F irearms I nstruction R esearch and E ducation


Principles of Disarms and Weapon Retention
March 17 - 18, 2012
Sat - Sun
9am - 5pm

Course Administrator
Peter Georgiades
412.370.9500

Enrollment Form and Credentials

Location
Cranberry Twp, PA
Address TBA

Cost: $150, payable upon enrollment.

General Description: This is a two-day course devoted to understanding the mechanics and principles that govern weapon retention and disarms.  The course includes straightforward explanations and demonstration of the following:

Legal Considerations: There are serious legal consequences attendant upon either carrying a weapon and losing control of it, or disarming another (presumably and attacker) and then using their weapon against them.  This course includes discussion - by a practicing attorney - of the legal issues which arise when one carries a weapon (concealed or openly) or disarms another individual and then uses that other individual’s weapon to inflict harm.  The conversation is based upon review of actual case law in Pennsylvania, rather than theories or anecdotes.

Contemporaneous with these explanations and discussions, there will demonstrations, instruction and practice of specific techniques which can be used to maintain control of one’s weapon or disarm another.

Please note this seminar will not train one to retain their weapon or disarm anyone.  One simply cannot learn to do these things in a week-end. Anyone who expects to take a two-day seminar and walk away competent to disarm an armed assailant is kidding himself.  This is a familiarization course, designed to enable participants to understand what is involved and how these techniques work, so they can make a more educated and realistic decision whether they need or want follow-up training.

Prerequisites: None. Physical exertion is moderate; one can expect to be pushed, grabbed and fall down (and to push and grab others) but not to be thrown, struck or engage in any fighting.  No martial arts background is required; however, if one happens to have martial arts training, the instructors will integrate the martial arts experience of individual participants on a student-by-student basis.

Equipment Requirements: An inert training gun (“red gun,” “blue gun,” etc.), a holster to fit that particular training gun, and a substantial belt to support the holster. The instructors will supply inert training knives for the edged weapons portion of the seminar. This seminar does not involve the handling of any functional firearms or knives. All exercises will be performed using inert training replicas. No firearms, ammunition, edged weapons or sharp implements are permitted to be in the training area.

Attire: Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing, and have your personal carry equipment (holster, mag pouches, etc.) with you, mounted on a sturdy belt.  No jewelry (watches, earrings, studs, etc.) may be worn during the seminar.  No firearms, live ammunition or live blades may be on one’s person during the seminar.

Instructor: Peter is an attorney by profession, and has been teaching firearms, tactics and personal defense courses since 1996.  He is certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection), the State of Arizona (issued CCW Instructor Certificate No. 8769268) and through the Contact Defense, LLC "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor" training program.  In addition to his firearms training, Peter is a competitive judoka (judo practitioner), having attained the rank of Sandan (3rd degree black belt) certified by the U.S.J.I. (medalist at the USJA Senior National Championships, Masters Division, 2005 and 2007; Pa. State Gold Medalist, Masters Division, 100+ kg., 2010 and 2011).  He regularly lectures on the legal aspects of civilian use of firearms, and has authored numerous articles on personal firearms tactics and technique.  Peter will lead the firearms portion of the seminar.

Instructor: Brian Agostino. Brian is an active duty police officer with 14 years seniority.  He currently holds the rank of Sam Dan (3rd degree black belt) in Tang Soo Do, certified as an instructor by the World Tang Soo Do Association.  For the past 13 years he has trained in the Filipino martial arts of Kali and Giron Escrima/Arnis, and Maphilindo Silat, created by Guro Dan Inosanto.  Brian is a certified defensive tactics instructor with the International Police Defensive Tactics Institute (Certificate #17049),and has completed the Contact Defense, LLC "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor," the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Instructor course (Certificate #2794-2) and the Survival F.O.R.C.E. Instructors course (Certificate #656-2).  Brian is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET).  Brian will lead the edged weapons portion of the seminar.

Time Commitment:
The course is two full days, from 9:00 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m., with a lunch and periodic breaks.  Total instruction time is about 15 hours.  A certificate of completion will be awarded to those who satisfactorily complete the training.

For Details, Information and Directions:

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"Having a gun and thinking you are armed is like having a piano and thinking you are a musician"
------ Col. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)

This course is sponsored by the Firearms Instruction Research & Education (FIRE) Institute,
a Penna. nonprofit corporation.
Training is provided as a public service.
All students must be 18 years or older. Proof of no criminal history is required.

© 2003 F.I.R.E. Institute