The YFA
Four-Count Draw
By: John
Renaldi
Note:
The author is a US Army veteran and is currently a police officer
assigned to an anti-gang unit in a major southwestern city. He has
attended numerous training courses and is an adjunct instructor at 2
well-known firearms training schools. Additionally, he is state
certified to train law enforcement officers in all aspects of self
defense.
When Lt. Col.
Jeff Cooper was running the American Pistol Institute (Gunsite), he
would tell the students on the first morning of the General Pistol
Course that, “defensive pistolcraft is for stopping the fight that
someone else has started.” That was the lead-in to a very
comprehensive 45-hour course that provided the basics on how to
fight with a pistol. During the course, students made literally
hundreds of presentations from the holster using the 5-step draw
technique popularized by Col. Cooper and others of that era. As
serious students of gunfighting continued to refine the art, it was
found that there were better ways to achieve the goal of accurately
and rapidly delivering controlled fire.
Louis Awerbuck,
who owns the Yavapi Firearms Academy (YFA) in Prescott, Arizona, has
developed what many consider to be a better method of presenting the
handgun. Although Awerbuck is considered to be the best technician
and teacher of the tactical employment of the fighting shotgun, he
is also on the short-list of true students of gunfighting. His
4-count presentation from the strong-side holster is now being
taught at most well-known firearms training schools and promises to
become the standard of the future.
The 4-count
presentation achieves the same goal as the older 5-count technique
with the addition of providing enhanced retention of the pistol.
Empirical data gathered over the years by the FBI reveals
approximately 80% of the interpersonal confrontations using handguns
occur at 7 yards or less. This is considered conversational
distance. It has been conclusively proven that most healthy
individuals can cover the 7 yards in less than 2 seconds. What this
means to the armed citizen is that he must present the gun and shoot
very quickly. Additionally, it means that he or she must be able to
retain the firearm from any disarming attempt and at the same time
deliver controlled hits to the threat. What follows is an
explanation of the YFA 4-Count Draw from the strong side belt
holster:
The One
Count:
The firing
hand and the support hand move at the same time. The firing hand
acquires a firing grip on the pistol while the support hand is
positioned flat across the chest or stomach with fingers closed and
the thumb up. At this point, the firing side elbow should be held
closely to the body to avoid interfering with other obstacles.
The Two
Count:
The
handgun is drawn straight up with the trigger finger out of the
trigger guard and positioned horizontally toward the center of mass
of the threat. It is important that the handgun be firmly mounted
high along-side the ribcage with the slide tilted slightly outboard
to clear the shoulder. The gun must be held tightly by the biceps of
the firing arm. The safety lever, if equipped, may be moved to the
“fire” position during the 2 count. The support hand continues to
be held across the chest/stomach but can be used to block blows by
the aggressor.
The
Three Count:
The pistol
remains in the same position in the firing hand while the support
hand moves across the chest to attain a 2-handed grip. With the
support hand thumb extended, the hand will be prevented from
inadvertently moving past the firing hand. Held in this manner, the
handgun is in a superior position of retention and can be fired if
necessary.
The Four
Count:
The firing
hand pushes the gun straight out from the shoulder while the trigger
finger is removing the slack from the trigger. The support hand
moves around the firing hand to attain the classic Weaver grip. The
support hand, using isometric tension, merely pulls against the
firing hand. This is the desired position from which to fire the
gun. While not a part of the YFA Four Count Draw, it should be
noted that extension of the firearm into an isosceles firing
position can be accomplished by simply moving both arms forward to a
fully extended position.
To return the
gun to the holster, the presentation is simply reversed. Do not
allow the support hand to cover the muzzle of the gun and continue
to keep your eyes on the threat. Do not look at the holster.
The advantages
of the YFA 4-Count Draw are that the muzzle of the pistol is more
rapidly brought to bear on the center of mass of the threat and that
the pistol is retained in a much more secure manner. While minor
variations of the 4-count draw may be necessary due to varying male
and female body characteristics, the objectives of handgun retention
and rapid, controlled fire can still be achieved.
The YFA
4-Count Draw is but one small component of effective gunhandling.
Properly accomplished, it might stop the fight that someone else
started.
