Cruel Hand Luke

Just a couple of weeks to go on this one.  This class is different than anything in the industry. No one else runs their med class in conjunction with FOF where you have to win the fight and then treat the injuries you sustain in the fight. Come be a part of this and be that much more prepared for surviving real world confrontations !

Just to echo what others have already said....GSSF matches are great ways to dip your toe in the competitive shooting waters. ALL you need is gun and ammo. No drawing from holster, no complex stages, no shooting on the move. Just come out and shoot and have fun. 

Hope you can make it. It will change the way you look at pistol training. 

Thanks guys. I enjoyed teaching both classes and hopefully we will be doing some more classes soon in Knoxville.   We had talked about offering a "Suarez Regional Training Day" in August if there is interest in that . Those are typically a 6 hour block of working on specific skills with a price range of normally $60 to $80. If there is enough interest we may go ahead and schedule it for Aug 3 since I'll already be in the area for the ORSA SECRET CITY IDPA match on Aug 2.

Me...but you already knew that.

Looking forward to it again!

A little over a month to go on this one.  This class will take your personal protection skills to the next level.   Most pistol gunfights are less than 7 yards. Yet most people practice for them by trying to shoot tiny groups at distances 7 yards and farther. That is like practicing to run a race by standing still....instead of trying to shoot tiny groups at distance maybe we should spend more time working on recognizing the cues of impending criminal assault, reacting to it before it is too late, using our hands if we need to in order to create an opening,  getting our gun into the fight (practicing drawing your gun), and making fast accurate fight stopping hits while NOT GETTING HIT, and keeping our gun running if it malfunctions or runs out of ammo. THAT is what we will work on in this class. If you want to learn what really works and what to practice to prepare you for defensive shooting this is the class for you. 

This one is coming up in about 4 weeks.....Don't miss this opportunity to learn life saving skills. Winning the fight is just part of the equation. There are no guarantees that you or one of your loved ones won't be injured in the fight. Knowing how to keep them alive is something to learn in advance...not try to figure out in the moment.....   Hope to see you there. 

OK guys and gals...we are less than a week out....We still have spots available if anyone else wants to get in on these 2 classes. Looking forward to it!

I'm trying....I have to work that day (Sat MAy 10th) at my day job. I am trying to get the OK to shoot it on Friday the 9th with the match workers (assuming the match workers are shooting it on Friday).......

ALL you have to do? Kind of like saying all you have to do to play a piano concerto is to sit on the stool and hit the right keys.....   Yes obviously avoiding trouble at all costs is plan A. But plenty of people end up as victims of violent crime who were not out trying to get in a fight. Chris Newsome and Channon Christian were not "looking for a fight". Sometime bad stuff comes looking for you......   But if the bad stuff kicks off at 2 feet instead of at 10 yards then knowing a little about how to use your hands to create an opening to be able to get to your gun is worth its weight in gold. 

Also keep in mind as a civilian you are NOT compelled to restrain or detain people.   In fact as a civilian that is about the LAST thing you should try to do. The cops get paid to put people in handcuffs and take them into custody. You on the other hand are responsible only for your own well being. Cops might very well draw down on a BG and then close in and (while backup /partner covers them) cuffs them. If you draw your gun as a civilian it would be extremely dangerous to then holster up and go "hands on" by yourself. And again, what are we trying to accomplish? WHY exactly would you go to hands AFTER drawing your gun?    Going hands on BEFORE you draw the gun is not unreasonable. In fact, trying to interject the gun with the BG within arms reach BEFORE you use hands to make an opening or before you use hands to control them long enough to access the gun is a good way to end up in a wrestling match over the gun. The only time I would be going hands on AND using the gun at the same time is if I'm tangled up with multiple assailants and trying get better position in order  to access the gun to end the fight faster. Once I have gotten out of arms length then I have no interest in going back in......

There are no bumper sticker sized answers for this....   If you are within 2 arms length distance then using hands first is 99.9999% of the time the answer. Going for a gun when the other guy is within touching distance does not have much future to it unless he has his back to you or unless you have him physically controlled first.    It largely comes down to how close they are, how they are armed, and how YOU are armed and where you are carrying it when deciding whether to use hands or weapons. For hands to work against guns you have to be within the distance you can touch the gun before he can react. For hands to work against knives you have to be able to be close enough to control the weapon bearing limb. Out side of those, the gun is going to be the primary tool. With multiple unarmed assailants you may or may not be able to shoot them justifiably....things are complex.    If you can fight with hands and feet then you are far ahead of those who carry a gun so they do not have to learn how to fight. But if you expect the BG to play by rules and fight you fair...good luck with that. 

I fear there may be some other unintended negative consequences that appear only after this is a done deal.....as someone mentioned before...it may lead to more places being posted and that is just ONE negative consequence...but a big one none the less.

Hmmm....for some reason I was expecting a discussion on pepper spray.....you guys mean the "other" OC.  

Just make him an offer he can't refuse......

Getting closer...   I will also be bringing various shotguns for people to handle and be familiarized with. I will have a double barrel coach gun,  Winchester 97, 14" remington 870 SBS , 12.5" remington 870 AOW, and a 14" Saiga SBS. 

This one is getting closer. June is not that far off for those planning ahead......

Suarez International June 29, 2014 DEFENSIVE KNIFE Price $200 Knoxville, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris     This course presents a compressed version of our two day Defensive Knife program. You will learn knife grips, angles of attack and defense, ballistic cutting and thrusting tactics, use of the live hand, footwork concepts, dynamic training drills and exercises to develop spontaneous and unplanned reactions. We will dispel the commonly held myths of the knife and leave you with a respect and a skill-set for this close range weapon that equals or surpasses your skill with the CCW pistol and allows you to begin integrating the knife and the gun. Bring a carry knife, and a dull trainer facsimile of it.     DURATION: 1 Days TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM AMMUNITION: N/A YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape)   REQUIREMENTS: Your daily carry knife, a training knife similar to your carry knife (training knives are available at One Source Tactical), a modern CCW Pistol or Airsoft or red gun and eye protection.     For More info or to register for this class............http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/140729-defensive-knife-knoxville-tn.aspx#.UzslSPldUas

Well dang...I was looking forward to the match in Memphis.....with all the cancellations it is getting harder and harder to get many major matches to shoot in 2014....

This one is coming up right around the corner.   For those in the Knoxville area (and everywhere else) this is a great opportunity to get solid professional instruction in the use of the shotgun and pistol in realistic defensive context...not just  in target shooting or sport shooting context.   Also for those with limited time to only do one or the other the 1 day format of each stand alone class allows that. Only free on Saturday? Come do the Shotgun class. Only got Sunday? Come do the pistol class. Or for those who have the time, take BOTH classes for a discount.   We normally only offer one or two classes a year in the Knoxville area....so don't miss this opportunity!

On Sunday April 6 we will hold our first meeting of 2014 for the TN/GA/AL Regional Suarez Int Training Group!  Location: The usual place- Phillips/Edwards Farm 763 County Rd 332 Pisgah Al (pm or email me for directions if you have never been there)  Time: 10AM CENTRAL time - 4PM CENTRAL time Price: $60 What you need to bring: Pistol, pistol magazines and at least 150 rounds of ammo.  We will work on smoothing out our pistol skills and will shoot several challenging drills (like the air marshal qualification and Marine Corps Spec Ops pistol qual ) and work to be more competent and confident with the weapon we carry most...our pistol.  Looking forward to seeing you there! 

This one is right around the corner. Just about 3 weeks to go.....don't miss this shot at learning what REALLY works when the targets can also shoot back.   Nothing moves thinks and attacks you like a person...so if all your training is against paper targets then you will get really good.... at fighting unarmed paper that never fights back.   If your training has never included any Force on Force then you just do not realize how fast a gunfight really happens. Come train with us and make the mental shift from "target shooter" to "gunfighter".

Suarez International TRAUMA MEDICINE FOR THE CCW OPERATOR May 24-25, 2014 Price $350 Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris This revolutionary class is directed toward the Private Citizen who may have never even taken a first aid class and certainly doesn't consider himself to be a medically trained special operator. Instead, he is someone who realizes that, just as with his shooting skills, he needs to have skill to help save someone's life, perhaps his own, in the aftermath of shooting or other traumatic events. We call that man the "CCW Operator". He doesn't have a trained medic nearby. He must show the same self-reliance that got him through the initial incident.  This will be a very thorough introduction to how to evaluate and treat gunshot wounds, stab wounds and other traumatic injuries. We will do a great deal of technical work to ingrain the correct skills and then work them extensively via practical training, including force on force exercises. This is a non-live fire class, no live ammo or weapons! There has never before been training and information like this offered to the general public. SOME TOPICS: Massive bleeding. What are the options? We will look at everything from direct pressure, to tourniquets, to blood clotting agents. Do you know how to use a tourniquets? How about putting one on yourself, one handed? Do you know how to open a person's airway, in various positions? How to splint broken limbs, using real equipment and improvised materials. How do you move a person to safety, if he can't walk? Can you do all this, while maintaining tactical awareness, appropriate movement and shooting back? This is one of the hottest classes available to civilian operators!   DURATION: 2 days TIME: 8:00AM to 5:00PM (Range location is on Central Time) AMMUNITION: NONE. Bring airsoft pellets and C02/gas etc. YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather. Lunch, snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day. Baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape). REQUIREMENTS: Force on Force gear: airsoft pistol with the necessary gear (pellets, facemask, holster, extra mags, protective clothing etc) all of which are available athttp://www.onesourcetactical.com. You will be practicing some FoF airsoft drills, eye and face protection mandatory! Bring your primary concealed weapon and gear for dry practice drills but no ammo on training site. CLOSEST AIRPORT Click here for nearest airports NOTES:   For more info and to register....http://www.suarezinternationalstore....anooga-tn.aspx

I don't always carry a G30 but when I do carry the G30 it is in a Mitch Rosen Upper Limit (UPL) Holster with a Mitch Rosen 5 DM double mag carrier. The holster rides very high on the belt (hence the name Upper Limit). As to ammo....I used to use Corbon 165 but have settled on CCI Gold Dot 230 gr or Winchester PDX1 230gr. They are easier to find and hit same point of aim point of impact as 230 gr ball practice ammo.