AAR: Kyle Defoor/Tom Kier Pistol & Blade Integration Class. June 02, 2012

[upright]

This class deserves to have its story told. It was a great class and could easily have been a three or four-day format and still remained relevant and engaging.

Concept: The idea for this class was to integrate and be able to employ blades and/or pistol effectively from kissing distance out to 25 yards (and beyond), engaging multiple targets as necessary.

Instructors: Kyle Defoor (who needs no introduction) and Sayoc Tactical Group. STG was lead by Tom Kier and his assistant instructors, Sean, and Wolfe. STG frequently works with some our nation’s elite and the techniques they teach have been effectively employed to usher the deserving off this mortal coil.

Gear: given that this was a concealed carry class, I ran what I normally carry, namely a Glock 19. I got on Tracker Dan’s list months ago and was stoked to take delivery of my bloodshark in time for the class. Kyle ran a G19 and a bloodshark. The STG guys all shot glocks and had knives tucked away all over the place. I believe all the other students shot some variety of glock except for one problematic HK. There was an eclectic mix of knives but by day two, I think everyone was rocking a bloodshark (thanks to some extras that Tom brought).

Day One: We started off with pistol. In order for Kyle to measure the class’s skill level, we shot the Defoor pistol standard tests cold right out of the gate. Kyle then instructed us on the fundamentals (Kyle has a fairly unique way of gripping the pistol with the support hand) and we continued with accuracy drills at the 25. After honing accuracy, we moved to the 7 and drilled accuracy and speed within a certain time standard.

Tom then instructed us on the concept of “timers” and “switches.” To greatly simply things, hitting someone in a “switch” will drop them instantly but will generally not be fatal (think severing the achilles or shooting the kneecap). Hitting someone in a “timer” will put them in the dirt- eventually. No telling how long. The more holes, generally the less time.

Tom also instructed us on the “reactionary gap”. Basically, if you allow an opponent to get within a certain distance, no amount of training, reflexes, etc will enable you to beat your opponent to the punch if you allow them to move first. You just aren’t able to process and react fast enough. Takeaway- either do not allow an opponent to get too close, or else, strike first!

Next, Tom and the Sayoc crew ran us through some blade templates. A template is basically a series of movements targeting certain vital points on an opponent to put them down quickly and free you to deal with any subsequent threat. There are many, many blade templates, but you’ll have to attend a class. From there, we learned to transition from the blade to the pistol, and finally moved to running them both simultaneously and dealing with multiple threats.

The final hour of the day Tom talked at length about warrior mindset and feeder mentality. Our preparedness, willingness, and awareness are all components of our readiness. I won’t go into more detail than that as there is no way to gauge the audience on the internet. Suffice it to say, it was VERY interesting to hear given that Tom and Kyle get direct feedback from some real slayers.

Day 2

Sunday took all of the skills we learned the day before, ramped up the intensity, and put them into practice.

That morning we discussed and drilled empty-handed skills. I have studied boxing and Muay Thai for many years, but Tom’s method of striking was new to me, yet makes sense. Tom also covered different blade types, fixed v. folder, and blade sharpening techniques.

I can’t really go into a lot of detail on the rest of the day- mostly because the intensity and dynamics of the drills do not translate well into the written word. Suffice it to say we ran a lot of drills. We shot on the move. We shot targets from awkward positions. We engaged targets at kissing distance with blade and pistol. We shot around barricades. We ran movement drills with a partner.

Hopefully, some other students will chime in with their thoughts. I shot about 700 rounds over two days. My skills with a blade went from nonexistent to something I am excited to work into my training routine. It was an awesome class.

[VA_Dinger]

Kyle Defoor
www.kyledefoor.com



Sayoc Tactical Group
www.sayoctactical.com



Grey Group Training:
www.greygrouptraining.com

upright, thanks for the AAR. I am sure others will be popping in to post their AAR's over the next day or so.

I will start posting the photos this afternoon.

I knew this was going to be one hell of a class.

[Boogwardo]

This format, overlaying several disciplines to achieve a well rounded... (not sure what word to use here besides "Feeder"), is the future of training, as Kyle stated in some fashion. I'm not going to go into much detail for several reasons. One being, if I transcribed the entire class and someone tried to emulate it, I'd feel a tad bit responsible (chuckle) if they dispatched their training partner. The other is I personally don't want to give up the golden "doughnuts" of info that they covered. I paid to learn, received the best information currently available and remain blown away with the information. By me saying "received the best", it is my opinion as of today.

I do want to encourage other people to go out of their way to take this class because it could be a game changer for them. The question I'd have for people interested in training is, what do you want to turn yourself into with the training that you seek out. This is not some feel good "you're awesome bro - bust'm" class. It is the raw, effective, boiled down methodology that is continuously refined with help from some of the best warriors on the planet as the test group. If you are seeking training that will change you, look no further.

Kyle and Tom are simply at the leading edge and the tests/drills made you constantly evaluate different variables (threat distance, how many, threat or volunteer...) before you reacted. Some threats might need just a man slap (as I call it) or you might need to draw the blade and run template or draw both gun and blade or gun then then blade... The Trainers did an excellent job explaining the "why" of everything and they are very approachable. On the Blade and CQB portion all four of the instructors (Kyle, Tom, Wolfe and Shawn) were helping/honing each student, regardless of our experience level. The learning pace for me was pretty much full throttle and packed with very valuable information that you can only get here.

Mindset is the key. This is one of those nuggets that I'm not going into detail on and wouldn't do it justice if I did. Tom Kier peeled this onion and exposed some very interesting/sensitve topics.

If a gun or a blade is more than a sporting tool for you, meet up with these guys.

[Giff74]

Great insight guys!

I am really hoping this class if offered more, and in more places, next year. Besides basic pistol skills, this class sounds like one of the most real life applicable classes going (for those of us that are not le/military). I mean I can carry my Glock and a knife all the time. Kind of hard to carry a rifle to work.

If more people were trained in this "in your face" kind of hand-to-hand fighting, I don't think there would be nearly so many of episodes of random killing like that crazy guy who walked into the coffee shop last week and shot those two guys in the head.

Keep up the great work guys!

Giff

[A8AWD]

Originally Posted by Boogwardo

I'm not going to go into much detail for several reasons....The other is I personally don't want to give up the golden "doughnuts" of info that they covered. I paid to learn, received the best information currently available and remain blown away with the information.

^^^^"Golden donuts". Very well said. With a class that contains this level of info, I feel it is ok to write an AAR that expresses the students own personal experiences, but spilling all the beans in the typical step by step AAR fashion would have me shaking my head for a long time. You want to learn it? Show up and train and you walk away with the golden donuts.

That said, I regret not being able to make this one. A 16hr round trip from CT is small potatoes when it comes to a class like this. Has a date been set for the next one?

[Kirkrv8]

I agree I am going keep a close eye on the schedule for another of this class, I could not make this one but will make the next.

[VA_Dinger]

Kyle Defoor
www.kyledefoor.com



Sayoc Tactical Group
www.sayoctactical.com



Grey Group Training:
www.greygrouptraining.com

[Shawn.L]

Awesome time training with you guys. It was great to see the eyes open up with some of my buds who haven't trained with Kyle before, and great to get boogwardo up from that cold awful state he left for a little QT in PA