Gear, Tips & Advice

Train to your limits...then surpass them!

2010-07-13T08:24:00.001-07:00

Limits.....

We all THINK we have them. We all have that little voice in our head that cries out "STOP!! I CANNOT RUN ANY MORE"....OR..."IT'S TOO HOT OUT HERE, I JUST CANNOT PUSH MYSELF ANY HARDER."

Let me ask you....If I told you that there was a suitcase FULL of pure Gold bars, worth millions of dollars, and all you have to do in order to claim the gold as yours is to put on a backpack with 50 pounds of gear and hike 10 miles in the summer heat, would you do it?? My bet is that OF COURSE you would. You would push yourself, no matter what, to accomplish this goal.

Why do I know this to be true? Simply because I know that a reward such as a suitcase full of gold is too valuable to you for you to pass up this once in a lifetime chance.

Now, what if I told you that there are people in this world who train hard both physically and mentally to destroy you and everything that you hold dear? These people live a life of devotion to a cause that celebrates death and destruction. They love death more than life and they will do whatever it takes in order to conquer and kill you, your family and your beliefs. They train HARD, in harsh environments, under extreme conditions, and they are completely devoted to their cause.

On the one hand, you have a suitcase full of wealth. On the other, you have the prospect of being conquered and destroyed...Both are things that you either want very badly or do not want to occur at all. How do you handle the latter case?

Back to the "LIMITS" discussion....

The next time you consider tactical firearms training (AKA "Combat Training"), you must consider the idea of pushing through your own limits. When you feel the desire to quit, you must push yourself harder. If you train in order to protect not only yourself from violence, but, more importantly your loved ones and community, you must realize that the more effort you put into your training, the greater chances you will have of being successful in a "fight for your life" scenario.

This may occur as an Active Shooter situation at the local mall or Church or school. This may be an armed robbery in a parking lot. This may be a Law Enforcement officer responding to a terror attack....The scenarios go on and on.

Remember....only you set your limits. Your body will continue to react if you will it to do so. Your mind is the ultimate control factor and you have the power to push through the limits you thought you had and take your training and combat abilities to the next level.

You can walk the 10 miles, in the heat, with 50 pounds on your back because YOU WANT TO BE WEALTHY.
You can train hard and build your Combat Mindset because YOU WANT TO STAY ALIVE AND PROTECT THE INNOCENT FROM VIOLENCE.

You never stop. You never die. You always fight.

Ben Goldstein

Great video on the proposed Mosque at Ground Zero

2010-06-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html

This is a must view video, very well articulated by a man that understands truth. Trust me, its worth 6 minutes of your life.

2010-04-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sheriff's Dept

2010-04-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

2010-04-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

2010-04-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

2010-04-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

Training pictures from Little Rock.

Training in Little Rock, AR

2010-04-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week Israeli Combat Training hosted two training sessions in Little Rock. One was for the civilian crowd, the other for a local Sheriff's Dept.

We trained in the core aspects of Israeli Combat Training, including:
1) Israeli Combat Pistol
2) Israeli Tactical Carbine/Rifle
3) Warrior Mindset & Awareness
4) Retention and Shooting from Retention
5) Shooting on the run
6) Weapon transitions

It was a hell of a good time for everyone involved and I look forward to future training sessions in the Little Rock area.

Plenty of pictures and video. The pictures are on my facebook page and will be on my website soon. The Israeli Combat Training website is about to undergo some major cool changes, including new video, audio, a new layout and pictures.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you have, from gear, to mindset, to weapons based training.

Ben Goldstein

Awareness, part II

2010-03-04T10:32:00.001-08:00

Since "combat" (combat, in my definition, relates to not only military style warfare but to any life or death or potential life or death situation) truly is 3 parts mental/psychological to 1 part physical (Napoleon said it first, not me ;)), being in a heightened state of awareness is absolutely vital in a combat type environment (or avoiding such an occurrence altogether or simply in living your day to day life as an alert and prepared human, not as a sheep.)

The concept of being in a perpetual state of heightened awareness can be described as being "situational" or subjective to your environment. By that I mean according to what situation you find yourself in typically dictates your level of awareness. None of us, even the most tactically proficient, trained and experienced, are using the same level of awareness while sitting at our dining room table as we are while walking in a dark parking garage.

Our brains will usually fail to fully compute the full spectrum of our surrounding environments (every movement, color, smell, sound etc...) as that would cause information overload and we would not be able to function. Secret Service agents, for instance, do not scan every single face, motion, movement and person in a crowd. They will scan the environment in sectors and allow their instincts (based on intense training and natural abilities) to immediately alert them to potential danger signs. With repetitive training they learn to recognize in a flash what is danger and what is not and then they act on that information. (Acting on the information is equally important as being alert enough to see it in the first place.)

If we try to tell ourselves that there is something wrong with us when we fail to notice every element and change in our surrounding environment, we are mistaken.

To have an effective "Combat Mindset" you do not need to see and hear and feel everything. You simply need to use your training (awareness and mindset training that is), your natural "awareness abilities" and skill sets (if you posses them or even know you posses them) and then you need to make sure you do not ignore the warning signs, no matter how small or seemingly foolish they may seem.

We can always improve our awareness and focus. Even walking down the street you can read license plates of vehicles passing by or describe the clothing (to yourself of course) of people walking near you. These basic exercises help to create a form of mental muscle memory that will help you see the details when you need it most.

It pays to pay attention. Awareness 101

2010-03-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

The prudent course of action while in a public area is to keep your head up and your eyes and ears open. Having your head "on a swivel", like a radar constantly scanning the area, is a smart way (and the only way) to maintain situational awareness. In order to truly maintain a higher degree of awareness, you need to avoid cell phone texting while walking in public areas, especially at night. You need to avoid the lazy habit of keeping your hands in your pockets when walking down the street. You need to be alert, aware and relaxed.

I am not advocating that you should always be turning 360 degrees and watching every movement on the street. You do not need to be paranoid or fearful of your surrounding environment. The best security specialists are relaxed yet alert. They are ready to roll in a split second yet they seem to be at peace with themselves and their surroundings. They exude confidence even if they are experiencing fear or doubt. Confidence and awareness are key elements to urban survival.

The criminals and gangs want to attack the weakest sheep in the flock. When you walk with confidence and project a relaxed yet alert/aware self image, the criminal or gang will most likely avoid you in favor of easier pickings. They want the weak sheep, not the self confident sheepdog.

You can practice this the next time (and every time) you are out and about in public, be it at the mall, in a parking lot etc...

Stand straight, shoulders back, head up and eyes looking level ahead. Your hands are out and not in your pockets. You are scanning your immediate environment by simply looking at people and objects and recording what you are seeing. Treat it as a game and you won't feel so awkward when your eyes briefly scan across the eyes of a stranger. You are not "staring them down" since that is overly aggressive and can create unnecessary tension.
Rather, you are simply swiping your eyes across their line of sight, so they notice that you are aware of their presence. The glance should last no longer than half a second and the glance should be directly across the eyes and continuing on sideways, never down. A glance followed with your eyes looking down projects weakness.

Pay attention to the details. Let your brain process what you see. When your brain or body tells you to be on alert, listen to that message and act on it. To disregard that message, no matter how strange or frivolous it may seem, is to ignore a million years of animal survival instinct drilled into our DNA.

Always expect the unexpected.

Comp-Tac MTAC Minotaur in waistband Holster review.

2010-02-17T11:25:00.000-08:00

I recently received a Comp-Tac MTAC/Minotaur from Comp-Tac. I have been using a Milt-Sparks VMII for some time now and I have been quite please by the Milt Sparks holster.

Along came this new creation in a joint venture between Comp-Tac and Minotaur, a kydex/leather holster manufacturer.

Right out of the package, this holster feels light weight and is clearly very well designed. The backing of the holster is a thin, soft yet strurdy leather and the actual part where your gun slides into is thin kydex, specifically molded to your gun.

The clips are kydex and at first glance, you wonder how the clips will not allow the holster to move. They are not clamps, nor are they snaps. They simply slide over your belt and they hook up from below. The holster does NOT move once you put it into position.

This holster is fully cantable as well as tuckable and unlike many other holsters, it is very comfortable against bare skin, even carrying it all day in the heat.

The price is around $80 and well worth it in my opinion.

I have gone through more holsters from more manufacturers than I care to admit and I truly feel as if I have found a holster that satisfies all of my needs (Comfort, concealment, quality manufacturing, price and durability.)

The turnaround time from order to receipt of holster was less than 9 days. This is incredible as my Milt Sparks VMII took 6 months to arrive after order. (nothing against Milt Sparks. They are a damn good holster maker and I wear their product. Just stating the facts.)

The draw of the gun from the holster is smooth as silk. You can control the tension of the draw with a supplied allen wrench.

Here is the website:http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/prod...products_id=95

Training session was great!

2010-02-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Israeli Combat Training session this past weekend was a great time for everyone. We worked hard, spent the entire day on our feet, learning new techniques and using our minds to think through the logic of the Israeli Combat Training methods.

I will be happy to return to Memphis on a frequent basis in order to train more groups and continue to train this group in even more dynamic scenarios.

Training Session, Feb 13th, Memphis

2010-02-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hi,
On Saturday Feb 13th I will be in Memphis, hosting a dynamic, outdoors, 8 hour Israeli Combat Training session. The focus of this session will be in 4 areas:

Combat Mindset (Very forward, aggressive and stressing constant awareness) "Be the wolf or the sheepdog, not the sheep."

Israeli Combat Pistol (The core methods behind Israeli counter terror pistol training using efficiency of movement, Israeli point shooting, Israeli stance, scanning, shooting on the run, engaging multiple targets, retention and more...

Israeli Combat Rifle (Israeli counter terror techniques for the combat rifle, including the M4 family and the AK47 family of combat rifles.)

Krav Maga (A very experienced, local, Krav Maga instructor will be giving a hands on 2 hour session of the Israeli hand to hand combat techniques, including; Weapon take-aways/disarming, retention, knife defenses, hostage scenarios and more...)

This hard core training day will focus on techniques that you most likely have never seen before.

Feel free to ask any question you may have. Space is limited to 16 participants/operators and the training will be outdoors in Tunica (actually, right before Tunica.) and will take place rain or shine.

Train hard, fight hard and never give up!

More details to follow, including a session outline.

The cost of this 8 hour class is $225. This fee includes a $20 range fee.

My sessions are ALWAYS more focused on technique and muscle memory building than on firing lead down range. You will be shooting plenty but the actual shooting is not the primary focus. If you TRULY want to learn, leave the ego at the door as I always leave mine behind. Come with an open mind and the desire to get aggressive.

A $75 non refundable deposit will be required with each application in order to reserve your spot. Please respond to this email if you are interested in attending this training session.

Please feel free to forward this email (and future emails) to friends of yours who might also be interested.

Thank you,

Ben Goldstein

Sgt. (Res.) Israel Defense Force, Infantry Combat

Founder & Head Instructor

Airline (in)security

2009-12-29T07:34:00.000-08:00

"Attention passengers, this is your Captain speaking. Due to heightened TSA security regulations, you are now required to remain seated for the last hour of the flight.

In addition, you are not to have anything on your lap during the last hour of the flight. You are not to get up to use the restroom or get up at all for any reason during the last hour of the flight.

Anyone failing to follow this federal regulation is subject to arrest."
______________________________________________________________
ILLUSION: - Noun, described as: Something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.

The word illusion is the best available word to describe the current "security" procedures in place at our nations airports. The Federal agency that is supposedly in charge of our safety while flying, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has an annual budget of around $8 billion dollars. The TSA describes is role, on its website, as follows:

"The TSA Protects the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce."

The TSA uses random security screening, meaning, they randomly select people for additional screening, including hand pat downs. This means that a 99 year old American man named Bubba Smith from Iowa, travelling with his 90 year old wife Betty Smith, has as much as a chance of being pulled aside for random screening as does, say, a man named Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, the bomber of flight 253 on Christmas day.

To make matters worse (much worse) Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was turned in by his own father a month earlier. His Father actually CALLED the US Embassy in London to report that his son has been radicalized while travelling to Yemen and while attending a religious Islamic school in London.
The US Embassy not only did not revoke his sons visa, they allowed him free access to enter the USA with a valid visa. This is AFTER they were explicitly warned by Mutallabs' own father about his radicalized Islamist son.

The threat of terror in the sky is as real now as it was on Sept 11th, 2001. The threat of terrorists blowing airplanes out of the sky by smuggling bombs aboard is very real. Richard Reid proved it (The original "shoe bomber") and now Mutallab proved it as well.

The next time you see 99 year old Mr. Bubba Smith being taken aside and patted down by the TSA agents, think of how many others pass through security that should have been questioned and searched instead.

The simple action of interviewing passengers prior to going through security checkpoints, asking them direct and important security questions, as well as flagging obvious potential security concerns (passengers travelling alone, passengers travelling on a 1 way ticket, tickets paid in cash, passengers that originated from African and Middle Eastern countries, passengers with no luggage) can drastically narrow down the number of terrorists that pass through security.

Realize as well, the 9/11 hijackers ran through a dry run prior to 9/11. During their dry run they could have been spotted, profiled, questioned and prevented from boarding the aircraft if only they were questioned by well trained security personnel, trained in profiling.

The idea that random security searches are enough to create a sense of security is a lie. Terror is not random. It is planned meticulously from A to Z. Why then is our security system set up in a random fashion?

Keep it simple, stupid (K.I.S.S. principal)

2009-12-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

A very important aspect to combat training is to not lose focus on why you are training in the first place.

We train in order to hone our combat skills to a point where we feel intimately familiar and comfortable with not only our chosen weapon system(s), but more importantly to gain an extreme level of confidence and awareness of what we are capable of in times of extreme stress and crisis.

By keeping your training simple, logical and efficient (and training hard and often), you are giving yourself the ability to recall the training when the shit hits the proverbial fan and to utilize all tools in your toolbox when you need them the most. This includes the ability to maintain calm and cool under extreme stress and physical and mental pressure.

If you follow a training routine on a weekly basis (at the range or at home) and you train often and hard, you will ingrain this simple, logical and efficient set of deadly skills into your core muscle memory.

There is no need to practice ninja rolls and flips. You don't need to practice rappelling off of buildings (unless that is your direct job in law enforcement, of course). Driving a motorcycle in the desert while someone shooting paint balls at you from a helicopter is, well.....do I REALLY have to say what it is?? (and yes, this IS done in a training school).

What you need to practice, after you master the core "basics" (finding your grip, sight picture, trigger control and understanding the fundamentals of what a firearm is and how it works) is (in random order of importance):

Awareness and Combat Mindset techniques (aggressive attitude, never quit, fight for your life!!)
Fighting from "point zero"/contact distance (where most fights take place, both unarmed and armed, using both hands and all other weapons your body naturally possesses.)
Responding to an active shooter scenario (Think Ft. Hood and Virginia Tech), including no shoot targets
Clearing rooms by yourself
Fighting multiple targets
Fighting in the dark and in low light conditions
Learning your firearm inside and out, including clearing malfunctions
Fighting your way out of a vehicle
Proper stance, draw and movement
Emergency medical techniques (the basic, lifesaving techniques mixed with a little combat trauma)
Basic body guarding techniques (in case you are with someone, like a child or spouse,while attacked)
How to react and respond after an attack (how to speak to the police, what to do until they arrive etc...)

If you can follow this type of training goal, to master the above mentioned training suggestions, then you will be a very well rounded combat operator. You will be ready to respond to various types of attacks while maintaining cool under pressure.

Your training should be intense, serious and repetitive.

Of course, others might have things to add to the 12 I mentioned, but, for Israeli Combat Training, this is a great goal to reach.

What is absolutely required for you to do is to practice at home and at the range in between training sessions and to practice mentally during the day, every day, to develop a strong sense of awareness and a brutally aggressive Combat Mindset.

When you must fight for your life, you fight with brutal force using every bit of strength and determination you can muster.

Use your training. Use your mental strength. NOTHING can stop you.

Keep it simple.

PRISim Situational & Shooting Simulator..$1 million machine!

2009-12-14T07:10:00.000-08:00

I was a vendor at the recent "Gun and Gear" Expo sponsored by the Tennessee Gun Owners Forum and Hero Gear.

This was a Gun and Gear expo that is top notch compared to the run of the mill gun show. At this expo, you will find reps from the leading manufacturers of firearms and gear, not Indian jewellery, cheap knives and beef jerkey.

At the expo, in the parking lot, sat a big trailer called a "PRISim Mobile Training Facility". This is an interactive situational and shooting simulator that puts you in the role of a first responder (Law Enforcement) and has you reacting to various dynamic scenarios. You are "armed" with a laser gun that is an exact replica of a Glock pistol and your target area is actually a high tech movie projector screen that plays the scenarios on video.

As the responding officer, you must make instant decisions and give verbal commands to the "suspects". You also must decide when to shoot, not shoot, take cover, use cover over concealment and you must shoot with proper aim and form or you will miss, just like in a realistic scenario.

The system shows you, after each scenario, how many shots you fired, where you hit, how fast your response time is and it also fires small plastic projectiles at you to simulate incoming fire from suspects. If you fail to properly use cover, you will be hit by the projectile. While these projectiles do not hurt, they do add an incredible amount of realism to the idea of wanting to take and use cover properly.

This system costs over $1 million and I was told there are only about a dozen or so of these in the world.

I truly enjoyed using this fantastic training system and think it would be an invaluable training tool for Law Enforcement agencies and departments to use on an annual basis.

They can be reached at 931-684-6737.

US Soldier Guns Down Fellow Soldiers...in the USA

2009-11-06T06:46:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday, before hearing of the news that a Major in the United States Army, Nidal Malik Hassan, gunned down over a dozen of his fellow countrymen and wounded another 30, I was at "Baby's R Us" buying something for my daughter.

When I left the store, there were two United States Marines in full dress uniform, standing outside collecting donations for the "Toys For Tots" organization.

I started speaking with them and I told them the following:

"I am amazed that you two, as US Marines, in full dress uniform, are unarmed! How do you feel about being unarmed? Remember the Little Rock, AR US military recruitment center shootings by a Muslim attacker this year? He specifically targeted the recruitment center and the soldiers were also unarmed, unable to defend themselves against a violent terror attack.

In Israel, you would never see soldiers in combat units, while in uniform, unarmed.

The Marines mentioned that they agree. They would like to at least have a pistol but that is "against regulations.... "

Imagine, these brave men are tasked with defending our country against attack and our current set of regulations prevent them from being armed while in uniform!! It blows my mind....

Then, when I arrived home, I turned on the news and I see that there was a major terror attack at Ft. Hood, TX on the military base. A devout Muslim soldier slaughtered over a dozen of his fellow soldiers on base and these soldiers were "unarmed" and unable to prevent the carnage.

I do not believe in coincidence. I believe that everything occurs for a reason. The fact that I happened to have this conversation at the same moment a terrorist was gunning down unarmed US Soldiers at a military base in Texas simply proves to me that the counter terror training I teach is necessary, is important and will hopefully help others prevent this from happening again. The terrorists are HERE, on our soil. They are very devoted to their cause. They will stop at nothing to cause as much carnage as possible. You and I must be trained and ready to respond.

One of the soldiers interviewed after the attack told the reporter that "I wish I had a gun, so I could shoot back." Imagine, a soldier, in uniform, back from a war in Iraq or Afghanistan, stripped of his weapon while in uniform in the United States!

My training is always based on aggressive quick action and attacking the attacker. The police officer that ended the shooting by herself shooting the terrorist was praised by all for her "aggressive and quick response" and she continued fighting even after she was wounded in both legs.

She is a warrior that understands the idea of attacking the attacker and never giving up.

Now, the US Gov't simply needs to WAKE UP and arm our brave soldiers in uniform so that they can defend their lives at home. A soldier should never have to say to reporters, after the attack, that "I wish I had a gun so I could shoot back."

Cleaning your combat firearm. Lubrication is key!

2009-10-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked to discuss the topic of gun cleaning. I think it is a vital topic to address and many times people tend to clean their guns incorrectly due to popular misconceptions regarding gun care.

Right off the bat, I will say with absolute certainty that the single most important aspect to cleaning a gun (any gun) is to maintain proper lubrication on all surfaces where metal to metal contact (High Friction areas) is part of the normal operation of the gun.

This means that anywhere on the gun where metal rubs against metal, you need to have lubrication on that area.

Now, to elaborate on this subject.....

Gun cleaning is not something that requires absolute spot free, spit shined detailing. You can have a gun that will function perfectly well for thousands of rounds, even under adverse conditions, as long as you maintain a proper lubrication on the metal to metal moving parts (as mentioned above.)

The military has a bad habit of nit picking every spot of dust that is found on a gun and they punish soldiers for having even the slightest amount of oil on the gun after "cleaning." This mentality has fueled a generation of gun owners who believe that a "clean" combat gun is spot free, dirt free and oil free.

Nothing can be farther from the truth!

A properly "cleaned" gun should be free of any mud, dirt and sand. It should also have a clear barrel (bore) and no foreign objects inside of the gun (lint, hair etc...).

BUT, and most importantly, a properly cleaned combat gun (including your daily carry gun and your battle rifle) should be lubricated liberally with a high quality lubricant (like "BreakFree CLP" http://www.botachtactical.com/breakfreeclp2.html . It Cleans, Lubricates and Protects and is an industry standard)
or Weapon Shield ( http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=220438 a newer product that has won high praise from professional and recreational shooters worldwide.)

"Gun grease" is also a very highly recommended lubricant ( http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=102762 ). This is more of a paste/grease that is usually inside a syringe and can be used as a lubricant on the metal to metal surfaces. The benefit of a gun grease over an oil is that the grease does not drip out after firing like oil will nor will it attract lint and sand like oil will.

I prefer to use both oil (CLP) and gun grease on my guns. I like to clean the gun (all metal surfaces) using the CLP, wipe it dry, and then apply a thin film of CLP to the high friction areas and then apply a thin line or dots of gun grease to those same high friction areas. Again, I use only a light film of oil and complement that oil with gun grease.

The process for the cleaning will go as follows:

Clear your gun and remove any ammunition from your immediate surroundings (safety first and safety last!!)
Disassemble your gun according to the proper disassembly instructions
Use a high pressure air canister to blow out any sand, grit, lint or loose dirt from the internal areas of the gun
Spray the metal areas (internal and external) of your gun with BreakFree CLP (or other quality cleaning/lubrication agent). Allow CLP to sit on metal for a few minutes.
Clean your barrel with a copper solvent and CLP. Run multiple patches (or your Boresnake http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4926763&sourceid=1500000000000003260410&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=4926763 through) the barrel until the barrel is more dry than oily. You DO want a spot clean barrel with no residue left over. Make certain to clean the feed ramp as well.
Use an old cotton T-shirt and an old toothbrush to wipe/brush down all metal surfaces of the gun that have been sprayed with CLP (including the exterior surfaces like the slide) until those surfaces are clean. It may never become spotless but clean it as best as you can.
Now, apply a thin film of CLP on the high friction surfaces
Apply your gun grease on the same high friction areas
Reassemble your gun
Dry fire your gun to test that you performed proper reassembly
Reload properly (gun up, magazine in) and march on!

Look at gun cleaning this way; You do NOT want your gun dripping in oil as that will become a nightmare of attracting every piece of lint, dirt and sand on earth to your gun.

You also NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER want a dry gun (oil or grease free.)

The ultimate solution to the question, and the best performance for your gun that you rely upon to save your life or the lives of others, is to make certain that it is properly and thoroughly lubricated at all times and free of any foreign objects.

Terror Attack? Not here! Ben, quit being 'paranoid'!!

2009-10-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

When I tell people that I run Israeli Combat Training sessions, using Israeli counter terror methods and techniques, I frequently get the following question:

"Why do people need to learn counter terror techniques, isn't an advanced concealed carry class enough?"

The answer I always give is that they need to plan for the worst case (within reality) scenario and they must learn how to focus their training on Combat Mindset and advanced combat handgun techniques based on the aggressive Israeli methods of counter terror combat.

Even then, after explaining this thought process and the reasoning behind it, I still receive skeptical looks and questions, like:

"According to the statistics, most gunfights are over in a few seconds and statistically you never need a second magazine......Ben, you are just a bit over the top, don't you think?"

My answer continues along the same path as above, that you must always expect the unexpected and you must prepare for the eventuality of a terror attack.

Yes, a terror attack. On our soil. In our own big cities and little towns.

When a gunman attacks a Church, that is a terror attack.

When a Gunman attacks a mall full of people, that is a terror attack.

When Muslim fanatics plan to launch a violent Jihad on your local shopping mall, that is a terror attack. And you might be smack in the middle of it!

Just read this current news article.

(Folks, this is the real deal. Time to get our collective heads OUT of our asses and realize that we face a future where terror attacks become the norm.)

Feds: Mass. man planned terror attacks on US malls

BOSTON – A 27-year-old Massachusetts man conspired to kill two prominent U.S. politicians and carry out a holy war by attacking shoppers in U.S. malls and American troops in Iraq, federal prosecutors said Wednesday as they announced his arrest.

Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury sought — but never received — training in terrorist camps and worked with others from 2001 to May 2008 on the conspiracy to "kill, kidnap, maim or injure" people in foreign countries and the politicans, authorities said.

The politicians were members of the executive branch who are no longer in office, authorities said. They refused to give their names.

Prosecutors said Mehanna conspired with two other men: Ahman Abousamra, who authorities say is now in Syria, and an unnamed man, who is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

The three men discussed their desire to participate in "violent jihad against American interests" and talked about "their desire to die on the battlefield," prosecutors said.

Mehanna had "multiple conversations about obtaining automatic weapons and randomly shooting people in shopping malls," Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Loucks said. Their plan was thwarted when they could only get handguns, not automatic weapons, he said. Prosecutors would not say which malls had been targeted.

They also hoped to attack U.S. troops stationed in Iraq.

Mehanna told the FBI that Maldonado was living in Egypt and working for a Web site. But authorities said Maldonado had called Mehanna from Somalia urging him to join him in "training for jihad."

Authorities said Wednesday that Mehanna and his conspirators had contacted Maldonado about getting automatic weapons for their planned mall attacks.

What if your gun goes "CLICK" instead of "BANG" ?

2009-10-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

The fear.... The dread..... The ultimate "what if" question for all combat shooters....

WHAT IF MY GUN GOES "CLICK" INSTEAD OF "BANG" WHEN I NEED IT MOST?

This is all a training and confidence issue, not a weapon issue. You are simply reflecting your fear of potential failure by asking "what if the gun goes click instead of bang?"

The true question you need to ask is:
"What is my muscle memory, immediate response to a failure to fire situation?"

If your current response/action is to stop in place, mumble a curse word, scratch your head and then fix the issue, you need to work on your confidence and muscle memory building exercises, over and over and over again, every range session, until you literally make an immediate response (see below) when you encounter a Failure To Fire malfunction (FTF), and I mean immediate!

It will feel as if you cannot help but do these actions (pure muscle memory training), as if they are a part of you, as natural as breathing.

Your responses to this situation must be one of the following:

1) Immediately upon hearing the "click", you move off the "X"/line of attack, drawing attention to yourself and away from a loved one you are with, while clearing your malfunction, ready to return accurate fire

2)You immediately charge your attacker and use some type of close combat technique to disarm or disable the attacker (if you practice these techniques)
(this is not the best of the 2 options, but it still gives you not only a fighting chance, but also allows others, like family members, to escape the threat zone which for me would be the main priority.)
Again, this is not a Hollywood action movie and option 2 is a dangerous option but sometimes it might be your only option when you truly have no other choice!

If your fear is truly weapons related, you really need to shoot until you gain confidence in your weapon.

This does not necessarily mean ZERO failures, as certain reloaded ammunition can cause a malfunction where your carry or factory ammunition might not. It simply means that you are so confident in your chosen weapon that you really know for certain that you would not want any other pistol besides the one you have in a life or death situation.

You KNOW that this weapon is as familiar to you as your right hand and is almost like an extension of your arm.

This is one of the reasons why I only carry one model of one pistol, but own two of the same.
(one to carry, one to leave in the house.)

Yes, it is always important to familiarize yourself with all makes and models of all types of weapons (in case you need to use someone else's weapon) but when it comes to keeping things simple, there is nothing better than being a man (or woman) who owns one type of pistol and truly knows how to use it in all areas of necessity (loading, shooting, clearing malfunctions, cleaning, etc...).

You don't want to carry three different types of primary pistols on different days, as this may confuse you when you need it most. (For example...one has a safety, one does not. one has a de-cocker, one does not. one has a thick slide, one has a thin slide. One has a mag release on the trigger guard, one has it on the grip etc...) This can get confusing and will cost you precious seconds.

In a nutshell, train hard, train often, dry fire and live fire, practice all malfunction drills, practice charging your target and attacking the target with your empty pistol, with your fists, with a blade....whatever.

You never know where a fight will take place, how many adversaries there will be and what Mr. Murphy has in store for you.

FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE

Tucker Gun Leather, "Silent Thunder"

2009-09-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

Tucker Gun Leather...WOW. Just got one of their holsters (the "Silent Thunder") for my CZ P-01 and all I can say is it is amazing!! Leather on the inside, Kydex on the outside, Outside the Waist Band, fully cantable and movable, very high quality and great customer service.

This holster is one of the many I have owned and this is fast becoming my favorite. Very well constructed and innovative. The use of thin high quality leather , molded to the gun, on the inside of the holster and thin but very strong Kydex as the main body of the holster.

The combination is not only unique but it also allows for you to change the retention level (from VERY tight to very loose and everything in between) as well as the 'cant' of the gun ('cant' meaning moving it forward or backwards up to 15 degrees each way).

It also allows you to move the holster lower if you prefer a lower ride/carry.

The belt clip seems to be unique to Tucker Gun Leather and really does snag on to the belt, keeping the holster in place.

Besides all of these attributes, the personal customer service from the owner of the company (Rob) is second to none. I have never experienced such amazing customer service, fast response time and appreciation from anyone quite like the folks over at tucker Gun Leather.

I fully and happily reccomend this company to anyone looking for a great holster.

Ben

Will You Be Ready To Fight For Your Life?

2009-09-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

WILL YOU BE READY?

By: Ben Goldstein

Sgt (Res.) Israel Defense Forces, Infantry Combat

Founder and Head Instructor

http://www.israelicombattraining.com/

Ask yourself this question and think of your answer.

Really, be honest with yourself.

Are you prepared to face a violent, aggressive attacker 60 seconds from now??

This attacker wants to kill you. This attacker wants to take your child away from you. This attacker wants to destroy everything you love. Are you ready to face this person?

Why do you even carry a gun?

This is not a simple "Yes" or "No" question. Rather, this is a question that requires a statement afterwards, for example;
"Yes, I will be as ready as I possibly can be because I train frequently under conditions that take me outside of my comfort zone.
I work through problems that arise during my training, like weapon malfunctions and total weapon failure.I train in various conditions like low light, working with one hand only and working from the ground. I simulate scenarios like basic "body guarding" techniques as if I am with my family, hand to hand combat methods, training under stress, training outside in the heat or in the cold, training inside and outside of my vehicle and working against multiple targets/threats."

A quality training course will not simply teach you how to shoot more accurately. Shooting is one of the LEAST important aspects of training for combat. Yes, I said that.

Shooting is truly the last part of the equation. It is physically the last thing you do in an attack.

It is not nearly as important as "Combat Mindset", awareness, learning proper stance, grip, draw, avoiding tunnel vision, learning to scan for additional threats, learning to NEVER GIVE UP and to always ATTACK THE ATTACKER and FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE.

Does that sound a little different than most training sessions you have attended?

Instead of asking "how many rounds should I bring to your course" you should be asking your prospective instructor "What type of combat mindset training do you teach?" and "Can you teach me how to work through problems that will arise during combat?"

I mention the word "COMBAT" quite often. Maybe it is due to my military background in Israel. Or, maybe it is because every physical attack against you or those you love or are sworn to protect is true combat.

A quality course will teach you how to FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE from the very minute you step onto the range. Period.

For realistic training that will actually help you when your life is on the line, you should look for a training course that will employ various means of stress to your training session after they have run you through the core base of their specific training methods (stance, grip, sighting etc...)

By learning how to operate under a moderately stressful environment from the beginning, you will be use to operating outside of your comfort zone.

Any attack on you or someone you care for will force you to operate outside of your perceived comfort zone and the attacker will choose the time and place to attack you.

It is good to attend a "level 1" type defensive handgun course but remember, an attack can happen to you at any time. You do not have the luxury of choosing when and where the attack takes place, therefore, you should surround yourself with training that best prepares you for high stress, fast and violent encounters from the get go.

It is your hard earned money. You can find training like this if it interests you.

Not everyone necessarily think they wants this type of training in the beginning.

Once they realize that this training not only lays the groundwork for proper "Combat Mindset" and awareness (90% of the battle) but also teaches them high quality methods of deploying their weapon for use in self defense situations, how to work through any potential problems mid-fight and how to use every tool in your "toolbox" in order to eliminate the attacker/s and get out of the danger zone, they realize that this type of training is vital to their survival.

I know it sounds like a lot but ask yourself the following question:

When I am attacked, will I be as ready as possible to use every ounce of my energy and aggressiveness to fight for my life and the lives of those I love?

The answer to this question is vital to your quest for proper training.

Will you be ready?

Ben Goldstein
Sgt. (Res.) Israel Defense Forces, Infantry Combat
Founder & Head Instructor
http://www.israelicombattraining.com/

Suicide Bomber Elimination and Aftermath

2009-09-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

Suicide Bomber Elimination

By: Ben Goldstein
Head Instructor
Israeli Combat Training
www.IsraeliCombatTraining.com

In Israel we have been facing the Suicide Bomber (aka Homicide Bomber) for many years now. We have become, quite unfortunately, the worlds leading experts in the fight against this type of terrorism.
Our American service men and women are also facing this deadly threat daily in Iraq and Afghanistan.We have seen suicide bombers strike locations all over the world and it is only a matter of time before this type of terrorism strikes us here in the USA.

Although this may apply more to the Law Enforcement crowd, everyone should have a better understanding as to the tactics used to eliminate the suicide bomber as you never know when it may be you and your pistol or rifle against a suicide bomber determined to cause a mass casualty attack in your building, Church, Synagogue, mall, movie theater etc...

You can always ask the obvious question of "How will I know WHO a suicide bomber is...don't they hide the bomb under clothes or in bags?"

The answer is, most of the time you will have no idea they are standing right next to you.

BUT, there have been many documented times in Israel where a suicide bomber has been identified prior to detonating his/her device and either armed security personnel or armed civilians or even unarmed civilians have managed to either kill or remove the suicide bomber from the immediate high threat area and take cover after warning the people around them.

Here are a few instances:

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/08/world/coat-backpack-sweat-close-call-in-israeli-cafe.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_160_26/ai_92585746/

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1467188.html

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&ci d=1150886023917

Elimination

To effectively eliminate a suicide bomber, you must eliminate his/her ability to access a detonation device. You cannot shoot a suicide bomber from close range at center mass as his/her bomb vest can explode, killing you and those around you.

Your best opportunity to eliminate the bombers ability to detonate the explosives is to quickly shut down his/her central nervous system.

The quickest way to do this is to sever the brain stem from the spinal column.

What is a Brain Stem and where is the brain stem located?
Read this link to find out.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstem

You can accomplish severing the brain stem with a firearm by firing at the following position on his/her body:

1) If you are firing from the front, you aim for the chin/mouth area. By striking the chin/mouth area with multiple rounds you will most likely blow out the rear of the chin/mouth area which is where the brain stem meets the spinal column which will, in turn, render the bomber a useless rag doll incapable of making another move.

2) If you are firing from the rear, you also aim for the same area which is located at the base of the head, where the head meets the neck.

Now, be aware that just because you eliminated the bomber, the threat might not have passed.
The bomb might have a secondary, remote detonation device that can be activated by an accomplice on the scene.

As soon as you have "dropped" the bomber, you need to immediately evacuate yourself and others from the area, clearing at least 100 yards (prefferrably more) and take cover. (Shrapnel can travel at 6000 feet per second so you best take cover!)

The following also applies to the immediate aftermath of a successful bombing.

Aftermath of Bombing

Move out of the immediate area, at least 100 yards. Move away from any parked vehicles as parked vehicles might have been set in place by the bomber/s prior to reaching the area and used as secondary devices against rescue personnel.

What is a secondary device?
link: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/secondary.html

Cordon off the entrance to the area, either with police tape or with other volunteers, not letting anyone past your cordon unless they can be properly identified as valid Law Enforcment or rescue personnel.

Be in condition Red during this time in case you come across secondary bombers.
(Condition Red is that level of mental awareness you reach when you know the threat is real)

Bombers WILL use ambulances or security vehicles or additional bombers to get past a cordoned area in order to kill rescue or LE personnel.

It will be very hectic and confusing and there will be casualties to deal with and curious onlookers and the media to keep away. You must cordon off the area and allow only known, ID'd and authorized rescue personnel inside the threat zone.

The "bomb squad" should enter first and quickly clear the immediate area, searching any bags, bodies and suspicious objects as well as breaking the windows to any parked vehicles and searching the vehicles and trunks for secondary devices.

You can have a small squad of ID'd and known rescue personnel enter with the bomb squad and as soon as the bomb squad has verified that there are no other devices on any of the casualties or in the area, the small rescue squad can begin their life saving triage. This small squad should be wearing level III body armor/vests and helmets in case of additional explosions.

Only when the all clear is given (this should not take too long with an experienced or well trained bomb squad) should the bulk of the rescue personnel be allowed to enter the area.

The cordon should remain in place the entire time that the rescue operation is in effect and the more Law Enforcement personnel at the cordon, the better. The cordon should be beefed up to include temporary barricades, a human chain of Law Enforcement around the area and police tape.

On the command and control side, checkpoints/roadblocks should be established as soon as possible within a few concentric miles of the area on all major roads and highways leading away from the scene in order to try and capture any additional accomplices trying to flee the scene.

This planning should be in place, mapped out with pre-assigned checkpoint locations on major roads all over the city. When time to implement this plan arises, you are ready to call out your units to set up checkpoints quickly and efficiently no matter where it is in the city.

Realize, you are not searching every vehicle (as this will cause a stink with the "Our rights are being violated" crowd. Rather, you are using effective profiling techniques to narrow down your search.

Prior planning is critical when seconds count.

Expect the Unexpected...This can happen today.

Ben Goldstein
Sgt. (Res.) Israel Defense Force, Infantry Combat

Founder & Head Instructor
www.IsraeliCombatTraining.com

Email: Ben@IsraeliCombatTraining.com

Aimpoint Micro T-1 on my rifle..amazing little aiming system

2009-09-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

I installed a new Aimpoint Micro T-1 on my AR-15 4 months ago and I have been quite impressed with this aiming system.

In the IDF, we were issued "Red Dot" sights (back in 1997). They were manufactured by "Elbit" and were very basic but did the trick.

I was never a fan of the red dot sight for the simple reason that I found myself hesitating to acquire the sight and not actually "snap shooting" towards the target.

I have always been very proficient with iron sights so I always figured that I had no use for the Red dot sight.

It was only recently that I came to the conclusion that a quality, military grade red dot sight or reflex sight would add a great benefit to my ability to quickly acquire a target, more so than iron sights. This is especially evident in low light conditions where standard iron sights are very hard, if not impossible, to see.

I canvassed the market for a sight that fits my needs. I was looking for the following:

1) Small and light weight
2) Constant on (no need to fumble with on/off buttons. Hey, who needs to mess with that crap at 3:00am when someone is kicking down your front door??)
3) Long battery life
4) Ruggedness

My research led me to the new Aimpoint Micro series and i specifically liked the Micro T-1. It has a 5 year constant on battery life. No need to turn it off. It runs on a small battery. It is VERY small and light weight and it is military grade durable.

This unit weighs in around 3.7 ounces including the mount. It has a 4 MOA dot and is a 1x magnification. It is compatible with Night Vision devices but excels with 3rd Gen NVD's. It is submersible to 80 feet and is non reflective.

I ordered directly from the LaRue Tactical website. It came with a great LaRue mount with a throw lever and installation was effortless. The mount acts as a 'riser' so you get perfect "eyes on target" every time.

This sight is not cheap by any means ($625 for sight and mount) but when your life depends on your equipment, you should not go with the knockoff cheap stuff.

You do not need one of these for every rifle you own but for my main battle rifle, I find this to be indispensable.

Link to the LaRue Tactical page for the Micro T-1:
http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Detail.bok?no=149