Firearms training has a LOT of critical knowledge and skills that should be imported directly into any SD/RBSD curriculum. One small example is how to deal with tunnel vision and "scan" for threats during adrenal dumb.
While most people agree that it's far preferable for you to stay standing and your opponent to be on the ground, the big problem with that is that if your opponent is intent on getting you to the ground, it's really really hard to prevent it and comparatively easier by at least one order of magnitude for him to achieve his goal. Even unskilled goobers can often just barnacle on and drag an opponent to the floor in an unceremonious heap. While that may not end up with the goober having an advantageous "position" for the ensuing "ground fight" phase of the conflict, it still means "ground fight" anyway.
It's the "if taken to the ground" part that is the key. As I just wrote, it's really hard to prevent a takedown if the only goal is just to get both people in a tangled heap on the floor, particularly these days with MMA becoming such a mainstay in our culture. This is why I, personally, recommend that SD advocates have at least some portion of ground grappling in their training mix. It doesn't have to be their goal, their primary modus operandi, or their specialty. But the fact is that there's a pretty significant chance that the opponent is at least familiar enough with the concept of ground grappling to think he might try to drag the defender down and the defender needs to have enough training and experience to, at the minimum, know how to safely stymie the attack, disengage the opponent, and safely return to standing. You just can't assume you won't hit the floor.
Which takedowns or throws are you thinking of that use the horse stance?
I can cite at least one instance I know of personally where ground grappling worked just fine against multiples. While it makes sense, logically, that if you're on the ground with one guy then his still-standing buddy would take the boot to you, evidence is pretty convincing that you can't assume that he will. Some fights with "multiples" aren't actually against multiples. They're against one guy with buddies who egged him into the fight and they might just stand around and laugh at him while he gets his butt handed to him.
I would say this is the second best chance of complete victory. Your best chance of victory is to avoid the fight altogether. Common sense, situational awareness, general courtesy, respect and good communication skills are the best self defense tools most of us can develop.
I take my list from a variety of sources including past training and common sense. But my favorite source comes from a drill/scenario that my friend Christopher Scott Thompson ran a few years back at Recreational Violence in his Scottish Dirk class. It's based off of a famous Scottish Hero and his actions at a wedding.
So the story goes that this one Scot gentleman was invited to a wedding and, upon attendance, he noted that there were a surprising number of attendees from a rival clan. So, seizing the initiative, he unsheathes his dirk, proceeds to stab a number of them, then escapes by jumping out of the nearest castle window. Alcohol may have been involved. (Who are we kidding, they're Scots, of course alcohol was involved.)). At some random time determined by the Scottish Hero, he unsheathes his training dirk, proceeds to stab as many people as he can before they return the favor, and then makes his escape out of the pre-designated "window."
While focusing strictly on ground fighting is clearly a blind spot for anyone interested in genuine self defense, I frankly don't understand why it's not equally obvious that SOME ground fighting skills are necessary. I said in another one of the threads regarding BJJ that, IMO, defense is easier to learn than offense on the mat. It wouldn't take a black belt in BJJ to be "competent" and comfortable on the ground. Training in a good school a few times per week for a year or two is all it would take to become a solid blue belt.It's the "if taken to the ground" part that is the key. As I just wrote, it's really hard to prevent a takedown if the only goal is just to get both people in a tangled heap on the floor, particularly these days with MMA becoming such a mainstay in our culture. This is why I, personally, recommend that SD advocates have at least some portion of ground grappling in their training mix. It doesn't have to be their goal, their primary modus operandi, or their specialty. But the fact is that there's a pretty significant chance that the opponent is at least familiar enough with the concept of ground grappling to think he might try to drag the defender down and the defender needs to have enough training and experience to, at the minimum, know how to safely stymie the attack, disengage the opponent, and safely return to standing. You just can't assume you won't hit the floor.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
Here it is in his own words:
I take my list from a variety of sources including past training and common sense. But my favorite source comes from a drill/scenario that my friend Christopher Scott Thompson ran a few years back at Recreational Violence in his Scottish Dirk class. It's based off of a famous Scottish Hero and his actions at a wedding.
Now, it might come as a surprise to you but in traditional Celtic and Scottish culture, sometimes not all of the Clans always got along well. Shocking, I know.
So the "historically inspired" scenario drill goes like this: the instructor secretly designates one student to be the Scottish Hero, unknown to any of the rest of the students. The students then, armed with their non-lethal training dirks, mill about randomly within the class area (consuming alcohol is optional but, well, recommended when studying Scottish Martial Arts
Many of the Heroes made the mistake of trying to stab too many of the "rival clan" before making their escape and so failed to escape.
Take the initiative.
Use weapons.
Run as soon as possible.
Alcohol is probably involved.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
Those principles aren't and shouldn't be limited to firearms training.
Oh, I'm not arguing, really. Just wanted to share one of my all time favorite "drills." I mean, honestly, it puts a real different spin on it to move from the usual concept of "multiple opponents" to a drunken mass murder attempt.
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