How's this for some crazy intense and risky training: Students wear body armor and their instructor shoots live FMJ full power rounds into their torsos while the students draw, aim at a target next to the instructor, and shoot live ammo back right past the instructor, right after taking multiple hits. Note the total lack of "knockdown power" in the video. The student taking the hits on his body armor isn't visibly pushed back at all. He's rock-solid steady on his feet as he responds. https://youtu.be/rI01qKAqYts P.S. You might want to save this video or watch it before YouTube takes it down-- they might not want to leave it up, lest some fools imitate it, kill somebody, and then sue them for hosting the video. Post-P.S. Notice the instructor stops shooting before the student draws-- that's probably so the instructor doesn't shoot the student's arms, as his arms will be holding the gun in front of his own upper chest.
Thanks for sharing - Insane is a word for it. However, Spetsnaz training has always had that level of "realism" or insanity associated with it by all reports dating back to the late 70's.
That video has been on youtube for a long time, I first saw it almost two years ago. They are using full power FMJ rounds and yes there is no mythical "Knock down power" these guys use 9mm just like a lot of our SF guys do. A .45 would have the same effect on the guy wearing the vest. All of that said, yeah, this is some hard core training, You gotta really trust the guy shooting past your head after you put 3 rounds into his vest. Read the book Terror at Beslan, its about the Beslan School Massacre, it details a lot of the Russian SF guys.
We've all heard the old adage "Train like you fight, fight like you train." What happens when that training becomes so ingrained that you return fire on a live bad guy 5" off of the intended target (head)? Dumber things have happened in real life. That has got to be one of the stupidest training methods I've ever seen.