Modern Self Protection Podcast

Going against the grain takes humility, guts, and the chance to lose. Courage, like most things, is a muscle that you have to exercise in life.  If you don't practice courage, it will atrophy and die.   How often do you practice courage?  Moral and or physical?  Do you do new things that you are going to look foolish at?  Do you accept challenges when others ask you to do something that should be possible?  Do you do things that are hard that others say are hard, shouldn't be done, or is impossible?  Do you do different hard things on purpose because they are hard and scary? Take a challenge. Do something hard.  Say something when you know something should be said.  Practice your courage.  If what people are saying in the firearms/2nd Amendment culture is true, we are going to need courage both moral and physical soon.  Now would be a good time to practice.   Stay Safe,  Ben Branam ModernSelfProtection.com 

If you have to defend yourself should you give medical aid to the person that just tried to hurt you?  No.  Is the simple easy answer and should be the end of it. Three things to consider when making this decision:  The Tactical Situation; will this act put you further in danger?  Morally; is it the right thing to do?  Legally; will this make your actions more or less defendable in court?  See the entire discussion on https://modernselfprotection.com

Habits are good and bad, but Training Scars will get you in trouble. Start with a good war story to show you had training scars creep into all of us. What training scars and bad habits do you have that will "get you killed in the street?"  I know you have at least one, we all do. Check out the full notes at ModernSelfProtection.com/habits-good-bad-and-training-scars

Last weekend I participated in a church mass shooter training event. Most of the time I'm the instructor or coordinator, but this time I actually got to participate. My church got a bunch of volunteers to volunteer to be actors in the scenarios. Our head of church safety organized and ran the training. It was a lot of fun, and I got to mix it up with the bad guys more than once. Didn't even die this time. Not bad…. but… Most of the scenarios were normal church shooter events; one domestic violence, one attack on the pastor, one run of the mill mass killer, but the last one was an attempted hostage scenario. I say attempted because the safety team ended it before it could begin. A couple was arguing during church service and the guy was instructed to get up, pull a gun, and do a Hollywood gun to the head back against the wall thing to see how we would work together throughout the situation. Turns out most of us on the team are default aggressive... See the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com/BePrepared

Should you get involved in a crime in progress? Yesterday on the way home from work I saw a crime in progress or what looked like one. I was driving down a busy street that has a large homeless problem and high crime. It's a shortcut to miss some traffic through downtown San Antonio. It is a shortcut I use a lot. As I stopped at the light I saw one guy running full speed from around the back of a business and someone hot on his heels. The second guy gave away that a crime was probably in progress. He was holding something inside his pants right above his right front pocket. His pants were too big and it looked like if he let go, he would lose whatever heavy thing he was holding there. The way he was holding it, I couldn't tell if it was a lead pipe, gun, or big knife. Should I have gotten involved? Check out more at ModernSelfProtection.com Get some ammo at: My LuckyGunner Affiliate  Get More Contact at: Shooters Club Members   

Check out the book The Gift of Fear to learn more or go to MSP Blog post, Trust Your Instincts and the Girt of Fear.

If you get caught in the aftermath of a mass shooter what should you do?  Yes, mass killer would be a better description now that vehicles and knives are becoming popular.  If you are in the area of a Mass Killer what should you do after the killing has stopped?  Here are some things to think about. See all the bullet points at ModernSelfProtection.com/2022/01/30/caught-in-the-aftermath-of-a-mass-shooter/

Do you really need to vary your schedule to be safe? Common knowledge around varying your schedule and where it came from. Why you might be safer by not following the "common sense" here. Book mentioned on the podcast:  "Left of Bang" by Patrick Van Horne and Jason Riley To read more about this podcast got to ModernSelfProtection.com/Changing-Schedules Stay Safe,  Ben Branam

Do the simple shit first.  Then worry about becoming John Wick. Start with what you know you should do and the advertisements you see everywhere that you ignore. Lock your doors and windows at home all the time Lock your doors, take your keys, and hide your belongings in your car, all the time, every time. Go places in groups and with a friend Look up from your damned phone  Move with a purpose  "Don't do stupid things, with stupid people, in stupid places" -John Farnam "At stupid times" - Bob Mayne  Stay Safe,  Ben  See the rest of the tips at ModernSelfProtection.com/Self-Defense-mechanisms

Self Defense is one of the most serious things we could ever talk about. It's all about doing combat with another individual where your life hangs in the balance. Seems like it should be serious all the time. Right?

Like most disasters, it's not the actual event that changes things, it's the reactions to the event. I sat at home for two days waiting for my call to report. By the third day, I went back to life. Life had changed in America, for the better. Somehow we were all Americans again and all the little things, I call them “1st world problems”, were no longer a problem. People appreciated each other and wanted to help. Check out the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com

NRA Cancelled Not a surprise with what is going on in Texas and Covid, but their letter to people showed their true colors and they should be ashamed of themselves. Broken Gun I've been having more and more issues with my carry gun and think I figured it out. But how do you spot problems with your gun and what to do about it. Heat Injuries It's been hotter than crap lately and I was not doing well at the competition yesterday until another shooter noticed and gave me an extra bottle of water. I go and go until I fall out. Don't be like me, notice this stuff coming so someone else doesn't have to save you.  Stay Safe,  Ben  ModernSelfProteciton.com 

Get all the links from today's podcast at ModernSelfProtection.com/327 Carrying every day is an art. It's one you have to work on all the time. And sometimes you can't always carry an optimal way. When I worked for an armored car company I carried in an optimal way. And I carried two 1911's. One on my right thigh in a tactical rig before tactical rigs were popular. The other was in a pancake holster on my left side high just behind my hip. Then there was a third gun no one knew about in my left back pocket. Everything was optimized for what I did for a living and did every day. My left side 1911 actually set further back behind my hip than you would think was optimal. But it fit perfectly there under my body armor because it sat just behind the piece that wrapped around my side. This way the gun didn't get caught by my body armor and pinch my skin or get caught on the draw. It took me almost three years working on my setup to come up with my perfect carry methods. Then my company changed the policy and thigh rigs were no longer permitted. Then it changed again to say 1911's were no longer permitted. Things always change, and you should be open to new things if they continue to let you carry a gun daily.

Do you go to the square range to practice self-defense? Should you? Last week I went to the square range and worked on my self-defense shooting with my friend from Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership, John. We shot his new Colt Python (if you want to hear about that you will have to become a Shooter's Club Member) and I worked with my self-defense gun. Read the rest at Modern Self Protection.

Do you have a plan for if things go wrong? While no plan survives the first contact, the best part of your plan is the objective. In the Marine Corps, we called it the Commander's Intent. You are going to do this so that this other thing can happen. When you are the one making the plan, the first thing you need to know is what is the other thing that you want to happen. I break my planning down to simple things, in this order: My Family's Survival, Wife and Child come first and foremost My Survival comes next My family not getting physically hurt Me not getting physically hurt I protect those other people that are in my charge I protect friends and family I protect kids I protect other adults I don't injure the bad guy if I don't have to I protect my stuff I seek justice   To see the rest of the notes, check out ModernselfProtection.com/haveaplan

As a contractor, I was in charge of base security at a large FOB (Forward Operating Base) in Iraq. The base commander wanted me to make sure no one ever got hurt on his base. I tried explaining to him that I could simply mitigate the risks from outside the wire but I couldn't stop everything. Someone will fall out of their rack or worse, and what did happen, a soldier committed suicide on the base right after I left. It was horrific, but it was something I couldn't stop or even begin to work on as a security specialist focused on the threats from the outside.   See the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com

Situational Awareness is the one thing that was drilled into me in Law Enforcement and the Military. It is the one thing that directly overlaps from law enforcement, military, and self defense. Why? It is the one thing that will allow you to buy time in an emergency. And time is everything when someone is trying to take your life. Two things to work on, improve, and practice situational awareness are to notice normal so you can see the abnormal, and ask why people are there at that point in time. What are they doing? If you work on these two easy things you can move towards mastering your situational awareness and your self-defense. Noticing normal lets you see when something else is missing or coming. Everywhere you go, there is a normal or baseline. Anything outside that rhythm should stand out to you if you are paying attention. The one law enforcement always talks about is when it is 100 degrees out and someone walks in wearing a trench coat buttoned up. In the military, it was always looking at what the people are doing around you. If people are leaving quickly or don't show up like normal they probably know something that you don't in a foreign land. A couple of Marines wrote an entire book about it called “Left of Bang”. If you want to know more about noticing normal and then noticing when something is out of place, it is a great book. The second is to ask “why is this person here?” At first, you will suck at it, but as you do it a bunch you will be able to figure out the stories behind people at the local stop and rob you are at to get gas and a drink. If you do it for a while, you will find that one person that is there to victimize someone. Hopefully, you will figure it out before they victimize you. Bad guys come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders. You have to figure out why that person is looking at you, why they are there, and what they are going to do. If you know this before that person acts, the encounter slows way down and you can buy the most valuable thing in a violent encounter, time. When you answer that why question you get in front of the reaction curve and you can make that person react to you instead of you having to react to them. Listen to the podcast to get more examples and motivation on how to be better at your situational awareness (SA). Thanks for listening, don't forget to check out the Shooter's Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben

A gun and knife are only tools, your mind is the weapon, train it well. That has been the closing of the Modern Self Protection Podcast for about eight years now. Everything you learn about self-defense should start with your mindset. Your mindset is the one skill that will enhance all the others. You can break down your mindset into three easy thoughts. It can happen to you Sometimes violence is the answer / Use enough violence Never give up, never give up NEVER GIVE UP!   To see the rest of the notes go to ModernSelfDefense.com Stay Safe,  Ben

Last week I shot competition with a Sig P365XL and Romeo 0 Dot. I shoot this competition about every other week right now and love it. What I've learned about the Sig P365 serious of guns: The Good: They are a great sized gun Love the family of sizes 12 rounds in the XL makes a full grip even for my giant hands Reloads go easy with the correct flare on the bottom the pistol 15 round mags that work with both grip sizes Accuracy is amazing for such a little gun Reliability on a clean gun has been 100% out of all the ones that have been through classes and the ones I've shot The trigger is good Aftermarket support is everywhere The Cons: When training with them they get really hot, right where you put your thumbs on a thumbs forward grip The trigger is a long way from the frame and the shot breaks a long way from the frame (something it took my realizing before I could shoot the pistol well) I would have liked a little longer barrel in the XL, 3.9-4" I think is the best there is, the Sig XL has a 3.7" which is just a hair short on the sight radius It recoils up a little more than I would like it to. But that is mostly because of it's small size and weight The Sig Romeo 0 Dot The Good: It sits as a dot sight should. Far enough down where they put a notch in the back that replaces the rear sight and you can still use the front sight. It puts the gun on the same plain when you draw it and helps with the learning curve and switching guns. They seem to be holding up with everything I've seen. I haven't seen a broken one yet on the range or in a class The Bad: Seeing a reflection of the dot where it isn't sucks! I don't know if every dot does this, but I don't like it at all The auto-brightness setting can screw you when shooting from a dark place to a bright place. A manual up/down would be great. I'd rather have a huge starburst from being too bright in low light than not being able to see it at all in the bright light. It looks like it will break. I haven't seen one break yet, but it looks weak. If you want one of these set ups, you should get one. It's a great gun and Dot. I'm always looking for perfect and still haven't found it. But I think this set up will be my next carry gun. Or I'm also looking at a Sig M17 with a Romeo 1 Pro on it. Hopefully I can shoot one of those too. Stay Safe, Ben Thanks for Listening, don't forget to check out Shooter's Club and Lucky Gunner for ammo. Stay Safe, Ben See the rest of the notes at ModernSelfProtection.com  

Are you always looking for the "new gun?" Do you fall into the shiny new syndrome? Do you ever get shiny new gun syndrome? I do. But is it good for you? When should you want a new gun. When should you get a new gun? Does it matter? Yes, it matters. The more you stick with one gun, the more you will know that one gun and the better you will be with it. Keep trading guns and you will never know everything you can about the gun or be as good as you could be with it. But is there a time to change that old gun for something else? Yes, no, and maybe... I think when your old gun is no longer fitting how you fight, carry, or use the gun, then it is time for something new. If you have just worn out a gun, maybe you should just buy another of the same make and model and keep going. Listen to the podcast and find out about the gun I'm thinking of getting a why? And why I don't like switching guns? Stay Safe, Ben      

Modern Self Protection Podcast, a self-defense podcast for normal people. Click the Image to Subscribe on iTunes Glocks have internal safeties but no external or manual safety. Are internal safeties on a handgun you carry for self-defense enough? Should you have a manual safety on your concealed carry handgun? The answer, like most things in our world is “it depends”. See the rest of the show notes at ModernSelfProtection.com

"Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on." - Nick Fury the Avengers   If you watch the news things are bleak at best. No matter what happens out there we are done is what the news says. I've decided to not watch the news. Because what do they know?   I've reached out to a bunch of my friends and they have reached out to me. You are not alone about some of the things you are thinking when you watch the news.   Have we passed the point of no return? I don't know... but it doesn't look good.     I've been asked what to do by a couple of people. The answer is simple but not easy.   First, you have to have your life, your relationships, your health, and your wealth shored up and ready to go.   Check out the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com

How is your hope for the future? What is your plan for the future? Without hope, we won't do anything. You have to have hope for a better future. Admittedly, the future is tenuous at best. But it always has been. For at least 100 years people have been worried about the United States collapsing. As long as we, the American People, don't turn on each other, America will live forever. My worry is that we are turning on each other. And people are talking as if the next civil war is inedible. They are probably right, but I'd like to push that another 150 to 200 years before it happens. We have to hope for the best, have a plan for that, and prepare for the worst and have a plan for that. The best is what we have had in the last couple of years to a decade. Life has been good for Americans and the world. It has been nice. But an old saying made famous by G. Michael Hopf in his book "Those Who Remain" says "Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times." It's a pretty wicked cycle. Somehow in our modern world, we have made some men strong and others weak. Now it seems like the weak men are leading the country creating hard times. Some men during the last couple of decades have been tested and made hard by battles.   Many of us fought the war on terror and like most of the last "wars" America fought we seem to be losing. I sight the "war on poverty," "the war on drugs" and the almost war on immigration. But the problem goes back to the Korean "War" that never was and has never ended.   Now some people think using the same "war" tactic in America to make policy the way they want it will work. Sure, why not?   Wars are bloody horrible things. We think it's something romantic and heroic. We, the American Colonies thought that when the Revolutionary war began. Then, we the American People thought that during the first couple battles of the Civil War. Now I see that again in people throughout our community.   I remember being a hero crying into a bear with other heroes and in those bad nights where sleep alludes me Get the rest at Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst at ModernSelfProtection.com

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Yesterday somehow I only uploaded part of the podcast... here is the second half of the show. Thanks for listening and staying with me. Stay Safe,  Ben

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Click to Subscribe Subscribe Where were you when the planes hit on 9-11?  What did you feel that day?  How did those feelings change in the following weeks? I want you to remember that feeling of unity in the following couple weeks.  How the country stood up together against one thing.  Nothing else mattered.  All the petty BS went away… even when the media tried to bring it back, we rejected it. Everyone became patriotic overnight.  American flags were everywhere, and everyone smiled at them. Remember that feeling today.  Remember how great it was when everyone stood together. Try to spread that feeling and go talk to people.  If we all look for that one thing in common we can find that one thing that links us.  No matter who you are and who that other person is, we all have more in common than not.  If we find that one thing we have in common with someone else, we can build bonds, make friends, and make the world a better place. This also works for your self-defense.  Your friends are more likely to help you and stand with when bad times come.  You’ll get involved and help friends, but strangers, or “those” people you might not. Make friends, make yourself and your family safer, and make the world a better place. What do you have to lose?  Go try it. Stay Safe, Ben

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Click to Subscribe Subscribe Thirty-Round AR Mags should be loaded at 28 rounds. More and you risk your rifle malfunctioning. But how can you tell if there are 28 rounds in there?  Are there more or less? Here is an easy way to tell if you have loaded your 30-round AR Mags correctly. Stay Safe, Ben   Check out http://modernselfprotection.com for more great tips.

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Click to Subscribe Subscribe Face masks are becoming part of our world. Good, bad, or indifferent it seems they are here to stay. Should you wear one or not for your health? I have no idea. That isn't my area of expertise. I've read a lot about it, just like I hope you have over the last five months. But should you wear one for your physical security? I do. I'm always trying to blend into my surroundings. If you are in the local Walmart and you are the only person not wearing a mask, you stand out... a lot. Lately violence is on the rise. People are frustrated, scared, and pissed off. That's one step from violence. Look at some of the videos out there where people have an argument that turns into a fight. You probably don't need that in your life. I actively try to avoid stupid people that do stupid things like getting in a fight over a face mask. I just don't want to play. If you are not wearing a mask for political reasons or health reasons, I suggest that you keep a good eye on the people around you. If you have to, leave. If you can't wear a mask for health reasons and someone challenges you about it, tell them once why you aren't wearing a mask. If they don't hear you, don't believe you, or are just indignant, you need to leave immediately because the situation has the potential to get violent. Be the "Grey Man" and blend into your surroundings. Fly under the radar and only surface when you are ready. Stay Safe, Ben

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Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: Are you as prepared as you think you are?  Have you been tested?  Have you tested yourself?  Are you improving everything in your life? We all like to think we are prepared for anything.  And if you have your mindset right, you can get through anything.  You are prepared.  But can you do it better? The answer to everything in life is always yes.  You can do it better. I use after actions on everything to do it better next time.  I have a simple formula that can help you. Check out the podcast and see how you can do everything in life better. This came up for me when I had to bug-out unexpectedly two weeks ago.  I thought I was prepared, but there are things I can improve. I bet you are the same way.  Here is how you can be better.   Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership OUTLINE: Every time you do something do an after action review: What went well What needs practice What needs to be changed   Formal After Action: Go through step-by-step Do it as soon as you can Take input from everyone involved Write it down Change your plan Test again   Informal Write down notes to organize your thoughts Don’t forget what went well Set yourself up for success next time   Takeaway: Do an after action review Set yourself up for success next time   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben   P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out    

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: How much do you practice your self-defense skills?  All of them?  Your handgun, rifle, knife, hand-to-hand, physical fitness, and avoidance all need practice, training, and work. Where do you start?  How can you be good enough?  How much time should you make to practice your skills?  How much training should you get? From my experience in 11-gun fights, you will never be as good as you want to be.  You will always wish you worked on something more.  You will never wish you worked on your skills less. In this podcast, I created five categories of handgun self-defense skill sets.  Which one do you fall into?  Are you working to get to the next category? Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership     OUTLINE: My Experience in 11 Gun Fights Set a standard for what you want to accomplish How good do you want to be at: Shooting, knife fighting, hand-to-hand, physical fitness, and avoidance? Not easy. I wish I could work on my self-defense as a full-time job Handgun Self-Defense Shooting Novice: No formal training Can load and fire a gun Can hit a target out to 5 or 7 yards with their self-defense firearm Knows the law from TV and talking to friends Goes to the range once a year or less Handles the gun away from the range once a year or less New Learner Taken at least one formal course, could be military or law enforcement Can draw and fire a gun from self-defense carry in the same manner consistently Can clear a malfunction, but it’s very slow and has to think about it Can reload the gun without having to think about it and can do it consistently Can hit a man-sized target out to 10 yards Has some formal learning about the law, either a CHL class or military/law enforcement class, or self-defense firearms course Goes to the range a couple times a year Understands dry fire practice and does it a couple times a year Fighter Taken more than one formal class and tries to take one every other year or more Can hit a target out to 25 yards Draw and hit a target from self-defense carry in under 2.0 seconds at 5-7 yards Can reload the gun under time pressure consistently around 3 seconds Can clear malfunctions without a lot of thought Can hit a man-sized target out past 25 yards and is learning his/her limits in distance Can do headshots out to five yards consistently Learning that fighting with a handgun is more than just shooting and is learning tactics Continues to read and learn about the law. Knows that it is always changing.  Understands how the courts also make self-defense law Tries to go to the range more than a couple of times a year Dry Fires once or twice a month Advanced Fighter Going to multiple courses a year and has been doing it for years Probably shoots competition Goes to the range to practice with a plan Try’s to learn tactics for fighting as much as shooting Can draw and hit in 1.5 seconds at 5-7 yards Reloads are below 2.5 seconds Clears malfunctions without thinking and can have discussions about types and why he/she clears it in that manner Can hit targets out to around 50 yards and know his/her distances Can make headshots every time at 7 yards Is practicing movement and shooting Seeks training and knowledge in the law Dry Fires more than 2 times per month Tries to go to the range once a month and take 2 classes a year, ends up with a class and 10 range session a year Competitor Drive to do everything better 25 draw looking for 1.00 or better Reloads in under 2.0 looking for 1.5 or less Can shoot and move in multiple ways Is measuring split times and trying to be faster Shoots competitions Uses techniques in shooting from multiple people/instructors and disciplines Does training range sessions Dry fires almost daily Knows the law and can teach a lot of it… still studying and reading Reads books about shooting and the law Understands the difference between shooting a competition and self-defense, works on both and has gear for both Takes classes from people that have different techniques and thoughts on self-defense Break down of other categories Knife Fighting More than one formal class Weekly practice Weekly training Hand-to-Hand Formal classes Weekly practice Weekly training, always learning more techniques Physical Fitness Looking fit Can run away from a fight Have more than normal strength for your size by doing weights Can move on foot with equipment for a couple of miles without getting tired or winded Avoidance Actively looking to stay away Practicing de-escalation and understanding that “calm down” doesn’t always work Always looking for trouble to learn who and where to avoid Plays the “what if” game and asks the questions, “why is that person here?”   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben   P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out  

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: Jarrad Markel from Student of the Gun is my guest.  Jarrad is a great guy and has been working on Student of the Gun for almost 10 years, carrying a gun since he was legally able, was a professional MMA fighter for about 5 years, and started taking self-defense firearms courses when he was 16! Jarrad has a unique place in the world since his father is Paul Markel.  Paul has been a trainer and in the firearms industry for almost 30 years.  Jarrad got to grow up learning and handing out with a lot of big names in the firearms and training community.  Even with those advantages, it turns out he has a bucket of holsters like the rest of use.  But when it comes to holster selection, he has been using the same one for almost 10 years.  Jarrad has his own business.  A consulting group where he helps other people get through the social media landscape and other things.  And we talk about how much both of us like social media right now. I asked the obvious questions about what gun and holster he carries, how he is doing with the riots across the country, and why a professional fighter carries a gun. Listen to the podcast to learn more. Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership     OUTLINE: Mater Mind Media and Consulting Group Mindset Transfer form Self Defense to Business Better to have the right mindset over skills… with the right mindset you can get the skills Teaching New Students Social Media Manipulation Extra gear we all still have What holster and gun does Jarrad carry and why Current Rioting We’ve been here before in human history Noting is new under the sun Why a professional MMA Fighter still carries a gun Best tip from Jarrad about Self Defense: Mindset is the most important thing Links Mentioned in the Episode: Mater Mind Media and Consulting Group Beam Hit Mantis X 10 Elite Student of the Gun Crossbreed Holsters Online Great Books Barbell Logic James Yeager 7 Training Tips that can Save Your Life     Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben   P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: Back to basics: Mindset.  Mindset is the most important skill you can learn.  You need to learn to be positive and that you can and will survive… and even win if it comes down to it. In a violent encounter, you need to have your mind in the right place to win.  In fact, it starts before you get into any encounter.  What is your mindset?  Are you in it to win it?  Are you there to survive?  Or do you mind avoiding the fight altogether? If possible, have the mindset to avoid the fight.  It is the only fight you can’t lose.  Once in a physical altercation, anything could happen.  Even people with no skill or training get lucky sometimes and when.  You don’t want to depend on luck for your self-defense.  If you can’t avoid the fight, you have to have the mindset that you are going to win and get back to your family. Winners go home, survivors go to the hospital, losers go to the morgue.  Which do you want to be? And you have to win all three aspects of the fight:  The violent encounter itself, the phycological battle of what you did or didn’t do, and the criminal “justice” system.  None of these are easy, but you need to be ready by getting your mindset right first. You are going to win the violent encounter because you know what your mission is and why you are fighting.  You are going to win the phycological battle because you have already thought about what you will and will not do or allow done to you and your family.  You know your lines in the sand.  And you are studying the legalities and politics of the use of force in your area so you can stay within the law. Get your mind right and you can win any battle. Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership   OUTLINE: “I’m a Survivor” is BS.  Don’t just survive… win. “Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.”  Yes, but why does it have to be either-or… how about we win the fight legally and avoid being tried by 12 and carried by 6.  Just a thought. Change your mindset in your life from either or, to both, or find another way. Basic Mindset Talk: It can happen to you Use enough force Never Give Up. Never Give Up.  Never Give Up!   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben   P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out    

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: This is Five Minute Friday (FMF), just a little quick tip on how you can think differently about your self-defense in today’s modern world.  Things are always changing, but we always have to remember the basics.  These tips are designed to keep the perspective of basic self-defense while looking at our ever-changing world. Last week I went to Dallas Texas for an interview.  I’ve been there a dozen times and driven every time.  I normally don’t research what’s going on there, but because of COVID and Riots I took 20 minutes before I left to research what was going on in the city and surrounding area. Do you research where you are going before you travel?  It’s a good idea to find out what normal is before you get that.  And avoidance being the best way to defend yourself, you can find out where you don’t want to go.  This way you can avoid stopping in the worst parts of town where you are the most likely to have a problem. Check out the Video Here Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 80 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben  

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: We study techniques of gunfighting everywhere.  We hold up our shooting skills (technique) above all to show how we will win a gunfight.  But the route world of gunfight is fight, not gun. Everyone talks about that, but what tactics do you really study, know, and will implement in an actual gunfight?  That gets harder. You should be studying tactics at least as much as you are studying techniques.  Whatever amount of time and effort you use to go shooting, take classes, and work on shooting better is the same amount you should be putting forward to use tactics. And when you practice your technique do you practice your tactics too?  How about when you draw, move towards cover.  Don’t just stand there flat footed and hope your shooting skills will be good enough to win the fight.  It takes a lot of shooting skill to overcome bad tactics (a lot).  It would be better if you worked on your tactics and put yourself in a position that made it almost impossible for you to lose and the shooting element was so simple that it made you laugh. That’s a better way to win a gunfight then standing toe to toe and seeing who can draw faster and make the most hits before the other guy.  No one fights like the OK Corral since the OK Corral.  It didn’t go well for either side that day. We want to walk away as the winner. Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership     OUTLINE:   90% Tactics 10% Shooting Techniques People win gunfights without any traditional training People win without shooting skills Military more into tactics than shooting and winning wars for a long time Tactics 101 Tactical Patience / Wait your turn Immediate Actions Ambush Pick your location Pick your time Make your enemy come to you Preparation Attacks Speed, Shock Force, Violence of Action Envelopments or Flanking Flow like water and attack where your enemy is weakest Use all of you against one point on them Distraction, Misdirection, Deception Counter Ambush Assault Through Take cover and maneuver Defense Always be improving your positions Camouflage Fields of Fire/View Avenues of Approach Cover and concealment and micro terrain Order of Preference Defense, Ambush, Attack, Counter Ambush Study Tactics Read the Originals The Are of War by Sun Tzu The Book of Five Rings Military Field Manuals on any of the above subjects Military Strategist, anything WWII or after Security Books Facility / Force Protection books from the military Basics Preparation Avoidance Tactical Patience Always be improving your position Distraction Surprise, Speed, Violence of Action   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben   P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out    

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: This is Five Minute Friday (FMF), just a little quick tip on how you can think differently about your self-defense in today’s modern world.  Things are always changing, but we always have to remember the basics.  These tips are designed to keep the perspective of basic self-defense while looking at our ever-changing world. Today I had a close call in a Walmart parking lot.  It turned out to be nothing but I want to make sure I don’t end up in that spot again. The correct military term is to do an After Action Review so you can see what you could have done better, what you missed, and what you did right. I missed someone getting too close to me.  He wanted to ask a question about the church I go to, but that was beside the point.  I let him get too close and ketch me a spot where I had little to no maneuvering room.   If he had done something my only chance would have been a frontal assault.  I let him get me stuck between two cars and my car door.  There was no retreat or cover to take.  My only chance would have been deception and patience or a full out frontal attack in a little confined area.  I don’t like any of those options. I should have kept going past my parked car and doubled back to see what he was doing more.  I should have been paying more attention.  I thought he had gotten to his car and wrote him off. Turns out, his car was the one parked behind mine and I was right about that.  But I was wrong about him getting into his car.   So I learned something the easy way.  I hope you learn things the easy way by doing after actions on anything that happens to you.       Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 80 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: There is talk about defunding police everywhere.  I have friends in California law enforcement that are taking a 10% pay cut across the board.  Minneapolis is talking about defunding their police force altogether. Is there a way we can make the police better without a radical change?  Is there an answer if we disband a police department and still have law enforcement? I don’t know what will happen in Minneapolis, but I know it isn’t good. There are a lot of problems with police officers and departments most people don’t know about.  I’ll give you a bunch of those and some of the easy things we could do to fix it. Most things can be fixed.  Like all problems, all we need is time and money to make things better.  While that seems easy when we have government money it isn’t.  That’s tax money.  And the tax money won’t be going to make someone else rich or more powerful.  So you know they will fight it tooth and nail. If we burn down the police department and fire everyone is there a way to have private come in and take over?  It might be possible, and we might bet a better product. How good is the police force right now?  What could we do to make them better? We talk about all that and more on this podcast. Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership     OUTLINE: Current Problems with Police: Police don’t work for the people Us versus them mentality Public service tenure, almost impossible to fire Seniority based placement and pay Good old boy society called the thin blue line Good cops out ASAP Lack of Training Can’t go to another department and retire Golden handcuffs Politically appointed chiefs Who’s the customer? Costs associated, financial and personal, of doing good cop work Things we can fix: Lack of Training Required Reading Physical Requirements (PT Tests) and PT after shifts Mandatory training Mandatory classes on law enforcement Basic LEO in Texas requires 643 hours of training (16 weeks) Ongoing training is only 40 hours every two years Us Vs. Them Mandatory side jobs or volunteer in the community they police Good Officers Out Be able to rate and work with other good cops Bottom performing cops should be let go with performance being defined by the community they police Cop Tenure Contract renewals Mandatory time off Mandatory Psych visits Mandatory PT Tests People change every 5 to 10 years, and we never reevaluate if a cop should still be a cop or not Golden Handcuffs Private or state pensions/retirement Private or state health insurance Contract renewals every 5 years (chance to go to another department) Make changing departments normal Time Off Mandatory Vacations Mandatory time off for training Time on and time off cycles 3 months on 1 month off?   Privatize Police? Cops are Contractors with 1-year contracts People rate police interactions for renewal of contracts for police company and individual officers Cops pass a test to renew their contract The people become the customer again Private military was cheaper than our military and in some ways better Required training, lots of training that is on the officer and company to get done Cops responsible and can change every year Less administrative personnel Specialized personnel that get paid according to their specialties, less and more Opportunity to move up and down Cycle time off for training and time off California doing with private patrol industry   Screwed Up Minneapolis 58 Square Miles 430,000 people (use to be 521,000) 800 Sworn officers and 300 civilians Average for a big city for violent crime rates But Minneapolis has over 20 gangs with over 1,000 gang members. Police say gangs account for at least half of the violent crime in Minneapolis Budget $193.3 Million this year Defunding Problems: Where do 800 Officers and 300 employees go? What do they do? 911 is a privilege that might be going away. Who answers that call?  Literally New Department? Who is going to staff it? Where are you going to get 800 officers? Everyone switches hats Real change takes a really long time Crisis thinking and emotional reactions will not be good Improving Police Pursuit of Excellence The best trait of a police officer Real Leadership is needed everywhere   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben   P.S.  I just set up a self-defense handgun course for Sep 2020 in San Antonio, check it out    

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: This is Five Minute Friday (FMF), just a little quick tip on how you can think differently about your self-defense in today’s modern world.  Things are always changing, but we always have to remember the basics.  These tips are designed to keep the perspective of basic self-defense while looking at our ever-changing world. When is the last time you practiced true empathy for someone outside your circle?  Did you feel for George Floyd and his family when you watched him die on camera?  I did… and it was horrible.  I got sad, I got scared, and I got mad! I’m sure most people felt the same thing.  But what about his family?  What about him?  What do you think he felt laying there blacking out with a “peace officer” sitting on his neck? Little different feelings? Now we have protests that turn into riots.  I can understand people’s anger.  I’m there. It's not about doing and being with them, it's about feeling what they feel. I don’t understand racism… really.  I’m a white male that grew up in a white middle-class neighborhood in southern California.  I knew a lot of Hispanic people growing up, but no black people.  I saw racism on both sides of white versus Hispanic but what do I know of black racism? What got me on the empathy kick was hearing a message from about a black man teaching his preteen son that the son cannot go to a police officer in America for help when something happens because most cops will assume he did it. What a horrible thing.  It’s something I have empathy for.  I teach you as a self-defense person who carries a gun, to have no doubt, that if you have an official interaction with a police officer and you do it wrong, your life is in danger.  A misunderstanding can get you killed. I have empathy and can understand that fear.  I took that and looked at my own son.  I don’t want to teach him that he is in danger if he has an interaction with a police officer.  Just think about doing that and how much it would suck.  Now you have empathy for someone. Take that into de-escalation techniques and you have something you can use to keep yourself safe. Like any self-defense strategy, you need to practice. Practice every day when you are interacting with other people.  You will get better at it and it will make you a better person because you will care about more people and be able to help them out. When you help other people, you make the world a better place.  Simple. When you can have empathy for people you can use it to your advantage in a dangerous situation.  Cops call it Verbal Judo and it’s been around since 1980 something. Now go practice every chance you get. Check out the Video here. Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 80 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben   Announcements: Upcoming Courses: http://modernselfprotection.com/courses Need Ammo: Check out Luckygunner through my affiliate link:  http://modernselfprotection.com/ammo Sign up for Shooters Club to get great online training: http://shootersclubmembers.com Stay Safe, Ben  

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: Rioting is out of control!  There are cities being burned every night in states across the US.  Is there a legitimate reason for them to riot?  Is there any legitimate reason to riot?  Is there any reason you would riot? Those are hard questions.  What if the President of the United States said he is making himself king?  Would that be a reason to riot?  What if elections this year are cancelled.  Is that a reason to riot? So there could be a reason that you would riot. Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 60 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership   OUTLINE: Is there a reason that you would riot? Loot?  Pillage? Hurt innocent people? Is there a line you wouldn’t cross? Is there a line, once crossed, all the gloves come off? Things are crazy in San Antonio Promises of riots moving to the suburbs Florida Sheriff says “I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns.” Police are overwhelmed right now What happened to Covid-19? Trump doing crazy: Church Photo Op Saying he’ll send the US Military in if governors don’t get a hold of things The Law and the Constitution shouldn’t be suspended for riots or a “state of emergency” Principal over Preference (from Vin Armani) Curfews Lock Downs Federal Troops being used on American Soil as law enforcement Law Enforcement has no duty to protect you, only the public at large. Use of Force Law Held to the strictest scrutiny Public doesn’t understand disparity of force Public doesn’t understand how you could be in danger if you are in your vehicle Difference between a peaceful protest and a riot This will die out Riot Tactics 101, keep moving people around until they get tired and bored Investigate who is shipping people to different places Investigate where bricks are coming from Investigate possibility of paid protestors Where is the money coming from? Is this terrorism? Terrorism Definition from FBI: "Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or Puerto Rico without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives." One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter… Is there a time when you would riot?  Commit “terrorism”? Scary and interesting times we live in.   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: This is Five Minute Friday (FMF), just a little quick tip on how you can think differently about your self-defense in today’s modern world.  Things are always changing, but we always have to remember the basics.  These tips are designed to keep the perspective of basic self-defense while looking at our ever-changing world. Have you noticed is harder to figure out what people are doing when they are wearing a mask?  The eyes are supposed to be the windows to the soul, but I never realized how much I used other facial cues to interact with the people around me.  When someone is wearing a mask you will need to look at different body language to see what their intent is. Here are a couple of body language things you can look for: Target Glance When someone stares at something but doesn’t want to get caught looking, or they keep subconsciously looking back and forth from what they are pretending to do and what they are actually thinking about. This could be a clue in what the person is really thinking about and his subconscious mind has him looking at it. This could be a problem when someone is supposedly shopping but is really there to victimize someone.  If they keep looking at you, you may be their next victim. Toes Facing Away We subconsciously point our feet at what we are thinking about.  If someone is thinking about the ice cream on the top shelf in front of them, their toes will be pointed towards the ice cream. If the person is looking at ice cream but thinking about victimizing you, their toes may be pointed at you. Something to look for and if you see it, it will look out of place and you should probably leave. Fingers doing odd things Yes, we talk with our hands and count on our fingers.  Even when it is self-dialog.  But, if you see a nervous twitch or the person’s hands shaking, it could be an indication of an adrenaline dump.  If someone is on the ice cream aisle getting sherbet, they shouldn’t be having an adrenaline dump.  Something might be about to go down, now would be a good time for you to leave. Unusual Energy Level Are they as excited or as calm as everyone else there?  If their energy level is extremely calm this could be a criminal that has practiced putting himself at ease before an attack.  Right now, during covid crazy, everyone is a little on edge and has some nervous energy they are moving around with.  If someone is calmer then everyone else, that could be the indication of a problem and it might be time for you to leave. On the other side, if everyone is calming moving about their everyday lives and find someone that looks like they are bounding with energy like a kid you just told is going to Disney Land, this might be an indication the person in question just had an adrenaline dump and is not handling it well. Probably a good time to leave. Why is that person here? Always my go-to question.  If you can answer that, then you will know if someone is there to hurt you.  Practice when you are out with other people.  People watch and try to figure out what they are doing at that location at that time. As a practice, don’t just figure out that they are shopping like you, try and figure out a little of that person’s back story for being there. The more you practice and observe people to see if they are right, the better you will get at the game, and the easier it will be to spot people that are up to no good. Watch the video here Announcements Upcoming Courses Click here for current course list. Got Ammo? Need it? Go to Lucky Gunner.  When I need ammo, it’s where I go.  Check it out.  Great prices and a really easy site to use. ShootersClubMembers.com Get Better for only a couple bucks a month Over 80 pieces of content to train you to be better. Free Video on the front page Discounts to courses and holsters Newest Interview gives you all the information you need to know about Pelvic Shots: Do they work? Should you use them? Sign Up Here! $75 Annual Membership $8 Monthly Membership   Thanks for listening, don’t forget to check out the Shooter’s Club, and if you need ammo check out Lucky Gunner. Stay Safe, Ben