Extreme Close Quarter Concepts (ECQC) with ShivWorks
2026-05-08 18:00 - 2026-05-10 18:00 (America/Denver)
The ShivWorks Extreme Close Quarter Concepts (ECQC) course is a two-and-a-half-day (24-hour) block of instruction that offers a multi-disciplinary approach to building functional, combative handgun skills at zero to five feet. The course is designed to instill core concepts of seamless integration and provide the platform for aggressive problem solving during a life or death struggle at arm’s length or closer. We emphasize the common body mechanics that apply across different skill sets. That way, all combative software is reinforcing. Once students’ skill sets are ingrained, they will be stress inoculated with force-on-force drills using marking cartridges and protective equipment.
To be clear, this coursework is not for everybody. It is active, physical, and often quite a humbling experience. However, our students are young and old, male and female, large and small, outgoing and shy, white collar and blue collar, experienced and inexperienced. Regardless of your background, a positive attitude and an open mind will take you far in the ShivWorks curriculum.
Notes:

You do not need any martial arts or combative experience to attend this course. You only need the ability to safely deploy your handgun from the holster.
The first four hours of day two and three are live fire training. You can train from concealment or overtly outside the waistband; neither option will impact the quality of your training experience. You must be able to safely and competently deploy/shoot/manipulate your firearm. This is not a pistol 101 course, and a lack of basic weapons handling skills will result in you being asked to step off the firing line.

Day 1:
(Four Hours)

Criminal Assault Paradigm
Unequal Initiative Events
Managing Unknown Contacts
Practical Unarmed Combat or In-Extremis Knife modules

Day 2:
(Ten Hours)

Introduction to the components of the Combative Drawstrok
Building the #2 position in live-fire
Firing throughout the horizontal line of presentation
Off-hand fending positions
Default position
Basic empty hand blows
Theory of in-fight weapon access
Grounded basics

Day 3:
(Ten Hours)

Challenging the potential attacker
Preemptive weapon access
Multiple attackers
Negotiating the F.U.T.
ECQ Handgun retention in holster
ECQ handgun retention out of holster
Handgun recovery
Handgun striking

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Instructor Bio:
Craig Douglas (aka “SouthNarc”) is the founder of ShivWorks, a consortium of like-minded professionals devoted to training and product development in the emerging field of interdisciplinary problem-solving for self-defense. Craig retired from law enforcement after 21 years of service with the bulk of his career spent in narcotics and SWAT. Since 2003, Craig has been teaching globally under the ShivWorks brand and has conducted coursework on entangled shooting skills in nearly 40 states and nine foreign countries. He has taught for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and to three branches of the U.S. military.
