I don't teach accuracy. I teach aggression. In the Army we called it "violence of action," meaning how HARD you fight rather than how WELL you fight. To use Dubya's words, "Shock and Awe" is, in my opinion, more important than technical precision. I wrote about the difference between the near ambush and the far ambush a few weeks ago. The far ambush allows for judgment, which I mean as the ability to think and formulate a plan. But in a near ambush, which is what I consider self-defense situations to be, there is no ability to develop a plan. In fact, taking the time to try to plan something is a sure way to lose in a near ambush situation.
I did not explain that well because I forgot the most important aspect in an ambush. I have been caught in a handful of ambushes, and the scariest part of them was not the bullets or IEDs or RPGs fired by the enemy, it was the confusion. When somebody sucker punches you, the pain is not the major problem, confusion is. In that moment, you have to react instantly to take the Initiative away from the person initiating the ambush, or you get slaughtered. In the military example, that's what the battle drill is for: throw grenades, assault through the objective with "shock and awe," or violence of action. No hesitation, no planning and absolutely no RETREATING. Action is the only thing that will defeat the confusion, which is the real danger. Not knowing what the hell is going on is what gets people killed in an ambush if they start trying to figure it out instead of just attacking to get the Initiative. Frags out, charge, overwhelming firepower, and slice through the enemy like a hot razor blade at Mach 5. That is the battle drill, and the battle drill overcomes the confusion and allows you to get so close that you butt stroke him with your rifle upside his head.
You ask, what the hell are you talking about, Soule? We aren't butt stroking anybody upside the head and knocking their teeth down their throat. Why not? It's about aggression and violence of action, whether I have an M1 Tank or a butter knife. I want to be on the other side of the bad guy...because I went THROUGH HIM. I don't stop beating his teeth down his throat until he is no longer a threat.
I train that violence of action and aggression by teaching shooters to move forward. If you learn nothing else, learn to MOVE FORWARD! Once you start attacking with overwhelming force--which is not the same as numbers--then the enemy either dies in place, retreats or kills you. Two of those three are winners, which means the odds of your winning dramatically increase if you become the aggressor. That is why I spend an hour teaching people how to accurately hit a human torso and three to four hours teaching people how to be MEAN! I teach them to be aggressive, because emptying a magazine into somebody's torso as fast as possible is much more plausible and effective than trying to calmly line up a perfect head shot while taking fire. Shoot fast, and move forward!
This is not opinion, it is borne out by history and surveillance footage. Historically, it is rare for two armies to attack each other simultaneously. We call that a "meeting engagement," and it is not nearly as common as an ambush or a deliberate attack against a prepared defense. More importantly from the self-defense shooting aspect, if you watch surveillance video of violent criminals that get met with armed resistance, they usually break contact and run. Why is this? Probably not because they are not good at violence, but because they have more to lose. Not only can they get shot, but the can also get caught and prosecuted. Prison is an interruption of their business. Also, criminals generally look for soft targets. So, if you aren't a soft target, you are less likely to be attacked, but even if you are and you become the aggressor, you are no longer a soft target and are more likely to prevail. Death is also an interruption of their business. They don't want to risk either, USUALLY. That's an important note; there are psychos who won't tuck tail and run. But, the answer to that is to be EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE! The three possible outcomes are the same, they retreat, they get shot or you get shot; bet on the two out of three where you win.
What if I try to retreat? You get shot in the back. Most soldiers in war that get shot in combat actually get shot in the back when they start to retreat. There is probably something genetic in all predators that kicks in when prey turns its back on them. Violent criminals are predators. It is your choice whether you want to be prey or not. Start thinking like the lion, and make them feel like the gazelle!
Violence of action is the only way to regain the Initiative in an ambush. Having battle drills can defeat the initial confusion of an ambush because you don't have to think about them; in a crisis situation all the blood drains out of your frontal lobes and you get what's called "scared witless" and your fight or flight response kicks in. Switch it to FIGHT, and attack the bastard. Otherwise, if you hesitate to come up with some grand scheme, you get shot to shreds, raped, stabbed, kidnapped, et cetera. Remember, whoever has the Initiative at the end of an engagement is the winner.
Hope that clears up some CONFUSION. If you like what I'm saying, please share the link to this blog.
Thanks!
Soule (Easy 6)
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