You have put in years on the pistol range to include advanced training with well-known instructors. You carry concealed daily and are proactive in your mental preparations and awareness.
But are there other skillsets and training regimens you might possibly want to consider to make yourself and family an even harder target?
Even if you are not carrying a handgun for self-protection on a daily basis there are other training disciplines I would definitely consider in today’s world.
The following are just a few of those:
Emergency Medical
“Last Ditch Medical” as I like to call it. This core stop the bleed training is intended to deal with grievous bleeding events no matter the cause.
Most often we are talking a situation where emergency services cannot reach you or others in an efficient time. This discipline teaches the use of tourniquets, pressure bandages, occlusive dressings for penetrating chest wounds, and establishing an airway.
It is not your everyday basic first aid or CPR, although you should include those topics in your training regimen as well. I carry a tourniquet every day, you should too. A discussion of this topic is included in all gun courses I provide.
Mountain Man Medical is a good place to buy high quality tourniquets.
Combatives
Very few confrontations escalate to the level of the use of a firearm. In fact, you should seek to avoid any confrontation if at all possible.
However, realizing that a skill set in hands on combatives may in fact prevent a situation from going to guns makes this training worth the effort.
Research training techniques by highly qualified folks such as Thomas Kier, Kyle Defoor, and Bill Rapier and attend one of the courses they offer that provides a blend of gun and combatives to include blade work. It will be well worth the effort.
Reality Based Training
While this area of training is most often associated with gun carry and self-defense, at its core it is based in decision making and taking action while under stress. I have been involved with this type of training for many years in law enforcement and continue to utilize it today in teaching civilians.
There is no better method of training for sharpening your mental and physical reaction if forced into a high-stress incident. It will help clarify your thinking and reaction time in the real world.
I cannot recommend this type of training enough as it will tell you a lot about yourself and areas to improve on.
Wilderness & Urban Survival
Do you spend significant time traveling in or through remote areas? Perhaps most of your days are only spent in and around a large city.
In a backcountry environment you should be well versed fire making, shelter building, finding water, and food procurement — among other skills.
In a highly populated urban environment, you’re more exposed to civil unrest, blackout conditions and an immediate lack of resources during a time of turmoil.
You cannot be too well-trained in either of these disciplines. Where to look for training in these realms? Kevin Reeve owner of “On Point Tactical” offers some excellent training to address your skill set in these arenas.
Staying Fit
No surprise here, the higher level of fitness you can achieve and maintain the better off you will be in any survival or self-defense situation.
Your fitness training does not have to exclusively be based in the gym. Outdoor activity to include hiking with a weighted pack can do wonders for building stamina.
Couple hikes with an uphill grade and you will give yourself a substantial workout.
This is only one option of an outside the gym exercise regimen limited only by your imagination and, there are many more unique to your geographic location.
Another option, is to test your fitness and stamina by competing in a run-and-gun style biathlon.
These events, usually in the two- to seven-mile range, will test your shooting ability, gear, stamina, and mental tenacity. Go with the aim of competing with yourself and build up from there.
Conclusion:
What are the benefits and end result of all this added training? I believe an increase in self-awareness, knowledge, abilities, and perhaps most importantly, self-confidence.
All critical attributes in today’s challenging world.
This brings to mind a great quote I once heard… “only a fool confuses preparedness with paranoia.” I would have to agree.
