TexasCHLforum.com

I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I have several of Geoff Thompson's books. Embarrassed because I've only glanced at some of them, and haven't even done that in years. I don't know if he's written anything combatives-related recently. I have the 2004 edition of Three Second Fighter; the original one was written, according to the copyright page, in 1997. But good info never goes out of style. He put out a bunch of combatives DVDs, but I don't have any of those.

As Paladin notes, this book in particular takes a holistic view of physical conflict and not so much mechanics of strikes and grappling. He has some other books that also look at things at this level: Art of Fighting Without Fighting and Dead or Alive The Choice is Yours: The Definitive Self-protection Handbook are two. Chapter titles in Three Second Fighter echo resonantly with defensive firearm training:

• Awareness - the Power Base
• Muscle Memory
• The Game Plan
• The Support System
• The Fence
• The Attack
• Aftermath

Thompson's background is very much like that of another street-savvy fighter, Marc MacYoung. They both spent years as bouncers, had to apply what they learned in practical situations, and just as importantly for concealed carriers, they became pretty expert at observation, the signaling that often goes on before the first blow, and tactics used by attackers.

The only way to win a gunfight is to never get into one. And the more prepared, trained, and knowledgeable you are, the easier it is to avoid, deescalate, or escape the conflict.

But at the end of the day, if it happens, it's as much about fight as it is gun. And that's why I have books I need to reread and DVDs I need to watch again. The past two years of COVID have made me lazy. Too lazy. I need to get my head--and body--back in the game.