Picking Your Poison: Choosing The Right Gun Disarm
By Christopher Caile
Over many years of practice I have been introduced to and practiced many
different hand gun disarm techniques. Some, in my opinion, are better
than others, but many different disarms are effective.
FightingArts.com is showing several of these methods through a series
of articles on gun disarms. Look them over carefully. Decide which makes
most the sense for you.
It is best, however, to choose and practice just one disarm useful in
any specific situation. You can test various methods, but practice one
so that it really becomes effective.
Hopefully you will never have to test out your choice, even if facing
a robbery at gunpoint. But if ever face to face with an abduction at gunpoint,
a potential terrorist situation at close range, or someone intent on killing
you make sure you have chosen wisely.
Here are a couple of considerations to think over (these apply to close
in gun situations where the gun barrel is touching or nearly touching
your body):
1-Is the technique quick and direct? Remember, any disarm takes time,
and if your hands/arms or body have to move too far, time is awasting.
2-Does your technique get you off line? If it doesn’t and you
mess up –oops, you’re probably toast.
3-Does your disarm allow for the fact that the gunman may try to pull
his gun hand back during your attempt to disarm, thus retaining his
gun – bang, bang you’re dead.
4-Does your technique require a lot of strength? Some techniques are
fine against smaller, weaker attackers, but if the gunman has superior
strength you might just get into a wrestling match with a handgun between
you –oops.
5-Just as important, does the technique seem to work for you? If it
doesn’t, no matter how theoretically optimal the technique is,
it might be better to chose one that fits your body, your experience
and comfort zone.
About The Author:
Christopher Caile is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of
FightingArts.com. He has been a student of the martial arts for over 47
years. He first started in judo. Then he added karate as a student of
Phil Koeppel in 1959. Caile introduced karate to Finland in 1960 and then
hitch-hiked eastward. In Japan (1961) he studied under Mas Oyama and later
in the US became a Kyokushinkai Branch Chief. In 1976 he followed Kaicho
Tadashi Nakamura when he formed Seido karate and is now a 6th degree black
belt in that organization's honbu dojo. Other experience includes aikido,
diato-ryu aikijujutsu, kenjutsu, kobudo, Shinto Muso-ryu jodo, kobudo,
boxing and several Chinese fighting arts including Praying mantis, Pak
Mei (White Eyebrow) and shuai chiao. He is also a student of Zen. A long-term
student of one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qigong, he is a
personal disciple of the qi gong master and teacher of acupuncture Dr.
Zaiwen Shen (M.D., Ph.D.) and is Vice-President of the DS International
Chi Medicine Association. He holds an M.A. in International Relations
from American University in Washington D.C. and has traveled extensively
through South and Southeast Asia. He frequently returns to Japan and Okinawa
to continue his studies in the martial arts, their history and tradition.
In his professional life he has been a businessman, newspaper journalist,
inventor and entrepreneur.
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