Having raised seven children on one income, I’ve never been fond of spending money unnecessarily. I believe in being careful with what I have and making sure anything I buy is worth the investment. So when I stumbled across a video from the Tactical Anatomy Summit discussing the effectiveness of Dr. James Williams’ course for law enforcement officers and armed citizens dealing with an imminent lethal threat, I didn’t rush to pull out my wallet.
Instead, I did some homework.
I read a couple of his blog articles1 and immediately recognized principles I’ve been teaching for years. In my own courses, I’ve used an anatomically correct medical-model skull, complete with a removable brainstem, along with models of the heart and spinal column. I’ve long believed that understanding anatomy is essential to understanding defensive shooting.
What caught my attention was Dr. Williams’ background: a full-time emergency room, intensive care, and trauma physician with more than 35 years of experience who also takes firearms, tactics, and the realities of stopping a lethal threat seriously.
Then I purchased his Tactical Anatomy Instructor Manual for $39.95.
Seeing Anatomy Differently
Williams’ Shooting With X-ray Vision approach aligns with a concept I incorporated into my own curriculum years ago.
When developing that material, I picked the brains of close friends who are serious deer hunters. I tell my students that hunters develop a mental picture of an animal’s internal anatomy that lets them understand what lies beneath the surface, even when the animal stands at an unfamiliar angle.
The heart, brain, and spine don’t change locations just because the animal turns. An experienced hunter understands that the animal’s presentation changes what you can see from the outside, not the anatomy inside.
That kind of three-dimensional understanding is valuable well beyond hunting. Learning to visualize anatomy rather than thinking only in terms of what’s visible on the surface can deepen our understanding of the most efficient and effective ways to stop an imminent, unjust deadly force threat.
That’s one reason Williams’ work caught my attention. He has devoted substantial time and medical expertise to a specialized subject that deserves serious study.
Still Learning
I’m working through his instructor’s manual, highlighting passages and making notes in the margins. I’m only about a third of the way through, and I’ve already encountered details that have added to my understanding of thoracic anatomy and the potentially catastrophic consequences of injury to major blood vessels.
That’s what I appreciate about finding someone who has put in the work: even when the underlying principles are familiar, there may be details, explanations, or clinical insights that sharpen your understanding.
After years of teaching, I don’t expect every new resource to overturn what I know. I do expect a worthwhile resource to challenge me, teach me something, or help me explain a concept more clearly. So far, this one has done that.
If you’re interested in studying the subject for yourself, you can find Dr. Williams’ instructor’s manual and three PowerPoint presentations here:
One final point: I’m not an affiliate, I’m not friends with Dr. Williams, and I’ve never met or spoken with him. I receive nothing for sharing this information. I’m simply passing along a resource I’ve found worthwhile.
From what I’ve seen so far, Dr. Williams appears to be a craftsman who has devoted years of medical experience, study, and effort to a highly specialized area of defensive training. That kind of work deserves a closer look.
I’m still reading, still taking notes, and still learning. And when I find someone doing serious work in an area I care about, I think it’s worth letting others know.