I just started playing with the idea of Combat Jiu Jitsu (slaps from the top), I have competed in IDPA and I have taken several grappling/firearm classes. I would like to see more interdisciplinary classes get after it. https://bristleconeshooti[...]oot-house/ https://shivworks.com/ext[...]-concepts/

I have competed in IDPA and I have taken several grappling/firearm classes. I would like to see more interdisciplinary classes get after it

We do a lot of this at my place as well. Our defensive shooting class incorporates pad work with holster draw/fire as well as grappling with weapons retention with high level coaches. We also just got the firearms coaches certified in Tactical Functional Training certified as well so we can start doing those competitions as well as the IDPA events. Everything is done from a competitive perspective. We use SIRT pistols for most the defensive shooting training.

I’m curious what is tactical functional training?

Our defensive shooting class incorporates pad work with holster draw/fire as well as grappling with weapons retention with high level coaches. We also just got the firearms coaches certified in Tactical Functional Training certified as well so we can start doing those competitions as well as the IDPA events.

I've heard Paul Vunak's guys back in the day did sparring with raw steaks tied around the neck so they could practice biting the neck during rolling...

I’ve done this a bunch with simulation pocket knives in class and in rolling. When we do it in class I make sure that the group knows I’m not qualified to teach solutions to the knife problem, but that the purpose is to make them aware that the knife problem does exist. We usually do the rolling with instruction to be as mean as possible to your partner (head butts, biting, slamming heads into the ground) but in slow motion so there is little chance of injury. We use light pinching to simulate bites, light face touching to simulate eye gouging, etc... I like this idea of drills to highlight a problem that I (and maybe no one) has realistic solutions for and it’s something I’m trying to explore more. It kind of satisfies that weird spot I find myself in where I know my students need to be aware of something but I can’t honestly teach them that thing.

Burton Richardson and his BJJ for the Street is all about that. I have dis DVD, but still need to watch it.

Burton Richardson and his BJJ for the Street is all about that. I have dis DVD, but still need to watch it.

Excellent points made. I think that’s a necessary disclaimer to make. In my opinion it’s only prudent to recognize the limitations of one’s style. I have tried experimenting with this as well though it is really tough to go unarmed vs armed

It’s also really easy, as an instructor, to slip into talking about stuff outside of our area of expertise. Also true about the difficulty of armed vs unarmed.

I played around with this a bit back in the days and really enjoyed Karl Tanswell's STAB system: https://www.youtube.com/w[...]_ZO17yWi7I https://www.youtube.com/w[...]bB1VKlk_iU

It’s also really easy, as an instructor, to slip into talking about stuff outside of our area of expertise. Also true about the difficulty of armed vs unarmed.

This is, in my personal opinion, a larger problem. In multiple ways. The legal use of deadly force and self-defense is a very specific topic of interest in our academy. We started teaching Virginia and Maryland concealed carry classes and realized we only a narrow view of these topics. Mind you that the person teaching the classes has been in law enforcement in Virginia for over 20 years and is a Judo Black Belt, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and BJJ Brown Belt and we STILL knew we needed more information. So we attended some legal seminars under the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and sat down with the lawyers to get some of our questions answered and we were a bit surprised with what we learned. For us, it's not only that we're concerned with the technical expertise of the instructor for what we are doing. It's also whether or not what we are teaching is going to put that person in jail or leave them with a potential civil suit that could ruin their lives and possible the lives of their family. For example, here's an interesting thing about Virginia law: The ONLY lethal use of force weapon you can get a permit to conceal is a gun. So while we all call it a 'CCW' (Conceal Carry Weapon) it's actually a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP). Any fixed blade knife is illegal to conceal. Any spring stick is illegal to conceal. So for us, if they have a knife, you need a gun. Our knife defense is a gun. Which you have with you always. Concealed and only ever shown when you need to use it. That doesn't mean shoot it, btw. In Virginia if you pull a knife I am now legally allowed to draw my pistol and issue commands for you to drop your knife. If you do, I now am legally required to stop pointing my gun at you. Because in Virginia showing your concealed pistol is 'Brandishing' (misdemeanor) and pointing it at someone while not 'engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense' is 'Assault' (felony). So if you are going to start talking about weapons, you should also be talking about EXACTLY what that looks like legally where you live.

This is, in my personal opinion, a larger problem. In multiple ways. The legal use of deadly force and self-defense is a very specific topic of interest in our academy. We started teaching Virginia and Maryland concealed carry classes and realized we only a narrow view of these topics. Mind you that the person teaching the classes has been in law enforcement in Virginia for over 20 years and is a Judo Black Belt, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and BJJ Brown Belt and we STILL knew we needed more information. So we attended some legal seminars under the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and sat down with the lawyers to get some of our questions answered and we were a bit surprised with what we learned. For us, it's not only that we're concerned with the technical expertise of the instructor for what we are doing. It's also whether or not what we are teaching is going to put that person in jail or leave them with a potential civil suit that could ruin their lives and possible the lives of their family. For example, here's an interesting thing about Virginia law: The ONLY lethal use of force weapon you can get a permit to conceal is a gun. So while we all call it a 'CCW' (Conceal Carry Weapon) it's actually a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP). Any fixed blade knife is illegal to conceal. Any spring stick is illegal to conceal. So for us, if they have a knife, you need a gun. Our knife defense is a gun. Which you have with you always. Concealed and only ever shown when you need to use it. That doesn't mean shoot it, btw. In Virginia if you pull a knife I am now legally allowed to draw my pistol and issue commands for you to drop your knife. If you do, I now am legally required to stop pointing my gun at you. Because in Virginia showing your concealed pistol is 'Brandishing' (misdemeanor) and pointing it at someone while not 'engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense' is 'Assault' (felony). So if you are going to start talking about weapons, you should also be talking about EXACTLY what that looks like legally where you live.

I played around with this a bit back in the days and really enjoyed Karl Tanswell's STAB system: https://www.youtube.com/w[...]_ZO17yWi7I https://www.youtube.com/w[...]bB1VKlk_iU

Thanks, I’ll check those out!

It has bit of overlap / works with Red Zone Knife Defence System. Also I advise to look up anything by Paul Sharp https://www.youtube.com/w[...]nMNd961Xic https://www.youtube.com/w[...]6IzvP6ktfg

Another excellent point. Here in nyc gun, ccw is tough to come by. I still value in training with firearms but also feel the need to be acquainted with blades an even improvised weapons. During the Nyc riots, pipes and sticks were pretty common

Another excellent point. Here in nyc gun, ccw is tough to come by. I still value in training with firearms but also feel the need to be acquainted with blades an even improvised weapons. During the Nyc riots, pipes and sticks were pretty common

Yeah in NYC there's little reason to train with a holstered weapon. But can you carry a fixed blade knife?

Gray area. Theoretically blade length under 4 in nyc. LEO’s interpretation of intent also makes a huge difference. Fixed blades (which I prefer), are in some ways a little less problematic since folders can be considered gravity knives (illegal). As in officers can flick the knife and try to open them. Aside from that I prefer fixed anyway since there are fewer mechanical things that could fail upon deployment. Going back to intent, it is perfectly legal to carry baseball bats around assuming law enforcement doesn’t think you need intend to cause trouble. Outside of nyc and the immediate adjacent county, concealed carry gets to be less strict. If you go a couple of hours up north getting an unrestricted ccw is more realistic.

I just tried to go through the New York code for firearms licensing. I realized about 1/10th of the way through that it might take a few hours just to get through it and gave up. Effectively, New York is a 'May Issue' state that basically chooses NOT to issue in most situations. The code surrounding blades was just as bad.