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I do not know if this is the correct spot for this thread. If not, would a moderator please move it?

I need to learn more about handgun retention. I am not a law enforcment employee. Suggestions anyone? I live in NW Dallas County.

Thanks,

salty

You'll find some Dallas County folks on this board who will be able to help with local resources. Because I recently started the program myself, Krav Maga is something I would strongly consider. There is a Krav Maga group in north Dallas called Krav Maga DFW (http://www.kravmagadfw.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) if you want to check them out locally.

Krav starts with teaching you basic movements for unarmed self-defense which, if you think about it, is integral to weapon retention because you may have to fight to create space and give yourself time just to access your handgun. The entire Krav system is based on simple but effective movements that require only gross motor skills that you can use when you are disoriented and exhausted. It is also a great way to get in shape. this is not a one day endeavor...You'll spend an hour or so training roughly two days a week for up to four months just to get through level 1. There are four levels to Krav and the upper levels address multiple attackers and threats with long guns.

Now if you are willing to travel and train well beyond what your learned in CHL, MAST Solutions here in Houston has an excellent weapon retention component to their typical Combat Handgun classes. Like Krav, MAST will push you to a level of exhaustion to help reproduce some of the stresses you'll experience in a real fight as part of your training. Like Krav, MAST addresses the reality that you might have to physically fight off an opponent just to access your handgun. Retention is just one component of a one day class so you may find that you retain a great deal more information from Krav over the course of several month of training. Still, the MAST program is recommended. I completed a Combat Handgun class with MAST yesterday and while I'm tired and sore this morning, I'd gladly get up and do it all again today...Just a little slower because I'm kinda stiff. The downside is that unless you can review the class material on a regular basis, it can be difficult to retain all the skills you'll learn.

John Farnam's Intermediate and Advanced Handgun classes also incorporate weapon retention and disarm techniques. John's classes are no where near as physically demanding as the others I've mentioned. That's not a knock against John but I mention it because not everyone is willing or able to handle the demands of the other options I've mentioned. The techniques John teaches are effective but, you won't experience the same level of stress and the class is a bit more relaxed. Again, the retention and disarm component is just part of the overall class so you may not retain quite as much of the material without practicing it on a regular basis.

YMMV

I know Shivworks trains this material in the ECQC class. There is some work on retention in the holster & retention out of the holster as well as handgun recovery. They will be in Texas at least twice more this year. Austin in September and Dallas in October. There is talk of another class in Houston after October.


K R training in Austin is hosting Shivworks & Tom Givens
September 12-13
Combined Skills Course: SouthNarc & Tom Givens of Rangemaster, Memphis
Point of Contact: Tom Givens 901-370-5600
http://www.shivworks.com/tutorials.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



October 16-18
PUC/ECQC-1/ECQC-2
Dallas, TX.
Point of contact: Ian Mechura imechura@gmail.com

Thanks for the information. It is appreciated.

I am not young and fit. One on one, hand-to-hand, martial arts confrontation has a conclusion that is, pretty much, a done deal.

I thought that there might be an instructor or two that had a few pointers where a geezer might have a teensy chance of prevailing. Or, if not that, getting away without making a visit to the County Hospital, or Jail.

Thanks,

salty