Chuck Taylor	Gabe Suarez
1	Use your eyes and ears	Watch for target indicators
2	Don’t ever turn your back on anything you haven’t checked out	Avoid producing target indicators
3	Stay away from corners	Don’t assume anything is cleared until you have checked it out yourself
4	Stay as far away from any potential danger area as much as terrain or building allows	Maximize your distance from potential threats and minimize your exposure to them
5	Keep your balance	Move tactically
6	When engaging the enemy, keep your eyes on your front sight	When it is time to shoot, pay attention to the basics

Discussion: I will compare these two authors lists of principles and add my own discussion.

#1 Is similar for both authors.  “Watch for target indicators,” or “use your eyes and ears.” This means that when a fight is in progress or imminent you should look for the enemy.  Seems like common sense right, but it’s position as #1 on the list shows its importance.  Both authors emphasize the point that you should constantly be scanning with all senses, “eyes and ears.” Suarez discusses things he calls target indicators, such as shadows protruding barrels, the sound of breathing etc.

#2 Taylor’s “stay away from corners” is discussed again in #4, so I’m going to discuss Suarez’s #2.  “Avoid producing target indicators.” This is the inverse of principle #1, the enemy will be looking for you as well.  At some point, in order to engage the enemy you will have to expose yourself to them, thus producing a target indicator, this should be done at the last possible moment in order to give yourself the maximum advantafe.  Superfluous target indicators, such as heavy breathing or other noise should be avoided.

#3 Taylor’s #2 and Suarez’s #3 are the same thing.  Suarez’s #2 is discussed here because it is important, and Taylor doesn’t discuss it.  You need to realize that bad guys, or bad things (booby traps) can be anywhere, and you should never assume that an area is clear until it has been checked.

#4 This combines Taylor’s #3 and #4 as well as Suarez’s #4.  You need to maximize your distance from danger areas, distance is your friend… although it is hard to appreciate this in the context of a shootout inside of a building.  You should swing danger areas, like doors, hallways and corners wide, or as wide as possible.  This makes it harder to produce target indicators and can make a point blank shot (for the enemy) a longer shot.

#5 In this context “keep your balance” and “move tactically” are about the same thing.  When moving in contact you should remain low, maintain your foot spread (balance) and have your weapon trained on danger areas.  This ensures that you will be able to rapidly respond to an enemy target indicator.

#6 “Watch your front sight” and “remember the shooting basics” are the same thing here. It is documented fact that most people, when they engage in combat, forget the shooting basics.  Shooting goes downhill under stress, and the people who remember the basics have a big advantage.

Training:

Numbers 1-5 are best practiced using force on force training.  A couple of cheap airsoft pistols are a good idea for this.  Take turns being the defender and aggressor in as many locations as you can.  You should also regularly practice clearing your own house applying the principles in the books (you should get the books for their much more in depth descriptions, with illustrations)  #6 is best trained by lots and lots of shooting.  It is best to practice shooting in different positions, different scenarios and with different stressors added in.