The mentors were adamant about keeping training as real as possible for those so inclined who'd demonstrated they could perform it against the instructors numerous times without fail and had the desire to test themselves.
Funny thing about it was, I got a call a few months after training with the boys and worked for them on and off OCONUS for nearly 3 years putting the talents they imparted to good use. The mentors were looking for candidates for jobs they'd get from time to time in and outside the US. I was chosen as one who they would use [ and thus got asked ] based on the skills and "attitude"/mentality I had back then.
Yup, I look young there, that was probably 92-93 that vid was shot. Some 20 years ago now, I'd have been 42-43 or thereabouts. No, it's not for the feint of heart, but neither was the work they had for me over those 3 years.
It is what it is, I don't allow anyone else to try that on my time or a student. What I can do and will do is fully different than what students will ever see try on my time. It looks really dangerous, it's not. I've taken two guns out of peoples hands disarming them on the streets, who were about to try to shoot me or had me muzzled. I'm still here, it works, I know it works and I know I'll not hesitate to use the skills I have when it's for all the marbles as the next time won't be the first rodeo in that arena.
Reckless endangerment? Nothing reckless about being able to take heat from someone who's intent is to kill you. Ya, reckless of the perp to try to point a gun in my direction with ill intent. The only one endangered is myself in that clip, not the shooter/leo, nor bystanders [ there weren't any ]. As for reckless, perhaps to some, to others it was a hiring skill. Made a lot of money doing jobs with others with equal talent in various skills. A lot of money, and I was recently single at the time of training in 81 and didn't give two sheets about living on the edge and testing talents in the wild.
I'm much more sedate and relaxed nowadays,
It's always interesting to read/hear the comments about how dangerous it is, how reckless it appears to be. Recklessness is a frame of mind. What some might call reckless, others take with a grain of salt, it's no big deal. Those are the types of people I was working with.