Firearms Defense: Active Shooter Rear Disarms (All Belt Levels)

Firearm Defenses:   Active Shooter Rear Tackle Disarms (All Belts)

Takedown reverse angle

Active Shooter Rear Tackle

Once again, when there is no “bullet to the head” or other option but to attempt the disarming of an armed third party threatening others, or in an active shooter situation, it is best to use a gross motor movement to surprise the gunman from the rear. A tackle coupled with a kosoto gake (forward trip) variation works well against a stationary or moving gunman. As noted, the tackle is one of most effective takedown techniques. Like other combatives, the tackle’s power derives from hip and leg explosion.

• Focus on driving your shoulder just below your adversary’s hips or midsection, with your head to one side of his torso.
• Bull your neck and keep your face up.
• Just prior to contact, sink your hips with a wide leg base to explode through your adversary. This is similar to rising from a squat, but you will also churn your legs for momentum.
• Wrap your arms around the gunman’s waist or hips to drive him forward.
• Our natural reaction when being driven forward is to put our hands out in front to deal with the impact of falling face first, so he may drop the weapon either a handgun or long-gun.  Note: the tactic is the same for a handgun or long-gun.
• Secure him tightly on the way down keeping your head buried and prepared to let go just as the gunman collides with the ground.
• If the gunman does not release the handgun, you must again quickly take his back while pounding him with one arm and securing the weapon with a good portion of your weight on it.If he continues to hold the handgun, secure the barrel with your right arm to wrench it from his grip.
• With a firm grip, rotate the handgun’s barrel down and away and use it as a cold weapon. Get up, create distance, and place the weapon back in battery.

Active-Shooter Rear Tackle When the Gunman Releases the Handgun

• If the gunman releases the weapon as he is driven into the ground, continue to take his back administering strong combatives to his head and neck using forearm, elbow, punches, or palm heel strikes, perhaps followed by a stomp as you get up quickly after neutralizing him. (Note: when disarming a long gun you may be able to choke him with the long gun.
• But, in the event of a handgun disarm, beware of choking him if he maintains possession since he can simply shoot you in the head as you attempt to choke him.)
• Secure and use the handgun as necessary in a cold weapon capacity.
• Get up and create distance.
• Prepare the weapon and train it on the assailant.