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HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
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Happy Father's Day! In this newsletter, I've included information on upcoming classes, some thoughts on positon "sul," some thoughts on current events, and since the 4th of July is rapidly approaching, some thoughts on fireworks and fireworks safety.
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UPCOMING CLASSES
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On Friday, June 27, Ohio ADC Instructor Jeremy Decker will be holding a 1-day scoped rifle class at Sandusky County Sportsman's Club in Gibsonburg, Ohio. This is the first Ohio class in a while and it is filling up fast!
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, on Saturday, June 28, Idaho ADC Instructor Michael Lake will be holding a 1-day Defensive Pistol class at Fremont County Sportsman's Club in Saint Anthony, Ohio.
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August 16 & 17 at Badlands Tactical in Grandfield, Oklahoma - Mike will be teaching a 2-day comprehensive AR armorer class. This is a Badlands Tactical Class, if you are interested, sign up on their website here: https://badlandstactical.org/. Badlands is a great facility with super people - highly recommended!
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Here are the other 2025 live class dates:
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- Scoped Rifle Elements: August 2, 2025 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
St. Anthony, Idaho at the Fremont County Sportsman's Club.
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POSITION "SUL"
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Position "Sul" was originally developed in Brazil. The term “Sul” is Portuguese for "south." It was specifically designed for close-quarters high-threat environments for maximum retention of the gun without being in a threatening posture while around people and potentially for extended periods of time.
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Like most things having to do with defensive shooting, it can be controversial.
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What you should remember about the articles and videos getting posted to the internet is that most of these are not posted to promulgate facts or sound technique - they are intended to get clicks that gain attention and monetary gain for the author. I use the term "author" loosely, as many of these articles are actually generated by various AI's and are either loaded with bias, or lacking in basis. Before we let the machines give us too much tactical advice, consider that Chat GPT recently got wrecked at chess by a 1970's 8-bit Atari 2600.
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Attention seeking aside, let's talk about why position sul is still relevant and useful for modern contexts like CCW:
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1.) Controls muzzle direction - when in environments where threats are mixed in with non-threats, or where there is no active threat but one may appear unexpectedly, having the gun out and ready is beneficial, but there is a need to control the muzzle. "Square range" shooters with an "up range" and "downrange" area may not always appreciate this subtlety. It is common to see various action competition shooters running with the muzzle up, which complies with competition rules as long as it doesn't "break the 180." In other words, game on as long as the muzzle remains oriented at the half of the range that is considered "downrange." But tell me: where is "downrange" and "up range" in your local grocery store parking lot? In your living room? In the car? The answer is: "wherever we need it to be," which is anywhere or nowhere at any given moment. That means, if we are to comply with fundamental firearms safety rule #2 (Don't allow the muzzle to point at or sweep anything we aren't willing and justified to kill, hurt, destroy, or pay for), we need a safe direction for that muzzle. Most of the time, that is down in the roughly 1-meter circle around the shooter's feet, without muzzling anything important within that circle.
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2.) Rapid presentation - we could take a very low ready position and extend our arms straight downward, but presenting the handgun from this position is much, much slower than rotating the muzzle upward and pushing the arms outward from position sul, and pushing the gun that far away makes it easier for an assailant to gain control of it.
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3.) Retention - any ergonomist would tell you that the strongest work area for our arms is roughly at chest level, close to the body. Position sul puts the gun where our arms are the strongest and where an assailant would have to reach deep into our personal space to access the firearm. Watch a basketball player holding the ball in the "triple threat" position. It's not exactly the same, but it's similar and provides similar benefits.
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After careful consideration, I still like position sul, and while it may not be perfect, until the perfect high weapon retention - ready position that controls the muzzle in a 360-degree environment comes along, sul does the job.
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If you want to learn more about position sul and how to use it, sign up for one of our pistol classes!
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FIREWORKS
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The Fourth of July is rapidly approaching, and that means people will be shooting fireworks. I have a love of fireworks and explosives that began in my early childhood and has since shaped my career. There are a few things I'd like to share with you about fireworks safety that I think are important, whether you shoot your own fireworks or attend a public display.
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A youthful ADC Instructor Mike preparing a fireworks display circa 1996
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One of my earliest 4th of July memories was attending a picnic at my Uncle's farm. This was in the 1970's when backyard fireworks displays were very common in my corner of Ohio. Another thing that was common at 1970's summer picnics was plenty of alcohol. So imagine, if you will, a folding table with a large cardboard box of fireworks on one end, and a few mildly marinated revelers on the other, ready to show everyone they know what they're doing when it comes to fireworks.
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You already know where this is going. Within seconds of lighting the first firework, sparks fell into the main box and then things started to get exciting. Right on cue, the table tipped over pointing the box directly at everyone observing, and the only recollection I have about the rest of that fireworks display is taking cover under a lawn chair that did a surprisingly effective job at deflecting incoming rockets and aerial shells.
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1.) Alcohol and pyrotechnics are poor playmates.
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2.) Keep your main box of fireworks well away from your display area and protected from sparks and flame. No smoking in this area!
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3.) Distance - modern fireworks are surprisingly optimized and give you a lot of bang for the buck - but they can still behave unexpectedly. Spectators should be well away from the firing area.
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4.) Hearing and eye protection are strongly recommended for folks lighting the fuses. Wear natural fiber clothing instead of synthetics (that can melt and stick to the skin), leather gloves help protect from sparks while lighting fuses.
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5.) Electronic ignition is a way to potentially enhance safety by adding distance, but commercial electric ignitors are what we call LEEEDS or "Low Energy Electro-Explosive Devices," meaning some of these can fire with energies of 1 amp/1 watt or less. Depending on the firing system, they could be sensitive to radio and other electromagnetic frequencies. Adding this level of sophistication can add new risks to manage.
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6.) Homemade/modified fireworks should be avoided. Disassembling fireworks to obtain the energetic materials is a bad idea. Some of these mixtures are incompatible and can create very sensitive, unstable combinations. Never put fireworks or fireworks contents inside hard containers like glass or metal, as this can create hazardous fragments.
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7.) Fire risk - pyrotechnics compositions burn at very high temperatures. Old-fashioned wire sparklers are particularly hot. In dry areas (looking at you Northern New Mexico) a few sparks can get a wildfire going very rapidly. Even if you aren't shooting off fireworks, you might have neighbors or visitors in the area who are. Be prepared if things get out of hand.
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8.) Even commercial fireworks displays can have hazards. Occasionally, components of large aerial shells can "hang-fire" and land in audience areas. Spectators have been injured after picking up these items, only to have them explode in their hands. Since commercial fireworks are more powerful, they can cause severe, even life-threatening injuries.
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9.) If using binary explosive targets (e.g. "Tannerite"), observe all safety precautions. This material is significantly more powerful than fireworks and can present legitimate explosive hazards.
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Have fun this Fourth but celebrate responsibly!
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CURRENT EVENTS
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India has expelled Pakistani diplomats and suspended visas for Pakistani nationals, while Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian aircraft. India and Pakistan have been on the brink of war since early May.
On June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, striking Iran’s nuclear facilities and military sites, including the Natanz enrichment plant. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities, escalating tensions further. Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, condemned Israel’s strikes, signaling a shift in Middle Eastern alliances.
Large-scale protests in Los Angeles have led to clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. President Trump federalized the California National Guard, sending over 4,000 troops to control the unrest. Over 500 people have been arrested amid ongoing demonstrations. the June 14 "No Kings" protests also resulted in some clashes, primarily on the west coast.
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The sky isn't falling - any more than it usually is - but security-conscious individuals should take stock of these events and anticipate how they might unfold to affect our own safety and preparedness.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
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It's a good time to take training while ammunition prices are manageable. Don't confuse "training" and "practice." Both are important, but shooting in a match or having a range day with friends isn't "training." ADC (and other reputable schools) design class curriculum around building skills in a safe environment and providing guided challenges that test mindset, skill, and gear. Practice is what you use to hold on to the gains and keeps those skills - as well as your fitness - sharp.
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"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion in your walks."
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