Building on the success of our first knife, the Barracuda EDC, Bad Medicine is the second design in the Protego Line, a collaboration between Wander Tactical Research Group and Safer Faster Defense.

This collaboration is born out of the desire to integrate our areas of expertise to provide you with the best defensive knives available for your everyday carry.

Wander Tactical Research Group is recognized for making high quality cutting tools for survivalists, hunters, soldiers and now self-defense practitioners.

Safer Faster Defense is internationally known for one of the most effective “Counter-Ambush” knife defense programs available today.

Just like the Barracuda EDC, the Bad Medicine is specifically designed to be a personal protection tool first and foremost. At first glance, it looks like a Persian style knife, but if you look deeper, you’ll see some important details that set it apart from a classic Persian blade…As always for us, form follows function!

• The angle between the grip and the blade. It is what provides the “belly” of the blade and allows for more cutting power and deeper slashes without sacrificing penetration capacity like in some Persian designs.
•  That same angle and a little magic in the blade geometry helps to maintain the tip of the blade in line with the thumb in a fencer or modified hammer grip. This significantly improves intuitive aiming when stabbing and facilitates effortless entry regardless of angle of attack. 
• The blade thickness helps to withstand any turns & twists where you could hit a belt, a belt buckle, a cell phone, etc.
• The false edge on the top can be sharpened for ease of cutting regardless of direction and can be integrated seamlessly by the edge-up crowd (Pikal style).
• The grip’s ergonomics assure a solid and safe employment of the knife, with or without gloves, wet or dry.

During the R&D process and up to the latest design modifications, our focus has been on finding the best balance between ergonomics, safety and purpose-driven blade geometry, and we are proud of the result.

Bad Medicine Specifications

OA length: 9”

Blade Length: 4.5”

Blade thickness: 1/4”

Cryogenic heat treatment:

Steel Type: D2

Blade Finish: Iron Wash

Grip: Micarta

Sheath: Kydex

Clip: None

Price $350

The first 10 Custom Bad Medicines for the US market are now available on the Safer Faster Defense website.

DISCLAIMER, RELEASE, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT: Safer Faster Defense and Wander Tactical Research Group is not responsible for any physical harm or damage from the use or misuse of self-defense weapons including a knife purchased from us.

By purchasing a self-defense weapon, including a knife from us you understand that The Safer Faster Defense and Wander Tactical Research Group does not warrant that you may legally purchase, possess, or carry these products according to any state or local laws.

You also acknowledge that you have determined their legality before purchasing and that you are an adult of at least 18 years of age and under no legal disability.

By purchasing a self-defense weapon, including a knife from The Safer Faster Defense and Wander Tactical Research Group, the buyer warrants that he/she is in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the purchase, ownership, and use of the item.

The buyer expressly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless The Safer Faster Defense and Wander Tactical Research Group for all claims resulting directly or indirectly from the purchase, ownership, and use of the item in compliance or violation of federal state and local laws or regulations.

Please check local laws before ordering any self-defense weapon, including a knife.

Our goal is to empower women through knowledge and understanding of what goes on emotionally, physiologically and psychologically during a confrontation.

We focus on awareness, avoidance, verbal de-escalation, fear management, mindset, and simple, intuitive tactics.

Here is a sample of the topics that we’ll address during the course:

What is violence? – The ‘Ambush’ Principle. – Who is our opponent? – Process predator vs. Resource predator – Awareness Vs. Paranoia – Intuition & Instinct – The interview process – Negotiating Postures – Verbal de-escalation techniques – Psychological vs. Biological fear – Emotional Triggers – Demystification of the street assault – CWCT: Closest Weapon, Closest Target. – Train off balance and through mistakes – Self defense tools-Improvised weapons – Force on Force Scenarios with trained role-players.

Life is a series of choices that define us…

Choose to take control of your safety; choose to be a resource and an example for other women in your life;

Choose to prepare and prevail!

In these fragmented times I believe it’s up to us to create and foster a sense of community that transcends any artificial lines of demarcation that have become so sensationalized in recent years.

I invited each of you because I know you to be individuals who have a common core of values, despite having different backgrounds, beliefs, affiliations and orientations. We have the capacity to find common ground based on those core values and grow from there.

With that in mind, the theme of this event is:

                                                                             Mutual Aid Society

                                                                     (Societá di mutuo Soccorso)

A mutual aid society is a community-based network that connects people in need with resources. Individuals volunteer and act cooperatively and in solidarity with each other. Mutual aid societies do not operate as businesses, as they are rooted in the foundation that communities support each other. They may be region-wide, city-wide, county-wide, or even neighborhood-wide.

The goal of the event

We want to prepare our students with the most professional experience based, and science based knowledge and training, that could be applied successfully in the worst case scenario they are concerned with.  

Let me be clear, with this type and level of training, we are at the very edge of the Plausibility principle for our everyday lives as civilians.

Personally I do not believe in a coming societal collapse/Civil war type scenario in the US.

However, in recent years, there has been a marked increase in the frequency and importance that this narrative has received in social and political discourse. In turn, this has driven an increased interest by the public in the strategies and tactics that may come into play if such an event were to happen. 

We fear the most what we don’t have an answer to. It’s human nature and understandable.

An unfortunate consequence of this interest has been the proliferation of “Fantasy Camp” classes that do very little to actually prepare your average civilian for their context and, worst, rely on amplifying the doomsday narrative, fear and division in order to fill their classes.

To that I say: F**k fear mongers.

This event is not that. It’s actually the opposite of that approach. The antidote

if you will…

The explicit  benefit of our type of training is that the knowledge and skills the students gained, will be extremely useful in  more realistic emergency situations, such as the partial collapse of services during a natural disaster or a small-scale, short term violent event.

For instance, the value of emergency medical training for everyday life is obvious to everyone here. Similarly, Patrolling and CQB skill sets can help you move around safely as you are looking for resources or safe havens during localized civil unrest or catastrophic events like fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. The same can be said for Comms and Breaching.

The explicit benefit is that achieving a higher level of Response Efficacy and  Self Efficacy during these classes will empower them to be better prepared to protect themselves and their loved ones. The implicit benefit of their improved confidence and sense of agency is thet it should  allow them to better understand and control their emotions and avoid falling prey to manipulated, divisive narratives and drama. 

Train More, Fear less.

The vision for these 3 days, in addition to awesome training and good times of course, is to lay the foundation for a potential network of mutual aid societies. In addition to our California folks,  we have people coming from both coasts and all timezones in between. Most of you are already part of different organizations and/or are well established in your local communities. You could become “force multipliers” for your area  connecting and expanding resources. 

A very important topic weaved throughout these 3 days of training will be a focus on mindset and emotional health prior, during and after a survival event. Mindset & Mindfulness are both essential aspects of optimal performance in times of stress as well as in times of recovery. 

Future training events will include other topics that can be applied in a tactical context as well as an emergency event :

Wilderness Survival

Topography & Navigation

Tracking

Long distance shooting

Hunting

Fishing

Butchering 101

Practical deets: 

Day 1- July 26

08:00 Meet up at the parking lot next to the Arroyo Grande Rooster Gazebo to convoy up to Rocky Ridge Ranch together. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ymsszqp9PgiocVuj7

0830: Arrive at Rocky Ridge Ranch

0900: Live fire training

11:00: Tactical Combat Casualty Care. 

This class will be taught by JP, a former Special Forces Medic (18D) with a ton of experience and an amazing talent for teaching. Here is a brief description of the class:

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) is developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency (DHA) Joint Trauma System (JTS) to teach evidence-based, life-saving techniques and strategies for providing the best trauma care on the battlefield. 

1830ish: end of class.

1930: dinner

2030: how to set up simple radio comms. 

Bonfire time, stories telling and general philosophising.

Day 2:

0800: Meet up at Rocky Ridge Ranch.

0830: Live fire training followed by Fundamental of Patrolling 

1830:  End of class

1930: Dinner

2030: Breaching doors for civilians. 

Bonfire time, stories telling and general philosophising.

Day 3:

08:00: Meet up at Rocky Ridge Ranch.

0830: live fire training

1030: Fundamentals of Close Quarter Battle.

1700: final training evolution: 

Patrolling to target building and assaulting it.

Dinner in town or BBQ at the ranch to end the event in style and with a full belly! 

Equipment:

Pistol, Rifle, range gear.  

If you are traveling from out of state, there is a competition loophole that allows you to bring your guns into California even if not compliant, Im trying to figure out how official the competition nerds to be. Will keep you posted. Otherwise, there will be spare firearms here for you to use.

Pen/paper 

Recording or video recording.

Camping chair

Sunscreen, hat, plenty of water and snacks.

Lunch.

Total of 450 rounds for pistol and 750 rounds for Carbine. (Bring more if you have them).

Any emergency medical training equipment you may have.

Airsoft replica of your handgun and rifle if you have them.

Sirt pistol, Black Beard laser training system if you have it

Any battle belt, chest rig, plate carrier, you train with our two instructors and some of the attendees may have a lot of hard earned advice on how to set them up to best fit your needs.

We will provide BBQ dinner Friday and Saturday.

You can camp on the property, tent, trailer/camper or there are a ton of hotels/motels in the area for all budgets. There are also AirBnBs if some of you want to go in on one and share expenses.

Sound off if you want to camp on the property 

Sound off if you have extra room in your trailer/Camper.

Sound off if you are looking to share in renting  a camper.

Sound off if you are looking to share an AirB&B.

FYI hotel rates are pretty steep on July but this site has a lot of trailers for rent. Like an AirBnB but for trailers/campers.

https://www.outdoorsy.com/rv-search?cam=g1144763963&subcam=53301571832_kwd-424469145791&gclid=CjwKCAjw1K-zBhBIEiwAWeCOF8HTXTf7vVxZHOqic5upl-4i8jRz1Vg3A8EmxvHI_54o27mSPBngwhoCglMQAvD_BwE&delivery=true&gad_source=1&geoip_address=San%20Jose%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&page%5Boffset%5D=0&address=Arroyo%20Grande%2C%20California%2C%20United%20States&date%5Bfrom%5D=2024-07-25&date%5Bto%5D=2024-07-29

Your instructors Bios are attached below.

Payment :

Given the theme of the event, I’m trying to keep tuition as reasonable as possible. The goal is to raise enough to pay the instructors of course, cover some equipment cost and throw down on some good BBQ (vegetarian options will be plentiful as well!) for Friday and Saturday!

 Tuition: $550 per person. 

When: Saturday April 13.   Attire: comfortable street clothing and shoes.

Our Defensive Knife curriculum was developed to provide a simple and intuitive training program that will quickly make the student more efficient in deploying and using a knife in a modern defensive context. The program does not focus on tactics alone but aims to develop the proper mindset to empower the student to manage fear and apply the skills learned in the event of a lethal threat.

The SFKD Fundamentals course covers:

• Training in Context/Plausibility Principle.
• The law about knife carry and use in self defense
• The body’s natural survival reactions to danger
• Body mechanics
• How to Grip the Knife
• Deploying the knife: the Draw
• Three Main Tactics: Stab, Slash, Strike
• Balance and efficient transfer of power to target
• Three main factors in Knife Defense
• Tactical Anatomy
• Targeting Strategy
• Closest Weapon-Closest Target concept
• Fear Management Tools
• Mindset Development
• Dynamic skills development for plausible contexts
• Evaluation of the ability to apply the skills learned through Force on Force scenarios

When: Saturday April 4.   Attire: comfortable street clothing and shoes.

Our Defensive Knife curriculum was developed to provide a simple and intuitive training program that will quickly make the student more efficient in deploying and using a knife in a modern defensive context. The program does not focus on tactics alone but aims to develop the proper mindset to empower the student to manage fear and apply the skills learned in the event of a lethal threat.

The SFKD Fundamentals course covers:

• Training in Context/Plausibility Principle.
• The law about knife carry and use in self defense
• The body’s natural survival reactions to danger
• Body mechanics
• How to Grip the Knife
• Deploying the knife: the Draw
• Three Main Tactics: Stab, Slash, Strike
• Balance and efficient transfer of power to target
• Three main factors in Knife Defense
• Tactical Anatomy
• Targeting Strategy
• Closest Weapon-Closest Target concept
• Fear Management Tools
• Mindset Development
• Dynamic skills development for plausible contexts
• Evaluation of the ability to apply the skills learned through Force on Force scenarios

08:30am to 16:30 pm

This 2 day program combines the curriculum of the Intuitive Defensive Shooting Course with much of the Two Day Advanced Pistol Handling Program into one 800 rnds course. In addition to exploring the principles and fundamentals of the Intuitive defensive Shooting Program and numerous drills to help students develop a better understanding of the Balance between Speed & Precision, this course will cover the techniques of 360 degree presentation from the holster, one handed (strong & weak) weapons handling, unorthodox shooting positions and much more. This course can be taught at any square range and will also expose students to making the most out of any range session to keep tactical pistol training in context!

Course Information

• Cost for the combo IDS – APH class is $ 600. Students should expect to fire 800 rounds.

This course is one full day of intense training, teaching and practice. The course will cover the following topics and more:

Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting & Intuitive Skill Development
Combat Accuracy
Lateral Motion
The Balance of Speed & Precision
The Critical Incident Reload
Volume of Fire
Realistic Training for Multiple Target Engagement
Understanding the Body’s Natural Reactions during a Dynamic Critical Incident.
The Skill Development Cycle
One Handed Shooting
Non-Diagnostic Linear Malfunction Clearing

The Intuitive Defensive Shooting Course is not designed to make you the best shooter you can be on the range, rather its goal is to help you quickly develop fundamental skills that you can apply in a worst-case scenario defensive shooting situation.

IDS is based on years of constantly evolving information about how the body works and what really happens during Dynamic Critical Incidents and has been heavily influenced by the diverse group of instructors that are certified to teach it and the thousands of students who have been through courses all around the world. The program features a variety of specialty drills and training methods that the student will be able to utilize in their own practice after the course in order to continue to develop their abilities.

Meet up at 8.30 at the range office.

•  Cost for the 1 Day IDS course is $250.
• Students will fire 300/500 Pistol rounds.
• Bring Pistol, Holster, rigid Belt, 3 spare magazines, lunch, water, snacks, notepad, hat, sunscreen.

Applied fundamentals of CCW and Home Defense. Live fire scenarios training with Simunitions and trained role players.
In this class we will spend a few hours working fundamental defensive skills on the live range, examining the students set up / equipment / plan of action for Concealed Carry and Home Defense.
Students will participate in Force on Force simulations with trained role players to test and improve their realistic application of the skills and strategies learned and their personal equipment.

• Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting & Intuitive Skill Development
• Defensive Accuracy
• Lateral Movement
• Balance of Speed & Precision
•  Three Dimensional Target Shooting
• Threat Focused Shooting and Intuitive Sighted Shooting
• Critical Incident Reload
• Presentation from the holster
• Realistic Training for Multiple Target Engagement
• Understanding the Body’s Natural Reactions during a Dynamic Critical Incident and they affect performance.
• Skill Development Cycle
• One Handed & Weak Handed Shooting
• Non-Diagnostic Linear Malfunction Clearing
• Shooting in Motion (When, How & Why)
• Use of Cover and Concealment
• Shooting in defense of others
• Simulation Drills

The Intuitive Defensive Shooting Course is not designed to make you the best shooter you can be on the range, rather its goal is to help you quickly develop fundamental skills that you can apply in a worst case scenario defensive shooting situation.

IDS is based on years of constantly evolving information about how the body works and what really happens during Dynamic Critical Incidents and has been heavily influenced by the diverse group of instructors that are certified to teach it and the thousands of students who have been through courses all around the world. The program features a variety of specialty drills and training methods that the student will be able to utilize in the their own practice after the course in order to continue to develop their abilities.

Please bring the following gear to the course:

• Pistol
• Good quality belt, holster and magazine carrier that can withstand heavy use
• 600/800 rounds of ammunition
• At least 3 magazines for high capacity double stack firearms, 5 plus magazines for single stack firearms.
• Eye and ear protection.
• Comfort items such as sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, and drinks.

If you serve or are employed in an armed capacity, we recommend you train with your duty gear. For concealed carry permit holders, we recommend that you start the course with an outside the waistband holster, but bring your concealed carry rig if you want to get some reps using that setup.

Students should arrive at 8:30AM and be ready to begin class by 9:00AM. Plan on about an hour lunch break both days, and an ending time of between 5-6PM each day. There is a debriefing at the end of day two.

Intuitive Defensive Shooting – Handgun
This course is not designed to make you the best shooter you can be on the range,
rather its goal is to help you quickly develop fundamental skills that you can apply in a
worst case scenario defensive shooting situation.
IDS is based on years of constantly evolving information about how the body works and
what really happens during Dynamic Critical Incidents and has been heavily influenced
by the diverse group of instructors that are certified to teach it and the thousands of
students who have been through courses all around the world. The program features a
variety of specialty drills and training methods that the student will be able to utilize in
their own practice after the course in order to continue to develop their abilities.
This course is two full days of training, teaching, and practice. You are encouraged to
bring a notebook and a pen. The course will cover the following topics:
• Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting & Intuitive Skill Development
• Combat Accuracy
• High Compressed Ready position
• Lateral Motion – Net Survival Positive
• Presentation from the Holster (Reactive Vs Proactive)
• Assessment – Physical & Cognitive Skill
• The Balance of Speed & Precision
• Critical Incident Reload
• Volume of Fire
• Realistic Training for Multiple Target Engagement
• Understanding the Body’s Natural Reactions during a Dynamic Critical Incident.
• One Handed & Weak Handed Shooting
• Non-Diagnostic Linear Malfunction Clearing
• Simulation Drills
• Shooting in Motion (When, How & Why)

Intuitive Defensive Carbine
This Course is designed to expose students to an efficient method of defending
themselves with a semi-automatic rifle during a dynamic critical incident. All of the
principles and fundamentals of the Intuitive Defensive Shooting program are applied
to the carbine and the following topics are covered:
• Four Points of Contact with a rifle and Intuitive Shooting Fundamentals
• Combat Accuracy
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary aiming methods
• The Balance of Speed & Precision
• Volume of Fire
• Critical Incident Reloads & Efficient Carbine Handling
• Transition to a Pistol
• Realistic Training for Multiple Target Engagement
• Counter Ambush Response simulation drills
• Shooting while Standing, Squatting, Kneeling & Seated
• Transition to support side shooting
• Shooting around Cover & in Unorthodox Shooting Positions course of fire
• Fundamentals Carbine Malfunction Clearing

Course Informatio

•  Cost for the 2 Day IDS course is $500.
• Students will fire 400 Pistol and 500
  Carbine rounds during the 2 day course.
• Bring a lunch, water, sunscreen, snacks, notepad and knee-pads.