Scotty Oates, a longtime ShivWorks instructor blending martial arts with real-world combatives. Craig Douglas, founder of ShivWorks and creator of the ECQC curriculum. They discuss immersive close-quarters training, pressure-tested drills, realistic environments, instructor vetting, and practical paths from beginner to capable defender.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
First ECQC Hooked An Instructor
Brian first met Craig at an ECQC in 2018 and remembers fighting over a gun and shooting from inside a car.
That initial experience convinced him the course was remarkable and led to him joining ShivWorks.
insights INSIGHT
Fighting Skills Must Include Weapon Context
Fighters often overlook weapon realities like knives or guns appearing during grappling.
Contextualizing martial skills to include weapons changes decision-making and survival outcomes.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Choke Interrupted By Knife In Drill
Scott described doing an evolution where a rear naked choke was met with a hidden knife and bleeding femoral artery.
The scenario showed that a choke can be lethal if an assailant has a weapon, changing the perceived safety of grappling.
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Season 2 of She Shield Podcast is here! This episode takes you inside a ShivWorks ECQC course through the voices of the people who lived it.
Recorded during my most recent Extreme Close Quarters Concepts (ECQC) course, this episode features interviews with Craig Douglas, founder of ShivWorks, alongside his assistant instructors and students from the class.
You’ll hear from:
Craig Douglas (ShivWorks) on why ECQC is structured the way it is, what people consistently misunderstand about close-range violence, and why pressure testing matters
Brian Frias and Scotty Oates, ShivWorks assistant instructors, on what they observe when students are stressed, entangled, and forced to make decisions in real time
Olivia, a law enforcement officer and instructor, on applying ECQC principles within duty constraints and policy-driven environments
Nick, a civilian with one clear goal: becoming harder to hurt and more capable of protecting himself and those he cares about
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She Shield