NO SECOND CHANCE BOOK OF DRILLS

ASSIGNMENT SET #11

Mark Hatmaker

www.extremeselfprotection.com

HOMEWORK PROTOCOL: Upon the completion of each written-assignment, simply email it back. Drills requiring video evaluation can be sent via Private YouTube Channel link. We will provide an evaluation (and follow-up assignment if need be) before proceeding to the next assignment.

"FIRE DRILLS" There is a Special Ops axiom that we need to keep in mind at all times throughout our training: "Never do anything for the first time in combat." In other words, no passive consumption of the material; everything (everything) must be drilled, drilled, drilled.

It is with the above mantra in mind that we approach all of the drills and exercises in this material.

EMERGENCY VEHICLE EXITING: BUCKET SEATS

[We will cover bench seat exits, and car trunk exits in separate assignments.]

This assignment requires you to drill quick efficient vehicle exit in times of emergency. [You can find a short video description of some of the principles on our YouTube channel HatmakerCombatSports]

PRIMARY REASONS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE EXITS

1. Escaping vehicle under carjacking/kidnapping conditions, i.e., predator within the vehicle. Exiting can be done at full stop or movement at slow speed.
2. Boxed In Exit: Your vehicle has been blocked or boxed in and you are unable to use a cross-bumper nudge with your vehicle to get out of the situation. With this in mind we need a quick way to exit directly into fleeing or hands-on confrontation.
3. Boxed In Exit + Weapon Draw: The same situation as above but here you have taken the time to draw your designated weapon or access an improvised weapon within the vehicle requiring you to exit the vehicle with the weapon at the ready.

DRIVER-SIDE EXIT

We will discuss the procedure as the driver being the one needing to exit-all passenger exits are conducted the exact same way without the obstacle of the steering wheel being in the way. I urge you to drill exiting both sides of your vehicle and from both sides of your back seat if you have one-it is ideal if you drill in all of your vehicles if you have more than one.

Note: The lower your vehicle's clearance (think sports cars) the lower you must crouch on your exit stride to be able to hit the ground at speed. In other words, from low vehicles think: "Exit low, stride low for two steps before rising to full sprint posture."

DRIVER-SIDE EXIT PROTOCOL

• Sitting behind the wheel with left foot in dead-pedal position-The sole of the left foot driving hard into the floor panel next to the brake allows you to brace/wedge your lower back and hips against the seat.
•  Soft hands on the wheel-the dead pedal wedge allows you to stay soft on the wheel and use finesse in your steering and not "tugging" the vehicle into position.
• Use a Bootlegger's Grip (thumbless grip) on the wheel to prevent thumb dislocation in an accidental or intentional crash gambit.
• Keeping soft hands on the wheel also reduces the likelihood of using the wheel to lever you into or out of the vehicle once the vehicle is stopped. Using the wheel as a lever or handle is inefficient for the following reasons:

A)  Encourages reliance on weighted wheel use which can lead to inadvertent over-steers if the vehicle is in motion.

B)   Transfers mobility from the legs and hips to limbs far less useful or agile for load bearing.

C) Ties up the hands for defensive purposes and kills the ability to simultaneously wield a weapon with your exit.

EXIT ORDER OF OPERATION

1. Place your vehicle in park.
2. Drive your dead pedal wedge hard.
3. Release your safety belt with your right hand (left hand for opposite wheeled vehicles).
4. Unlatch the door with your left hand.
5. Use the outside point of your left knee to start the door swinging open (take it easy in drill conditions so you don't un-hinge your door or spring the latch).
6. Perform a dead-pedal switch, that is, once the door begins its opening swing transfer your control foot (right foot that controls the accelerator and brake-left foot on opposite wheeled vehicles) to the door frame with the toes of your control foot facing outside.
7. Hit a new dead-pedal wedge driving with your right foot and making the upper body point of contact with the seat the upper left shoulder. This will leave your hands free and your hips relatively weightless.
8. Swing the left leg underneath the right leg to hit the ground facing towards the rear of the vehicle.
9. Your body will naturally follow this direction to take a short sprint towards the rear of the vehicle allowing you to clear the door.
10. As you exit raise your arms to boxer's position to prepare for conflict and/or to use the elbow/forearm of the right arm to open a door that did not open fully with the knee or one that is snapping back off of a hard brake.

EXIT DRILLS

Use the 21-Day Protocol as a base to seat habit.

Spend the next 21-Days:

• Driving with the left foot in dead-pedal position. Strive to make it habit. No need to drive it hard, simply work on applying dead-pedal pressure as you take turns and curves so that you can keep your hands soft on the wheel.
• Over the next 21-Days drive exclusively with a Bootlegger's Grip on the wheel and focus on soft hands on the wheel not tugging and pulling the vehicle where you want it to go. Ideally, you must learn to be the actual driver in control of your vehicle, not simply a passive beneficiary of ABS technology.
• Over the next 21-Days use the casual version of the dead-pedal switch and hands free exit on all of your vehicle exits until it becomes a natural motion.

DRILL WEEKEND

At the end of the 21-Days pick a Drill Day in which you will perform the following exercises.

• 50 Seat-Belt Opens from all seats in your vehicle(s).
• 50 Door-Latch Releases and nudging the door open with the knee from all seats in your vehicle(s).
• 25 Full Exits from all sets in your vehicle(s). Full exit being defined as belt release, to feet on the ground.
• 10 Exits to Full Flight per seat. That is, assume you've got to hit the ground running and put at least 20 yards between you and your vehicle.
• 10 Full Exits to Defensive Ready per seat. Exit, take two strides and turn to face an assailant. Extra Credit if yon can have a partner provide a combat stimulus or focus pad to blast.
• 10 Full Exits to Weapon at the Ready per seat. Unload pre-drill if you are using a firearm.
• 5 Full Exits to a Shoulder Roll per seat. This drill mocks the inertial roll needed if we are exiting a vehicle on the move. (Do not do this while the vehicle is moving-let's work it static and file the details in our brain and pray we never need them.
  • When rolling don't reach for the ground.
  • Hit the ground with your stride lower than normal.
  • Tuck your chin.
  • Fold your arms across your chest.
  • Pick a shoulder and go.

Upon completion of the 21-Days & the Drill Weekend pass along any observations you had during the 21-Days and provide video of the following:

• 1 Full Exit to Flight from the Driver's Seat
• 1 Full Exit to Defensive Ready from the Driver's Seat
• 1 Full Exit to Weapon at the Ready from the Driver's seat
• 1 Full Exit to Shoulder Roll from the Driver's seat

 If you have questions about the Assignment or want details on how you can begin working your way through the NSC Program just drop me a line.

Have fun with your 21-Days & Drill Day!