When dealing with a Long Gun threat, I must abide by similar principles to that of a handgun or a pistol. I follow the acronym, R.C.A.T., which we use to defend against the majority of gun threats.
- Redirect
- Control
- Attack
- Takeaway
First I must redirect the line of fire off of my body. Once I have made this redirection, I must make sure that the line of fire is never put back on me or anyone that I am protecting.
Second I must control that line of fire, and to ensure that step one is maintained throughout my defense and I stay out of potential harm. At any moment the gun could fire, and I never want to take the chance that I will be in front of the weapon should that happen.
Third, and often simultaneously with the ‘control’ step, I must attack as strong as I can to the most vulnerable area on the body that is available to strike.
Finally, I must safely take the weapon away while maintaining control of the line of fire. This may mean striking until the attacker is knocked unconscious, or simply taking the weapon away at the first moment that it is available to take. Circumstances change based on the type of weapon and the position that the threat is posed to you.
When dealing with a shotgun or long gun, it is important to make the most efficient redirection possible and then get inside the line of fire. Once inside, I can use the gun as a blunt weapon against the attacker if I move quickly and throw an effective counter attack to gain a momentary advantage.
Remember, when defending against a ‘gun threat’, we are not necessarily racing the finger pulling the trigger, but the change of mind made by the attacker to escalate his threat into an active shooting scenario.
Ok, that’s all for now. Enjoy the video, be safe… and GO DO SOME KRAV MAGA TODAY!
-AJ @AJDraven - Twitter
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AJ Draven is a Krav Maga Worldwide™ 3rd Degree Black Belt. AJ has been training in Krav Maga since 2000 and began teaching students in 2001, and fellow instructors in 2002.
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