Fending off an attacker is just one job for the off hand. It also plays a critical role in the draw as well as handling such tasks as using a flashlight, opening a door and the like.
February 26, 2024
By Richard Nance
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The Filipino martial arts of Arnis and escrima are epitomized by the slashing and thrusting of sticks and knives, and this emphasis on bludgeon and blade are what set the Filipino arts apart. That said, one might assume the practitioner’s most important hand would be the one holding the weapon, but that’s not true.
The off hand is as important as the one bearing the weapon—perhaps even more so, which is why these arts refer to the off hand as the “live” hand. Think of your off hand as playing a supporting role, enabling your dominant, weapon-bearing hand to do its job.
When I was a new cop in the ’90s, most firearms instructors referred to the off hand as the “weak” hand. Because labeling one of your body’s primary weapons as “weak” could have negative connotations, “non-dominant,” “support” or “off” have become more popular. Regardless, the rationale is that your dominant hand maintains a firing grip while your other hand performs supporting tasks like acquiring a magazine, racking the slide, etc.
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Just as in the Filipino martial arts, your off hand performs a lot of roles in defensive pistol shooting. Consider the draw stroke. Too often, new shooters will begin a draw with their off hand hanging limply by their side—that hand not joining the firing hand on the grip until the gun is driven toward the target. This doesn’t usually end well.
When the off hand joins the grip this late in the game, it’s likely merely hanging on as opposed to being precisely placed for maximum control over the pistol. The hurried arrival of the off hand to the grip also tends to push the muzzle off target, resulting in rounds that miss on the gun side.
The support hand should be moving simultaneously with the gun hand. Bring the off hand toward the center of the chest so it’s ready when your gun is drawn from the holster and starts to orient toward the target. Getting the off hand moving early gives you more time to establish a proper two-handed grip, which is so important to shooting a handgun with speed and accuracy.
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In certain situations, involving the off hand early is a prerequisite to the draw stroke. For example, when you’re concealing your gun with a closed garment like a pullover or a buttoned shirt, your support hand initiates the draw stroke by removing the cover garment.
In a self-defense situation, your support hand may shine a flashlight, open a door, move an innocent bystander out of harm’s way or myriad other tasks. Of course, when the off hand isn’t busy, it plays an integral role in establishing a proper shooting grip. The higher your off hand on the gun and the more that wrist cants forward, the more leverage you’ll have to manage recoil.
A crushing grip with your support hand allows your shooting hand to remain relaxed. A relaxed hand enables the index finger to move independently when pressing the trigger, a factor that’s key to accurate shooting.
In close quarters, the off hand is critical. At arm’s length, you don’t have the luxury of bringing your off hand to your chest to receive the gun before driving it toward the target. Instead, your off hand will be busy striking or posting on the assailant to create or maintain distance or folded at the elbow to shield your head as you draw your gun.
If you’re wearing a closed garment, you may have to fish your gun from beneath your garment with just your dominant hand while your support hand manages your adversary.
Your support hand plays a significant role in gun retention, both when it’s in your hand and in your holster. When an assailant grabs your drawn gun, using the off hand to strike his face can “loosen him up,” making it easier to wrench your gun free. If your holstered gun is grabbed, your dominant hand’s job is to keep the gun in the holster while your support hand strikes the assailant until he lets go.
When training to defend yourself, be it empty-handed or armed, make sure both hands are actively engaged. Your off hand shouldn’t be an afterthought. Think of ways that hand may come into play and prepare accordingly.
There’s always work for the off hand. In addition to augmenting your grip on the gun, consider how you could use it to strike an assailant or keep him at bay to disengage and draw if appropriate.
A word of caution. Since the support hand is by nature moving, it’s important that you have an acute awareness of where the muzzle of your gun is pointed and that your gun remain stationary. Since your off hand is typically at shoulder height and above, I recommend using your pectoral muscle as a physical index for your dominant hand and the gun. But if you’re not careful, your support hand can still cross in front of the muzzle.
To reduce this risk, lock the gun-hand wrist and raise your shooting side elbow as high as you can. This will keep the muzzle low, maintaining a safe barrier for your off hand and arm. An aggressive forward lean also helps. Flagging your thumb up as though you were hitching a ride will create a gap between the gun and your body to prevent the slide from snagging on your clothing should you have to fire from this retention position.
Those Filipino martial arts practitioners have it right: The off hand is the live hand, and in many ways it’s just as important as your dominant/gun hand. Keep that in mind as you train.
