Gabe Suarez: Extreme Close Range Gunfighting

[ranburr]

I attended this class in Tyler, TX last week. All I can say is wow! Gabe is a fabulous instructor. The entire class is done from concealment and on the move. The airsoft force on force segment is very eye opening. This class and Gabe both rank right up with the best. If you ever get a chance to train with Gabe, jump on it.

ranburr

[Viscon]

I attended this class in Tyler, TX last week. All I can say is wow! Gabe is a fabulous instructor. The entire class is done from concealment and on the move. The airsoft force on force segment is very eye opening. This class and Gabe both rank right up with the best. If you ever get a chance to train with Gabe, jump on it.

ranburr
ranburr,

I would love to take one of his classes. Is there anyway you could do a short review or at least post an agenda?

[garrettwc]

I would also like to get a detailed accounting of ranburr's impressions if he has the time. But in the interim:

There is a video on youtube from the basic class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06mH6x2Ntc

The audio was out of sync the last time I tried to watch it, but it should give you an idea of what to expect.

[ranburr]

I'll give you a quick down and dirty. A couple of things first, this is not a beginner level course. If you are not comfortable drawing from concealment and firing while moving, this is not the course for you. Gabe is very helpful, but he does not slow down for weaker skilled students. My class really didn't have any issues since everyone had a fair amount of previous training. If you are heavily indoctrinated by places like Gunsite, Frontsite, LFI, etc; you are going to need to forget about a lot of what you have previously been taught. Gabe's tactics and techniques come from a variety of sources beyond the gun world (martial arts, knife fighting, stick fighting, fencing, etc). He essentially views gunfighting as another form of martial arts. He does an excellent job of explaining why you do what you do in class. I would suggest that you take a Glock, XD, M&P, or some other high capacity 9mm to this course. I took a 1911 with 16, eight round magazines and it wasn't enough. I was constantly performing reloads on the move and loading mags when off line. Gabe believes in a lot of shots on target as quickly as possible. The course description says 400 rounds, I brought 600 and needed more. Most of the time you will not be using your sights, you will be focused on the threat rather than the front sight. You will do a lot of one handed and weak hand shooting. If you bring a 1911, the safety comes off the minute you clear leather and it doesn't go back on until it is reholstered. I bring all of this up because this is not a class based on "The Modern Technique". Be prepared to do things differently.

With all of that out of the way; the first morning started as force on force with Airsoft pistols. First off, there is nothing soft about airsoft. When I took a shower after class I looked like I had been attacked by a swarm of bees! We began by just squaring up and drawing and firing on one another. Basically, if you use traditional methods at these ranges, both parties are going to wind up getting shot. We then began to move off of the X (that is the whole point of the class). We learned various angles of movement that greatly increase your chances of causing that first shot to miss. I'm 6'4" 340lb ex college lineman (big and broad). Even at my size I was able to move to where either the first shot missed me or caught me in the shoulder instead of the chest or head. Finally, we incorporated drawing and firing on the attacker while moving off the X. The airsoft was the most eye opening part of the course. Before this class, I considered airsoft to be a kid's toy. I now look at it as a valuable training tool.

After lunch we began some live fire. Gabe does not care if you fire Weaver, ISO, or whatever. The goal is to put your shots where they count. He also doesn't care about one hole groups. If you put all five into the chest and they are a little spread out, well that can be argued that it is more lethal than one tight hole. Bottom line here is that combat accuracy is good enough here. We started firing from a traditional two handed squared up stance and progressed to one handed firing (both weak and strong). We then started moving off the X, drawing from concealment the whole time. We did a lot of 11 and 1 o'clock moves. We perfomed lateral movement and firing. We simulated someone grabbing you from behind and you had to get your pistol out and start pumping rounds into what would be their thigh or midsection. Keep in mind, the pistol is upside down and pointed backwards while doing this drill. We worked on shooting "over" the sights and true point shooting. If you have the time and distance, you use your sights. If you don't have the time and distance, you use whatever other method is appropriate. This pretty much covers day one.

Day two starts with a little refresher of what you did the first day. Then we moved into contact shots, getting someone off of you, firing with the pistol locked into your rib cage. Keep in mind, Gabe is always explaing to you why your doing what you are doing. He also equates everything to actual real world shootings. We proceeded to fire from a seated position with each hand from various angles. You will shocked at how well you can shoot from the strangest of positions that your body naturally wants to move to. An example, while seated, we would twist around to the right and fire with gun upside down. It sounds goofy but at 5yds you can hit torso shots from this position. We then learned how to move and fire in a confined area. Finally, we learned how to fire from a vehicle and to get out of the vehicle and head to cover. We also practiced team drills on the move.

In a nutshell, Gabe's philosophy is to do what comes natural to you (don't fight your body); put a lot of rounds into the kill zones; and never stop moving. I have a military background, so I understood the need to move to cover. But, I had always been taught to move to cover and then fire. Gabe showed me that I could make solid hits while moving. Gabe also sold me on appendix carry (around front rather than strong side). I always scoffed at this form of carry and thought it would be uncomfortable. Suprisingly, I have found it to be very comfy with a full size pistol (see above for my dimensions); it is easier to conceal than strong side; it is a much faster draw (from concealment); you can still get to your pistol while seated in a car.

This review really doesn't do the class justice. But, you get the general idea. Gabe is an unbelieveable instructor, in fact the only guy that I know who even comes close is Paul Howe. I plan on taking more classes with Gabe in the future. I never thought I would say this, but this class had such an effect on me that I ordered an XDM in 9mm with an appendix carry holster. I'm not throwing away my 1911s and strong side holsters, but I have decided that there just might be a better way. Go to his class and it will be the best $400 you ever spent on training.

ranburr

[TonyW]

Re: Day two starts with a little refresher of what you did the first day. Then we moved into contact shots, getting someone off of you, firing with the pistol locked into your rib cage

Ranburr - sounds like a great course. Regarding the above, I've noted a change in the way my Blackwater instructor is teaching. Previously, the draw was essentially one swift movement consisting of bringing your weak hand to your chest at the same time you started the draw; as soon as the gun cleared the holster, safety turned off, it was rotated towards the threat, keeping it close to your body, then brought up to meet the weak hand and both hands extended in something resembling Weaver or whatever was comfortable in the situation - then firing began.

The change now is more like Gabe -- as soon as the gun is clear of the holster, safety off, tight into the side - firing begins and is continued as the gun is extended and grasped by the weak hand - unsighted until when in the extended (Weaver) position the sights are used if a more accurate placement is needed at that time (i.e. cranial).

[Viscon]

That is an excellent review ranburr! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I do ALLOT of competitive shooting, but have yet to take a "Self defense course" That's next on my list and it sounds like Gabe's would be a good one.

[schoonie]

Please explain the appendix carry with concealed carry. Do you put a holster inside your pants down in the front of your body; kind of a groin carry? And what kind of clothing do you have to wear to adequately conceal the gun?

[ranburr]

Please explain the appendix carry with concealed carry. Do you put a holster inside your pants down in the front of your body; kind of a groin carry? And what kind of clothing do you have to wear to adequately conceal the gun?

Front, to the right or left of center (right or left handed). You only need a t-shirt (size larger than normal) to conceal with this carry method.

ranburr

[schoonie]

Not to be too persistent, but is this with an IWB holster? If it is and carried IWB, should you wear larger than usual pants and what type of belt? Would there be a limit as to the size of pistol and hoster for this type of carry? I am trying to figure out how you would do this and wear ordinary khakis or jeans or dress pants with a belt and not have to have them in a larger than normal size to be able to wear the holstered gun and be comfortable with it. I usually wear a regular buttoned down the front shirt tucked into my trousers with a belt. Just trying to figure out if this type of carry would work with this type of dress. Thank you for your explanations.

[garrettwc]

schoonie, it is IWB holster. An appendix carry holster has a more vertical cant than the usual IWB holster. If you want to try this you need to make sure you get one made for appendix carry. A regular IWB holster won't work.

Whether or not you need bigger pants is a subjective thing. Some folks do, some don't. As always, a good quality gun belt is needed.

Unless you have a tuckable holster (there are some made) you would wear your shirt untucked. If you watch the video I linked to, the force on force demo at the beginning shows one of the guys appendix carrying a Glock under his sweatshirt.

The size of the pistol can be a comfort issue when seated. Again that is dependent on body type. Gabe carries a full size Glock 22 appendix, but others choose something smaller.

You just have to try it to see what works best.

[ranburr]

You cannot carry this way with a tucked in shirt. You need a belt designed for carrying a gun (as with any form of belt carry). With any form of IWB some people buy pants one size larger than normal. I just wear my normal pants, but I don't wear tight pants. I have been wearing jeans, shorts, and Khakis. Gabe carried this way with a Glock 17, he is not a large man. I have been carrying a CZ75 without issue, see my dimensions above. It is not a carry method that you can do in all environments. Meaning, your shirt must be untucked. But, that is pretty much the case with any form of belt carry.

ranburr

[dogdollar]

Very good write-up, Randy. Thanks - sounds like I should have tagged along that weekend.
I carry this way quite a bit - I find it very comfortable and pretty darned quick. What do you think Mr. Suarez would have to say about it?
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/ChHolstr1.jpg

[TonyW]

Tim, what holster are you using in your jeans?
Thanks

[dogdollar]

Tony, it's just an Uncle Mike's El Cheapo...about ten bucks.
I really find this mode of carry quite comfortable.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/ChHolstr3.jpg
DD

[TonyW]

Tony, it's just an Uncle Mike's El Cheapo...about ten bucks.
I really find this mode of carry quite comfortable.
DD

Thanks Tim - I have a universal High Noon IWB holster very similar - and it would work super-- EXCEPT the right hand pocket of all my jeans have a knife pocket with rivets that will scratch a gun! There is an advantage to being a lefty! Need to go jeans shopping!

[phydaux]

Dog, that's not a full government model size 1911, it it? Would that work with a full size, do you think? How about when driving? How does it work when driving?

[dogdollar]

That gun is a commander. A full sized 1911 works okay, too.
I am left handed, so when I drive, it goes in a holster on the door.
Instant access...........
DD

[phydaux]

I am left handed, so when I drive, it goes in a holster on the door.
Instant access...........
DD

I am also left handed, so tell me more about this door holster of yours....