You may have heard this before…
“80% of all fights end up on the ground!”
Whatever that number REALLY is, the bottom line is that, to defend yourself in a real attack, you’d better know how to fight back when you’re knocked on your butt or dragged down by your attacker.
Same goes for a gunfight…
As much as you’d like to think you can get to your gun with your well-practiced 1-second draw, Murphy’s Law states that you’ll never even see the attack coming and you could find yourself lying flat on your back before you even get a chance to lay a finger on your concealed firearm.
Here’s a simple drill you can do to better prepare for an ambush attack that forces you to defend from the ground…
First the setup…
This dry-fire drill works best with an airsoft or other replica gun (like a “blue gun” or SIRT laser pistol) but if you use your own weapon, be sure to unload ALL ammo (don’t even have any in the room), clear the weapon safely; and then have someone double-check there are no rounds at all in the gun.
Also, it’s best to do this exercise on a padded mat or carpeted floor for safety – and give yourself plenty of room.
And finally, you can do this dry-fire drill with any sort of target (or even just aiming at a light switch), but if you can find a willing training partner, it will be much more realistic.
Now, here’s how the drill goes…
Step 1: Place your safe weapon in your regular concealment holster.
Step 2: With a partner or target within arm’s reach, fall onto your back.
Make sure you lead with the buttocks and roll backwards so you’re not slamming your back onto the ground and injuring yourself.
Also, as you’re falling, make sure you keep your feet toward your “attacker”. (This is critical in a real attack!)
Step 3: Perform a series of aggressive “bicycle kicks” to practice keeping your attacker at bay.
In between kicks, draw your training pistol as quickly as you can.
(btw… this is where you’ll get the cold, hard truth about how your method of carry will either help you – or hurt you – when trying to fight from the ground!)
Step 4: Once drawn, cross your ankles near the ground and place your weapon between your knees.
This is a little known trick for “ground-shooting” that steadies your aim by stabilizing your arms against your legs as you engage your target.
The Truth About Dry-Fire Drills…
This is just one example of a simple dry-fire drill that only takes a few minutes to do… but as you can see – it’s far more realistic and effective than your typical range training, right?
In fact, if you own a firearm and want to keep your skills sharp enough to truly feel secure that you can protect yourself and those you love, then you absolutely MUST make simple dry-fire drills like this a part of your weekly routine.
But all the dry-fire drills in the world won’t help if the fundamental methods you’re using for your gun training AREN’T realistic.
Practice honing these skills so you can protect yourself and your loved ones if the time comes.
