- And do I pull the trigger if it's a life or death situation?

Another human being with a loaded weapon is readying, drawing, aiming or shooting at you with the intent to kill you. Do you want to shoot first and do you want to train against risking being in a sharp situation. Will you pull the trigger on your gun to survive or die? I can't answer the question for you, only decide what I want to do. Hopefully I won't be in this situation. Take the peaceful route if possible.

Perhaps the right and easiest decision is to follow the non-violent Gandhi path. If everyone decided to live this way there would probably be no wars, killings or conflicts. A beautiful thought, most would probably think.

But is it realistic, or just a romantic, illusory view of the real world. The reality is that harmful conflict, killing and war exist in between peaceful coexistence, survival and peace.

It will only take one man, woman or child one thought, word and deed to break this peaceful, loving life. Survival of the fittest in nature is also who is best at killing if necessary and in some cases just if possible. And it is not necessarily the necessity or the possibility that springs from the strong mind or is carried out by the strong body.

So will you let your survival depend on the mercy of others, or will you be 100% responsible for your life and train to survive in one sharp situation, which you will hopefully never get into, but avoid at all costs?

Very few people will ever take the life of another human or others, even if it means that they or others will be killed. Other people kill only to survive themselves. Others will kill when they are about to be killed themselves. Others again, when they themselves or their family, friends, group or country are threatened or attacked. Some will kill to prevent other people from threatening them (again?). Some people to achieve power, money, or respect. Some people kill in affect, in revenge, to punish and get alone because of the delusions of a sick mind, including most suicides. However, suicide does not have to be a sign of a sick mind, think of the legend of Noro Sensei and the Red Bridge.

Very few people will risk killing or letting themselves be killed alone to save the lives of an even greater number of people alone. Quite a few (also among 'The Good Ones') kill 'by mistake', most often because of a wet shot, including themselves. The few who have killed, even if it was to survive, will probably live on unchallenged.

So when do you want to kill and what is the difference between using a weapon (eg a gun) and not using a weapon. In my opinion, it's the decision to be able to survive, even if it means taking another human's life, not about guns or not. Having said this, it is not only important but almost necessary today for a modern martial arts practitioner to have broad and in-depth weapon knowledge and skills in order to survive and prevent oneself and others from being killed if a sharp situation had to arise.

Imagine you are the civilian, military or policeman who has the chance to stop a cold-blooded killer, perhaps even dressed in a police or military uniform, such as Hitler or Breivik, in the middle of his cold-blooded shooting of a number of innocent people. Would you have the wisdom and courage to recognize and stop this insane act? Would you dare shoot a mentally ill, dangerous man and cold-blooded killer to save the lives of many good people. Most people would say yes, especially if one of their family members was among the shooting victims or could be saved by this action. But what if the mentally ill person is someone you know? Or if it was a pregnant woman? And if you know her as a good person (perhaps better than yourself)? Or if the pregnant woman was the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus, who as the Son of God would free humanity from all its sins, and the Kingdom of Heaven would happen on earth. And you stood in the way? What if she was the last woman in the world, and wanted to kill you among a number of other and better men in a fight for survival. What if it was your son, father, daughter, mother or wife who threatened or intended to kill you. Would you give your life to save the lives of others? And can we decide in advance?

Just remember, it's not the weapon or the absence of a weapon that kills, it's the man behind it! And who decides whether killing or survival is bad or good. It probably all depends on the situation you're in.

As always words are appreciated and it is the action that counts and creates the future!

Therefore, I will now focus on describing the Project Old Modern Warfare (POMW) project briefly so that we can focus on practicing the basic principles of shooting, whether we are going to use it or not. Hopefully, for most of us, it will never be necessary to apply what we learn, like the rest of our training.

Nevertheless, what is worth doing is worth doing well. The principles of shooting appear to be completely equivalent to all weapon handling and dealing with potentially dangerous/harmful machines or potentially harmless/harmless people in general.

Or vice versa, and also in that way, the knowledge passed on by Kimu Sensei has great value, also for us ordinary mortals who also want to be immortal 😉 but don't do what it takes.

Basic shooting technique handbook basic rules:

1. Security
2. Correct basis and optimal shooting technique.

Point 1 is repeated in points 3,5 7,and 9, point 2 is repeated in points 4,6 and 8.

Completely in line with the native Americans, the Indians, tell that the universe is based on security and value. If our decisions are based on this, we will be supported.
POMW was created by Kimu Sensei in order to prove the truth of the old master Minouchi Sensei. He argued that the champion can always decide to go the way of the warrior. The warrior may on rare occasions go the way of the champion, but can rarely be expected to do so.

The basic five steps:

1. Correct dual hand position (70-30%, left / right, control / power hand)
2. Correctly aim funds – every time
3. Correct trigger – Press (fast), Squeeze (slow), not knowing when the shot goes off each time is correct
4. Correct recoil control, correct body position (Heiko dachi foot position, tekane legs and arms, upper body leaning forward, elbows towards center, pistol raised to eyes), correct breathing (end expiratory firing), intention (100%) every time, correct timing ( depends on the distance 5-8 sec 3-5 m, 11-14 5-7 m etc.)
5. Evaluation every time, learning point by point, troubleshooting. Safety and correct basis. Remember successes and learn from mistakes. Check shots only after the weapon points to the ground and the procedure is over

Remember:

• Proper handling of weapons based on safety and regulations.
• "Keep your eyes on the front sight, son", i.e. front sight in sharp focus, target blur in the background.
• Every shot counts.
• Treat weapons with respect

DQ is given in the event of a safety breach or a lack of correct basis resulting in a dangerous, possibly harmful situation resulting in a two-minute thinking and learning break on the bench.

• for example the finger on or near the trigger,
• when firing is not done at the right time and place,
• or student has not gone through the three steps at
  • unloading cartridge cases
  • shown clearly (cartridge/ammunition empty barrel or
  • that the tap is cocked rather than safely laid down with the thumb
    • § in a controlled manner with weapons pointing at the target or shooting field away from yourself and others.

My personal learnings from POMW TSM A & B:
When I listened to my 'little me' ego tell me how good my shooting instinct was, I NOT only missed the black box, but barely hit the target. Doing as I was told by Kimu Sensei, and following the essence and simple basic rules of shooting derived from observing, learning and shooting with the best in the world, I shot at or at least very close to the Bulls Eye after only two hours internship.

Time will show where the level of internal development, i.e. at which TG group, the curves cross, for the civilian martial arts/martial arts practitioner in terms of being able to walk the path of the warrior. For Menkyo or above, it is easy or at least by decision proven possible, and even in a very short time. Probably also possible for Renshi or Joden, less likely for Shidoin's and Shidoin-dai's, unless one is on the way to Menkyo or already possesses Menkyo intent and has the 'all or nothing' intent'.

All that remains is to wish you luck with the daily ½ hour training until POMW C. Time will tell if we only train for Shoot to thrill, not to kill or survive. Good luck to all of you and may the force be with you all. Also see POMW articles from Kimu Sensei and higher graduates in the Shihan-kai. Thanks to Kimu Sensei for proving Minouchi Sensei's words, and for showing great charity by developing and passing on the essence of the teachings, even with the long-term investment of his own personal and financial resources. May it come again in tenfold or 100fold.

Kindest Shindenkan greetings, Christian Shidoin-dai