PMCI - April 2018

pmcimagazine.com
SKILLS AND DRILLS: GROUND COMBATIVES
GROUND COMBATIVES 2
In the last issue of PMCI Andy took a look at the standard Prone position that is commonly taught in most
tactical firearms schools, military and law enforcement programs. Although the prone position is a valid part
of all tactical situational training, there may come a time that you find yourself on the deck and on your back!
If you do find yourself on your back, training in the
standard prone position will be of little, if no help at
all. You may not have the time or even the ability
to orientate yourself into the prone position if you
have been knocked down or even injured. So what’s
the solution? Train to fight whilst on your back.
This is by no means a new method of
training. Fighting whilst on your back is known as the
Supine position. It’s taught in many establishments
around the world but mainly only as an advance method of
training. One of the main reasons to find oneself flat on your
back is in the event of being knocked down. This could be that
you have been struck by in coming rounds, stumbled or fallen,
maybe even beaten to the ground by your adversaries. In any
event finding yourself in the Supine position is no bad thing.
Not if you have trained for it that is…
Like all shooting positions, we need to think safety. Not
just for our own survival but for the safety of others around us.
In almost all other shooting positions the safest direction for
your muzzle is either directly at the intended target or directly
at “Mother Earth”. Whilst in the standard prone position you
can safely point the muzzle at the ground, however in the
Supine position your important body parts tend to get in the
way. So where is the safest direction when in the Supine
position? Well in all honesty either your holster or pointing
at the ground directly by your side. There is no safe position
when in the Supine position. We can use safety positions such
as position SUL whilst standing or kneeling, but being on
your back makes this impossible. The safest answer is to rest
the gun by your side or adopt an upright seated position and
have the muzzle of your weapon point at the ground out past
and between the legs. Caution must be maintained here as it
is all too easy to sweep the legs and groin area. Not a good
thing to do.
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