reginos:
Krav Maga, Karate, Taekwando, Kung Fu! When facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?
Huge difference. Usually, you don't train disarming someone with a gun in your Karate, Taekwando, etc. training. However, most modern training facilities offer street fighting techniques and training, mostly because customers demanded it but also to promote their facility for safety training for women, the elderly and so on.
Krav Maga is specialized on real combat, this is something you train in the police or the army. The german army started Krav Maga as part of their basic hand to hand combat training recently, most special forces worldwide are already training Krav Maga techniques for years. Again...Krav Maga is not a sport, it is a fighting technique. This is why you can't compare it, especially not to traditional martial arts.
Facing a loaded gun is the most dangerous situation for a fighter. In the US, they also have that new stand your ground law, which basically means that anyone can shoot you and then ask questions later...if he feels threatened by you.
Guns are not the perfect weapon of choice for self defense, I'm sorry to say that. Even vs. armed adversaries. I am not talking about government/police/army but about civilians. If you carry a gun, not only do you need to learn how to use it and train it all the time but you also have to be ready to kill someone. It sounds easier than it is, trust me. Another point is: Unless you are carrying a concealed weapon, which in most regions outside the US (and even in some parts of the US) is a serious criminal offense for civilians, even if you have a gun permit, how do you want to reach your gun if someone attacks you let's say on the street, on the beach, in a hallway or in a garage?
I had a serious situation in a parking garage in Orlando, when a younger guy threatened me to hurt me and my son if I don't give him all the cash I have on me (I was waiting for my wife and daughter to return from shopping). I was dumb enough to wait next to my car and not at the lower floor where many security cameras and other people were around. I asked him if he has a gun and he said no but he could hurt me anyway. I told him that if he has no gun, he better walks away because I will kill him, I will not allow anyone to threaten my kid. He walked away (another thing we learned during Krav Maga is to be convincing and to make it clear that you mean what you say when you threaten). I then called the police, gave a description of him but I don't know how the whole thing continued because they never contacted me again (they had my address in Germany too). "Funny" side story: There was actually a security camera on that floor I was waiting at next to my car but it was broken for over a week and nobody had fixed it yet. Great.
With a gun, I would have given this guy everything...why should I lie. I was worried about my kid but I kept him behind me most of the time because he was shocked (he cried afterwards but not during the assault).
Whenever I am somewhere, I try to avoid deserted parking lots, dark alleys, etc. and I look for places with many people. Avoiding is actually the best self-defense.
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S (at Porsche right now), BMW X5M, Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe PP/DP, Mini Cooper S Countryman All4