Military/Police CQC: “The Fear State and Training-2”

Author: Odhinn Kohout

(I have received comments as to why I do not show many actual techniques, and focus on theory instead. Please remember that this is open source material. Terrorist and criminal groups use the web extensively. We do not want our tactics to be used against those in the Police and Military)

PREFACE:

In talking with a friend this week (who has a great deal of Military experience) we discussed realistic training needs in regards to edged weapons and the many pitfalls facing front-line Officers.

Many techniques have no basis in science and therefore are usually an “opinion” rather than tested to see what type of measurable result can be observed. My students are constantly saying to me; “you are always making adjustments to what you teach.” It is true, because my system remains in a perpetual evolving state as tactics are put through variables which test the validity of separate components.

In this month alone…we video recorded many NEW knife defense tactics material and sent the results to US Military SMEs of whom opinions we trust and value. For me…this approach always leads to improvement and ensures that you do not stray from the path of true “combat driven” curriculum.

FEAR STATE AND REALISTIC TRAINING:

In today’s BLOG we will look at the inception point of an attack and how realistic training provides a level of unconscious competence (A.Maslow) assisting in cognitive function during a critical incident.

 

 

In the first photo the subject is unaware and has their guard down. The Attacker comes in on a peripheral angle to inhibit threat perception and better his odds at severely injuring or killing the Officer.

The reaction is non-cognitive based purely on the bodies innate need for self-preservation. The flinch response is extremely effective as it does not rely on the dissemination of facts as they occur in real time but is hard wired into the brain as a base function of survival.

Since science tells us that there is a proportional link between performance and heart-rate the first “trained response” to be used is one based on a gross motor skill rather than those of a fine or complex nature. The picture provides one such technique in the Attacker’s arm is captured using a 2 on 1 position affixed to the iliac crest of the hip creating a core based movement rather than the need for muscular strength.

The end state has many variables and I have shown one as a possible outcome using a “twist lock” in conjunction to bending the fulcrum of the wrist.( Notice that to get to this point we incorporated the fear state as a starting point and NOT the technique itself) The Instructor Cadre are crucial at this point to observe and correct mistakes during high repetitious practice. STUDENTS ARE NOT SELF CORRECTING…

The final outcome does not have to be a control based one as I have shown in the final picture. The premise should be Officer Safety and the creation of some type of reactionary gap or getting to cover/concealment. Time is precious during a violent attack and its creation will help mitigate the effects of stress on the human body so that a rational cognitive approach can be used. If you fail as an Instructor to incorporate this into your training the chaos of violence will engulf a student who is unprepared when it strikes and they will have little but luck to turn to for hope.

The fear state can be addressed through the use of realistic and combat tested training….

Be safe Gentlemen.