Firearms Defense: Frontal Defense #1 (Brown Belt)

Firearm Defenses:  Frontal Defense #1 (Brown Belt)

NOTE:  FOR ALL FIREARM DEFENSES, THE GUNMAN IS LIKELY TO PULL THE WEAPON BACK TO THWART YOUR ATTEMPTED CONTROL WHILE PULLING THE TRIGGER TO DISCHARGE THE WEAPON.

For demonstration purposes only, the handgun is often held without the trigger finger inserted to prevent injury.  Where necessary, the “assailant” has inserted his finger to show the specific removal technique.  When practicing these techniques, determine with your partner if he or she will keep the trigger finger inserted.

Frontal Handgun Defense #1

Much is written about handgun defenses.  One topic often suggested is that you should purposefully keep your hands raised indicating compliance.  The correct defense simply depends on what position you find yourself – just be sure to keep your elbows close to your sides.  Your goal is to create “zero perception” for the assailant beyond your seeming compliance.  In other words, you do not want him to have any indication that you intend to disarm him.

When an assailant threatens you from the front, if you decide to disarm him, you must gauge the distance between the firearm and your reach to safely control it.  It does not matter if the assailant has one or two hands on the handgun grip or the level of the handgun provided you can close the distance and deflect, redirect, and secure the firearm.  Note though, that if the assailant has the gun in one hand he could blade his body creating a different angle of counterattack for you.  In addition, with a two handed grip (depicted), the assailant can better resist a disarm underscoring the need for deep deadside movement and strong debilitating combatives to the head.  Also, note that a two handed grip leaves his head wide open for your counterattacks.

• Prior to any frontal disarm attempt (whether your hands are down or raised in feigned compliance) keep your elbows at your side and try not to look at the weapon.  If your elbows are not close to your sides, your impending movement will be more obvious to the gunman.
• Remain focused on the assailant’s face and upper torso.
• You may slightly shift your weight to the balls of your feet to help propel you but show not signs of leaning or swaying forward.
• If you focus on the weapon, you may telegraph your movements or the assailant might quickly discern your preparation to disarm him and shoot you right away.
• Only at the instant you launch your disarm, should your eyes laser in on the weapon to deflect-redirect and secure it by locking your arm out for maximum control.
• This recognition-focus-reaction transition is true of all firearm threats.If the assailant is within your reach, consider your timing.
• If you must react (assuming the gun is in the assailant’s right hand), with a subtle forward lean (just prior to launching your disarm), punch out with your left hand to deflect and secure the barrel just in front of the trigger guard, locking your deflecting-redirecting arm out, with your full weight on the weapon while transitioning into your body defense and simultaneous counterattack.
• Optimally, you will control the barrel by keeping it parallel to the ground for maximum control, especially, if the assailant attempts to rip it from you grip.
• You may find depending both on your height and the assailant’s height, that the barrel may be forced slightly up or slightly down.
• If you are taller, because of the defense’s design, your controlling grip will force the barrel slightly upward.
• If you are shorter, your grip will likely force the barrel downward.
• Deflect and control the handgun close to the trigger guard for two reasons.  First, controlling the weapon at the trigger guard provides a strong grasp of the weapon for better control.  It provides for closer leverage to the handgun’s grip.  Second, if the handgun is compensated or has holes in the barrel to allow more gas to escape to reduce the recoil, by grabbing the trigger guard your hand will not be burned by the escaping gasses.
• The deflection-redirection of the handgun is made using the web of your hand (in between your thumb and index finger) into the front section of the trigger guard.
• You are punching the handgun away, not slapping it away.
• This movement will allow your hand to automatically close around the gun deep enough to avoid the muzzle blast (the bullet’s exit point on the gun.)
• As noted, if the gun is a compensated model, securing the handgun’s barrel attached to the trigger guard also prevents your hand from covering the gas ports consequently burning it.
• Additionally, this secure hold provides a grip on the handgun even if it is a short-barreled weapon.
• Once you have hit the assailant several times (no fewer than three is recommended), maintain your grip on the barrel just above the trigger guard and then begin the gun takeaway process.
• Move your other arm close to your nearside hip making sure not to pass any part of you in front of the barrel.  With your palm up, grab the rear of the handgun above the grip.
• Note, on some handgun models there will be an exposed hammer while on others there is no hammer.
• As you begin to remove the handgun make sure that both of your hands are gripping the gun strongly for control.
• With your right hand rotate/yank the gun back sharply toward your right hip until the handgun grip has rotated a full one hundred eighty degrees and is perpendicular to the ground.
• Pull the handgun back to you by angling the barrel slightly into the assailant to streamline its release from the assailant’s trigger finger.  This release will likely mangle and break his trigger finger.
• You may also jolt him with your nearside shoulder while tucking your chin to knock him backward facilitating the release.  Immediately create distance between yourself and the assailant as he might now try to disarm you.
• Rack and tap the weapon to place it back in battery.
• Create proper distance.

While there is a chance that combatives following the firearm deflection-redirection may debilitate the assailant, the goal of these strikes is to stun, short-circuit, and unbalance him enough to complete the disarm technique.  As with all krav maga techniques, if you do not stun the assailant he will continue to attack – and you will have an extremely difficult task in disarming him.  Remember the gun is ergonomically designed for the assailant to hold not you.  Importantly, if you succeed in your initial deflection-redirection and body defense, as you hit the assailant repeatedly, he is likely to fall or stumble backwards pulling the handgun with him.  If you are not properly positioned deep to the deadside, the assailant will yank the handgun back and you will still be in the line of fire.  Also, with improper positioning, if your combatives knock the assailant to the ground, you are also in the line of his kicks as he is falling and while he is on the ground.  Even if you have jammed the slide, you must not put yourself in the line of fire.  Do not make the mistake of redirecting and counterattacking without properly positioning yourself to the assailant’s deadside.

If you intend to hold him at gunpoint, as you create proper distance, slap the magazine bottom with the heel of your palm and rack a new round into the chamber or simply run away.  In either event, consider how onlookers and, more importantly, law enforcement authorities will view you when running with or brandishing a firearm.  You should call the appropriate law enforcement authorities, describe yourself and what you are wearing, and set the firearm down on the ground with your hands clearly visible when they arrive.

To reemphasize, think of the initial deflection-redirection as punching the gun away while holding on to it rather than simply pushing it way.  Because the chambered round is likely to fire, you must blade your body to remove it from the line of fire as you simultaneously deflect-redirect it from your body.  Properly securing the gun and positioning your body to the deadside is crucial.  Many Israeli krav maga imitations make the mistake of deflecting-redirecting the gun and attempting to pin the gun in front of the defender.  In other words, the defender does not deflect and move deep enough into the assailant’s deadside with the defender’s full weight on the weapon, especially if the assailant has a two handed grip.    An assailant with a two handed grip will obviously have more control over the weapon and strength to resist your disarm.  Therefore, proper technique must prevail.  Deflect-redirect the barrel with all of your weight to maintain dominant control of the weapon and keep your grip very tight to control the barrel.

Krav maga’s deflection-redirection method mechanically jams the semi-automatic handgun’s slide mechanism preventing a new round from cycling into the chamber or the cylinder of the revolver from rotating. As you deflect and secure the gun, burst forward and sharply jam the gun into the assailant’s waist area with the slide of the gun parallel to his body creating an “elbow kiss.”  A simultaneous salvo of punches or palm heel strikes to his head accompanies the deflection-redirection.  Your forearm and assailant’s gun arm create a “V” by the underside of your forearm pressing against the topside of his forearm, but not directly on top of his arm.  Your elbow must be behind his elbow for the elbow kiss.  Once you have deflected and moved deadside, maintain an elbow “kiss” while delivering combatives.  Be sure to keep your weight firmly pressed down on the barrel of the handgun with your elbow locked to control the weapon.  Be sure to place his arm with your full body weight on the weapon in a controlled position keeping you off the line of fire and reducing his ability resist – which he is sure to do.