This article explains and gives examples of why it’s vitally important to learn tactical skills right from the git-go, rather than starting with marksmanship-based, square flat range training and then trying to make a slow fire bullseye shooter into a fighter. We also tell you how to unlearn bad habits, if it’s too late for you to start the right way.

This class for a young coed en route to college for the first time covered lawful use of force (in the home state as well as at the out of state destination), empty hands control techniques, advantages and drawbacks of different types of OC dispensers, retention, moral and ethical considerations, decontamination, transport, and storage. In addition to various role playing exercises with role players and inert dispensers, our capstone involved shooting real pepper spray and indirect exposure.

John Fox was ALL IN. He gave what little he had, and everything he was ever going to have, to save the lives of his fellow American GIs, and to liberate not only his own people, but all of Europe and the entire world, from the yoke of Nazi fascism.

This live fire class focused on AK-specific handling and marksmanship skills, although there was one CZ Scorpion in attendance. We learned off-lines and disarms as a vehicle leading us to retention: how to keep your AK when someone close is trying to take it away. We practiced means, such as “junkyard prone” for clearing cover with the muzzle while exposing as little of the sight line as possible, as well as hold over to compensate for mechanical offset at close range.

In this practice session we reviewed Safety, Basic Marksmanship, Impeded Slide Movement, Non-diagnostic Stoppage Reduction, Center Axis Relock, One Handed Pistol Firing, Stoppage Reduction, Projectile Launchers as Impact Tools, Movement off the Line of Attack, Holdover, the Two-Shot Rule for Distant Targets, Zones of Stoppage Reduction, and Transitions.

This article outlines the history of long guns in police service during the past century or so, especially the last 50 years, comparing and contrasting the different types. Although there are some important lessons for the long gun armed citizen throughout, the article concludes with information specifically for rifle armed citizens (or those who are wondering if they ought to be). Originally published in February, 2021, this article was significantly revised in September 2021.

We used the foundational “Antelope Principle” and two-person teams as building blocks teaching the students how to conduct advanced live fire tactical training safely and productively. Topics included Safety, Antelope Drills (with increasing complexity, culminating in night evasion scenarios), the Ginger Rogers Principle, Negotiating Obstacles, Hasty Slings, How to Maximize Training Time, Role Transitions, Close Order Battle drills, and various aspects of Hostage Rescue.

This course addressed various aspects of fighting in and around vehicles. Topics we practiced included safety, avoidance of roadblocks, how to back out of trouble (we practiced this on a former FLETC EVO track), carjacking, look down / shoot down for passenger safety, pushing around crowds without hurting pedestrians, and engaging through 360 degrees from inside a car,

These two classes, which took place over two days, were Heloderm’s take on Active Violence avoidance and amelioration, although we did address Carjacking and Kidnapping on Day 2. We covered Dynamics of Confrontation, Forward Obliques with Changes of Direction, Movement of the Line of Assault, Flow of Doors, Leadership in Crisis Management (especially delegation), OpSec / ComSec, Timing, Weapons Theory, Off-lines, Disarms, Limb Pins, Fire Extinguishers as APers Tools, Beating the Killer to Secondaries, and Riding / Killing the Dragon.

This intermediate level live fire class was for previous Defensive Handgun students who had already been through didactic and close-quarters retention training in a classroom. Topics included 720 degree safety, movement in response to ambush, dealing with unknown street contacts, revolvers, Lumberjack drills, manipulations, impeded slide movement, lateral peels, shooting while moving laterally, Center Axis Relock, one handed fire, trading up to long guns or downed partner’s pistol in CQB, panning doors (clearing rooms from the outside), taking thresholds, clearing the fatal funnel, and biceps indexed retention shooting.

In addition to the usual flashlight techniques and other standard night fighting fare, this class included role-playing experience fragment escape and evasion scenarios with blanks. We practiced periodic blinding methods and integrating flashlight IFF with lateral movement to the left and right. Students practiced “flash & smash”” close-quarters defensive techniques, working corners with lights, and incorporating flashlights into retention fire. We also practiced night fire without flashlights, for those rare occasions when the bad guy makes his badness and intentions known. IFF and teamwork were the main themes.

Although taking cover may save you from a sniper, it won’t stop his murderous rampage. If you are fortunate enough to have an accurate scoped rifle nearby, and more importantly YOUR ABILITY TO USE IT APPROACHES YOUR RIFLE’S CAPABLITY, you may be able to save lives. This after action fleshes out several counter-sniper concepts we touched upon in this range session.

This intro to defensive use of the handgun was more than just didactic. We practiced a great many skills (“dry” but hands-on), using barrel inserts. Subjects included solving line of fire problems (what to do about bystanders); grip, hold, and stance; weapons theory; Jennifer Fulford drills; Adam Miller drills; panning thresholds; switching hands; off lines and disarms; supine and standing weapon retention; Riding and Killing the Dragon; jamming the opponent’s draw; and situational awareness. This report explains what we covered and why.

This session was for less experienced shooters in a Pistol Fundamentals class. Although it’s often considered “advanced,” we started teaching them to shoot from retention positions, as they are more likely to be in a close range fight than a long range one. We also covered stoppage reduction and other aspects of manipulation. This course was followed by a Use of Force lecture for CCW students.

This course took place the evening after an afternoon Managing Multiple Assailants class. After introducing various hand-held flashlight search techniques, we talked about when and when NOT to use them in practical application. We followed up with several threat identification (decision shooting), use of cover, and movement drills. Importantly, we practiced verbalization and resisting sympathetic fire.

This was a joint venture between Heloderm and our partners from Warlizard Tactical. We used multiple methodologies, including simulators, Airsoft, and live fire. A great deal of the class involved movement and use of various types of cover, including Warlizard’s V-Tac type walls. We started with close quarters drills, using an (inert) AR to parry impact weapons following up with dynamic oblique movement and clothes-lining. We practiced different manipulations, including one handed stoppage reduction and fire. One target-discrimination drill involved memorizing the black and white photo of an “active shooter’s” face, sprinting about 50 meters, retrieving the AR and other gear from a car, sprinting to a different range, and finding the “suspect” in a geographically dispersed array of multiple targets with different color photo faces and a host of no-shoot “bystanders.” It culminated in transition to uniformed control of the scene without getting shot by the good guys. We practiced “swimming” in and out of slings, and several other aspects of “tactical slingology.” The last part of the class involved fighting around vehicles. Students shot automobiles to learn what their cartridges will and will not do. We demonstrated shallow-angle ricochet off car hoods. Students shot at targets through laminated windshield glass, learning likely effects upon trajectory.

This Annotated Training Outline (ATO) is the plan for the class, augmented with explanations and commentary. The class this ATO documents started indoors, with the usual into to pistol manipulations and dry practice, such as Accordion / Inch Worm drills, complemented by scenario-based Use of Force / decision shooting exercises. Live fire training included ISM, non-diagnostic stoppage reduction, close contact fire and stoppage reduction, transition to pistol as an impact tool, shooting while moving, Turning the Tide drills, trading up to a pistol dropped by a partner, panning doorways, and taking thresholds.

MMA is one of the offerings that set Heloderm apart from other training organizations from the start. Many practice IPSC-style “target transition” drills like the El Presidente. But few understand that the bad guys aren’t just going to stand there and let you shoot them, no matter how fast you are. This course was based on actual multiple assailant events, and addressed real-world concerns like flanking, and what to do if you’re surrounded.

This course had two main goals and a few tertiary ones. Primarily, we aimed to develop safe “real world” gun handling skills the Army Explorers could take with them as they transition to adulthood, in or out of the military. Secondly, actually handling lethal instruments–whether it’s a rifle, a car, or a fork lift, develops personal responsibility in ways they can’t get from computer-based training. Tertiary goals included familiarization and just having fun.

This course included didactic, in-home dry practice manipulations during the early afternoon, and an afternoon / evening live-fire component, for a father / daughter pair. It included hooded (blind) stoppage reduction drills, low light shooting (with and without flashlights), ground-fighting / downed operator drills, impeded slide movement, oblique / lateral movement, retention with and without a flashlight, RMR familiarization, and target discrimination (“shoot / don’t shoot”) drills.

This three-part course started in a home, with discussion of the Arizona state law regarding Use of Force, as well as more universal self defense principles. It also included scenario-based decision shooting drills and rape / abduction prevention in and around cars. Part II was a live fire qualification component from 1.5 to 25 yards. Part III was back at home and included off lines, disarms, retention, defensive tactics, and the use of pepper spray.

These clinics took place in three phases. The daylight and low light pistol phases focused on speed and accuracy while managing competitive stress, matching participant against participant in live-fire steel plate “dueling tree” force on force. The shotgun phase was more scenario driven, but covered a wide range of shotgun manipulations and techniques. The main goal of the shotgun clinic was for each operator to gain an intimate knowledge and feel for what their scattergun will and will not do at different distances and under various operational conditions.

This state licensed armed security guard was trained and qualified by his agency on a Glock auto pistol. Then they issued him a revolver. There is so much more to mastering a wheel gun than “point, pull and pray”–especially if, like this security professional, you might need to bet your life on it. Fortunately, there are still a few of us “Sgt Roger Murtaughs” around.