For the serious concealed weapon carrier, there is an understanding that weapon retention skills are essential.
A majority of lethal-force encounters happen within six feet and develop very quickly.
With that in mind, lets explore three retention techniques to cover three basic scenarios.
The technique used to counter this is as follows.
1.Keep your gun hand on the weapon and sink your center down.
Keep your drawing arm close to your body and press the weapon into the holster.
2.Turn your weapon away from the attacker.
This will force them to reach farther to maintain contact.
The more spread out they are, the easier it will be to deal with them.
4.After you strike the arm down, use the same hand and execute a finger strike to the eyes.
The primary purpose of this motion is to drive the person back.
People respond instinctively to eye attacks and they naturally begin to withdraw.
Once contact is made, focus on shoving the head back.
Make the motion significant to get as much space between you and the attacker as possible.
Space is essential at this point, so take what you might get quickly.
6.Present your weapon and continue to move back and away at a 45-degree angle.
Do not plan on standing your ground.
This is where training will determine the level of success you experience.
You must train and develop the ability to shoot on the move.
They then take a stab at drive the muzzle downward in an attempt to take it from you.
The fundamental principle behind dynamic weapon retention is called blending.
If the attacker pushes, you pull.
If they pull, you push.
This blending neutralizes any strength or leverage advantages the attacker may have.
1.As the attacker pushes the weapon downward, blend with that motion and avoid a shoving match.
The attacker will now be spread out physically, as they are forced to reach to maintain their grip.
The more spread out they are, the weaker their position will be.
This must be done with 100-percent commitment and intent.
If not, the attacker will be able to hang on and a tug of war will certainly ensue.
4.After the weapon is out, simply let the weapon follow its natural path up into your shooting position.
It is also essential that you continue to put space between you and the attacker.
They will likely attempt to attack you again so that liberate your weapon.
5.Bring the weapon to bear on the attacker using a close-quarters arm position.
This will put you in a stronger framework if a second attack comes.
This will put the attacker in a weaker and more vulnerable position.
Handgun retention is your first priority.
The gun will come free from their hands.
Execute this with an explosively fast motion to snatch the gun away from the attacker.
If the motion is timid, the chances of your success drop significantly.
4.Immediately put space between you and the attacker.
As with all scenarios of this nature, we must expect the attacker to continue their assault.
There will be no time to admire your handiwork.
Take Control
These techniques are physically easy, yet they are psychologically difficult.
This is the case because we tend to quickly turn physical conflict into pushing and pulling matches.
We seem to be programmed to meet force with force at times.
If you are young, large and strong, then force may work to your advantage.
However, there are two truths that we must embrace.
First, strength is a fleeting thing.
If all you ever rely on is brute force, you will eventually fail.
Second, the attacker we face may be much larger.
In fact, regardless of your size, there is always someone bigger and stronger out there.
By blending with the attack, we eliminate all of that.
You should also consider purchasing a well-made holster and gear.
A strong holster can make the difference between retention and failure.
Friction retention holsters are very popular and effective when worn correctly.
These are molded holsters that hold the gun in place by simple friction.
Another bang out of holster seen in the concealed carry world has a mechanical retention gadget.
The gadget can slow your presentation and interfere with your draw.
Lastly, it is important you carry your weapon in a manner that makes retention easier.
From a tactical perspective, this puts you at a distinct disadvantage if things turn bad quickly.
Rather than being a statement about the social implications of open carry, this is purely a tactical point.
In the end, know that there will always be a chance that an attacker may grab your gun.
This article was originally published in the SURVIVORS EDGETM Spring 2015 issue.
