Articles | Magazine Feature

It's easy to integrate target strikes with shooting on the range. Having the striking hand grab the target is a safe way to start. (Photo Ralph Mroz)

Safety Tip

Move Closer to the Target
  • Ralph Mroz
  • Law Officer Volume 3 Issue 12
  • 2007 Dec 1

Yes, closer. Why? Because most gunfights occur at pretty close distances, maybe 10 feet apart. The skills needed at this range are probably the least practiced, unfortunately.

Training at these distances is very different from training at more traditional distances. You must keep the gun in close to your body, you should combine the draw stroke with strikes to the target and you should probably move in on the target. 

If you practice these extreme close-quarter skills with a live partner (in a FIST suit, naturally) and with Airsoft pistols, you’ll quickly find you also must develop a real sense of physical aggression, good body mechanics, balance and other fighting skills that you may have considered relevant only in unarmed combat. Moving close actually makes things harder.

The Close Quarter Shooting video instructional program from the Police Officers Safety Association runs about an hour, and you can download it free from our site ( www.posai.org ). If you prefer, you can purchase a DVD is available for only $10, and the order form is available on the site, too.                                        

Ralph Mroz is the co-founder and training director of the Police Officers Safety Association (POSA). The POSA provides free force-training video programs to police officers. To obtain them visit  www.posai.org .

  • Law Officer Magazine Volume 3 Issue 12

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