Concealed Carry Handguns – August 2019

What if you’re older or have physical
limitations? How do you go about
selecting a reputable trainer?

BALICKI: It’s never too late to start
training. There are so many arts out
there that can accommodate any person
of any age. It’s hard for me to suggest
a specifi c martial art to someone who
asks. Like food, everyone has a specifi c
taste and you need to fi nd the one
that fi ts you. What I would suggest
is to start investigating the web and
see if you can fi nd something that will
work for you. After that, visit different
schools and audit the classes. Make sure
the school and, more specifi cally, the
instructor are credible and are teaching
in a safe, respectable way (especially
weapons-based classes). For me, my
art of choice predominantly was Filipino
martial arts (FMA). It’s not to say that I
don’t look at other systems. I do. How-
ever, FMA is my base when it comes to
weapons. Again, you may not like this
system, but you need to fi nd what works
for you. FMA works for me.

CCH: Other than a fi rearm, are there
other weapons you’d recommend
carrying once you receive the appro-
priate training?

BALICKI: As far as carrying weapons, the
fi rst thing I do is learn the local laws and
see if I am compliant. Some states frown
on a citizen carrying knives or certain
blade lengths of knives. Try not to get
caught up on carrying weapons that are
illegal for a host of reasons.

Outside of being put in jail for carrying

an illegal weapon, there are other

reasons not to carry an illegal weapon.

I have seen people who carry many

different types of weapons that were

forbidden in their communities. Some try

to come up with creative ways to con-

cealing their weapons. Most of the time

they are trying to conceal it from not just

the public’s view, but also from law en-

forcement offi cers. Most often, they bury

the weapon in elaborate ways, making

the weapon not readily accessible.

Now when you need the weapon, it

takes so long to deploy it that you be-

come vulnerable to the attack, negating

the very reason you are carrying the

weapon in the fi rst place. Imagine an

assailant coming at you with either his

hands or worse, a weapon, and now

your hand(s) are occupied trying to

deploy your illegal weapon. Try to stay

legal and fi nd the easiest weapon that

can be deployed in high stress situations.

Also remember, form should follow func-

tion. Sexy looking weapons are great,

but are they really functional?

You need to be able to deploy your

weapon in high stress situations. When

you fi nd a weapon that you feel com-

fortable with, you have to start making

it part of your wardrobe. It is a must that

you start training deployment of the

weapon, be it under garments or draw-

ing it from holsters or cases. You also

need to be creative and work at drawing

the weapon from every conceivable

position your body can be in. Work it

LEFT: Don’t

underestimated an

opponent with a

knife. In a couple of

heartbeats he can

close the distance

and be on you.

Guruxox / Dreamstime.

com

RIGHT: Here, Balicki

(left) is defending

against a close

quarters threat from

a man with the gun,

not having time or

space to deploy a

weapon of his own.

Photo courtesy of Ron

Balicki

standing, sitting (on the ground, in a

chair or vehicle), lying down (prone and

supine). Then work those positions under

stress situations. You need to be able

to have it out in a split second from all

positions with your right and left hands.

If you can’t access the weapon easily in

your training imagine trying to draw the

weapon while someone is swinging at

you with malice.

While I was on the Sheriff’s department,

we would have fi rearms training. Cadets

were given different scenarios and had

to overcome the obstacles. One of my

favorites were to shout out, “Bang! You

just got shot in your strong hand. Now

pull your fi rearm out with your weak

hand.” It was shocking to see so many

cadets fail to even clear their fi rearms

from their holsters, especially under

stress. Do not take this for granted. You

need to have a solution and train it until

it is second nature.

What happens when you drop or lose

your weapon? Many people carry

“IT’S BETTER TO GO

TO YOUR MAKER

TRYING TO NULLIFY

A THREAT WITH A

PLAN THAN GOING

OUT WITH A CRY

AND A PLEA.”

FALL 2019  CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS 45