Ex-IDF commando teaches survival at UC Irvine

Jerusalem Post ^ | 2/14/10 | GREG HARDESTY

[Nachum]

Stivi knows about death. The married, father of four has about him the air of mysterious tough guy.

IRVINE, California – When the shooter burst through the door, the students were ready.

They jumped over and around tables. They rushed the gunman. They screamed and tossed anything within reach; backpacks, books, pens.

In less than five seconds, the would-be killer was on the floor, powerless to carry out his planned – and staged – massacre.

“How many shots did you get off?” the guest instructor asked after the simulated attack in a University of California, Irvine, classroom.

“Two,” the shooter said.

[Travis McGee]

Takes a lot of guts and prior mental commitment, in a moment that produces shock and paralysis.

[heartwood]

Yes, yes, yes.

Granted, the students were expecting an attack. Granted they weren’t paralyzed by the sight of real blood and death. Granted, an assailant with a pistol is not the same as a team with grenades. But still, nearly any action beats cower and cover.

I have told my children that if their school is ever attacked, they’re to break the windows and go out, away from the noise. If they could be taught to act as a group they’d be exponentially stronger.

You don’t need $2500 a student to teach this. In fact, you won’t reach a critical mass if it costs that much. But this is the way Americans need to think: counterattack, fight back.

[Screaming_Gerbil]

Takes a lot of guts and prior mental commitment, in a moment that produces shock and paralysis.

There is the saying that "the body can't go where the mind has not already been. So planning things and visualizing things ahead of time would be the best way to mentally plan.

I figure it helps if you decide that you will die anyway, so might as well die fighting back than doing nothing. At least that is what I have figured out ahead of time if it ever happens to me.

Note I am not saying I would for sure be great in such a crisis - I have never been put through such a test, so honestly cannot say for sure how I will do.

But at leat I've thought ahead...

[Screaming_Gerbil]

...But still, nearly any action beats cower and cover...

...I have told my children that if their school is ever attacked, they’re to break the windows and go out, away from the noise...

...this is the way Americans need to think: counterattack, fight back.

I figure that even if everybody did nothing but ran around in circles screaming, it would make things more difficult for the shooter and disrupt his plans.

The shooter's mental image is probably people on their knees begging not to be shot. The intended victims running around trying to get away or even around running in circles screaming would make things more difficult.

And in all the movement and the confusion maybe someone not being shot at that moment will get the idea and the opportunity to throw something like a chair or whatever at the gunman...

[Tweeker]

I fear that this course may be very timely for the University of Irvine. The school administration has not acted against when there have been events and demonstrations that promote hate (anti-semetic - anti-USA - anti-democracy.

The students will need to learn to protect themselves.
However I must add the Irvine police force are very well prepared in the event of violence on campus - just hope they get there quickly.

[Travis McGee]

Absolutely, I agree with every word of that, and it’s all a perfect reason to go through drills or at least do “mental drills” with visualization etc.