TYB: Close Range Survival Shooting book
21 July 2008
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TYB = Train Your Brain. Anytime I review a book, CD or DVD that offers training I like to let the readers know that it’s that kind of review. So this is a Train Your Brain review of the book, “Close Range Survival Shooting” by Mr. Tony Zanti. The subtitle is “Tactical Problems and Ergonomic Solutions”. The copy I received for review is a preprint copy so there may have been some editorial changes made before it actually went to print and release. What I found in my copy was 203 pages of information about Dynamic Combat Shooting (a trademarked phrase) which covers most shooting dynamics between zero and seven yards. I learned some new terms and enjoyed some new insights.
Before I get too far into this book though, I need to mention that it's part ONE of THREE. According to the information I received part two will be about subbuns with part three being about shotguns. Mr. Zanti is really covering all the bases.
As with any book, the credibility it receives is largely based on the author's background and experience. I have to admit that, prior to receiving the book, I'd never before heard of Mr. Zanti. He was not a "big name" in the law enforcement or military communities that I had heard of before. That didn't mean that I automatically discounted what he'd have to say. Gold nuggets of knowledge sometimes come from the least likely of sources. However, in this case, Mr. Zanti does have a significant background in law enforcement as well as some time in the military. Having served as a police officer and deputy sheriff in the St. Louis area he also served two hitches in the Army as a military policeman and then a medic. What caught my attention is that he is now (according to the information) operating out of Italy in the executive protection field. At any rate, given his background info, I felt that he might have some interesting stuff to say. Certainly he should have more interesting stuff to say than someone who was a cop for a year or three and then has made a career out of commercial training delivery.
In the opening chapter Mr. Zanti talks about some interesting things - things we often take for granted and probably never should. Things like:
- Active vs. Reactive shooting
- The difference between Winning and Surviving
- How important training is
- The R.E.M.S. Principle (more on that below)
The thing that most caught my eye is how Mr. Zanti qualified "the survivability factor". Now all experienced cops and soldiers know that your chances of survival are sometimes completely left to chance. We also know that we should do everything we can to minimize what is left to chance. Still, most of us know of some situation wherein the cop or soldier seemed to have done everything the right way and still lost the fight. That's never a good thing. Mr. Zanti talks about the Survivability Factor as an equation:
SF = QT x TR
SF = Survivability Factor
QT = Quality of the Technique
TR = operator's Training Rate
QT and TR are both expressed in increments between 1 and 4. What value is used is determined by the REMS principle mentioned above. REMS stands for:
- Reactivity
- Ergonomics
- Mobility
- Security
Any technique can be evaluated based on how well it fits the four criteria of the REMS principle. The obvious end result is that a technique with a value of 4, when used by an operator with a high quality training rate, also valued at 4, results in a higher Survivability Factor. I know... it seems so simple. But as I said, we often take such things for granted and I certainly have never seen martial skills categorized or valued in such a fashion.
After fully explaining those concepts, Mr. Zanti goes on to examine:
- Ranges of Pistol Combat
- Grips and Holds
- Drawing & Presentation
- Stances
- Hitting the Target
- Traffic Lights
- Unintentional Discharge
- Contact Holds
- Immediate Reaction
- Tactical Scanning
- Range Time
"Traffic Lights" caught my attention. What the heck do traffic lights have to do with shooting? Maybe he was talking about when you're in your vehicle at a traffic light? The chapter reviews color codes of awareness and preparation and compares them to traffic lights rather than arbitrarily assigned colors. Anyone with a license is all too aware of what the green, yellow and red lights mean.
The other section that caught my attention was the "Contact Holds" chapter. I thought this might be about holding the weapon at physical contact distances. It's not. In this context Mr. Zanti is talking about various methods for holding weapons when in contact - or potential immediate contact - with an aggressor. Some shortfalls of common holds are demonstrated and recommendations made for "ready positions" that Mr. Zanti feels are a bit better.
The book is full of color illustrations and pictures graphically showing what Mr. Zanti articulates. Like any other training or reference resource, you most likely won't agree with 100% of the content. That's not to say that any of the contact if valueless - but we all collect tools in our tool boxes and then pick out the ones we need for given situations. This book does contain some new information and knowledge that I found to be of value.
As I was reviewing a preprint copy, I haven't been able to find the book on the market yet. To find out more about purchasing one, email Mr. Zanti. His website is www.justforce.com but it's in Italian, so keep that in mind if you visit.
Stay Safe!
Don't forget to check out our Recreational Equipment Review about Tactical Orange Hydration Tabs.
This week's Feature Article asking, "Have You Forgotten?".
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