Real Combat Experience – Part 1 — The Nature of the Beast

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I know I’m going to offend someone, somewhere, with this article, so I’ll say sorry now! I realise that a lot of people train in ‘real combat’ systems, but (and here’s the thing) what is real combat and what do most people know about it?

Everyone knows about real combat training, yes? Maybe not, if we’re telling the truth. Real combat is a desperate, brutal and terrifying experience, mercifully unknown to most people. It cannot be accurately simulated unless the stakes are raised to unacceptable levels. It is not just about learning and drilling technique after technique, most truly effective fighters – the kind found in dark alleys, not training halls – have extremely limited technical repertoires. What is lacked in ‘expertise,’ is compensated for with numbers, surprise and viciousness. What can really prepare you for these factors? Experience certainly can, but are you ready for this kind of experience?

If you’ve never been there, don’t kid yourself, or others, that your ultra-system is going to do the business. Sorry, but until the risk is ‘real’ you’ll never know if your capabilities are. Fact. Nothing that hasn’t been stated before, but still it seems to me that plenty of people take too much for granted as far as real fighting is concerned. High stakes really put a new slant on personal performance, there is no room for failure – it’s not a rehearsal, second chances are never guaranteed.

Surely I don’t have to remind anyone what real failure is all about, but I’m going to do so anyway. Minor physical injuries, sustained during a real attack, can create deep and severe psychological wounds, these sometimes take the longest time to heal, if they ever do. While we’re on the subject, let’s not fool ourselves with the ‘minor injuries’ concept – real attackers don’t hold with it. They are going to do whatever they can to take you out, and then some for good measure, and then some more purely out of spite. Minor injuries? Not likely. Too many people underestimate the sustained ferocity of real attacks, the lengths that attackers are more than willing to go to, and the lack of assistance likely to be available to them at the time. Very rarely will anyone these days put his or her neck on the line for a stranger, when things really get messy.

I’m not trying to say that people won’t come to watch, but don’t count on them getting involved, at least not on your side anyway. Keep this unpleasant reality in mind, it is essential to train and mentally prepare for third-party attackers. Also, try to make sure that any witnesses are your witnesses, because should you prevail against the odds there may be an abundance of spectators keen to condemn your actions – you may have actually had to hurt someone! Such is the public’s ignorance regarding effective self-protection (minimum force tends to be interpreted as minimal force, and is still expected to work regardless!). Personally, I still prefer ‘judged by strangers’ over ‘carried by friends,’ however un-PC it may be. I must state in my defence that I’ve never actually been attacked or assaulted in a politically correct manner or in any way sanctioned by the European Court of Human Rights, to this date anyhow!

I really wish that I could deal with gangs and multiple attackers like in the manuals and movies; de-escalate, evade, block, restrain and the like. Unfortunately, I live and work in the real world and when it ‘goes off’, I try to get stuck in and level all concerned, then exit stage left. Not each and every time I assure you, but I’ve seen the result, and been on the receiving end, of group attacks too many times to have any misconceptions regarding how much force really is ‘minimum’ during such incidents, and hanging around post-incident is too much like asking for an encore as far as I’m concerned.

It is always preferable to attempt avoidance or de-escalation of a potential situation, as prevention is always better than cure. Sometimes, no matter how hard you may try, a situation won’t avoid you. Likewise, you can only talk to those who are willing to listen to reason. Wasting time with rhetoric, however ‘Win – Win’ it may be, can get you hurt when the other ‘party’ just doesn’t care what you have to say. Strong words I know, but I’m sure plenty of you out there know the score. When the chips are down and your neck really is on the line, you quite simply cannot afford to f**k about!

What I recommend, most emphatically, is that if you want to learn about real fighting ask those who really have been in life-threatening situations; real uncontrolled, unprepared and unlimited encounters – no safety net, the kind that nightmares are made of. Find someone who has been there, and who is honest enough to put his or her ego to one side just long enough to recount the real deal. Watch their face, especially their eyes, when they tell you what you possibly don’t really want to know. Either as predator or prey, their experiences of real violence are certain to make you step back and take stock of your real training.

However hard the training is, nothing is comparable to a sudden confrontation with some desperate addict who doesn’t care whether you give him your money or he takes it from your body, anything rather than endure an imminent heroin withdrawal. On the other hand, a group of young wannabe ‘faces’ who have nothing to lose but their reputations, their most important asset, will not hesitate to smash you up just for sport. You see for some people violence is a way of life, either as a sport or as a business, and to them you’re just a ball to kick or a walking ATM. Don’t believe me? Please give me the names of some estate agents in your area, or maybe consider getting some stronger prescription glasses!

Article written by Mick Coup

With an extensive and varied background in a multitude of fighting systems, active military service and specialist security operations, Mick Coup provides expert and comprehensive tuition in personal protection, safety and security based only on reality and empirical knowledge.

Mick has a reputation for telling it as it really is, not just how many want it to be - often controversial, but backed by a wealth of ‘in harms way’ high-stakes experience, uncompromising and hard earned at the sharp edge, not just tested but proven beyond doubt - time and time again.

Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Mick studied and trained in several traditional and modern martial disciplines from an early age before enlisting in HM Forces, when his focus changed to more pragmatic and functional forms of personal combat to reflect real-life requirements.

This new direction in training was influenced by extensive exposure to specialist military operations and detailed research into numerous and various progressive training resources, from related civilian, military and law-enforcement sectors.

Throughout his 12-year service career - specialising in combined infantry and intelligence-related roles - through to this day and tomorrow, Mick has continually researched and developed functional and effective combative methods, always emphasising efficiency and simplicity as major factors and incorporating, adapting and integrating proven military tactics and real-time tried and tested techniques gained from a combination of military active service and ongoing private security contracts.

From working on high-level close protection and surveillance details, plus armed operations in high-risk environments, to providing and managing security for problematic entertainment venues and acting as a ‘troubleshooter’ resolving sensitive issues for a wide range of domestic and international clients - Mick has had ample opportunity to confirm and validate the effectiveness of his methods, as have many of his previous and current students.

Designing and developing a purely functional, objective-based and requirement-driven concept-method for personal combat has lead Mick to the realisation of his highly acclaimed ‘C2: Core Combatives’ project. Progressive and modular, the C2 concept-model initially provides the necessary ’stripped down’ essentials, and builds layer-by-layer into a full-spectrum combative approach incorporating empty hands, impactive and bladed weapons and the tactical application of personal firearms - suitable and adaptable for the professional and novice alike.

To date, Mick has taught clients ranging from military personnel, law enforcement officers and security professionals, to individuals from various corporate bodies and members of the general public.

Mick continues to be active and operational within the specialist security industry, ensuring nothing less than up-to-date and current material is presented throughout his teaching.

Mick is currently based in Cardiff, South Wales.