Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. The Seeds of (unconventional) War Pay close attention to the recommendations ISG makes at the end of the article. Castle Doctrine Fact vs. Fiction Massad Ayoob writes a very comprehensive piece on […]
African Counter-Ambush Tactics
Written by: Greg Ellifritz I recently returned from a two-week trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. The primary focus of the trip was going on safari to see all the legendary animals that inhabit the African plains. On the trip I did 12 different safari outings, either on foot, by safari truck, or […]
Texas Church Attack: Post-Shooting Procedures
Written by: Greg Ellifritz I’ve read many tactical debriefs of the recent shooting incident at the West Freeway Church of Christ. I have no plans to re-hash what has already been discussed in countless articles and videos. There were lots of good things (a near-perfect head shot from an extended distance, no mistaken […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 10, 2020
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. Situational Awareness Skills: Teaching Kids Observation Skills Good suggestions for those of you who have young children. Glock Guide: DIY Frame Disassembly For those of you who don’t know how to remove […]
January 2020 Classes
I have two classes in Central Ohio coming up at the end of the month. The host is providing a discount if you register for both. I hope to see some of you there. For registration details, go to Personal Defense Systems website. Class descriptions are as follows: Knife Skills for […]
My Best Writing- 2019
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Last week, I posted an article linking to my most popular posts in 2019. In that article, I discussed how my “most popular” articles were not the same as my “best” articles. I liked many of the most popular articles (ranked by page view), but I think other […]
Your Tactical Training Scenario: In-Hand Weapons Retention
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Have you ever thought about what you would do if a criminal lunged for your gun as you were holding him at gunpoint? That happened to a police officer last week with very serious consequences. The cop and another citizen were both shot. Read about the incident at the link […]
Back from Africa!
Written by: Greg Ellifritz I recently returned from an epic two-week trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. I had previously been to Africa twice. I went to Egypt in 2005. I returned in 2008 to climb Kilimanjaro, visiting both Kenya and Tanzania. I got really sick climbing Kili (high altitude cerebral edema) […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- January 3, 2020
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. NO POLITICS Initial Analysis of Murders in White Settlement TX Church Last weekend’s church shooting in Texas has the internet abuzz. There is quite a bit of bad information regarding the attack floating around […]
Top 10 Most Popular Posts of 2019
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Seth Godin made a very powerful statement in a recent blog post. “My most popular blog posts this year…weren’t my best ones. As usual, the most popular music wasn’t the best recorded this year either. Same for the highest-grossing movies, restaurants and politicians doing fundraising. “Best” is rarely the same as […]
Church Security Resource Compilation
Written by: Greg Ellifritz After Sunday’s active killer attack on a church in Texas, I thought some of you might be looking for resources to determine “best practice” recommendations for your house of worship. Here are more than a dozen highly informative articles/videos covering the topic: Church Safety On Active Shooters […]
The Best of What I Read- 2019
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Compared to the average American, I read a massive number of books. I try to read between around 10-15 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- December 27, 2019
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. What To Do if Someone Is Following You Quality tips and reference videos here. The Spyderco Sharpmaker The Spyderco Sharpmaker is my favorite knife sharpener as well. The Best Revolvers […]
Shooting Drill- Dot Assessment Madness
Written by: Greg Ellifritz I got this drill from Ballistic Radio’s Facebook page. Dot Assessment Madness AKA D.A.M. Is a 55-round assessment fired on the excellent Langdon Tactical, Inc. target. John Johnston describes the drill as follows: “At 3 yards Start with no more than 15 rounds in the gun or […]
The Springfield XD- A Polemic
Written by: Greg Ellifritz A recent discussion on my Facebook page prompted me to write an article to explain why I really don’t care for the Springfield XD pistol. I’ve seen hundreds of the guns go through my classes in the last decade. I remain unimpressed. The gun’s main selling point seems to […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- December 20, 2019
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. 4 Qualities Your Concealed Carry Gun Must Have “Reliability is the single most important element in the selection of a personal defense weapon. The only justification for firing a weapon at a human being […]
Training vs. Experience
Written by: Greg Ellifritz Many of my students are serious practitioners of the art of self-protection. They’ve graduated from numerous shooting schools and hold black belts in various martial arts systems. Although they generally enjoy the training process in general, their ultimate goal is to become better fighters. They are hoping that the skills they […]
Timing…a Missing Component in Training
Written by Greg Ellifritz One of the hardest things I do as a firearms and self defense trainer is convincing people that their lives are worth defending. Many students come to my classes with an attitude that displays an extreme lack of self worth. It’s hard for me to comprehend, but many people do […]
Lessons Learned from a Successful Use of Pepper Spray
Watch the excellent surveillance video of a store owner and his wife fighting two robbers armed with knives. The store owner is able to access a large can of pepper spray and blast his attackers. He then holds one attacker down on his counter while his wife kicks the dude in the face. Nicely […]
Weekend Knowledge Dump- December 13, 2019
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. Getting Friends and Family (Slightly) More Prepared How to gently steer reluctant friends and family members in the direction of being better prepared for emergencies. Factory 6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition Accuracy Velocity and […]