When you positively, absolutely, with-out-a-doubt, has to be ready when you really need it, be ready to put the practice in or do not use it. As with tactics, simpler is better. Lots of bells and whistles complicate an already delicate situation. Hooks on holsters to keep them in the pocket, elastic bands that “pop” off when you draw a gun are examples of over complication. Attitude is by far the hardest thing to prepare for. The topic covers so many different arenas. Here are some thoughts; LTC Jeff Cooper’s “Color Codes or Awareness” for before the event, ruthlessness for during the melee, and a calm demeanor after its just over and what to do. There are so many personalities and so many different thoughts, beliefs, and morays to come to a one-stop term on the attitude needed to survive. Just a simple term is “ruthlessness”. If that’s something you are going to have trouble with, I would recommend pepper spray and a good injury lawyer and doctor. More on this...... Trust me. A quick and easy is a stop by Jim Higginbotham’s signature course “Surviving a Lethal Encounter Workshop”..... Marksmanship is likely the most practiced portion of the TEAM concept. Generally not in a manner which befits “defensive Weaponcraft”. I remember a Civil War movie starring Matthew Broderick in the 1989 movie “Glory” where he played a U.S. Army Colonel in charge of a newly formed unit comprised of blacks. During one of the training events, Col. Shaw (Broderick) was inspecting a day at the range and noticed the soldiers busy slapping each other on the back about how well they were doing shooting cans and such. They were certainly having a good time. As Col. Shaw was busy congratulating the green recruits on their new found success with their new rifles, Col. Shaw asked a soldier in the center of attention if he would mind doing it again. The soldier, full of confidence, jumped at the opportunity to showcase his talents. As the soldier began to fire, Col. Shaw borrowed his XO’s pistol (wisely, I might add. Use HIS ammo.. Nice to be in charge) and began shooting near the recruits ear. Obviously flustered, the soldier had suddenly lost the ability to even load, talk, or do much else. With just a little pressure everything stopped. After all, marksmanship is nothing more than well-disciplined execution of your tactics, but you still have to do it. So “Pistolcillian”... Just some rambling that I hope will be a good answer to some age- old questions.
