What: Southnarc ECQC (Extreme Close Quarters Concepts- managing unknown encounters and fighting with a gun/knife in play at grappling distances)
Who: Craig Douglas (Southnarc) and A. Inst's Paul and Larry.
When: March 25,26 and 27
Where: Nappanee (IN) Conservation Club (Thanks Tinman,Denny, and your whole crew.)
I heard about this course, via a friend and a co-worker, and came to the conclusion that I have not tested myself in this particular niche of martial skill, that of having a weapon in play at grappling distances, and decided, based on the responses to my initial inquiries, to attend.
Preliminarily:
An e-mail to the sight sponsor (Tinman on INGO) yielded excellent directions and payment was remitted in the form of a $200.00 deposit (by check) with another $200.00-cash, on arrival(+$25.00 range fee-cash to sight sponsor, not to Southnarc), for a total of $425.00. The second $200.00, in cash, was for my convenience (everyone else seemed to pay by check with no issues). Craig (Southnarc) advised that the Swedish Army students ("Fred", "Eric?", and "John") paid by PO/Invoice and that another student paid by Visa, so the payment options were all there.
Jim Gray's family is in the midst of austerity measures and several things conspired to prevent the taking of this class. Work, finances, injury, sickness, all were in the fray. Through birthday money, OT, cashing in some silver, and saving my pennies, I found a way to attend.
My plan for the year, training-wise, is Southnarc ECQC, Tactical Response Alumni , and Tactical Response Fighting Pistol. I wanted to attend ECQC because of the blade deployment componant and all that I have read about PMA not addressing firearms/blade deployment issues either entangled or within grappling distances. Fighting Pistol has been on my list since 2008.
We arrived Friday afternoon and got set up in a hotel in Goshen (Super Hate, Stupor 8, 8 Ball, or whatever your pet name for the nations premier economy lodging is). Grubbed (typical family style meal at the Lux Restaurant) around 1630 and then located the training area.
The Napannee Conservation Club, Napannee Indiana.
The range was large, well kept, and clean, though property improvements were in-progress. The "class room" was the club meeting hall. Full utilities were in evidence, though the dunny in the guys head was about the size of a coffee cup
. Tinman and Denny, club members, were very very helpful (both alums of this course) and very gracious.
Friday Evening.
The student base was comprised of 18 people, ranging from business owners to a lowly cops, and included professionals such as an Attorny and a Surgeon. The international flavor was added by three Swedish Army Officers (Their Director of Small Arms Training, their Director of Combatives, and a former Director of Combatives).
Intros and greetings from Craig Douglass (Southnarc) and his AI's, Larry (IL trooper)and Paul (IL trooper and detective), both of the AI's were SWAT cops and perpetual students (evident by their level of professionalism and depth of their knowledge of the subject matter).
The evening started with a brief lecture on commonalities associated with criminal attacks, such as criminal target selection criteria and criminal engagement tactics. We proceeded to drill unknown encounters, using the AI's as role players. The scenarios were realistic, relevant, and based on the role players own experiences.
I cannot begin to catalog the TTPs. Everything was either tactile or visual, but suffice it to say that the primary encounter and evaluation techniques were simple, repeatable under stress, and easy to practice.
Much of the remainder of the evening was spent running the drills with multiple partners (many wore the "Mark of The Mountain Goat"). The physical technique invloved gross movement and relied on technique while using mostly core and leg strength. The Swedes looked like they were having a ball, but took things very seriously.
Saturday Morning
Live fire range at contact to 3 paces.
The proximity to the target was relvelatory to to some of the participants, but most just took the muzzle blast in stride and completed the drills (oh, did I mention that is was about 25 deg F...freaking March in Indiana). Extra care was taken regarding draw stroke, presentation, off hand positioning, and body mechanics (much of the draw stroke demonstration reminded me of prior presentations, both at Tactical Response, and from GSGI). Again, as on Friday night, squaring your hips to the threat and remaining nimble (on your toes, not heels) were constantly re-inforced. Cover garments and gloves were not "cheated", by most, and most everyone "fought as they came".
A lunch of cold cuts, cheese, fixin's, and chips was served by the course sponsor, Tinman. Due to the relative remoteness of the range, this saved enormous amounts of travel time and gave us at least an additional hour of training. Kind of like what James does with Cody's during HRCC on the first couple of days (kind of keeps you dialed in during the meal break).
After lunch (note: though there was plenty, I wouldn't get too crazy about stuffing yourself) we went hands on, with FIST protective equipment, using fellow students as roll players. The grappling made the "attempts" to reach your weapon of choice (blue guns, red guns, gray guns, TDI trainers, karambit trainers, folding trainers...etc) something like trying not to spill your damn tea in the middle of a rugby scrum....I was way harder than I thought it would be.
Sunday Morning
(Nothing but MacDeath's is open in Goshen or Nappannee before 0800...I had the Big Ballbreaker or whatever they call it and paid...and paid...and paid). I had Cliff bars and would have been better off eating the box they came in, rather than that platter of additives and enhancers. Oh well, sometimes calories are just calories.
Range time.
More contact to three pace, this time with guard positions for the off hand. There was also a "crowed bar" presentation drill (good stuff) that simulated the shooter being hemmed in on both sides, pressed against an object from the rear, and having hands pressed onto the shooter's shoulder. Body mechanics, positioning, grip, draw stroke, and presentation, under such pressing circumstances, was challenging. The drill itself was expertly supervised by Southnarc and things were intentionally kept at a very calm, measured, and controlled pace. Southnarc maintained a very calm, focused, and deliberate attitude for the shooter by moderating his vocal tone and speed of his speach. The focus generated by Southnarc, during this drill, made a situation with the potential for mishap, very safe.
Lunch was again provided by Tinman (thanks to your wife, great chili!).
After Lunch on Sunday was quite an eye opener. We had a gunfight, between two Sim equipped students, in the cab of a pick-up truck....holy **** that sucks! The technique, the pratice, the mindset, everything, prior to the vehicle fight, fit together to propell the students toward some measure of success. Evereyone got punched, cut, shot....hell, it's a gunfight inside an f'n' pick up truck for pitty's sake, but everyone, everyone, I mean everyone, got their hits in some fashion (thanks, Jeff, for letting us use your pick up for that exercise...I wouldn't have done that, hope we did not f' it up too bad.)
After Action Review
Craig and Paul, Larry had to leave on Saturday, set us up under the overhang at the clubhouse and went patiently, one by one, through the class. To a man, all advised their eyes were opened in some fashion or another.
I won't speek for any of them, but this is what I took away:
Great range and host.
Great topic and lesson plan (which was professionaly adhered to).
Respect to, and from, the instructor and AI's, was evident, but no cool-aid drinking or ball washing occured.
I need a stand up, grapple distance, striking game.
I need more and more specific fitness. Forget jogging 5 miles, I need to be able to run 1 mile with the focus and intensity of a meth addled valkyrie.
Armed citizens, and cops alike, need to test themselves against a course like this. What you think you'll do?....well, a plan is just a list of things that don't happen.
I suspect many folks are living in a fantasy that intentionally excludes a ****ty gunfight, in a crowded bathroom, with two mopes, both having their own guns/knives/whatever when the first thing you know about this "problem" is after you've been tackled and knocked to the floor (probably banging your head on the crusty toilet bowl on the way down).
Work the hard ****.
Thanks Southnarc...reality sucks, embrace it, train for it, fight, and live.
Who: Craig Douglas (Southnarc) and A. Inst's Paul and Larry.
When: March 25,26 and 27
Where: Nappanee (IN) Conservation Club (Thanks Tinman,Denny, and your whole crew.)
I heard about this course, via a friend and a co-worker, and came to the conclusion that I have not tested myself in this particular niche of martial skill, that of having a weapon in play at grappling distances, and decided, based on the responses to my initial inquiries, to attend.
Preliminarily:
An e-mail to the sight sponsor (Tinman on INGO) yielded excellent directions and payment was remitted in the form of a $200.00 deposit (by check) with another $200.00-cash, on arrival(+$25.00 range fee-cash to sight sponsor, not to Southnarc), for a total of $425.00. The second $200.00, in cash, was for my convenience (everyone else seemed to pay by check with no issues). Craig (Southnarc) advised that the Swedish Army students ("Fred", "Eric?", and "John") paid by PO/Invoice and that another student paid by Visa, so the payment options were all there.
Jim Gray's family is in the midst of austerity measures and several things conspired to prevent the taking of this class. Work, finances, injury, sickness, all were in the fray. Through birthday money, OT, cashing in some silver, and saving my pennies, I found a way to attend.
My plan for the year, training-wise, is Southnarc ECQC, Tactical Response Alumni , and Tactical Response Fighting Pistol. I wanted to attend ECQC because of the blade deployment componant and all that I have read about PMA not addressing firearms/blade deployment issues either entangled or within grappling distances. Fighting Pistol has been on my list since 2008.
We arrived Friday afternoon and got set up in a hotel in Goshen (Super Hate, Stupor 8, 8 Ball, or whatever your pet name for the nations premier economy lodging is). Grubbed (typical family style meal at the Lux Restaurant) around 1630 and then located the training area.
The Napannee Conservation Club, Napannee Indiana.
The range was large, well kept, and clean, though property improvements were in-progress. The "class room" was the club meeting hall. Full utilities were in evidence, though the dunny in the guys head was about the size of a coffee cup
. Tinman and Denny, club members, were very very helpful (both alums of this course) and very gracious.Friday Evening.
The student base was comprised of 18 people, ranging from business owners to a lowly cops, and included professionals such as an Attorny and a Surgeon. The international flavor was added by three Swedish Army Officers (Their Director of Small Arms Training, their Director of Combatives, and a former Director of Combatives).
Intros and greetings from Craig Douglass (Southnarc) and his AI's, Larry (IL trooper)and Paul (IL trooper and detective), both of the AI's were SWAT cops and perpetual students (evident by their level of professionalism and depth of their knowledge of the subject matter).
The evening started with a brief lecture on commonalities associated with criminal attacks, such as criminal target selection criteria and criminal engagement tactics. We proceeded to drill unknown encounters, using the AI's as role players. The scenarios were realistic, relevant, and based on the role players own experiences.
I cannot begin to catalog the TTPs. Everything was either tactile or visual, but suffice it to say that the primary encounter and evaluation techniques were simple, repeatable under stress, and easy to practice.
Much of the remainder of the evening was spent running the drills with multiple partners (many wore the "Mark of The Mountain Goat"). The physical technique invloved gross movement and relied on technique while using mostly core and leg strength. The Swedes looked like they were having a ball, but took things very seriously.
Saturday Morning
Live fire range at contact to 3 paces.
The proximity to the target was relvelatory to to some of the participants, but most just took the muzzle blast in stride and completed the drills (oh, did I mention that is was about 25 deg F...freaking March in Indiana). Extra care was taken regarding draw stroke, presentation, off hand positioning, and body mechanics (much of the draw stroke demonstration reminded me of prior presentations, both at Tactical Response, and from GSGI). Again, as on Friday night, squaring your hips to the threat and remaining nimble (on your toes, not heels) were constantly re-inforced. Cover garments and gloves were not "cheated", by most, and most everyone "fought as they came".
A lunch of cold cuts, cheese, fixin's, and chips was served by the course sponsor, Tinman. Due to the relative remoteness of the range, this saved enormous amounts of travel time and gave us at least an additional hour of training. Kind of like what James does with Cody's during HRCC on the first couple of days (kind of keeps you dialed in during the meal break).
After lunch (note: though there was plenty, I wouldn't get too crazy about stuffing yourself) we went hands on, with FIST protective equipment, using fellow students as roll players. The grappling made the "attempts" to reach your weapon of choice (blue guns, red guns, gray guns, TDI trainers, karambit trainers, folding trainers...etc) something like trying not to spill your damn tea in the middle of a rugby scrum....I was way harder than I thought it would be.
Sunday Morning
(Nothing but MacDeath's is open in Goshen or Nappannee before 0800...I had the Big Ballbreaker or whatever they call it and paid...and paid...and paid). I had Cliff bars and would have been better off eating the box they came in, rather than that platter of additives and enhancers. Oh well, sometimes calories are just calories.
Range time.
More contact to three pace, this time with guard positions for the off hand. There was also a "crowed bar" presentation drill (good stuff) that simulated the shooter being hemmed in on both sides, pressed against an object from the rear, and having hands pressed onto the shooter's shoulder. Body mechanics, positioning, grip, draw stroke, and presentation, under such pressing circumstances, was challenging. The drill itself was expertly supervised by Southnarc and things were intentionally kept at a very calm, measured, and controlled pace. Southnarc maintained a very calm, focused, and deliberate attitude for the shooter by moderating his vocal tone and speed of his speach. The focus generated by Southnarc, during this drill, made a situation with the potential for mishap, very safe.
Lunch was again provided by Tinman (thanks to your wife, great chili!).
After Lunch on Sunday was quite an eye opener. We had a gunfight, between two Sim equipped students, in the cab of a pick-up truck....holy **** that sucks! The technique, the pratice, the mindset, everything, prior to the vehicle fight, fit together to propell the students toward some measure of success. Evereyone got punched, cut, shot....hell, it's a gunfight inside an f'n' pick up truck for pitty's sake, but everyone, everyone, I mean everyone, got their hits in some fashion (thanks, Jeff, for letting us use your pick up for that exercise...I wouldn't have done that, hope we did not f' it up too bad.)
After Action Review
Craig and Paul, Larry had to leave on Saturday, set us up under the overhang at the clubhouse and went patiently, one by one, through the class. To a man, all advised their eyes were opened in some fashion or another.
I won't speek for any of them, but this is what I took away:
Great range and host.
Great topic and lesson plan (which was professionaly adhered to).
Respect to, and from, the instructor and AI's, was evident, but no cool-aid drinking or ball washing occured.
I need a stand up, grapple distance, striking game.
I need more and more specific fitness. Forget jogging 5 miles, I need to be able to run 1 mile with the focus and intensity of a meth addled valkyrie.
Armed citizens, and cops alike, need to test themselves against a course like this. What you think you'll do?....well, a plan is just a list of things that don't happen.
I suspect many folks are living in a fantasy that intentionally excludes a ****ty gunfight, in a crowded bathroom, with two mopes, both having their own guns/knives/whatever when the first thing you know about this "problem" is after you've been tackled and knocked to the floor (probably banging your head on the crusty toilet bowl on the way down).
Work the hard ****.
Thanks Southnarc...reality sucks, embrace it, train for it, fight, and live.
