THE KILLHOUSE RULES

"Force has no place where there is need of skill." - Herodotus

When we think about training for sports, the first things that often come to mind are drills, exercises, and strategies. But what if we could draw inspiration from something more unconventional, like tactical training used by military and law enforcement professionals?

As a former SWAT Team member, I attended a training called Killhouse. This course was unlike anything I had experienced before.  I was comfortably familiar with working as a team, team movement, and accountability to the team, but here- I was alone. Suddenly, everything was my responsibility. Since I didn't have a team, if there were 50 problems, I was responsible for working all 50 of them: big to small, near to far.

The Killhouse was a 3-day course designed to provide the individual fundamentals of defensive shooting, movement, and tactics within a structure by defining the principle of “Most Likely Danger Area”. The most likely danger area is the area that is the most likely to hurt you: that space where the threat lurks and waits. This course provided a force-on-force environment through live-fire simulation as a “team of one”. People were in the Killhouse to “kill” me. I was there to “kill” them. It was my responsibility alone to provide 360-degree security to get the job done. To understand this requirement, we were presented with The Killhouse Rules. I believe these rules parallel the approach athletes should take in their training, and in everyday life.

The Killhouse Rules:

1. NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE YOU.  Whether an event lasts a few seconds, a few hours, or even a few days – you have to work as though nobody is coming to save you.

For the archer: The idea that "nobody is coming to save you" can be a powerful reminder of your personal responsibility as an athlete. Whether you're practicing or competing in an event, your outcome depends entirely on your own preparation and training.  You have to take ownership of every aspect of your archery game.  By accepting the idea that nobody is coming to save you, you can learn to embrace the challenge and responsibility of truly mastering your craft.

2. You are your savior, so start working because EVERYTHING IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.  You are your security, you are your medic, you are your rescuer.

For the archer: Be prepared to solve every problem on your own. Preparation for an event occurs well before official practice day. Plan for everything (managing your thoughts, managing weather conditions, managing your response to problems, etc.) and then work your plan.

3. You are your own best resource to SAVE WHO NEEDS TO BE SAVED.  Nobody wants to save your life more than you, so set yourself up for success by having the simple tools and knowledge to do so: do what you can with what you have.  Recognize that nobody is in a better position to start saving your life than you.

For the archer: You are your own best resource to ensure your success. Preparation is key. You are responsible for preparing yourself, both physically, mentally, and for having the right tools to perform at your best in all conditions. Whether it's maintaining your bow, tuning, having spare equipment, refining your technique, or strengthening your focus, you must take charge of your progress. Do what you can with what you have, whether it's a challenging training day, poor weather conditions, or an imperfect setup. No one is in a better position to improve your game and save you, than you.

4. Sometimes saving lives means you have to KILL WHO NEEDS TO BE KILLED. The more effective you are at taking a life, the more successful you’ll be at saving one and nothing in the intervening time has changed my mind.  Be swift, be decisive, be final.

For the archer: This rule can be interpreted metaphorically, rather than literally, to reflect the importance of recognizing performance gaps, improving on areas of weakness, and/or eliminating distractions in order to succeed. In this context, "killing" refers to the need to take swift, purposeful action to address anything that stands in the way of your performance—whether it's technical issues, mental barriers, training limitations or wasteful spending of your time. "Killing" in this sense isn’t about harm but about eliminating unnecessary elements that get in the way of your success. Find your "Most Likely Danger Area," work on it, and eliminate it.

5. Mostly, ALWAYS BE WORKING.  There is always something you can be doing to improve your position.  Always.  Because nobody is coming to save you.

For the archer: "Always be working" means there’s always something you can improve. Whether it's technical, mental, or equipment, every shot is an opportunity to refine your process. Nobody is coming to save you—your success is on you. Consistency is key to continuous improvement, and it’s your responsibility to stay proactive, both in practice and competition.