“Put on the restraints.”

Burke took a step toward the man and said, “We’re agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You have no right to detain us.”

“I believe you were ordered to stay away from the facility. You may not follow orders at the FBI, but we do. Put on the cuffs, and you can explain it to my boss.”

Burke took another step toward the man. “And if we refuse, you’re prepared to gun down two federal agents?”

“Don’t make me. Put on the cuffs, and we won’t have a problem.”

Burke took one more step.

“Don’t come any closer,” the agent said. “I don’t want to, but I will shoot you.”

“First, there’s a very important piece of information of which I believe you’re unaware. And it’s something that could save your life.”

The agent looked skeptical but also curious. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“The muscles of the torso are up to ten times stronger than those in the wrist.”

Burke had calculated the variables, planned the maneuver, checked lines of sight, and nearby obstacles. Carter would be clear from the gaze of the gun’s barrel and would still be clear when Burke backed up. Now, all that was left was to actually perform the action his brain told him would work.

He punctuated the last word of his sentence with the quick movement of his left arm. Using a Krav Maga technique that he had practiced several times—albeit with a fellow student and a plastic gun—he initiated what started with a Judo wrist lock. Gaining the strength from his core and rotating his body instead of merely moving his arm, he spun his left hand onto the agent’s right wrist, the one holding the gun.

The force of the push and the rotation of his torso propelled the gun’s aim away from his body. At the same time, he pulled his attacker toward him, putting the agent off balance and giving Burke leverage over the man’s wrist. Then with his right hand, Burke used the barrel of the gun as a lever to easily pry the weapon away from his opponent.

By using the muscles of his torso, Burke was immune to the agent’s strength. The maneuver could be performed easily by a smaller person defending themselves against a much larger attacker, if the mental preparedness and physical action were performed correctly. And to his elation, Burke’s muscles had cooperated with his mind to perform a textbook Krav Maga pistol disarm.

The problem came with what to do next.

His teacher had taught that it was always best to create distance between yourself and the attacker at this point, instead of following with more blows that may give your opponent a chance to retrieve his weapon.

Is this situation, considering that his opponent was likely trained in some form of martial arts, Burke heeded his teacher’s advice.

As soon as he had control of the gun, he took four large steps backward. At the same time, he grabbed the barrel with his left hand, allowing him to switch his right to the pistol’s grip. He took aim at the man even as he was finishing his four backward steps.