The Ace Factor
Book Monday
This is a really fascinating look into why some people become top fighter pilots and why others don’t. While the focus is entirely on being a fighter pilot, the lessons in here are directly applicable to everyday Earth people being able to deal with stressful and even violent situations in their lives.
Sometimes, in fields of human endeavor, there are people ahead of the curve. Rather than follow the pack, and just repeat mindless tropes, they seek to add more than copying.
In the Defensive Gun Training world, Louis Awerbuck was such a person. Not only an experience Been There, Done That man, he was an excellent instructor. He was the lead Rangemaster when I went to Gunsite in 1987 and took 250. Col Cooper did all the classroom lectures and was often on the range, but the bulk of the day to day work was conducted by Awerbuck (ably assisted by another terrific instructor, Jerry McCown).
Awerbuck was also a deep thinker and came up with many innovations. Literally, decades ahead of everyone today who do the same thing, he was using 3D targets, and unpredictable moving targets to get as close to reality in training as possible.
He also understood what fighting looked like. He was an early advocate of students understanding that the entangled fight with weapons happened, and it happened with private citizens, and that it happened enough to mena you needed to train for it, Check out the following form one of his books, written in 2003.
Book Monday – Ralph Mroz’ Defensive Shooting For Real Life Encounters is a sadly overlooked book today in the Defensive Gun community. First published in 2000, he addressed many things that were not being covered elsewhere. What I most love about his writing was that there is a genuine tone that comes through not of “this is how it is” but rather “ can we do better?” Even today, that is missing from the majority of the Gun training world. And it is an indictment of many current “experts” that few of them know anything about this book, or Mr Mroz, let alone what is in the book.
Here is a new, and extremely interesting case from NYC involving armed robbers with guns making contact and even going to the ground with an off duty cop.
BUT WAIT! “Cecil, you said private citizen in the title!” Yes, because this was an off duty cop in normal everyday clothes. From all the other news reports I have seen, he was targeted as a victim because he was there, not because the robbers knew he was a cop. As far as they knew, he was an everyday person who was available to be their victim. Tom Givens has pointed out numerous times over the years that some of the best data points we have on how gunfights and crimes occur is from FBI and DEA agents being involved in such situations because they rarely are in any kind of identifiable uniform and as such, are identical analogues most of the time to private citizens. This event here is a perfect complement to his fantastic point.
Take a look at the pictures. Two robbers, both with guns out, and not only do they attach to the victim, they both take him to the ground and remain there with him while they rob and beat him. Bad guys want control while they do what they need to do, and even with firearms they will over and over again make contact with their intended target. Bad guys will put themselves into an entanglement, including the ground often (certainly not every time, but statistically high enough to matter), and if we go around with blinders, it will be an already bad day made infinitely worse.
I was on Aimpoint’s Taking Aim podcast with Rich Nance. We covered some really good stuff, and went pretty broad on the subjects.
Jelly Bryce was a phenomenal shooter. Not only could he do things on the range for show, he could also use those exact skills in life or death battles with bad guys, and did so, and did it often. He, as my friend and terrific instructor Wayne Dobbs puts it, plucked a lot of weeds from God’s garden. No one can ever deny any of that.
However, where things get sticky is when others try to emulate and follow his example without understanding some key things.
It is not just with this specific example, but it happens over and over again in many different areas and contexts, and it is almost always problematic.
The high performers in a given field most often get there in large part to specific physical attributes. Certainly, they may also have an incredible work ethic which helps push them over the top, but that is layered over the aforementioned attributes.
Jelly Bryce for example had an amazing work ethic. Many people verified what he said was his daily routine – two hours every single day dry firing in front of a mirror. He did not do this for a short period of time. From all accounts, he did this even as he got much older and was close to retiring as an active duty FBI agent. So he would have probably been fairly successful in most of his gunfights, but that practice was backed up by some incredible attributes. His hand/eye coordination was incredible, and his ability to see probably equaled the best major league baseball players who were great hitters.
Where this is an issue is when his example becomes the beacon of what others believe is the correct path. Bryce was a point shooter. The gun for most of his gunfights stayed below his line of sight, and that worked well for him. However, when others who wanted to ape his results blindly followed the path of “point shooting” without doing the training Jelly did, and without his attributes could never come close to replicating his results.
Technique does not exist in a vacuum.
Technique is powered by certain drivers. Really, the main drivers are things based on concepts, principles, training methodology, and other global engines, but physical attributes do play a part. That is okay when your actions are not fueled by physical attributes, but they are just additions. So when we decide on what “techniques” we are going to use, we indeed to make sure that 1) the training methodology is supportive of our context (i.e. not having to train 5 hours a day every day for 5 years to see results), and 2) the techniques can work just as well with our own current attributes and capabilities.
Jelly Bryce is a good example of the fallacy of following an expert’s path without an in depth understanding of their journey, but it happens all over. In the Combstives world for example, what works for Islam Makhachev in the UFC cage MAY work for us, but it may not. He may have some unique qualities that do not transfer for the lay person. On the basketball court, we can ape Michael Jordan’s moves, but the chance we can play at an NBA level is nil.
So let us look to the greats and the high performers, but let’s make sure we understand context as we do.
*note* this may be footage of Jelly Bryce. I have not seen absolute proof, but it still serves as a good illustration of what he advocated and did in his shooting.
Hey Everyone. I will be doing a seminar in the northern Detroit suburb of Shelby Township on October 4-5, 2025. I will be doing two different one day (9 hours per day) clinics.
The first day will be a live fire range class where we look at the fundamental skill of using a revolver for self-preservation, especially in a concealed carry context.
The second day will be a really deep dive in the standing entangled fight. How to not get taken down, not get knocked out, and how to control and dominate against a bigger, stronger opponent.
Neither of the days require any experience. For the live fire day, I only require that you are safe with your gun handling, and have some training in drawing from a concealed holster. For the non live fire Standing Grappling day, no experience needed at all, and any physical capability is welcomed. You will be able to work at the pace and pressure you are comfortable with.
Cost for each day individually is $200, and for the entire weekend, it is $350. For any questions, you can message me, or contact me the host direct at 586-322-4135.
Critical Revolver Defense
This comprehensive course is designed for anyone interested in learning how to effectively use a revolver for self-defense. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this class will teach you the essential techniques and safety protocols to responsibly and confidently carry and operate a revolver in self-defense situations.
The class will cover best practices for shooting revolvers ranging from short barreled snubs to duty size guns, how to run a double action trigger under stress, shooting from compressed and extended positions, contextual carry methods, cleaning and maintenance considerations, and the different options to keep the gun reloaded.
Students should bring 300 rounds of ammo, a small cleaning kit to include a brush, any holster you want to work with, and any reloading equipment you have. A non-firing training gun would be extremely helpful, though a few loaners will be available.
Course Highlights:
Firearm Safety: Understanding the fundamental principles of gun safety to ensure responsible use.
Reloading Techniques: Learn how to reload your revolver efficiently under stress, ensuring you’re always prepared for an emergency.
Carrying Methods: Explore different ways to safely and comfortably carry your revolver, whether concealed or open, and understand the legal and practical considerations.
Shooting from Retention: Master the critical skill of shooting from close retention, a vital technique for defending yourself in close-quarters encounters.
By the end of the course, participants will have the skills and confidence to safely handle and deploy a revolver for self-defense, while understanding the importance of ongoing training and responsibility.
Immediate Action Pugilism
Clinch and Striking for Self-Preservation in the Weapons Based Environment
Sometimes, in order to defend ourselves and our loved ones, the only tool we might have to rely on is our own body. Even if you have external weapons, you might not be able to access them. Your safety may come down to how well you can survive a hand-to-hand confrontation. The Immediate Action Pugilism course is designed to give the layman a realistic and functional set of concepts, techniques, methodologies, training drills and experiences that will prepare them for a worst case H2H scenario. All techniques and concepts are high percentile applications which span a wide spectrum of confrontations. Training consists of presentation, drilling and Force-On-Force evolutions providing attendees with immediate feedback regarding the efficacy of the skills learned. The goal of this course is not to create a professional boxer or MMA competitor. The objective is to provide attendees who have limited training time and resources with solid fundamentals geared toward the increasingly violent weapon based environments they may live, work and/or travel within.
All the techniques presented are based on orthodox and MMA boxing methods and are the best, most functional and high percentage moves and tactics available
These methods are for everyone regardless of physical condition – young, old, male, female, athlete or not – You DO NOT have to be a professional fighter to perform at a functional level. This will be a class about physical training, but it is NOT boot camp. Participants may go at the pace that is comfortable for them, while trying to push the envelope of their own individual performance.
Requirements: loose, comfortable but durable clothes, mouthpiece, cup, notebook, and an open mind. Boxing or MMA gloves are strongly encouraged, but are not mandatory.
Immediate Action Pugilism is divided into modules that address specific situations. Seminars/training can be customized to fit your needs by arranging for the appropriate modules to be covered. Among the topics covered by the modules include:
Why & How to use Clinch & Striking in a WBE
Underlying Concepts and Mindset
Dealing with the Sucker Punch/Ambush
Default Cover/ Modified Helmet
Regaining the Initiative from a Deficit
Controlling the Entanglement
Close Quarter Fighting: attached and unattached
Disengaging from the Clinch
In-Fight Weapon Access from the Clinch
Keeping the Fight Standing
Individual & Partner Drills
Gradual Immersion into Pressure Testing
Performance Coaching and Troubleshooting
Suggestions for Solo Training
Again, a private citizen in an entangled fight against a bad guy with a gun.
What chance would he have had if he had tried to draw a gun himself? Against a gun already out and pointed at him with the bad guy’s finger on the trigger?
John Valentine from the Combatives Association Summit and myself were on the Primary & Secondary Podcast where we discussed stepping into the world of combatives, the positive social environment to be found there, and how to gain confidence while training. I thought we hit on some good stuff.
Link in comments.
