Firearms, Reality, and Survival – An Honest Truth About Self-Defence - By Sensei Liam Musiak

When people ask about defending against a firearm, the first thing that must be said—before techniques, before drills, before theory—is this:

Luck is a huge factor.

That isn’t fear-mongering. That’s reality.

Someone with a gun can shoot you without warning, from distance, with a clear line of sight, and then calmly walk over and take your belongings. No words. No confrontation. No “moment” to defend yourself.

There is no self-defence against that other than avoidance and awareness.

If someone wants to kill you with a firearm, they can do it before your brain has even processed what’s happening. That is the uncomfortable truth many people avoid saying.

The hard truth most people don’t like

There is no technique that will 100% save you from a gun.

None.

Anyone claiming otherwise is either:

• Lying

• Selling fantasy

• Or has never truly thought about real violence

Yes, there are techniques that can be useful to a limited extent, but usefulness does not equal safety, and it does not equal certainty.

This is exactly why we still cover firearm-related techniques—but very few, very simple, and very limited.

We are always clear: they may work, but you may still get killed.

Guns are different.

They remove fairness, skill balance, and reaction time from the equation.

Perspective matters

If someone is standing in front of you, pointing a gun at you, and asking for your belongings:

You are already winning.

You haven’t been shot.

That matters.

Property is replaceable. Your life isn’t. Compliance in this scenario is not weakness—it’s survival intelligence.

However, this only applies when compliance is likely to work.

When things change

There are situations where compliance is no longer enough:

• You are convinced they are going to shoot you anyway

• You cannot run

• They are too close

• Distance and escape are no longer options

• A bullet is faster than you (unless you’re The Flash)

At that point, running is no longer a solution.

And if you are being told to move to a more secluded location, everyone knows what that usually leads to—and it’s often worse than just being shot.

This is the point where reality becomes brutal.

The last-resort line

Let me be absolutely clear:

Physical action against a firearm is a last-ditch, desperation survival choice.

You must be absolutely certain that:

• You are going to be shot anyway

• Or that being moved will lead to something worse

Only then does fighting make sense.

Not to “win”.

Not to look impressive.

But to give yourself a chance.

And yes—it may fail.

But it may also work.

That is the grim gamble firearms force on people.

About techniques

Techniques do not make you safe.

They only increase the chance of survival in a situation where survival odds are already terrible.

That is why the techniques we keep are:

• Simple

• Pressure-tested

• Minimal

• Taught with zero bravado

And luck is still involved:

• Guns

• Knives

• Hands

• Feet

Violence is chaotic. There are no guarantees.

But if you are forced to fight, you should at least understand principles and movements that have the best chance of working, rather than relying on panic or fantasy.

The key point is this:

Techniques are only for when you believe you are going to be shot anyway and need even the smallest chance to survive.

Anything else is ego.

The reality people need to hear

. You can be shot without warning

• You can be shot from distance

• You can be shot before a word is spoken

• There is no defence against that

Self-defence against firearms begins long before the gun appears:

• Awareness

• Avoidance

• Reading situations

• Not being there

Everything else is damage control.

Final truth

Real self-defence isn’t about pretending you’re invincible.

It’s about being honest enough to say:

• “This is dangerous.”

• “There are no guarantees.”

• “Sometimes survival is compliance.”

• “Sometimes survival is a desperate last stand.”

And sometimes… survival is simply luck.

That honesty saves lives far more often than flashy techniques ever will.