Shotgun/Assault Rifle/submachine Gun Defenses Long Gun from the Front—Live Side
Starting Position: Passive stance.
As the
attacker presents
the rifle, send
your left hand
to the
weapon in a
straight line, keeping
your hand open and
your fingers
extended downward at about
a 45-degree angle.
Keeping your
left arm stiff, put
the palm of your
hand at the barrel
of the weapon and
push in
a straight line to
your right.
As you
redirect, make a
body defense by allowing
your left shoulder
to come
forward and blading
(or turning) your body;
this has the
added benefit of
putting your
motion and weight
toward the gunman
even though your
feet have
not yet moved.
Your left hand
should move
first, but as it
does, your right
hand should
then move inward
to avoid the
line of fire. Think of
moving the
right hand
to the
crook of the left
elbow.
Burst
forward with your feet
toward the rifleman,
sliding your left
hand toward the
butt while your
right hand
replaces the left.
ALWAYS maintain
contact with the
weapon.
Grab the
weapon sharply with both
hands, keeping
your elbows down
to maintain control. Be
sure your left
hand has
gone deep to
defend against or
prevent a strike with the butt
end. You
should
already be putting weight
on the weapon,
driving it toward the
attacker.
With
a firm grasp on the
rifle, deliver a kick to
the rifleman’s
groin area with either
leg. Since your
left leg will be
closest to the
rifleman, a kick
delivered with this leg
will get
to the target
sooner but
won’t have as
much power as a kick
delivered with the right
leg, which will
take slightly
longer to reach
the target.
If you kick
with your rear
leg, be sure your
weight is
distributed forward. If
you lean back while kicking
with the rear leg,
you may
be shoved
backward.
After you
kick, plant your feet
and sharply jerk
the weapon upward
so the muzzle
rises. This
will not
release the hold,
but generally puts
the weapon in
a better position
for
you.
Immediately
pull your
left hand a little
toward your body while
your right
hand, near
the muzzle,
punches the
barrel towards the
rifleman’s face
(similar to an
overhand right
punch).
Recoil slightly,
then drive the muzzle
sharply past the
rifleman’s right
shoulder and
down to “break”
it from his
grasp. As soon as
you are sure the
weapon is in your
possession, retreat to a
safe distance. Be prepared
to use the
rifle as a cold weapon.
Tips: The redirecting movement should take the rifle off your body parallel to the floor. Any diagonal movement up or down means that the rifle stays on your body for a longer period of time. This initial redirection must be a “punch” with your hand because the rifleman will have both hands on the weapon, which gives him greater control.
Note these differences when dealing with an assault weapon with a long magazine or handle attached, as opposed to a shotgun or rifle:
Because of the bottom-feeding magazines attached to most assault weapons, you may need to raise the weapon before delivering any type of kick, or else the magazine may block your leg as you attempt to kick the suspect’s groin.
After delivering the counterattack kicks, use your left hand to lift the top of the assault weapon and pull the butt out from under the gunman’s armpit.
Push the rear of the weapon down and over the top of the gunman’s wrist in order break his hold.
Then drive the barrel toward the gunman’s face (similar to an overhead right punch).
