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At the request of a few members, I am going to post several of my notes and essays I have gathered over the years. Some of them are from classes I attended while in the military, others are from my training as a Security Contractor. Some of them are basic, some advanced, but all of them, I hope will be helpful. I would like to add that I will always be a student--I never stop learning and I hope you will never stop either.

I will number them so they can be kept up with for whomever wants to keep them.

Thanks

Thanks for the contribution! The numbering is a good benefit for online discussion as well.

Sounds great. Thanks.

That sounds great, I'm looking forward to them.

JLaw

Notes from Introduction Lecture
Surefire Institute
W. Murphy - Instructor

‘The courage of the soldier is heightened by the knowledge of his profession.� -Flavius Renatus, Roman General 400AD

Principle Based Training

Principles are immutable, laws of universal reality. Principles are foundational, not techniques, tactics or opinions. This translates to principles being applicable across the entire spectrum of human function-physical, psychological and spiritual. Integrating all of these aspects into a training program not only maximizes human physical and psychological performance under stress, but improves the life of the individual as a whole. How we live when not under stress, has a great deal to do with how we will function when under serious stress. This is called continuity of principle.
The continuity of principle doctrine translates to one operating system, one set of principles that are used regardless of circumstances. It works regardless if force is applied or not, indeed it is the same strategy we use if force is not applied at all.
The Surefire Institute combative program is called the System of Strategy and it combines the lessons of ancient warrior cultures (i.e. blade cultures) with modern knowledge and training. Since the strategy is simple and direct, retention of both knowledge and function is high. It is essential for the Modern Warrior to maximize his training time. Personal Combatives skills are the foundation of the skill sets for the Modern Warrior. It is upon this foundation we will build, let us begin.

Proper Mindset

A major component of the ancient warrior’s system such as the Japanese Samurai was the Bushido code of the “Fighting Spirit�. In modern language this can be equaled to the Combative Perspective. A way of looking at the world that dictates aggressive action over complacency, staying aware of your surroundings, always having a plan and always finding a way to win. The four key elements to be discussed are: Situational Awareness, Positive Self-Talk, Fear Control and Mental Rehearsal.
1. Situational Awareness: The Cooper Color Codes are for all practical purposes, the best situational awareness tools for both military and LE. For the sake of brevity, we will not go over them but we will say memorize them if you have not already.
2. Positive Self-Talk: The power of the mind is amazing. Again for the sake of brevity, we will not dive fully into this subject in this lecture. We will say this: It is a good ideal to become more aware of that inner-voice. If that voice is negative and self-defeating, it is necessary to practice countering it with positive, realistic, self-talk. Replace negative mental images or pictures with mental pictures that program your subconscious mind for mastery, victory and survival. A phrase that you will hear a lot around here is “I am not going to die today.� Work on repeating this phrase in your head during this training.
3. Fear Control: When confronted with a threat, the body automatically goes into fight or flight. Fear is the body’s and mind automatic response to a perceived threat. The body’s physiological response can be called the B.A.R. or Body Alarm Reaction. Numerous chemical actions take place at this point, which explain all of the symptoms combat veterans experience under stress. The bottom line here is we will teach you to control your B.A.R. One of those methods is breath control, which we will discuss later.
4. Mental Rehearsal: This method is a combination of all of the methods discusses so far, including tactical breathing. It is compared to a “dry run�, where you practice all of your skills in a complete scenario. Pro Athletes use this technique before big games, to prepare themselves for victory. To survive, we must do the same.

Proper Breathing

The need for optimum functioning in high stress situations means that we need to teach ourselves how to access our true potential. It begins with how we breathe, the single most important human physiological function. The only way to keep the heart rate steady is by maintaining respiratory equilibrium. Understanding and implementing methods of breath control is the single most important foundation of close-combat and maximum function when under duress.
Oxygen exchange both fuels the body and removes toxins. Improper breathing increases toxicity and the results are the common symptoms experienced by a majority of people in combat: tunnel vision, loss of fine motor skills, time/space distortion and the diminished cognitive ability that has become accepted in high stress situations.
Most training doctrine being presently taught will tell you that you have no choice in this matter, that this state of mind and body is inevitable, that is just the way it is under stress. This “fact� was denied by our forbearers, warriors who fought in brutal ancient combat. Ancient warrior combat systems, such as those of feudal Japan, including the Samurai have at their core a training method to allow the warrior to remain calm under duress. They knew that it takes incessant, quality training to achieve the optimum state of functionality. Accepting that fear in the body would ultimately override the mind’s ability to remain calm and fully functional under combat conditions was not a part of their warrior code. They learned to deal with fear, not let fear deal with them.

A Word about Courage

Courage is often confused with fearlessness. Not true. You can be afraid and still be courageous. Courage is having the nerve, tenacity and the determination to win the fight. Courage under fire is keeping your head in a fight even though you are scared. This is necessary in order to be able to use your brain to think and act tactically and not panic.
In closing, train hard and develop confidence in your fighting skills and abilities while you are here, but stay tuned in to reality. Training builds skill, skill breeds confidence, and confidence breeds success.

Very good read.
I really like this part.

Principles are foundational, not techniques, tactics or opinions. This translates to principles being applicable across the entire spectrum of human function-physical, psychological and spiritual. Integrating all of these aspects into a training program not only maximizes human physical and psychological performance under stress, but improves the life of the individual as a whole.

One principle I like to use is closest weapon engages the threat. A couple of examples are: if you are in a tangle and your hands are busy, but your elbow is free, hit with the elbow.
If you are in a tangle near something hard(like a wall) and arms are tied up too much to stike, bounce the BG off the wall with forward drive or pivot movement.

Thanks fm2, I will post another one later from Suarez Intl. in 05.
Thats the time I got my finger broke during training--funny story will tell you later.