Written by: Greg Ellifritz Many of you are aware that I designed the Ka-Bar TDI Last Ditch Knife. I recently received a question from a reader about some design features: “Greg: I noticed you mentioned you designed the Last Ditch blade for Kabar. I would be interested in an article about the design […]
Tactical Training Scenario- “They’re Putting On Ski Masks”
![](https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/zzskimask.jpg)
Written by Greg Ellifritz I once responded to a very unique call in my cop job. The details might generate some critical thinking on the part of my readers. A woman and her infant child were parked outside a small electronics store on a busy thoroughfare in the suburban city where I work. […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 22, 2021
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/12111454/FireShot-Pro-Screen-Capture-071-Suppressor-101_-Get-One-Your-Ears-Thank-You-The-Mag-Life-gunmagwarehouse_com-620x356.png)
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. WHAT IF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS ATTACKED BY AN ANGRY MOB? This is a prescient article for those who are paying attention. I predict that some of our countrymen will need to understand these ideas […]
Free Books- Part 220
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/21105135/51w7bcpMszL._SY346_.jpg)
Amazon has a tremendous number of FREE ebooks on their website. You can find thousands of free kindle books on Amazon’s site every day. These books can be downloaded to a Kindle reader or a free App on your phone or personal computer. Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free […]
Ohio’s Changing Knife Laws
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/18222552/concealed-knife.jpg)
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Ohio has some of the most vague and confusing knife laws in the country. When I teach a knife class, I generally have to take more than 30 minutes to explain the intricacies of the legal requirements in the state. Despite all that explanation, I still can’t guarantee to keep […]
Assessing Neighborhood Safety- Gang Graffiti
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/17192547/IMG_1959-rotated.jpg)
Written by: Greg Ellifritz In my book Choose Adventure- Safe Travel in Dangerous Places I have a section of advice discussing how to assess whether an area is “safe” or not in a foreign country. I wrote: “Given the massive differences in culture, customs, and income, how can you tell if the neighborhood […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 15, 2021
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/09202155/AC010821-Patrol-Carbine-LPVO-1-800-620x413.jpg)
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. A Guide for Parents: Understanding Youth Mental Health and Preventing Unauthorized Access to Firearms This looks like an excellent resource for gun-owning parents. Road Rage Statistics An in-depth analysis of the issues […]
Rangemaster Baseline Assessment Drill
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/12223437/IMG_1827-rotated.jpg)
Written by: Greg Ellifritz I got this one from the Rangemaster Instructor Course I attended last year. It is also described as the “drill of the month” in Rangemaster’s December 2020 Newsletter (opens to PDF). Here are the specifics: Rangemaster Baseline Skills Assessment Drill Use a B-8 repair center, FBI-IP-1 bullseye, […]
Back From Brazil
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/07225320/IMG_1836-rotated.jpg)
A week ago I arrived home from an eight-day trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As I’ve written extensively about Brazil in past articles, I’m not going to cover the normal tourist stuff. Instead, I’m going to discuss travel during a worldwide pandemic and the different perspectives other populations have regarding Covid-19. I love […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 8, 2021
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/07144901/article-ayoob-is-the-1911-wrong-for-ccw-2-620x413.jpg)
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. Weaver vs. Picatinny: What’s the Difference? The two most commonly available optics rails and their differences. Sheriff identifies pastor killed in East Texas church shooting An interesting case that my church security […]
Free Books- Part 219
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/07001944/51w7bcpMszL.jpg)
Amazon has a tremendous number of FREE ebooks on their website. You can find thousands of free kindle books on Amazon’s site every day. These books can be downloaded to a Kindle reader or a free App on your phone or personal computer. Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free […]
A Historical Look at Appendix Carry
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/05014307/134369948_1843069822512190_4015015007881528239_n-620x860.jpg)
This is a guest post from my friend Darryl Bolke. Darryl is currently writing a book about the history of formal firearms training throughout the 20th century. I’m very excited to read his book when he gets it on the market. Until then, follow Darryl’s writing at DB’s Shooting Adventures on Facebook. -Greg […]
Do Dogs Deter Criminals?
![](https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Military_dog_barking-620x413.jpg)
Written by Greg Ellifritz I investigated a recent break in and the victim told me “I’m going to get a big dog. This will never happen again.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the presence of a dog may or may not prevent a burglary. The dog may also […]
Best of What I Read- 2020
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/16220742/Duke_Humfreys_Library_Interior_5_Bodleian_Library_Oxford_UK_-_Diliff-620x518.jpg)
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Compared to the average American, I read a massive number of books. I try to read between around 10 books a month. I accomplish this because I don’t have TV in my house and I carry a book wherever I go. Whenever I have a few spare moments, I spend […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 1, 2021
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20182226/762-in-the-AK-Feature-770-620x413.jpg)
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. 5 Firearms instructor red flags “If your instructor commits one of the 5 Firearms Instructor Red Flags, I would be concerned, especially if it’s the medical one. If they break 2 of them, I […]
A House Fire, a Garden Hose, and a set of Handcuffs
![](https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/article-2232340-1601BA41000005DC-725_634x375-620x367.jpg)
Written by: Greg Ellifritz The news headline was inflammatory: “Homeowner tasered by police as he fought fire spreading from house next door”. I came across it as I was scanning my Facebook news feed. The story described a man who was using a garden hose to prevent a neighbor’s house fire from spreading. […]
Your Tactical Training Scenario…robbed with an airsoft gun
![](https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cb-21030316-4.jpg)
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Imagine a scenario when you and your spouse were walking down the street at night. A man approaches, draws a pistol and announces a robbery. You notice that the pistol has a red tip and you believe the gun isn’t real. You think it is an airsoft gun (spring or […]
Teaching Tip- Gimme Three Steps
![](https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/three-706895_640-620x620.jpg)
Written by: Greg Ellifritz “Simply put, the human brain can only consume about three ‘chunks’ of information in short term, or working, memory. As more and more items are added to a list, the average person retains less and less. Four items are a bit harder to remember than three. Five items are even harder. […]
Armed Citizen Response to the Terrorist Bomber
![](https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/61717_500371061257_742861257_7158829_1630287_n-620x413.jpg)
Written by Greg Ellifritz Terrorists worldwide use bombs as their weapons of choice. Occasionally, these bombs will be supplemented by sniper fire, grenades, or active shooters but it’s the bombs that get media attention. Many of my readers have been to numerous shooting schools and have trained in martial arts for years. How many […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- December 25, 2020
![](https://cdn.activeresponsetraining.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/12212923/926C0A36-E237-4D37-99B4-727E479BEF96-1024x1024-1-620x620.jpeg)
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. GUNMAN opens fire outside St. John the Divine church in Manhattan after Christmas choir performance As I’ve noted in previous writings, we are seeing more and more active killer attacks of late originating OUTSIDE […]