Company: Threat Response Solutions (T.R.S.)
Tape Name: Fighting Mind Set: Series 1 (Tapes 1-3)
Tape Cost: $129.97 plus shipping (For 3 tapes, only sold as set)
Length of Tape: Tape 1: 90 minutes, Tape 2: 90 minutes, Tape 3: 90 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: Lecture(theory)/Demonstration/Techniques
Return Policy: 90 day money back guarantee
Experiences in dealing with this company: Excellent
The Instructor: Bennie W. Cooley Jr.
Company’s Address: 606 E. Acequia Ave. Visalia, CA 93292
Company’s Phone Number: 1-800-899-8153
Web Page: http://www.trsdirect.com
E-mail: bpierce@lightspeed.net

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Primary Grading Criteria:

1. Production/Tape Quality: 10
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 9
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 10
5. Score on delivery vs. Hype: 9
6. Degree to which we would recommend this product: 10
7. Wasted time (The higher the number, the less “fluff”/repetition: 9
8. Playback Score/Watching it over and over again: 10
9. Would I purchase more of this company’s product: 10
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. Value: 10

Grand Total: 97% (Excellent= 4.25 stars)

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Secondary Grading Criteria:

1. Beginners benefit: Excellent
2. Intermediate benefit: Excellent
3. Advanced benefit: Very Good
4. Time to benefit: Some Immediate, greatest benefit with practice
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None

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Written Summary:

Threat Response Solutions has come up with another excellent video program. This 3 tape video series that deals with the Fighting Mind Set features Bennie W. Cooley Jr. who is a trainer of various Police Emergency Units and is also a National Handgun Champion. For those of you who are considering the handgun as a means of Self Defense this video delivers the goods. Mr. Cooley explains that the handgun is the Martial Art of the 21st century. It seems that more and more people are carrying handguns in today’s society and even some Marial Arts are now including some type of handgun training in their curriculum. This video is intended for the individual who uses a handgun as a means of self defense to protect his person, home or family. Although the content of this series is intended for the civilian a good portion of this information could also apply to a Police Officer on active duty. A lot of the tactics and information are the same.

The first tape in this series consists of a lecture and demonstration of the Fighting Mind Set. The series assumes that the viewer has already mastered the handgun basics although these are briefly covered on this tape. Mr. Cooley does takes these basic skills and combines them with the proper mind set. Other topics covered on this 1st tape are:

- the use of force and when you can use deadly force.
- explains why a person shoots to stop and not to kill
- what to do after a shooting takes place
- how people react to pain and personal (dis)comfort and how this can kill you
- tactical survival rules
- colour code awareness
- equipment selection such as type of handgun, holster and flashlight

The second tape of the series contains more excellent information. This video has an excellent section on gun disarming techniques from various positions such as the front, side, rear and even execution style on the knees. I have never seen anyone address gun disarming while kneeling. I found this section particularily interesting and effective, it is true that the hand moves quicker than the eye. All of the techniques were well explained and demonstrated. Also shown were handgun retention techniques if you have your gun drawn and someone grabs it. Again I have never seen anyone address this type of situation, excellent material. Other topics covered on this 2nd video are:

- grip of the pistol
- tactical reload
- movement in relation to the fighting mind set
- handgun against a knife (its limitations)
- reactionary gap
- room clearing techniques

Tape 3 continues with more room clearing techniques and engaging the target. How to deal with more than one person in the room. There was also a good section on clearing handgun malfunctions. I learned one method that I have never seen before in this section. Here is more of what you will see on this tape:

- how silence can be deadly (person waiting for you in a room)
- Action vs reaction
- tactical surprise
- loading and unloading techniques
- the difference between cover and concealment
- entry drills
- door way entries
- numerous scenario based training shown

This video series has so much good information in it. After watching all 3 video’s I went back and watched the 1st video again and found I enjoyed it even more on the second viewing. With the added knowledge I gained from tapes 2 and 3 everything came together with a greater understanding.

Also of note is that the ad for this series is a lot less hyped than other ads that I have read by T.R.S. Personally I like this format a lot more than the “hyped” up version thus the higher grade on delivery vs. hype. Another big seller in my opinion for the T.R.S. video’s is the long running time. In this series each of video’s are 90 minutes long. This would equal to 6 or more tapes from some Companies. They really do give you your money’s worth. Add to that the fact that T.R.S. offers a 90 day money back guarantee, the consumer can’t go wrong. There was some wasted time on the tapes with some of the scenario training however watching this was still for the most part useful. Bottom line: If your interested in the firearm as a method of self defense this series delivers the goods.

M.O.