Note: These videos show actual lethal violence and murders. Be mindful.
If you don't check in on Ed Calderon's site, and are interested in the dynamics of close combat and personal protection, you should be.
I have long stated here and elsewhere that violence with modern handguns and knives is much more akin to the kinds of encounters we practice in things like iai and kogusoku than it is to sport grappling or karate or to knife sparring or kenjutsu. The meat is in the reaction to surprise dynamics, the ability to access a weapon under duress and when crowded by environmental elements and by the threat, and many more factors.
This is not at all to say that most people are practicing their iai or kogusoku with these things in mind or with the proper dynamics, but I am absolutely convinced that this is what it is/was supposed to be.
The first example is of a close quarters gun fight/grapple. To be noted is the relative lack of efficacy of firearms - short blades are the same - and the rapidity with which the encounter collapses to grappling range. Have a skill set that encompasses all these things and is able to rapidly transition and combine in the moment is crucial.
http://edpoint.tumblr.com/post/12411...-gun-fight-and
The second, depicting the murder of two armed and armored police officers in Venezuela, shows the importance of gaining surprise on an adversary, and how maintaining initiative can determine the outcome.
It likewise demonstrates the other side of the equation - reacting to an ambush in a way that INSTANTLY forces a re-set on the part of the assailant(s), from whatever position/physical organization you happen to be in at the moment, and causes them to start reacting to you is really the only way out of an ambush. Once again being able to immediately offset their armed advantage and access your weapon and bring it to bear are the hallmarks of a combative practice.
This one is disturbing, but it reminds us how important it is for uniformed professionals to be vigilant and find ways and tactics for overwatch even in mundane situations. Most importantly in mundane situations as this bears some resemblance to the Lakewood and other ambush attacks of officers in restaurants we have seen Stateside recently.
http://edpoint.tumblr.com/post/12464...-two-different