Debunking Misconceptions: The “21 Foot Rule” in Modern Self Defense
Greetings martial arts enthusiasts! Welcome back to another informative session with your guide to all things martial. Today, we dive headlong into a contentious topic — the “21 Foot Rule” in modern self defense. But let’s set the stage first. The “21 Foot Rule” derives from the Tueller Drill, a self-defence training exercise that postulates an attacker wielding a short-range weapon, such as a knife, can cover 21 feet to reach a target before the latter can draw and fire their firearm. It’s controversial, it’s thought-provoking, and it’s time to get to the bottom of it with the help of an insightful video from Icy Mike’s YouTube channel Hard2Hurt. In the Hard2Hurt video titled “The Truth About The “21 Foot Rule,” Icy Mike embarks on a thrilling exploration of the rule’s validity in a real-world self defense scenario. But hold your horses; before you start calculating distances and pulling your arms, take a step back to understand its essence: The “21 Foot Rule” is not an actual rule. It’s merely a reference point, a way to visualize a factor of self-defence that stresses the serious threat of short-range weapons. It absolutely does not give you legal justification to shoot someone just because they’re within this range. The video commences with Mike explaining this widespread misunderstanding, stating that the rule is, in fact, an extrapolation of the Tueller Drill and shouldn’t be treated as a hard-and-fast rule. The Tueller Drill is a method of teaching law enforcement officers that their firearm, even if holstered, can most likely be outdrawn and fired before an aggressor covering the 21-foot distance can attack. Throughout the video, Icy Mike and his crew stage a series of drills simulating various attack scenarios based on the infamous “21 Foot Rule.” They discuss and demonstrate the factors and nuances involved in self-defense, such as readiness, the speed of threat identification, and the importance of maintaining a reactionary gap. These drills starkly illustrate the reality that drawing one’s weapon is significantly more challenging during a sudden assault. A crucial point raised by Mike relates to how the situation’s context matters significantly and can change one’s course of action. Essentially, the ideology behind any self-defense tactic is not as black-and-white as many people believe. Factors like threat level, the severity of the situation, your physical state, and the assailant’s capabilities can majorly affect the outcome. You can be within your rights to change your course of action based on how the situation evolves. However, it’s critical to comprehend, as demonstrated in the video, that possessing a firearm does not guarantee your safety, nor does it make you invincible. Physical fitness, high-stress management, and most notably, the ability to make sound, quick judgments are crucial to catering your self-defense methods effectively to any situation. And this is exactly what the “21 Foot Rule” is trying to ingrain into the minds of law enforcement officials and self-defense practitioners – the necessity to adapt to situations, be aware of your surroundings, and respond accordingly. In conclusion, while the “21 Foot Rule” does provide an interesting note in self-defense theory, it should not be taken as a concrete rule of engagement. The video serves as a stark reminder that learning, understanding, and applying theories is one thing, but knowing the practical aspects, exemplified through real-world scenarios, is what will keep you safe in the end. So, fellow martial artists, remain informed, practice your techniques, and always be ready to defend, rather than attack. Because the best defense is avoiding the fight but being prepared for it anyway.Blablabla
Hard2Hurt is a YouTube channel owned by Icy Mike. A former law enforcement officer and MMA enthusiast, Mike unleashes practical self-defense techniques in engaging, easy-to-understand videos. His channel combines gritty realism with humor, educating viewers on how to stay safe and physically prepared in dangerous situations.
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I've always heard it from the perspective the knifeman. That you can stab someone 21ft away before they clear the holster.
What about lateral movement?
8:34 Nate’s hood side came out
When you know it's coming, it isn't as big of a deal. Have 20 guys walking by and only 1 is the attacker lol.
I don’t know about guns. How do you keep your weapon ready to fire without walking around in your daily life accidentally shooting your own stupid self?
So at 21 feet… You're likely to get stabbed a whole bunch. Just run instead.
One problem here is that the shooter is not getting off of the X. You got to move sideways while you're shooting. Someone on methamphetamine may need to be shot multiple times before you are out of the Zone.
If someone hurts you because he has a problem with you then he won't show you his weapon! And just because someone runs in your direction, no one draws a gun without a previous reason😮 and Well you are done thats it!
how to make a 3 minute video a 13 minute video
One of my biggest problems with this is like you addressed is you know they’re coming but the the bigger problem is that bullets aren’t an instant death. If that mother fucker gets you in the neck with a knife it’s over for you too. Plus someone trying to stab you if probably crazed and difficult to put don’t. Then if you flub the draw or your gun jams it’s over.
Some hard stuff covering their faces would be a good idea lol
The "rule" comes from an over zealous DA who tried to get an innocent man put in prison after a justified self defense shooting. They claimed that because the attacker was 21ft away he did not pose an immediate threat. However defense counsel immediate proved that even an average man with little to no athletic capabilities could cover that distance and inflict bodily harm in less than 2 secounds.
So…test it by agreeing to carry nothing but your toy guns for a week or two and have one of your friends attack them at random.
THAT'S a test.
Do some headshot
In terms of these close distance draws, is changing levels real/does it work?
What about the white figure apparition at the window?
That guy which bought it into face was pissed of, next time use whole face protection, what kind of pistol is that? Airsoft? How strong?
I saw an interview one time with the guy who did executions by firing squad in some south East Asian country. Maybe Indonesia?
The dude said that with .30-06 rifle rounds – 6 rounds was the minimum to be confident that the person being shot was done. And even then – they restrained the person being executed and it’s not like they were always immediately done. That number was just the minimum for his squad to be confident that the person they shot wasn’t going to recover. Some people needed a while to bleed out before they’d stop being potentially dangerous to a staff member who got close.
People maintain the ability to fire back or spit infected blood or even grab someone and pull them down – after a scary amount of lead based weight gain. They hold onto it for a while.
One shot can kill. But someone charging me with momentum and a weapon? I’m way more invested in getting out of the way of his weapon than hoping that my civilian sports based martial arts practice or extremely limited range time will let me play action movie hero.
This is why open carry should be legal in EVERY state as long as its a level 3.
plus you need to know what's in the back ground,
If phycopat with a warhammer has saw you before you notice him, its already game over 😂
I think you should have gotten some larger ungainlier shit to run with 😂 cool video
You can't back up with the "21 foot rule" because it is no longer 21 feet… additionally you are not a typical gun owner. I promise two "regular" people doing this drill only has one out come. A knife in the belly and a shot in the knife holder as long as they don't drop the gun.
The moment of surprise is going to play a big part in every day situation
What isn't factored in or considered in this drill is 'Shock delay'. Mike is pulling the gun and firing as soon as his training partner is running towards him. I suspect in 'real life' 99.99% of people in Mike's position would be a vital couple of seconds slower as their brain thinks… 'WTF? '
During those vital two seconds in which the brain is trying to figure out what is happening, the attacker has made up the distance and is burying the knife, machete or hammer in your head. ( He doesn't have to think – he's already made his mind up)
In summary, I would argue that this is a doubtful test, unless you incorporate a 'one thousand, two thousand' count – ( to simulate the 'shock delay')and then see where your attacker is.
Alright im ready, hes got a machete, moms spaghetti
Old ass video but I just found this channel, idk where else it is taught, but at Xi for reaction force training for the navy they taught 21 feet, it was a toss up. In otherwords once they are that close they can get to you and you need to be aware of that.
The whole point of the 21 foot rule is that you need 21 foot to recognize a threat at that point and be able to take care of it before it comes closer because at closer ranges you would have lesser time to react. Example: If he is within 21 foot with a concealed knife and walks to you at 5 feet then pulls it out there and then, you wouldn't have time to react. There is a old training video that shows this with Dan Inosanto.
Notice how thr Mike moved as the person rushed him? THAT is often what is missed when discussing this rule. If someone is rushing you with a bladed/blunt weapon, YOU SHOULD BE MOVING AS YOU FIRE.
Truth?…. No,the scenario presented is not the one the 21ft video, which is out there for others to watch, is trying to highlight.
Situational awareness improves your security/safety "bubble". My TO beat that into us. He would lecture with a rubber knife on his desk. Mid lecture, even mid sentence, he would yell "knife knife knife" as he walked to his desk, then pick of the rubber knife and walk towards one of us. IF he got there and toughed you on the shoulder with it before you could ready your weapon, he would say "you're dead and your wife just got a crisply folded flag". Its been over 30 years, and I still hear him when I pump gas, or go to an ATM. ITs the seat you choose in a diner, where and how you stand in line at a store. Its 100 little things that make you a tough or easy target.
I like this guy
Couldn’t you run away while drawing?
This whole idea of someone running at you with a knife from 21’ is asinine.
2 words, head shot!