Awareness Article

We have done many posts on building awareness skills as an essential component of self-protection.  Here is an article on the same topic, which is a nice review on developing a vigilant mindset:

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20100609_primer_situational_awareness?utm_source=SWeekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100610&utm_content=readmore&elq=63b05eb35d684471b569bd0199408c48

Scan and Assess with Pistol

Hey guys, here is our first training tip from the Combat Hard Training Center:

Restriction Training

I had already posted a video of Al Peasland regarding multiple attackers.  Here is another interesting video clip on restriction training.  I love this concept because sometimes, in the real world, the ideal striking position does not exist.  You may be attacked and have to shoot from the hip, so to speak.  Technique is probably going to break down in the fray anyway, so you may also consider the fact that you are not always going to get into a perfect fighting stance, either.  My experience at Mark Hatmaker’s recent self-defense bootcamp really drove that point home to me (we were performing his “Outer Limits” drills).

Al practices striking from several awkward positions.  Good stuff!  Check it out:

Al Peasland Video

Combat Hard Training Center is bringing Al Peasland, founder of Complete Self Protection, across the pond to the states for a seminar!  We are currently looking at dates in August 2010.  Check out this cool promotional video for his Multiple Assailants DVD:

Training Tips

Here is an article on American Combato’s site that makes some really great, practical suggestions for close combat and self-defense training.  Shaking things up a bit in the training environment is certainly going to make you more adaptable in reality!  There is so much great stuff on this site, and I encourage you to explore it further.

http://seattlecombatives.com/?cat=4

Five Women Subdue Another Woman’s Attacker

I definitely snagged this article for the crime file.  I’ve begun collecting stories like Charles Nelson did for his students, which he used as teaching points.  I thought is was very interesting that not only did these Good Samaritans intervene to help another woman, the victim’s attacker (whom she knew and sought legal protection against) was wielding a knife and had already stabbed her.  Nice going!  That is an extremely dangerous mission, indeed.  Who knows if the victim would have survived this harrowing ordeal without the intervention!  I would love to know how they got the knife away from him and brought him to the ground.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/142711.html

Ferocious Resolve In Action

Dr. Ruthless posted this article on Facebook.  This is a great example of ferocious resolve.  I think the woman is Hatmaker’s “crazy cat” in this scenario.  Definitely a strong will to survive!

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1509158.shtml?cat=10114

Animal Analogies

I was contemplating Mark Hatmaker’s analogies about the creatures we can identify with when it is time to kick off in a life-threatening encounter.  He gives two examples to live by: the Tasmanian Devil, and a crazy cat.  Of course, we are talking about the cartoon version of the Tasmanian Devil—the critter that whirls around and mows down everything in his path.  I can certainly understand the cat analogy better, since I have had cats as pets.  Once they get angry and very pointy (teeth and claws), they are extremely hard to control, no matter how much I outweigh them.  Mark talks about his tiny, eight-pound cat that struck fear into the hearts of accomplished martial artists—mostly because of the cat’s unpredictability and ferociousness.  He recommends we choose one of these analogies, or something similar, to identify with when we imagine ourselves in the event of fighting for our lives.  What an awesome idea!  The more fast and furious we are at the onset of a physical confrontation, the more the scales are tipped in our favor.  Once you break into someone’s OODA loop and gain the upper hand, the more you force the other party to react and the harder it is for them to catch up.  Imagine an attacker’s surprise, when he has targeted you as his next victim, expecting you to submit, and you launch into him like a tornado with pre-emptive strikes.  Even if he gets the first power move and uses force, perhaps he still imagines that will scare you enough to submit.  No!  Imagine yourself taking that first strike and transforming into a whirlwind of teeth (yes, Mark recommends biting despite most people’s distaste for it), claws, and your other eight personal weapons: (fists, elbows, knees and legs).  Well, nine personal weapons if you also fancy headbutts.  Simply put, this behavior represents what we like to refer to as ferocious resolve, and we have talked about this before in discussions about Marcus Wynne.  I recall him saying that all the skills in the world are nothing without the right mindset to use them.

So, which animal are you going to be like?  Get your mind right about it NOW—remember that the imagination is a powerful training tool!

Combat Hard Training Center Open House

Well, the day is fast approaching.  We’ve got a few more things to take care of, but we are getting close to our grand opening.  We are so excited.  If any of you are in the Atlanta area next weekend, we invite you to stop by and check things out for yourself.  Here are the details of our new facility:

• 3000 Sq. Ft. Defensive Tactical Room
• 1400 Sq. Ft. Shoot House with Custom Lighting & Effects for Scenario Training
• Indoor Airsoft Pistol Range
• Classroom with Projector and White Board (seats 24+ students)
• Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms
• Pro Shop

Details of Open House:

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2010

10:30AM – 2:00PM

9529 South Main Street – Suite 200

Jonesboro, GA 30236

404-969-5728

We will be running some mini-seminars, demonstrations, and have food and refreshments.  Come on by, we would love to see you!

Combat Hard Training Center

Okay, so we have been busier than a one-legged guy in a butt-kicking contest!  We are getting ready to open the Combat Hard Training Center and there has been SO MUCH TO DO.  A long-time dream is about to come to pass–we finally pinched ourselves recently and said, “hey, this is REAL!!”  In our 9000 square foot facility, we will be offering an interesting mix of training options that are darn hard to find under one roof.  This list is not exhaustive:

• Krav Maga
• Self Defense
• Defensive Tactics
• Knife Fighting
• Officer Survival
• Tactical Problem Solving
• Individual Protective Measures
• Fighting in Low Light or Dim Light
• Car Jacking
• Vehicle Pull Overs
• Force on Force Scenario Based Training
• Simunitions, Paintball & Airsoft Training
• Indoor Force on Force Shoot House
• Handgun Combatives
• Gun and Knife Survival
• Extremely Close Quarter Shooting
• Live Fire Pistol Courses
• Live Fire Carbine Courses

Our facility will be open to law enforcement, military and civilians.  I took these pictures this weekend, and this is our progress so far:

Digital Camo Zebra Mats for Mat Room

Shoothouse (shot from mezzanine)

Shoothouse

Shoothouse under construction (and our police car)

Our Logo in the Mat Room

Front Door

We are having a photo shoot this Saturday, April 17th, from 10AM to 1PM.  If you think you want to stop by, drop us an email at combathard@gmail.com and let us know!  We would love to see you there.  Our new facility address is:

Combat Hard Training Center

9529 South Main Street–Suite 200

Jonesboro, GA 30236

This location is very convenient to the Atlanta airport, which will be great for folks flying in for seminars.  We are opening in May, and our spankin’ new website will be up very soon (same URL: www.combathard.com).  We will keep you posted on things as they unfold!