M-4s, C-4, and the Nursing Mother

Share on Facebook posted 08-21-09 by craigmacnee

Fair Game Blog

Fair Game is a political thriller, directed by Doug Liman and starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.

Crucible Training

Again I’m too excited to sleep and get to the training way earlier than the 8am start time.

I get the skinny from Kelly as to what is in store for Naomi. He says he is going to get her adrenalin pumping early on by giving her a loaded gun and telling her that she has to conceal it on her person and wear it all day. Then he is going to drive her to the busiest gas station in town, where lots of cops get their morning coffee fixes. He will stress to her that as she is unlicensed it is a federal offence for her to carry this firearm — so she better not behave erratically and attract attention to herself. Kelly tells me that I mustn’t reveal that I am in on the plan at all.

When Naomi goes into the gas station to buy some coffee, Kelly waits a few moments before following her inside to “nosy around”. I decide that this is too good footage to miss and so I try to steal some covert shots from the forecourt.

However, just as Naomi is about to pay for her coffee, the teller notices me and starts to twig that something is going on. Naomi has to keep calm and try not to react. The teller exits and I have to ad-lib and tell her that I am shooting a documentary- which I guess is kind of true- as Naomi tries to slink away past me and back to the car.

As we drive back to the “Crucible” Kelly commends me for making the experience even more excruciating for Naomi! The adrenalin is clearly pumping for Naomi… and it won’t be the last time today.

Next we head to the track to learn some evasive driving maneuvers. First we perform a J-turn, a method of changing direction by 180 degrees rapidly, starting in reverse and ending up pointing forwards. The maneuver is performed by quickly turning the wheel to one side and then using the foot brake to lock the front wheels while turning. The vehicle is shifted into a forward gear as the nose comes about. Cool!

Next Naomi is taught about vehicle ramming. Again Kelly tries to mess with Naomi by telling her that she can’t wear a helmet so she better execute it properly or she will knock out her front teeth. He’s really not helping anybody’s nerves! Again I decide the footage smashing through another car will be too good to miss so I strap myself into the back seat to film proceedings. Cool!

After that we head into what seems like an interrogation room. It has big speakers and strobe lights. My thoughts immediately go to white noise and stress positions. However, we are actually in here to learn some hand to hand combat skills. As I already mentioned this is Kelly McCann’s real forte. He serves on the Board of Examiners and is a master instructor for Gung Ho Chuan, a brotherhood of close combat instructors who research, practice, develop and teach the principles, tactics and techniques used by the elite Allied Forces of World War 2.

Also known as “gutter fighting” this form of western combatives is still considered by many to be the true essence of close combat. Crucible’s unarmed program draws heavily from that of Gung Ho Chuan but it also includes other methods. The main emphasis is on techniques that are direct, powerful and easily recalled under duress.

Techniques learned are the Hammerfist, the Ax Hand, the Chin Jab, the Face Smash, Shin Kick. After a few rounds with the instructor, the lights are turned off and the strobes and loud music are put on and Naomi has to defend herself against attack. Naomi is then given a dummy knife and is taught some armed techniques. And also how to defend herself from being raped. Pretty intense stuff.

And then, in perhaps the craziest juxtaposition of activities to ever occur at this training facility, it’s time for Naomi to feed her young baby! I can only imagine that must have been some high adrenalin milk!

After this brief interlude we move to the shooting range, with its lingering smell of cordite and the pop ting, pop ting of a good shooter making hits on the steel targets. Naomi gets the chance to fire off some rounds with an M4-tactical carbine, a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2 assault rifle. I think Kelly must see the look of jealousy come across my face as he gives me the chance to fire off a few rounds as well. Then Naomi shoots a S&W J-Frame 640 with .38 rounds. Even though this is a very small revolver it has a tremendous amount of recoil to it when Naomi shoots it at close range into a dummy person.

The day finishes explosively. Literally. As Naomi helps rig some C-4 charges.

After an intense and grueling day we all share a beer in the Crucible bar. Naomi can only stay for one, but being a Scotsman, and with a national drinking reputation to uphold, I stay behind for a few more, and hear some amazing stories. What an experience! When I leave they tell me that I must come back down to Virginia to do some more training and some wake-boarding with them.

Lesson of the day: Sorry … I don’t think I’m actually at liberty to divulge that.