Long Guns...Why We Need To Know How to Disarm?

"Gunman Kills 3 National Guard Members, 1 Other in Shooting Rampage at Nevada IHOP".

This was the headline on Fox News this morning regarding the shooting that took place yesterday in Nevada.  The main difference between this incident and past shootings, is use of a long gun, an AK-47B in this case.

Now putting the motives aside, the details of the attack, or even the aftermath, the topic of this blog is the fact that a long gun was the issue that needed to be addressed.  Also, this is not the first time that happens.  Various attacks included long guns, such as Columbine high school for example.


It is amazing that although handguns are getting stricter, long guns can still be bought and carried out of the store the same day.  Don't get me wrong, I am not proposing stricter laws for long guns, but the reality is that hunting rifles, shotguns, and even assault rifles are common place in many households around the country.

As you can see, the reality of having to defend against a long gun is there, and possibly higher than even a handgun.  However, many training facilities neglect to teach their students how to defend these common weapons.

So if you are in doubt as to whether or not you should learn how to defend against a long gun just read the news, and if you want to learn how to actually execute the skill check out a class or one of our seminars on weapon defenses.


Stay safe,


Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC
www.MasadaTactical.com

Nature throwing us a bone

Not even three weeks passed from when we did our Personal Protection seminar at Masada Tactical, and one can say that we have predicted everything to the tee.

In our seminar we identified the major risks we need to train and prepare for as: Crime, Terrorism, Civil unrest, and natural disasters.  Sure enough, the week following the seminar we witnessed the seemingly spontaneous rising of "Flash Mobs" that attacked and ransacked shop owners in Montgomery County, Washington DC, and Philadelphia, PA. The following week we had a terrorist arrested in Ellicott City.  That same week the eastern coast experienced one of the strongest earthquakes in the region in history, followed by hurricane Irene.

Now if that does not encompass everything we discussed, I don't know what would.  Were you ready when things happened?  Did you have a plan?  Did you set things in motion to keep yourself and your family safe?

This blog is not about patting ourselves on the shoulder (although, we most definitely deserve it).  But to use these events as a learning opportunity.  I titled this blog "Nature throwing us a bone" and not "Nature throwing us a curve ball" for a purpose.  You see, I think nature did us a favor.  True, many suffered.  Some more than others, but in my opinion this by no means was as bad as things could have been.  For most of us the extent of the storm was loss of power, no lives lost, no physical damage, and no injuries...for most.  Nothing compared to Hurricane Katrina for example.

So, that said, I think nature gave us an opportunity to test ourselves.  Were we ready?  What is your answer?

I also think I am not the only one that used this opportunity to test reaction and planning.  Many hospitals, law-enforcement agencies, and preparedness organization mobilized in excess.  I do believe it was done on purpose and as means for them to test their reaction and plans.  Using this storm as a full dress rehearsal for when the real emergency occurs, should it be man-made or natural disaster.

Plan, stay ready, and stay safe.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical
www.MasadaTactical.com

It’s Time to Fight Back against Bullying……Literally

Today, a big focus is put on preventing bullying. Bullying in schools is destroying kid’s lives, creating internal, fundamental, emotional issues, and helps to form a flawed and broken identity for the rest of one’s life.  Without belittling prevention in any way (prevention is just as, if not more important than treatment/action), but with this piece I want to put a stronger emphasis on defense. Yes, prevention efforts to stop physical abuse on a child or teen is essential, but all that prevention goes out the window when the lunch table bully has a good choke hold around you or your child’s neck.  What would happen if the teen or child getting bullied knew how to defend himself against that physical and emotional threat?

Let’s take a look at another scenario. The 12^th grade bully approaches a teen, grabs him/her around the neck and shoves him into a locker. In a confident move the teen brakes free of the hold and is able to gain access to a teacher or friend. This will most assuredly end up with the bully defeated, and this teen that would have walked away from this situation broken and hurt, now walks away with confidence and a feeling of self worth.  

Although for a person who has been bullied all his life has most likely accepted the  fate that this will be a permanent theme throughout his life, learning how to defend yourself as described in the situation above is a REALITY. I know because I have seen it happen in my own classes. Every day people sweat and push themselves, learning the skills necessary to turn a sticky situation into a positive one. Prevention won’t prevent everything, and when faced with a physical threat the tools to learn how to defend yourself are right in your backyard. Don’t believe me? Come in to Masada and let me show you. Don’t continue being a victim!

Personal Safety in the Age of Terrorism

You are a target.  It's as simple as that.  From everyday thugs who want your wallet, to random shooters who are angry at someone/something, to the obvious terrorist trying to create as much carnage as possible to make a point.

You can try and pretend it isn't so, that you live in your secure house, in a good neighborhood, and that you just don't go to where "bad people" hang.  But reality is that someone at your office may be having a bad day, that your office just happens to be located next to government building, or that you drive a car made in a country that pissed someone off.

Have you ever considered the following:

• Is your office in the same building as a mall?
• Do you live downtown or in a commerce district of the city?
• Do you work or live near a large famous (or infamous) company?
• Are there any landmarks next to where you live/work?
• How do you commute to work?  Do you drive or use public transportation?
• Is your occupation categorized as "essential"?
• Do you travel often?  If so, where to?

These are just a few of the many variables that one must consider when assessing his/her own risk factor.  Like it or not, terrorism is everywhere, from downtown NY to railroads in Spain and summer camp sites in Norway.  Not to mention cafes in Tel-Aviv, or police stations in Iraq.  And if you think that is a far fetched reality for you, consider the students at Virginia Tech and Columbine high-school.  They thought they were safe!

But with all this said and done, there is plenty one can do to increase his/her safety.  Starting with a detailed personal threat assessment, on to means to mitigate those risk factors.  Lastly, putting in place plans for emergencies for yourself and loved ones.  

When was the last time you ran a fire drill at home?  Or when did you last assign a meeting point for you and your family in case of a natural disaster and you can't make it home?  Did you decide on a place to go from there?  How will you get there?  Is your bail-out kit ready and what's in it?

So many questions that we will be answering together on August 14 starting at 12:30 at Masada Tactical.  Join us for the Personal Protection seminar.

This class will provide participants with the theoretical knowledge of how to perform threat assessments, how to design emergency plans, and various possible scenarios and solutions will be provided.

This class is largely an adaptation of tools designed by Yuval Aviv, a former Israeli Counter-terrorism and intelligence officer.  Mr. Aviv acted as a special consultant to the US Congress and Fox News following the events of 9/11.

Spaces are limited for this unique class.  It is open to all members and guests.  This is not a self-defense class.

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein

Masada Tactical

Walter Reed Un-casing of the Colors

The ending of an era is always sad, but the beginning of one is sure to bring happiness. 

Today I was proud to witness the closing ceremonies of Walter Reed Army Medical Center as they begin their transition to Bethesda Maryland, and Fort Belvoir Va. The transition is being made as a part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005 (BRAC). 

Although a sad day to see a facility whose service was so paramount, and can claim responsibility for providing medical care to over 150,000 soldiers, the transition to Bethesda and Fort Belvoir is a happy one. Not only are they moving to our home state of Maryland but it will allow the Medical Center to function at a higher level. 

This hit home on a personal level as well. As I talked about earlier my journey at the MD Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC) came to an end and my resignation became official today. But just like Walter Reed, although the end of my career with the State is sad, the start of a full time focus on growing Masada Tactical into a power force of training and development is a happy one.  

Masada Tactical is happy to have had the opportunity to work with Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the past and hope our relationship will grow stronger in the future. So as the flags came down at the closing ceremony today I saluted Walter Reed on its accomplishments and wished it only more success in the future. I like to think Walter Reed saluted me back. 

End of an Era

It is official, I handed in my resignation at the MD Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC), and effective July 27, 2011 I will no longer be the Lead DT/PT Instructor for the commission.

It has been a good ride.  Over the past three years I taught 4 recruit classes, countless officers during in-service training, and 7 instructor courses, certifying close to 100 Defensive Tactics Instructors in Israeli Combat System.

There have been ups and downs, like there would be anywhere else, but at the end of the day I am proud to have had the opportunity to share skills and lessons to enhance officer safety in Maryland, from correctional officers to patrol police and specialized teams.

It has been a long and hard process to take mindsets that have been so ingrained in tradition and try and affect those by introducing new, sometimes extreme ideas.  Not always were my ideas accepted.  More than once I have been put on notice by the administration for being too hard, but ultimately everyone understood that my actions were always done in good faith and with the goal of keeping officers safe, and as such I was allowed some leeway in the way I taught, the skills I shared, and the drills I executed.

Over the past three years I have also been fortunate to see Masada Tactical grow from a small facility in Pikesville to four times its size.  Masada Tactical started with a few weekly classes to now having classes every single day, not to mention our classes offered in other states such as Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and more.

The journey has not been without sacrifices, obstacles and hardship.  But like any growth, the goal is always to overcome those and come out the other end better and stronger.  We always aimed to excel at what we do, and I believe we made tremendous strides in making Masada Tactical and Israeli Combat System a household name and the provider of choice for any individual or organization who wants the best self protection and tactical training.

So as I say goodbye at the MD Police and Correctional Training Commission I do so with pride for the lessons I shared, and the lessons I learned, and with the joy and anticipation of taking Masada Tactical to even greater things.

I would like to thank the people at the commission who stood by me when things got somewhat rough, and my friends at Masada Tactical who never gave up hope and encouraged me over the past few years.

We are on the virtue of a brand new future, brighter than ever, and it is all thanks to you.

I would like to leave this somewhat of a personal blog post with a statement that has been hanging in my office at the commission for the past three years.  It has motivated me, helped me, and guided me on numerous times (origin unknown):

What do I fear?
I fear stagnation and lack of progress.
I fear never reaching my potential and being average.
I fear being forgotten...the past...yesterday's news.
I fear giving up and being passed by, going softly into that good night.
I fear letting those I love down, letting myself down.
I fear settling, giving in to the "that's just the way it is" mindset.
I fear dying without leaving my mark.
I fear not feeling these fears anymore and just floating along.
These fears feed me, they nourish my drive.
I love my fear.

Stay safe, stay strong, and keep on working on those things that matter.

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
www.MasadaTactical.com

Israeli Point-Shoot

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to have access to the Jessup Correctional facility's range (Thank you Lt. Allander and Sgt. Johnson!).

I decided to take my staff and a few business associates to learn the Israeli way of handgun shooting: Israeli-Point-Shoot.

The point-shoot is a class we teach various LE agencies and will begin offering to our civilian members.  It was important to me that our staff is familiar with the concepts so they can explain it better to our members and assist in teaching these classes.

For those who are not familiar with the concept, the basic idea is that if I can point at an object and know that my finger is pointing right at it, I should be able to do the same with the handgun as an extension of that finger.  Under stress, as in a handgun fight, fine motor skills will be lost and the time required for the "proper" sight, breath, squeeze, follow through will be gone.  Being able to hit a target under stress is therefore an essential survival skill.

The class began with a short explanation of what the philosophy is, and why we (Israelis) shoot the way we do.  There many systems that teach "indexing" as a method of shooting, but Israelis do things a tad differently, and it was important to explain that as it set the tone for the rest of the training.

In the following three hours I condensed weeks of training into a few hours.  The goal again was to familiarize the participants with a concept and not to make them experts.

The class began with dry draw and aiming drill.

Then we added single shots, followed by double shots.

Eventually we added multiple targets. The handgun segment of the day ended with a drill done once without a gas mask, and the the gas mask was introduced.  Why gas mask?  well, aside of the obvious tactical element of operating in a contaminated area (OC, CS, or other), the gas mask is a great training tool as it simulates the physiological effects of stress, such as hyperventilation and tunnel vision.

Once everybody completed the drills we pulled out a couple of AR's and had everybody try the AB-Arms foreguards I discussed in a previous post.

Overall, it was a great day of educational fun.  How does the saying go? "A bad day at the range beats a good day at work", well, when you have a good day at the range and it is your work day, it is that much sweeter.

See you all in our next Israeli-Point-Shoot seminar.

Stay safe!

Tzviel 'BK' Blankchtein
Masada Tactical, LLC