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This training target depicts a violent, close-range edged-weapon encounter unfolding in a public environment. Two adult males are engaged in a physical struggle over a knife, with overlapping movement, compressed distance, and no clear separation between attacker and defender.
This target incorporates an intentionally placed transparent cranial kill zone designed specifically for side-profile threat presentation, supporting post-engagement shot placement evaluation following a training sequence.
Edged-weapon assaults occur at extreme close range and evolve rapidly into chaotic physical struggles. Distance collapses instantly, body positioning changes moment to moment, and opportunities for anatomically... ...
This training target depicts a violent, close-range edged-weapon encounter unfolding in a public environment. Two adult males are engaged in a physical struggle over a knife, with overlapping movement, compressed distance, and no clear separation between attacker and defender.
This target incorporates an intentionally placed transparent cranial kill zone designed specifically for side-profile threat presentation, supporting post-engagement shot placement evaluation following a training sequence.
Edged-weapon assaults occur at extreme close range and evolve rapidly into chaotic physical struggles. Distance collapses instantly, body positioning changes moment to moment, and opportunities for anatomically decisive shots may be fleeting or unavailable.
This target is designed to train shooters to recognize an active lethal threat, understand the risks associated with close-contact movement, and apply disciplined decision-making when engagement options are limited. The cranial kill zone is not intended to dictate engagement decisions, but to provide objective feedback after the drill regarding shot placement, precision, and accountability.
Most knife-related targets present attackers in frontal or simplified orientations. This target intentionally uses a side-profile head presentation, reflecting the reality that lethal threats are rarely square to the shooter during close-contact violence.
The shooter must:
The transparent cranial kill zone enables meaningful post-event analysis without simplifying or pre-programming decisions during the drill.
Public knife assaults frequently escalate into grappling-range struggles within seconds. During these encounters, attackers are rarely stationary or facing forward. Head orientation may be angled, turned, or partially obscured, increasing the complexity of any engagement decision.
This target includes a transparent cranial kill zone designed for side-profile presentation.
Side-Profile Cranial Kill Zone
The cranial kill zone covers lateral regions of the skull known to result in immediate neurological incapacitation when disrupted. The zone is intentionally shaped to account for side-angle presentation and realistic head positioning during close-contact encounters.
This area reflects anatomical structures associated with rapid incapacitation, while recognizing that outcomes depend on angle, penetration, and situational factors.
The cranial kill zone is:
If you want more reps on the same type of scenario, pair this target with Low-Light Plainclothes Officer Threat Assessment Scenario, Low-Light Badge Presentation – Plainclothes Officer Identification Scenario, and Low-Light Plainclothes Officer Contact – Authority Identification Scenario.
Browse more targets in Public & Everyday Self Defense to keep your practice realistic and repeatable.
To round out your skill set, add targets from Home Defense, CQB & Hostage Scenarios so you can apply the same fundamentals in a different environment and decision profile.
