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Firearms Instruction Research and Education

Unarmed Self-Defense As Adjunct To Pistolcraft

Seminar and Demonstration
Saturday
February 9, 2008
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Pistolcraft refers to the methods, skills and techniques by which one will use a hand gun for self-defense. Unfortunately, pistol techniques which are currently taught as a response to sudden, contact-distance encounters will not, in most cases, protect one from serious injury, particularly where an assailant is armed. In this regard, current hand gun defense tactics are plainly unsatisfactory.

On the other hand, the techniques employed in Judo, Tae Kwon Do and related disciplines are very effective in dealing with sudden lunging or grabbing attacks at contact distance. The study of unarmed self defense (particularly Judo), even at a fundamental level, will greatly enhance the defensive capability of an individual who intends to rely upon a firearm for self-defense. This enhancement will be realized early in the training process, and will only increase if and as the student may progress in his course of study.

Unfortunately, people are put off by the impression that one must put in years of training to acquire useful unarmed martial skills, and believe they must be young and strong to obtain the benefits of such training. Neither is true.

To illustrate the advantages a short course of formal study of one of these unarmed techniques holds for the student of pistolcraft, the F.I.R.E. Institute has organized a short seminar and demonstration. At this seminar, the methods currently taught for using a hand gun to control and defend contact distance encounters will be reviewed, and their limitations illustrated. Principles and some techniques of unarmed self-defense will then be explained, and applied to the same problems, with a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the two forms of response. Our hope is that serious students of pistolcraft will recognize the necessity of initially responding to a contact distance assault with an unarmed technique if they hope to avoid serious injury.

Although this seminar is designed primarily to educate those interested in firearms training, those who study traditional martial arts may also be interested in the contrast between the approach, mind set and legal consequences of the two schools of defense. All are invited to attend.

The firearms portion of the program will be presented primarily by Peter Georgiades. Mr. Georgiades , currently a 2nd Dan in Kodokan Judo, is a graduate of the Gunsite Training Academy Law Enforcement Carbine Instructor Certification Course, Marksman's Enterprise (Jim Crews) 3 day instructor courses for both carbine and pistol, and the Contact Defense, LLC (Steve Tarani) "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor"course, and has trained extensively with some of the foremost firearms instructors in the U.S. He is certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection) and the State of Arizona (certificate No. 8769268), is a member of the International Ass'n. of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), and has been teaching the defensive firearms independently since 1996.

The martial arts portion of the program will be presented primarily by Master Christopher D. Moore. Master Moore is a 5th Dan in Tae Kwon Do and a 3rd Dan in Judo. He has instructed in martial arts and self defense at many area schools. Master Moore has 30 years of experience in the martial arts, and more than a decade of teaching experience.

The seminar will be held at Kim's Martial Arts & Fitness Studio, 3606 Brownsville Rd., in Brentwood. Driving directions are below. If you would like more information, contact Peter Georgiades - (412) 381-8035.

Legal stuff: This course is sponsored as a public service by the Firearms Instruction, Research Education (FIRE) Institute, a non-profit, tax-exempt educational organization. The FIRE Institute is not affiliated with Kim's Martial Arts & Fitness Studio. One may have the opportunity, if they wish, to try out some of the techniques during the seminar, but to do so one must be 18 years or older. The FIRE Institute reserves the right to refuse to allow any individual to attend or participate in any particular exercise.

Directions

Kim's Martial Arts and Fitness
3606 Brownsville Road
Pittsburgh, PA

FROM THE PITTSBURGH SIDE OF MT. WASHINGTON:

Take E. Carson Street (Rt. 837 South) up river, to Becks Run Road. Becks Run Road is 1.5 miles past the Birmingham Bridge. You will see it coming down from your right, under a high railroad trestle. Turn Right on to Becks Run Road, and follow it 2.3 miles to the crest of the hill, where it intersects with Brownsville Road. You will pass though a couple of traffic lights and a water treatment plant on your right.When you get to the crest of the hill, go LEFT on to Brownsville Road. Follow Brownsville Road 1.2 miles. This will take you through two traffic lights and a couple of stop signs. You will know you are approaching the right block when you see a fire station and the Brentwood Public Library on your left. Park anywhere you can find at that point, as you are a 60 second walk from the place, and parking is sometimes hard to find. Kim's Martial Arts and Fitness is at 3606 Brownsville Rd. Unfortunately, there is no number on the front of the dojo. There is, however, a big sign. It is directly across from a middle school that is impossible to miss.

DIRECTIONS: FROM THE SOUTH HILLS:

I think the easiest (although not necessarily the shortest) route is to take Rt. 51 South to the intersection of Brownsville Road and Rt. 51, which is a major intersection. Go left on to Brownsville Road (toward Pittsburgh). 3606 Brownsville Road is on the left, about .9 miles from the intersection with Rt. 51. You will pass a fire station, and Kim's is on the next block on your left. Note the middle school. If you pass the Brentwood Public Library, you have gone too far.

INSTRUCTIONS WHEN YOU GET THERE:

There are a couple of house rules at the dojo. When you enter the front door, you will see a set of shelves or cubbies for shoes. One must remove their shoes and hats before entering the dojo, and put them in one of the shoe cubbies.Food, beverages and smoking are prohibited beyond the entry way. Nobody will accost you over it, especially if you are a guest. However, as guests we must keep to the rules. Please leave your sandwich in the car and smoke outside.If you have any questions, there will be lots of people of all ages milling about, as the Saturday Tae Kwon Do class will have just let out. Ask any of them where the bleachers are, and they will certainly help. We will start promptly at 2:00. One final note: as a matter of safety, there are no hard objects permitted in the mat area, which will include firearms or folding knives. Therefore, if you think you may wish to try some of the techniques that will be demonstrated, lock firearms or knives in your car. Do not bring them into the facility. We can always empty your pockets of keys, coins, pens and such and put those articles in a pile off to the side, but we cannot accept responsibility for keeping track of weapons while exercises are proceeding.

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.