Follow Up to my Defensive Firearms Coach Training, previous post

Ok, five days later…I’ve gotten some comments and messages.  I want to be very clear that I am not, in any way, disparaging the training, the instructors or the course.  Was it tough, absolutely!  Do I want to repeat that experience?  Well, I did want to get certified to teach Combat Focus Shooting, so I’m hoping this is like child birth where you forget how much it hurts so you can do it again.

The teaching methodology is a valid and accepted method.  It generally appeals to men between 20 and 40.  That is probably the major demographic for this training.  I am not in the demographic, so it was stubbornness and ego that kept me going. 

Five days out and I was telling someone about the course and realized I could still recite many of the principles and concepts, verbatim.  I have yet to type up my notes, probably this weekend.  That tells me I retained more information that I thought possible from a 3 day class. 

So, what is the objective of the training, to teach me something important that I can use and share or let me have fun for three days?  Mission accomplished, I learned a lot!  I will have even more when I go back through my notes again and put them into an order that makes sense.

I want to assure everyone that I have the utmost respect for Rob Pincus, Combat Focus Shooting and I.C.E. Training.  I have even more respect for the my instructors, Jamie and Paul.  When I was at my lowest point, they quietly gave me encouragement.

I can’t wait to teach this class, Introduction to Defensive Handguns.  It has amazing information and even if you only have a gun to defend your home, I believe the information in the class could save lives.

Thank you for your comments and support.

Safe Shooting!

Thoughts on the Defensive Firearms Coach Training from I.C.E. Training

Science tells us that a diamond is a crystal structure formed through exposure to great heat and pressure. 

Many of you know, I just completed the Defense Firearms Coach Certification training.  It was developed by the same company who brings us Combat Focus Shooting.  Innovative Defensive Solutions, LLC hosted two instructors to come to our area to present the training. 

The class finished Sunday, late afternoon with a written exam.  It is now Tuesday and I’m beginning to gain some perspective.  This was the most difficult course I’ve ever taken, and it was designed that way.  The pressure was intense.  One of my fellow students described it as “Drinking from the Fire Hose”.  I went in to Day 1 thinking, despite the warnings, how bad can it be?  Granted, and I’m not making excuses, I was not 100% on my game.  I am still getting over a sinus infection, hobbling on a broken toe, was tired from scrambling to get final edits on my book back to the publisher…generally my stress level, on a 1 - 10 scale was about 8.  By the end of the day, I had redefined my scale. 

I left Day 1 feeling demoralized, like an idiot, and thinking I really don’t want to do this.  There are almost no handouts, you need to take notes almost at the rate of speech, some of the information was known but presented in a different way and some was completely new.  Then, you would have a few minutes to prepare and have to stand and present a small section back to the class and instructors.  To throw in a curve, you might be asked to present something you hadn’t prepared.  I tend to like my presentations to be thoughtful, polished, clean…I do not like to grab and go…winging it was NEVER an option.  I went home seriously wondering if I should return the next day or quit and forfeit the money.  I did the homework that night and reviewed for day 2 since I was still waffling. 

Day 2, the alarm went off and I dragged my sleepy self out of bed, still not sure if I would actually walk out the door or crawl back in to bed.  I went to class.  Pride won out, I did not want to give up in front of my peers.  Day 2 was better, although still tough.  I felt a little less like an idiot when I delivered a teach back that was acceptable, but I was still very stressed by the methodology.  It helped to see some of my peers, who I consider very intelligent, stumble, too.  I felt less alone.  There was also a sense of mutual support forming, we were in this together, and we were going to pull each other through.

Day 3…the range.  Outdoors, 20 some degrees, snow on the ground…my skills completely fell apart.  I had errors I’ve never experienced before (and will be practicing intently very soon).  I seemed to have trouble understanding simple instructions, which frustrated me immensely.  I would be told to do something, I would have to look at the person providing the instruction while they restated it a couple times, no comprehension.  Finally it would be said in a different way and I got it and was able to do it.  That was humbling, but also valuable as it reminded me what it feels like for one of my students to give me a blank look and me to try to find new words to explain it.  The range portion was over and we all left to regroup at a restaurant for a late lunch, final teach backs and written exam.  Driving there, I had a mini-melt down.  But, I was pretty much back together by the time I got to the restaurant.  We ate, we taught, we got our exams…36 questions, not multiple choice or T/F, but write out the answer, and we had to get 90%.  Not a lot of room for error there.  I finished the test, started going back over it and stopped myself.  I’ve learned through the years, I tend to change right answers to wrong when I do that.  We did our debrief and wished our instructors safe travels back to Ohio.

A word about Jamie and Paul.  When I first saw them I wondered.  They were very casual, and I’m used to a “uniform”, so to speak, of tactical pants and a logo shirt.  Then they started to speak and I quickly realized these were two articulate, intelligent, and I later came to realize sincere and caring, men.  I have immense respect and appreciation for both of them.  More than they know…at least until they read this. J 

I learned more than I thought possible in 3 short days, or long days, depending on your perspective.  I haven’t gone back and sorted out my notes yet, but I will in a few days, I’m still decompressing.  I like to think my words are not influenced by the end result, passing or failing, and I really believe that.  We didn’t know when we left what our status was.  By Monday evening, I was fairly confident I would need to re-do something in order to pass, but I had already formed most of the opinions above.  Then I got the email telling me I passed.  I was not as relieved as I would have thought, by that point I had begun to realize I had learned an amazing amount of information.  I was miserable while I was doing it, but I had survived, no one was injured, I was less cocky and much more appreciative of my peers who were incredibly supportive.  I’m still a little embarrassed by my melt down, but that is on me.  As we heard many times we needed to own our mistakes and fix them.  Part of that is admitting it here.

I started out with a reference to the creation of a diamond.  I made it through the pressure and heat, and truly believe I’m a better instructor than I was last Thursday.  I’m certainly more humble.  I still have a few rough edges, but am maybe a little shinier than I was last week.  I’m not sure I ever want to repeat an experience like that, but…it was valuable and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity.  Amazing how perspective shifts once the pressure is off and you can look back.

Stay Safe!

Should I Buy a Gun for my Significant Other for Christmas?

Thinking of a new toy for your significant other?  Do they want one or do you want them to have one?  So often people come to a beginner class with a gun their SO (usually Husband) bought for them.  I’ve seen women come in with a Desert Eagle, a Judge, and a Ruger LCP (or similar .380 “pocket pistols”).  These are women who have never shot before!  I’m sure there are a few men in this category, but I haven’t had one admit it (although I did buy my husband a shotgun for home defense without talking to him first but he loves it).

Common theme?  Buying what you want, or want them to have, not what is best for their partner.  I don’t know very many women who really want a Desert Eagle.  Me, I like my 9mm.  For a new shooter, or to introduce someone to shooting, you don’t want to start them without something that is overpowering or so tiny it is difficult to control.  A .44 Magnum is probably not a great start, either.  A Double Action Revolver, with a 12 pound trigger pull is also not a great way to start.  Those are for after you master the basics, if you really feel the need. 

A gun must fit securely in the hand.  Can you really judge for someone else what is a comfortable and secure fit?  No!  Your SO needs to first, have an interest and be willing to at least consider it, otherwise is a bit like giving your SO golf clubs in your size.  Second, let them participate in the shopping experience, trying a gun in the hand, getting comfortable...  This goes for holsters, too!  Unless they have told you what they want…don’t go there.  There is a reason most of us have “the holster bag”.

I know, it takes the fun out of it, doesn’t it?  Consider, instead, a gift certificate to a training class.  A NRA First Steps class (you don’t need to own a gun to take the class) is a great way to start and they are offered all across the country.  If you are feeling a little bolder, a Combat Focus Shooting class (probably should have the gun, or arrange in advance with the instructor to borrow gear) teaches great defensive techniques and accommodates all skill levels.  Both of these courses, and more, are offered in the Northern Virginia area by Innovative Defensive Solutions, LLC., but you can also find them at the embedded links above.

Follow up with a promise to take them shopping for their first gun. You always remember your first, you should have some say in what it is.

Wishing you Safe and Happy Holidays!!

Review of Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting Course

Fundamentals of CFS is a one day course, offered in Northern Virginia by Innovative Defensive Solutions, LLC.  If you don’t know me I’m female, over 50, and an experienced shooter / instructor.  I was excited to get to take this class.  There were 10 students ranging from a young woman who had never drawn from a holster to very experienced shooters.  I had never taken a defensive firearms class before.  My first reaction was WOW!  My second reaction, at the end of the day, was OW!

This was a great class. The instructors were patient, helpful and extremely knowledgeable (and no, I didn’t know all of them, LOL).  The class started with fundamental skills and quickly built on those, mastering one new aspect at a time and building up to the final drills.  I learned so much that it wasn’t until the very end that I realized how much I had learned. 

The instructors focused on something that was a new concept to me.  We didn’t all have the same “performance goals”, they recognized that we are all starting in different places.  Some were amazing shooters, some were more tentative, not quite as accurate.  We were building skills to help us defend ourselves, not trying to hit a 10 ring.  This was a great approach because if allowed all of us to be successful without being measured against each other.  The instructors were constantly walking up and down the line, sharing advice, offering tips, making minor corrections and offering the occasional encouragement, as well as pointing out errors.  Safety was a constant, every new skill included an explanation of how to perform it incorporate it safely. 

When I first starting looking into the class I was put off by the word “Combat”.  Then I realized, combat is a fight for your life, and if I’ve drawn my gun, I’m fighting for my life.  Also, I thought, this would be a great class for an experienced shooter to take their skills to the next level.  I was half wrong.  This is a great class for ANY shooter to enhance their defensive skills.  I watched a relatively new shooter blossom and grow more confident as the day went on, getting accurate hits on target and moving and drawing smoothly.  I, personally, saw my accuracy improving, my drawing getting faster, my reloads getting smoother….and my threat recognition, which I had never worked on, went from zero to sixty!

This class covers so much it is difficult to describe it all.  But at the end of the day I was tired, sore, and thinking to myself…I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN!!!  I think of all I learned in one class, wow, if I take it again, how much more will I get out of it?  There was so much, and it is structured to your individual level, that now that I (I think) have moved up a notch, taking it again will offer new challenges and a chance to get even better.

I also know that I will incorporate some of the skills into my teaching, tips on lateral movement, threat recognition, drawing and firing, scanning and assessing slowly enough to actually see what is behind me but fast enough not to lose track of what is in front of me. 

Ladies, this is an especially great class for women because it will build confidence in a way I didn’t think was possible in one day.  I’ve been shooting, and carrying a long time.  This class taught me things I had never thought about.  I was pushed past my comfort zone, by caring instructors who wanted me, and everyone else to excel to the best of my ability.  I was encouraged by these same instructors.  I felt I held my own with the guys, even the young ones.  I might not have moved quite as fast, but I was drawing, and getting hits on target right next to them. 

Bottom line, if you use a gun for personal defense, either in your home or carry out in the real world, I strongly encourage you to find and take a CFS class.  You will be amazed.  The inexpereinced shooters came away with a new appreciation of their skills.  The experienced shooters, one of whom was Law Enforcement, admitted that the drills were new to him and he learned a lot.  EVERYONE can benefit from this. 

Coming Up!

Next Saturday I will be attending, as a student, a Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting Course offered by Innovative Defensive Solutions, LLC.  I’ve read about, seen videos, even observed one class.  Now…I get to take the course.  I can’t wait!  Based on watching it I have a slight advantage in that I know what to expect, but there is a difference in knowing, and knowing what it can do for my defensive skills, and actually completing the training.  I will definitely be posting a review and maybe a photo or two after the class.

Ladies, do not be put off by the term “Combat”, if you are in a defensive situation where you are drawing your gun, you are fighting for your life.  One on-line dictionary defines Combat this way; “to fight, contend, or struggle to fight or struggle against; oppose, resist, or seek to get rid of armed fighting; battle any struggle or conflict”.  That can happen on the streets, in your home, at the grocery store…not just on a battle field.  This is about confidence in your own ability to defend yourself, and knowing you have the skills to survive the encounter.

Check back early next week for a full review!

The Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting (CFS), My Introduction

CFS was designed by Rob Pincus of Integrity – Consistency –Efficiency (ICE) training. 

I had the chance to spend a day observing an 8 hour class this past weekend.  I had planned to take the class but because of a flare of tendonitis I can’t shoot for a few more weeks.  However, I was able to go, observe and take a lot of photos for Evan Carson, the instructor.

The course was held outdoors in Northern Va, near Harper’s Ferry.  If you’ve never been up there, it was beautiful, mountains, wineries, farms…that was the up side.  The downside was bugs and a couple spells of heavy rain.  Ok, I’m spoiled, I like the indoor range I go to. 

The CFS Course was incredible.  It was progressive, building the skills.  All the students were already proficient shooters.  I can’t imagine doing the class without the fundamentals in place.  The philosophy includes incorporating the natural startle response into your actions, recognizing if a threat exists and shooting if there is, scanning and evaluating for additional threats..  The students were pushed physically and mentally and went away very pumped, excited and yes, tired.

I am still a strong believer in getting your fundamentals down but I can’t imagine a better program to take your shooting to the next level.  These guys went through several hundred rounds, my arms wouldn’t have held up.  I am really looking forward to actually taking the training. 

I can not recommend CFS strongly enough.  If you are in the Virginia Area, check out Evan Carson and Innovative Defensive Solutions.

Ladies, do not be put off by the name!  This is great training for anyone who wants to move their defensive shooting to the next level.  It isn't easy, but it is more mental than physical.  If I wasn't recovering from an injury I would have taken the class instead of photographing it.  I can't wait!
 

Stay Safe!