Officer Survives Near Fatal Shooting by Fighting Back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArDRg5SkuT0&fem.youtube.com

"Why I survived? I took it to him..." Officer Jared Reston talks about when he was shot.

The experience of Officer Jared Reston is a cautionary example to remind us of the overwhelming importance of a tactical mindset. Shot through the face and left for dead, Officer Reston's indomitable will and non-quitting spirit helped him survive a deadly encounter with a suspect at a mall.

"I took it to him...I took that fight to him and I won that fight is why I survived. I'm not gonna sit there and let luck or any thing else determine my fate I'm gonna...fight and that's what I think everyone should do." -Jared Reston, Police Officer

“If you are going through hell, keep going.” Winston Churchill quotes (British Orator, Author and Prime Minister during World War II.1874-1965)

I recall one of my Army mentors telling me, "sometimes the only way forward is through." He was a Special Forces instructor offering advice on how to take on seemingly impossible circumstances. That was nearly 20 years ago and it continues to ring true. In our research at NTS, we continue to see examples of this mindset in prevailing officers, soldiers and even civilians in deadly force encounters.

This is one of the reasons NTS training has more academic training than most courses. We believe education drives belief system, belief system drives training habits, training habits dictate conditioning and that translates to more lives saved and the good guys having a better chance to win.

I would argue that the primary battle that most modern professional warriors face is not what most might expect, it is a war of the mind. In over 25 years of teaching military, law enforcement and over 10,000 students, I have learned that the battle is over ignorance and arrogance-both forms of denial.

There is a lot of good information out there. There is just as much bad. I believe the key for modern professional warriors, whether a soldier, law enforcement or even responsible citizen is to take total responsibility. We must do our due diligence to get ongoing training, stay fit and healthy and put good information and training experiences into your mind.

As my Mom always says, GIGO. Garbage In, Garbage Out. However, the inverse is true as well, Good In, Good Out. It reminds me of Coach Tony Blauers first commandment, "Thou shalt not, not train." Belief system and training are inextricably intertwined.

I think Officer Reston can credit his survival in this deadly encounter to his trainers as well as his indomitable mindset and will to fight back. He was experiencing "hell" and kept going. He had a belief system that gave him the mindset to fight for his life and the training and conditioning to do what he had to to survive. This is another good lesson for us all.

Officer Survival School

NTS A.C.T. Arrest and Control Tactics

Force Options Training

Bodyguard Academy | Executive Security Close Protection

CQC | CQB | Hand to Hand Combat | Hand To Weapon Combat

Military Combatives

Nottingham Sword & Shield Security

ScottsdaleBodyguard.com

Telephone 602.896.8721

Phoenix | Scottsdale Arizona USA

One Size Does Not Fit All for Training

Our Subject Matter Expert & UFC Champ Dan "THE BEAST"
Severn Teaching Defensive Tactics to Police Officers

One Size Does Not Fit All for Training
The Problematic Nature of Generic Training
Military, Law Enforcement, Security and First Responders Training
by John D. Nottingham http://NottinghamSwordandShieldSecurity.com 

Law Enforcement Officers including Police, Military, Security and various other protective and response agents engage our services to assess their skills and advise them on enhancement drills and tools.  LEOs, even DT Instructors, despite their training, all too often attempt to apply the same techniques in every situation.

"We never rise to the level of expectation. We fall to the level of our training." -Special Forces maxim

Disparity: Size, Mechanics, Leverage and Structure
One example is when many LEO's attempt an arm bar on a person considerably larger than themselves expecting it to work the same as it would on a subject smaller (relative to themselves).  Of course, this is not isolated merely to arm bars.  While in discussion, the officer would likely point out that it would be a problem and consciously make the logical decision that a different tactic should be used. Yet in the scenario or on the street they revert to the same move.

This fact is confirmed with video footage of both training and live video of street scenarios.  The result is most often, escalation of force, thus higher risk to the LEO, increased liability and increased variables to manage.  The higher number of variables to manage, the slower the response time, and the higher the risk to officer safety and general liability.

We discovered and employ methods to overcome this common training problem.
1. Train for proper assessments and prioritization
2. Let them play both roles of LEO and subject with resistance
3. Allow them to resist and adapt without warning or set ups - keep it dynamic and fluid
4. Scenario based training with various body styles and fitness, flexibility, pain threshold, and attitudinal attributes.  Human conflict is dynamic, therefore the training must be as well.
5. Force problem solving situations into the training equation and do video analysis, after action reviews, encourage positive peer instruction and honest feedback
6. Objectively test

Training for Safety - Go Slow
One of the key benefits of our system is the safety mechanisms in place to protect the trainees, yet still develop highly effective skill sets and attributes.  Of course this is not to advocate a plethora of techniques either.  This would be in contradiction to Hicks law - one of our foundational guiding principles.

"Slow is smooth, smooth is efficient."-Special Forces maxim

Highly Adaptable Tactics
Instead, our recommendation is a small set of highly adaptable tools, tactics, concepts and principles that emphasize superior assessment, strategy, psychology, leverage and positioning.  The best way to describe it would be adding a turbo charger to existing training.  It usually does not replace training, it enhances it through functional drilling and application training.

"We are sometimes criticized for our slow motion training.  However, when we get to the testing phase, we enjoy watching the nay-sayers eat crow as they are forced by clear evidence to praise the performance of our clients.  It's one of our secrets to safety.  If you're injured, intimidated or discouraged - you can't train."

The Situation Dictates The Response
Granted, you have to start with a foundation of basics that develop body awareness, assessment skills, and a few tools (techniques) that work in most situations.  However, a problem facing most "standardized" training programs is the lack of transferability, adaptation and proper application.  Given the constraints of budget, allocated training time and the prevailing "blue" doctrine, this will continue to be a challenge.  With that we will continue to have officers sneak over to us to build their confidence and enhance skills that they are too intimidated to admit or unwilling to reveal to their department.  Government is historically slow to react.  We're happy to serve.

Maintain the public trust and lead by example.
Train.  It's not a suggestion, it is your duty.

For more information about John Nottingham or NTS Tactical
http://ScottsdaleExecutiveSecurity.com
* Photo: courtesy Master Brian Van Patten - USA Martial Arts Antioch Illinois.

MMA Legend Dan "The Beast" Severn Teaches Arizona Police Defensive Tactics

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MMA Legend Dan “The Beast” Severn

Teaches Arizona Police Defensive Tactics

 

PHOENIX, Arizona (September 01, 2010) – NTS Tactical (Nottingham Sword & Shield Security) and USA Martial Arts honor local law enforcement, military and first responders by offering free defensive tactics training by UFC Hall of Famer and ASU wrestling legend, Dan Severn. 

The training will be available from 6:30-8:30pm on Wednesday September 1, 2010 at the grand opening of the newest location of NTS Tactical at Tatum and Greenway roads in North Phoenix.   The event will include a tribute to local law enforcement, military and first responders as part of the festivities.

“It is time that we demonstrate our appreciation to those who serve our country and community.  We are honored to have true MMA Legend and Competitor, Dan Severn, to be a technical advisor, subject matter expert and instructor,” said John Nottingham, owner of NTS Tactical Nottingham Sword & Shield Security.  “We have to face it, MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and effects the way people are resisting officers.  Dan provides the experience, leadership and skill set to help guide this integration of proven and highly efficient skills into defensive tactics for officer survival and the humane handling of suspects.  It is designed to counter the bad guys’ MMA skills.  It is also a tremendous confidence builder for officers to learn and stay healthy.”

Dan Severn, still active as a fighter, has over 95 state, national, and international wrestling titles under his belt.  He has captured the attention of fight and wrestling fans all over the world since his 1994 debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championships [UFC]. Dan is known as "The Beast", a name given to him by Jim Brown during one of his many fights in the UFC.  The Beast's world class wrestling skill, commitment, and desire have provided the foundation for his success.

The native of Coldwater, Michigan, Dan is the only Triple Crown UFC champion in the sport today.  He began his career in the fight game as a Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestler in High School and continued as a collegiate wrestler at Arizona State University.  Dan captured many local titles and several national and world titles, setting eight national records in his early career. He was inducted into Arizona State University's Wrestling Hall of Fame at the end of his prestigious collegiate career.

After college, Dan continued on a quest to be the best amateur wrestler in the world. Numerous competitions from 1982 to 1994 took him to Japan, Hungary, Cuba, France, and Turkey. On each trip, Severn captured another title. Dan also secured 13 National AAU wrestling championships during those years. The Beast also tried his hand at coaching wrestling at ASU and Michigan State University as he continued to compete.  He accepted all challengers in any no holds barred, or professional wrestling events. On May 17, 1996, Dan was crowned the UFC Superfight Champion in his home state of Michigan. He defeated "The World's Most Dangerous Man", Ken Shamrock to regain the title.  In 1999, Dan reached a milestone by competing in his 4000th match.

In addition to his wresting career, Dan also holds Black Belts in the sports of Sombo, Judo, and JiuJitsu.   He is a UFC Champion and has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.  Dan has also appeared on 48 Hours, 20/20, The Gordon Elliot Show, Nash Bridges, and many commercials.

John Nottingham, Director of Training at NTS Tactical and President of USA Martial Arts says, “This is a great example of how NTS Tactical integrates multiple disciplines to provide the best solutions for our customers.  Our expertise in tactical training, real life simulation and education made us the right choice for Arizona’s training programs.  The grand opening event will introduce many locals to our services."

NTS TACTICAL is a mobile and on site training company specializing in training military, law enforcement and first responders in protective fields.  Providing risk management, officer development, firearms training, defensive tactics solutions and more; NTS Tactical also provides customized training systems to provide today’s Police and Security with the capability to conduct realistic, high intensity training exercises and mission rehearsals designed for officer development and safety.

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MEDIA CONTACT
NTS Tactical Nottingham Sword & Shield Security
John Nottingham 
602-896-8721 (office)  
info@usa-martialarts.com

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Separate Fantasy from Fact in Defensive Tactics and Survive

Separate Fantasy from Fact in Defensive Tactics

Your Survival Could Depend On It

By John D. Nottingham, EPS, PI, 6th Dan

One of the key difference in my approach and methodology in training military, law enforcement, security, first responders or individuals is that I am less technique focused. Thousands of hours of research and watching scenarios and actual footage of assaults clearly shows that technique is of less importance than the will to act, the approach to using physical intervention and the strategy in which it is implemented.

The elderly woman who sticks her thumb in the eye of her attacker isn’t doing a technique in the classical sense that most athletes, martial artists and DT trainers would have you believe is key. The eye gouge isn’t a technique in my book. It is a tactic based on an available vulnerable target. Her mechanical approach to gouging the eyeball isn’t as important as the fact that she actually created a traumatic injury. So much for YouTube learned Kung Fu-lery snake technique death touch.

It’s not what you do. It’s how you approach what you do. Are you spending all your time discussing the better mouse-trap or are you dealing with the rodent problem?

In this article I will share a key element to increasing officer/individual effectiveness in a short period of time. My goal is not to teach a martial art “style” or a particular collection of favorite “moves”. A bit of research will reveal that is in fact the majority of what is out there – “tricks”. Although that is highly popular and what sells, it has less do do with actual ability to protect one’s self than most realize. What is entertaining is not necessarily what is most effective.

My advice is not based on personal preference. Rather it is based on my professional recommendations for the mission, context, operator, environment and objectives of my clients.

My focus is to provide tools and experiences to alter belief system of the operator and adopt a mindset that lends itself to problem solving in a crisis situation. The goal is to have the brain recognize a particular reference point and from there be able to optimize a response with the tools, environment and context at hand.

This is usually done in the form of providing accurate information in conjunction with immersion training experiences to reinforce the concepts and principles. For example, we might set up a scenario for law enforcement that has them approaching a suspicious vehicle to make contact. We provide them with limited information and allow them to influence the context of the situation, or be influenced by the context of the situation.

In the end, each operator/agent is more readily able to prioritize the important survival information and separate out noise. They begin to make better, smarter decisions that enhance officer/individual safety and put the odds on the good guys side.

It all comes back to what my old Special Forces mentors taught me. Mindset, mindset, mindset. Where do you get it? Training, training, training.

ABOUT
John Nottingham is a Scottsdale Arizona based security training and protection specialist. His unique concepts have lead him to teach over 10,000 students in his career from all walks of life. He has dedicated himself to training those who protect others and create a more peaceful world.