Aggressive-Defensive Actions

June 21, 2019
Tiger McKee

Great read from training expert Tiger McKee. This one will take five minutes to read, and you'll be glad you did.

Under most circumstances, when faced with a threat we'll initially be in a reactive state. The critical factor in winning the confrontation is how quickly you can go from a reactive state, where you're behind in the play, into action, forcing the threat to react to your momentum. Once the threat responds to you, it's mandatory that you continue pressing, not giving them a chance to flip roles on you. This requires aggressive actions on your part. The fight is defensive only in that we didn't start it. Once it does begin, you must be aggressive.

Being aggressive doesn't mean I rush forward, attacking the threat without regard to the consequences. An aggressive mindset means I'm moving, getting my weapon in hand and ready, maybe having to fire immediately.

tiger action

At the same time, I'm issuing verbal commands and getting cover between me and the threat. All of this is done with the mindset that if it's necessary to physically stop the threat, these actions are going to give me a significant advantage.

To execute these actions efficiently can only come from a confident mind. Once the actions are initiated, you're not stopping until you're sure the confrontation is over. To hesitate can be disastrous; being unsure, both physically and mentally, is an open door for the threat.

Efficient aggression can only come from a calm, controlled mind.  Emotions of any kind – fear, anger, or empathy – will only disrupt the clean application of force. You can't even think about the outcome of the confrontation. Any thoughts that distract you from thinking about the problem you face now, in a calm, rational "Spock" type fashion will create gaps in your response. ~ Tiger

Tiger McKee
Tiger McKee is the director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama.  He is the author of “The Book of Two Guns” - http://shootrite.org/book/book.html writes for several firearms/tactical publications and is featured on GunTalk’s DVD, “Fighting With The 1911 - http://shootrite.org/dvd/dvd.html  McKee’s new book, AR-15 Skills, and Drills, is available off Shootrite’s website: http://shootrite.org/AR15SkillsBook/AR15SkillsBook.html


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