In order to understand how to pick a particular target to practice and develop skills with, it is important to understand how handgun rounds will stop a threat. In a nutshell, handgun rounds stop an opponent by interrupting the function of the central nervous system(CNS). For those who don't know, the central nervous system is generally defined as the brain and the spinal column, especially its top third. We want to interrupt the central nervous system because this is the body system that will develop a plan of attack and execute it. Obviously, the brain will develop the plan of attack and then it will transmit that plan over the central nervous system. The central nervous system will carry these messages to the periphery nervous system and direct the trigger finger to contract and fire a weapons or the arm to raise and lower a knife.

Before continuing, it should be noted that many of the people "stopped" by handgun rounds are not stopped by the physiological effects of the bullet. It is estimated that approximately one half of the people "stopped" by handgun rounds stop for psychological rather than physiological reasons. That is, a person realizes they are hit and decide to stop fighting even though it is physically possible for them to continue to fight. This essay will not deal with this psychological stopping but rather the actual physical effects of hangun rounds.

When we discuss the physiological route of incapacitation, we realize that the central nervous system can be interrupted either by direct destruction, or more commonly, the deprivation of oxygen. Obviously, a bullet that penetrates the skull and enters the cranial vault (where the brain is stored), will usually destroy the brain and accomplish our goal of interrupting the central nervous system. The other option for interruption is to affect the supply of oxygen to the central nervous system. In this wounding manner, the blood supply to the central nervous system is eliminated by causing it to flow to other areas. Without a constant supply of oxygen, the central nervous system cannot function and our goal will be accomplished. It should be remembered that this mechanism of wounding is less direct and not immediate. Assuming all blood flow to the brain was stopped instantly, there is a sufficient supply of oxygen to carry on function for at least fifteen seconds.