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Rvrctyrngr has a fantastic break out of the days events and what took place. I think I'm going to focus more on what makes the course so fantastic. Not that the skills arent fantastic, but what it is ABOUT them which makes them such. I'm going to break this down into three parts (and label each accordingly so if you don't care about a section...you can move to what you DO care to read).
Part 1 is about the people as well as some personalized comments for those at the class.
Part 2 will be about the fun from the course.
Part 3 will be for the skills, and my thoughts about how this course has helped me be better prepared for carrying daily.
Part 1 -- The People
I am amazed that for a group of gun enthusiasts....none of us seemed to have any sort of ego. Obviously we all have opinions, many of us have had other training or watched DVDs or read up on techniques yet it was all parked at the door. We were all there to learn and to come up to speed as fast as possible. There were definitely some seasoned shooters there and yet everyone was able to walk onto the range with an open mind to learn. Questions were asked and it was an open forum to discuss the answer or to determine as a group what the answer would be.
On an individual note.......
Brownie....thank you so much for your continued dedication to sharing your knowledge! Swamprat was correct when he said you were not simply a solid instructor but a damned fine teacher! Your methods and reasons as a teacher are why everyone enjoys the time so much. There is never a dull moment and you have real life examples to help demonstrate why something is done a certain way. I often times have to understand the 'why' behind something in order to remember it and you have never lost patience with me! Part of the reason why I'm so difficult to get rid of is because I'm trying to soak up as much knowledge from you as possible. Even after the days training has ended, you still have such a wealth of information to share...and I'm all too willing to listen and discuss for as long as you can stand me! You've certainly joined an extremely short list of people whom I consider my mentors.
Swamprat..I know you were under the weather but while I'm sure you had a significant part in making the event happen, I feel I owe you special thanks for being as much an instructor and teacher as Brownie. There were times this past weekend I felt I hadn't quite gotten a skill down and after talking with you it just seemed to 'click' for me. You were able to speak with me and provide guidance so I wasn't taking up as much of Brownie's time so he could continue to teach and mind the line. It was a shame you weren't able to stick around Saturday for dinner! You are also on my list as a mentor.
Rvrctyrngr, Jim45, Takasnooze and FatB*****.....always a pleasure and I'm glad to have seen and trained (twice now!) with you all. Its a shame that we live so scattered around the state because I could see us getting together for some H2H practice or airsoft training frequently...and even more so for beers! You all were a big reason for me wanting to sign up for this class after getting along so well in the H2H class. It was great to have been cheering each other on and yet all of us seemed simply glad to be among friends so we could help each other and never feel disrespected or made fun of!
Roadglider, finally nice to put a face with the screen name! Hopefully I'll train with you again in the future!
Everyone else whose screen names I'm unsure....it was a pleasure and fun filled weekend! Definitely hoping to train with any/all of you in the future.
Part 2 -- The F-U-N !!!!!
I was surprised at how much fun I had. The time simply flew by. One minute it was 8:30 am...then I would blink and it was time for lunch. Lunch seemed to be the longest part of the day for me! It was probably one of the most fun weekends I have had in a long time!
I can't stress enough to anyone, that even if you feel you are well prepared to carry your firearm and can't possibly learn anything else....take this class. Essentially it was a Floridaconcealedcarry shoot around! Seven of us were there from this forum....2 from defensivecarry and our beloved Mamabear showed up for a day as well! With the quality of people we have on this forum (and evidently exists on defensivecarry forum as well from the two gentlemen I met) it is no wonder that everyone became fast friends. I can't agree more with Brownie, the camaraderie was a huge reason as to the success of the weekend and was a highlight for me as well. We were often cracking jokes and even picking on each other yet no one took offense and laughed equally. Even if you learned nothing from the class (though I highly doubt that is possible) I assure you that you would enjoy yourself immensely.
If people haven't trained with Brownie, they might not know what to expect. His forum posts are always well articulated and thought out to make us all think, even to the point that some might have the wrong impression. He isn't like the professor played by Ben Stein in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', He isn't monotone nor is he set in his ways. He isn't a know-it-all and for having such a wealth of knowledge....he has no ego. He simply has amassed information that he wants to communicate and on the forums that can only go so far. The other part of that, the real person he is, is more like a comedian. He loves to joke around and tell stories, but its all in hopes of keeping things entertaining, fun and to make you want to participate.
Boy oh Boy, did we ever participate! It was an open forum. All questions were asked and no question was belittled. It was about teaching, about bestowing knowledge upon us that we lacked and Brownie and Swamprat had in abundance. We were sponges, soaking up anything they told us and trying to rapidly incorporate it into our toolbox of skills. They made learning fun. The instruction was made quickly and was easily understood so we might practice for longer. Individual interaction when necessary was done in a manner that didn't slow the rest of the class down. It was also done in a way to help you learn and even if it took you longer to understand and perform....you never felt behind or out of touch. Skills were demonstrated, performed/practiced at a slow pace, repeated at a faster pace and then repeated again with the urging to get faster! Building muscle memory so that the mind can be eliminated.....as Brownie's tag says...it is the limiting factor.
It wasn't enough to simply duplicate the action in slow motion as so many instructors are comfortable. Brownie wants you to learn it and be proficient and even to be so good at it before you leave that its almost as if you had been doing it for years. He challenges you and I know each and every one of us loves a challenge. Its why we enjoy shooting. I am a firearm enthusiast and have been since my father first put a BB gun in my hands at the age of 6. Despite that, I would have rather gone to an archery range to shoot my bow than to shoot my handgun. This weekend changed that. It opened my eyes as to what I could do and why shooting can be challenging yet engaging. It isn't about punching holes in paper targets anymore...its about practicing what I learned this past weekend to see how good I can become. Brownie's confidence in my abilities (which until this weekend I wasn't sure WHAT my abilities really were!) has me wanting to improve and get faster. It has me wanting to prove him right, that I can be dedicated enough to even be faster than he is! Trust me...that is SAYING something!
It is a challenge and they were issued hourly. Each was made without being an insult. The challenges weren't about ego or being the best of the group, it was about pushing ourselves to be the best we could and to ingrain the skills into our brains. We performed a drill on Sunday which basically was an old fashioned high noon shoot out! Each student went up against Brownie (side by side) in an exercise to push us to amazing speeds in the Elbow up/Elbow down exercise. I believe one or two of us might have actually been faster....though Swamprat then humbled us when he asked if we were sure Brownie wasn't deliberately slowing down to MAKE us try harder!
The group was cheering for every student (though I think it was a little louder as Brownie demonstrated some disarm tactics on me!) and praising as skills were mastered. When someone was impressed at how well another did, it was stated as such. It was a group praising each other and congratulating as we were all sometimes left in awe over how awesome a person performed. Such a single group mentality leads to camaraderie and friendship that can't help but shape the events into an absolutely fantastic and fun filled event.
I'll end this section with what I consider the three most fun drills that we performed. First and foremost for me was the wall of lead. Single or multiple targets I could have done this until my ammo ran out! Second was then the Quick Kill Hip. Multiple targets in the span of a second is just unbelievable....and was so much fun! Third...though not by much was the Zipper drill! I would say its safe to assume this was one of everyones favorites!
Part 3 -- Thoughts on skills and how it can be applied
I felt I was being responsible in carrying a firearm. I had taken the necessary courses to obtain my CWL, I practiced drawing my weapon at home and had taken various training courses as well as researched skills on my own. I felt I was well prepared to defend myself should a threat arise. I will echo similar sentiments which were uttered many times this past weekend by others, I had no idea how drastically under prepared I was to defend myself. I believe that had I ever had to defend myself I probably would not have survived.
To prepare for this course I stopped going to the range or practicing anything about 2 months prior so I wouldn't have bad habits walking in. I am not what I consider to be the best shot with a handgun. Proficient sure, but I never felt I excelled. At twenty feet I could hit 9 of 10 shots in an 5 inch circle, but I want it to be 9 of 10 in a 3 inch circle. My inability to get better despite practice made me lose some of my desire to shoot.
This weekend has changed a lot of my perceptions, desires and abilities.
I now realized that I was using too much motion to draw my firearm. The Elbow up/Elbow Down technique conserves so much movement that I was instantly faster after only a few practice attempts. It is so simplistic that everyone should know it (and basically we all do) yet for some reason it was never apparent to me until Brownie demonstrated it.
The Zipper drill blew my mind. I never would have thought to use such a technique and yet it was proven to be able to deliver 4-5 rounds on the target before I would have ever delivered the first. I definitely believe that you shoot to stop the threat...and this drill is an example of how to stop the threat.
Quick Kill sighting technique. This made a huge difference for me. It made me a better shooter once I could forget about what I was doing previously. Saturday I was unsure of my ability with the skill, but Sunday helped to reinforce it. Then, with the added drills and movement...I had to eliminate the mental dependency on the 'tiny little groups' in order to perform. It wasn't until I STOPPED thinking about the groups...that I started making them....and with 4-5 shots a second! I had no idea where my shots were hitting...yet I could see the very tight groups being formed around the spot I was aiming at. Brownie had to tell me where I was hitting because I wasn't thinking about the groupings anymore. My mind was the limiting factor!
Quick Kill hip is a scary thing. I can definitely understand WHY its necessary and I'm glad I know it, but some major responsibility comes with it. I believe that prior to the class I could have drawn my weapon from concealed and had first shot on target 1 (of 2) within 2 seconds. I now feel confident that using a combination of EU/ED and the Quick Kill hip I could have 2 shots on each target within a second and a half. Its a scary responsibility to possess such a skill. It obviously mandates the incorporation of situational awareness so you know if it is time to let ugly out. I had known ugly before....I didn't know just HOW ugly...that Ugly could get.
I've often wondered what I would do if someone approached from behind and I needed to respond. I had debated on how to stall, or how to make it look as if I was complying in order to turn around to face the attacker. Now I have a very solid skill with which to eliminate the threat from behind me...without ever turning around. I do wish we could have practiced this one more, but I will practice this more myself once I get my airsoft.
The Bump....hahaha, even in the portion dedicated to my true thoughts aside from humor...I still cant help but laugh! I don't think this skill was REALLY understood by any of the group until Brownie put his own personal touch on explaining it. What is even funnier is I think EVERYONE made sure to think about it while performing the drill! This skill is one I won't elaborate on much, but will remain in my toolbox for if I ever need it. Truly needful, but scary at the same time.
The wall of bullets was obviously something I wanted to practice a lot. I feel this is a skill I performed very well with and felt it was one I should master. This is skill mixed with tactic and feels as if its contrary to what common sense would say. How can one hide behind a bullet? Yet it makes perfect sense that behind a 'wall' of them is exactly the right place to be. Safe from even multiple targets using this combination....a truly real world oriented skill.
I'm with Rvrctyrngr, there isn't anything I would change with this course. Class size is small enough to allow for individual attention as needed, large enough to allow for breaks for the class to reload or get a drink or visit the bushes without holding others up and yet perfect size for everyone to grow new friendships. The skills were taught in order so that we were not running before we walked. They flowed well together and it all made sense as we approached a new skill. The massive lead throwing 'review' on day 2 was the perfect way to end the course (amazingly fun) and also ingrain the muscle memory we all needed!
My only recommendation would be to put on an advanced class. I wonder if in an advanced class might give you the opportunity to focus on situational awareness and how these skills might be put into action on a moments notice. Perhaps by using airsoft weapons we could experience the threat and decide on how to react. Perhaps if Brownie portrayed the infamous tweaker different potential solutions could be explored. An example is the recommendation of the Y hand, or even now to use EU/ED in order to fire first. Maybe there could be the added situations of Brownie and Swamprat being the gang bangers trying to come take your wallet as you get in your car, and have to go head to head with two VERY well trained individuals to help push us to that next level? Heck, I'd even volunteer to upgrade from 'Slap test Dummy' to 'Shoot test Dummy' (with airsofts of course!).
I'm sure I'm missing something that I wanted to say, but I think most people stopped reading this LONG ago. So I'll end this with the following:
The most fun I've ever had in a class (the H2H class is a close 2nd!) :dancingbanana
The most informative class I have ever been in.
opcorn
The most influential information I've ever been exposed to. :thumsup
With out a doubt, I WILL sign up for the next one as well! :drinks
Oh yeah, I've already placed an order with precision airsoft for a USP Compact model! Its as close as I can come to my carry weapon! Hours of practice INCOMING!!!!
Part 1 is about the people as well as some personalized comments for those at the class.
Part 2 will be about the fun from the course.
Part 3 will be for the skills, and my thoughts about how this course has helped me be better prepared for carrying daily.
Part 1 -- The People
I am amazed that for a group of gun enthusiasts....none of us seemed to have any sort of ego. Obviously we all have opinions, many of us have had other training or watched DVDs or read up on techniques yet it was all parked at the door. We were all there to learn and to come up to speed as fast as possible. There were definitely some seasoned shooters there and yet everyone was able to walk onto the range with an open mind to learn. Questions were asked and it was an open forum to discuss the answer or to determine as a group what the answer would be.
On an individual note.......
Brownie....thank you so much for your continued dedication to sharing your knowledge! Swamprat was correct when he said you were not simply a solid instructor but a damned fine teacher! Your methods and reasons as a teacher are why everyone enjoys the time so much. There is never a dull moment and you have real life examples to help demonstrate why something is done a certain way. I often times have to understand the 'why' behind something in order to remember it and you have never lost patience with me! Part of the reason why I'm so difficult to get rid of is because I'm trying to soak up as much knowledge from you as possible. Even after the days training has ended, you still have such a wealth of information to share...and I'm all too willing to listen and discuss for as long as you can stand me! You've certainly joined an extremely short list of people whom I consider my mentors.
Swamprat..I know you were under the weather but while I'm sure you had a significant part in making the event happen, I feel I owe you special thanks for being as much an instructor and teacher as Brownie. There were times this past weekend I felt I hadn't quite gotten a skill down and after talking with you it just seemed to 'click' for me. You were able to speak with me and provide guidance so I wasn't taking up as much of Brownie's time so he could continue to teach and mind the line. It was a shame you weren't able to stick around Saturday for dinner! You are also on my list as a mentor.
Rvrctyrngr, Jim45, Takasnooze and FatB*****.....always a pleasure and I'm glad to have seen and trained (twice now!) with you all. Its a shame that we live so scattered around the state because I could see us getting together for some H2H practice or airsoft training frequently...and even more so for beers! You all were a big reason for me wanting to sign up for this class after getting along so well in the H2H class. It was great to have been cheering each other on and yet all of us seemed simply glad to be among friends so we could help each other and never feel disrespected or made fun of!
Roadglider, finally nice to put a face with the screen name! Hopefully I'll train with you again in the future!
Everyone else whose screen names I'm unsure....it was a pleasure and fun filled weekend! Definitely hoping to train with any/all of you in the future.
Part 2 -- The F-U-N !!!!!
I was surprised at how much fun I had. The time simply flew by. One minute it was 8:30 am...then I would blink and it was time for lunch. Lunch seemed to be the longest part of the day for me! It was probably one of the most fun weekends I have had in a long time!
I can't stress enough to anyone, that even if you feel you are well prepared to carry your firearm and can't possibly learn anything else....take this class. Essentially it was a Floridaconcealedcarry shoot around! Seven of us were there from this forum....2 from defensivecarry and our beloved Mamabear showed up for a day as well! With the quality of people we have on this forum (and evidently exists on defensivecarry forum as well from the two gentlemen I met) it is no wonder that everyone became fast friends. I can't agree more with Brownie, the camaraderie was a huge reason as to the success of the weekend and was a highlight for me as well. We were often cracking jokes and even picking on each other yet no one took offense and laughed equally. Even if you learned nothing from the class (though I highly doubt that is possible) I assure you that you would enjoy yourself immensely.
If people haven't trained with Brownie, they might not know what to expect. His forum posts are always well articulated and thought out to make us all think, even to the point that some might have the wrong impression. He isn't like the professor played by Ben Stein in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', He isn't monotone nor is he set in his ways. He isn't a know-it-all and for having such a wealth of knowledge....he has no ego. He simply has amassed information that he wants to communicate and on the forums that can only go so far. The other part of that, the real person he is, is more like a comedian. He loves to joke around and tell stories, but its all in hopes of keeping things entertaining, fun and to make you want to participate.
Boy oh Boy, did we ever participate! It was an open forum. All questions were asked and no question was belittled. It was about teaching, about bestowing knowledge upon us that we lacked and Brownie and Swamprat had in abundance. We were sponges, soaking up anything they told us and trying to rapidly incorporate it into our toolbox of skills. They made learning fun. The instruction was made quickly and was easily understood so we might practice for longer. Individual interaction when necessary was done in a manner that didn't slow the rest of the class down. It was also done in a way to help you learn and even if it took you longer to understand and perform....you never felt behind or out of touch. Skills were demonstrated, performed/practiced at a slow pace, repeated at a faster pace and then repeated again with the urging to get faster! Building muscle memory so that the mind can be eliminated.....as Brownie's tag says...it is the limiting factor.
It wasn't enough to simply duplicate the action in slow motion as so many instructors are comfortable. Brownie wants you to learn it and be proficient and even to be so good at it before you leave that its almost as if you had been doing it for years. He challenges you and I know each and every one of us loves a challenge. Its why we enjoy shooting. I am a firearm enthusiast and have been since my father first put a BB gun in my hands at the age of 6. Despite that, I would have rather gone to an archery range to shoot my bow than to shoot my handgun. This weekend changed that. It opened my eyes as to what I could do and why shooting can be challenging yet engaging. It isn't about punching holes in paper targets anymore...its about practicing what I learned this past weekend to see how good I can become. Brownie's confidence in my abilities (which until this weekend I wasn't sure WHAT my abilities really were!) has me wanting to improve and get faster. It has me wanting to prove him right, that I can be dedicated enough to even be faster than he is! Trust me...that is SAYING something!
It is a challenge and they were issued hourly. Each was made without being an insult. The challenges weren't about ego or being the best of the group, it was about pushing ourselves to be the best we could and to ingrain the skills into our brains. We performed a drill on Sunday which basically was an old fashioned high noon shoot out! Each student went up against Brownie (side by side) in an exercise to push us to amazing speeds in the Elbow up/Elbow down exercise. I believe one or two of us might have actually been faster....though Swamprat then humbled us when he asked if we were sure Brownie wasn't deliberately slowing down to MAKE us try harder!
The group was cheering for every student (though I think it was a little louder as Brownie demonstrated some disarm tactics on me!) and praising as skills were mastered. When someone was impressed at how well another did, it was stated as such. It was a group praising each other and congratulating as we were all sometimes left in awe over how awesome a person performed. Such a single group mentality leads to camaraderie and friendship that can't help but shape the events into an absolutely fantastic and fun filled event.
I'll end this section with what I consider the three most fun drills that we performed. First and foremost for me was the wall of lead. Single or multiple targets I could have done this until my ammo ran out! Second was then the Quick Kill Hip. Multiple targets in the span of a second is just unbelievable....and was so much fun! Third...though not by much was the Zipper drill! I would say its safe to assume this was one of everyones favorites!
Part 3 -- Thoughts on skills and how it can be applied
I felt I was being responsible in carrying a firearm. I had taken the necessary courses to obtain my CWL, I practiced drawing my weapon at home and had taken various training courses as well as researched skills on my own. I felt I was well prepared to defend myself should a threat arise. I will echo similar sentiments which were uttered many times this past weekend by others, I had no idea how drastically under prepared I was to defend myself. I believe that had I ever had to defend myself I probably would not have survived.
To prepare for this course I stopped going to the range or practicing anything about 2 months prior so I wouldn't have bad habits walking in. I am not what I consider to be the best shot with a handgun. Proficient sure, but I never felt I excelled. At twenty feet I could hit 9 of 10 shots in an 5 inch circle, but I want it to be 9 of 10 in a 3 inch circle. My inability to get better despite practice made me lose some of my desire to shoot.
This weekend has changed a lot of my perceptions, desires and abilities.
I now realized that I was using too much motion to draw my firearm. The Elbow up/Elbow Down technique conserves so much movement that I was instantly faster after only a few practice attempts. It is so simplistic that everyone should know it (and basically we all do) yet for some reason it was never apparent to me until Brownie demonstrated it.
The Zipper drill blew my mind. I never would have thought to use such a technique and yet it was proven to be able to deliver 4-5 rounds on the target before I would have ever delivered the first. I definitely believe that you shoot to stop the threat...and this drill is an example of how to stop the threat.
Quick Kill sighting technique. This made a huge difference for me. It made me a better shooter once I could forget about what I was doing previously. Saturday I was unsure of my ability with the skill, but Sunday helped to reinforce it. Then, with the added drills and movement...I had to eliminate the mental dependency on the 'tiny little groups' in order to perform. It wasn't until I STOPPED thinking about the groups...that I started making them....and with 4-5 shots a second! I had no idea where my shots were hitting...yet I could see the very tight groups being formed around the spot I was aiming at. Brownie had to tell me where I was hitting because I wasn't thinking about the groupings anymore. My mind was the limiting factor!
Quick Kill hip is a scary thing. I can definitely understand WHY its necessary and I'm glad I know it, but some major responsibility comes with it. I believe that prior to the class I could have drawn my weapon from concealed and had first shot on target 1 (of 2) within 2 seconds. I now feel confident that using a combination of EU/ED and the Quick Kill hip I could have 2 shots on each target within a second and a half. Its a scary responsibility to possess such a skill. It obviously mandates the incorporation of situational awareness so you know if it is time to let ugly out. I had known ugly before....I didn't know just HOW ugly...that Ugly could get.
I've often wondered what I would do if someone approached from behind and I needed to respond. I had debated on how to stall, or how to make it look as if I was complying in order to turn around to face the attacker. Now I have a very solid skill with which to eliminate the threat from behind me...without ever turning around. I do wish we could have practiced this one more, but I will practice this more myself once I get my airsoft.
The Bump....hahaha, even in the portion dedicated to my true thoughts aside from humor...I still cant help but laugh! I don't think this skill was REALLY understood by any of the group until Brownie put his own personal touch on explaining it. What is even funnier is I think EVERYONE made sure to think about it while performing the drill! This skill is one I won't elaborate on much, but will remain in my toolbox for if I ever need it. Truly needful, but scary at the same time.
The wall of bullets was obviously something I wanted to practice a lot. I feel this is a skill I performed very well with and felt it was one I should master. This is skill mixed with tactic and feels as if its contrary to what common sense would say. How can one hide behind a bullet? Yet it makes perfect sense that behind a 'wall' of them is exactly the right place to be. Safe from even multiple targets using this combination....a truly real world oriented skill.
I'm with Rvrctyrngr, there isn't anything I would change with this course. Class size is small enough to allow for individual attention as needed, large enough to allow for breaks for the class to reload or get a drink or visit the bushes without holding others up and yet perfect size for everyone to grow new friendships. The skills were taught in order so that we were not running before we walked. They flowed well together and it all made sense as we approached a new skill. The massive lead throwing 'review' on day 2 was the perfect way to end the course (amazingly fun) and also ingrain the muscle memory we all needed!
My only recommendation would be to put on an advanced class. I wonder if in an advanced class might give you the opportunity to focus on situational awareness and how these skills might be put into action on a moments notice. Perhaps by using airsoft weapons we could experience the threat and decide on how to react. Perhaps if Brownie portrayed the infamous tweaker different potential solutions could be explored. An example is the recommendation of the Y hand, or even now to use EU/ED in order to fire first. Maybe there could be the added situations of Brownie and Swamprat being the gang bangers trying to come take your wallet as you get in your car, and have to go head to head with two VERY well trained individuals to help push us to that next level? Heck, I'd even volunteer to upgrade from 'Slap test Dummy' to 'Shoot test Dummy' (with airsofts of course!).
I'm sure I'm missing something that I wanted to say, but I think most people stopped reading this LONG ago. So I'll end this with the following:
The most fun I've ever had in a class (the H2H class is a close 2nd!) :dancingbanana
The most informative class I have ever been in.
opcornThe most influential information I've ever been exposed to. :thumsup
With out a doubt, I WILL sign up for the next one as well! :drinks
Oh yeah, I've already placed an order with precision airsoft for a USP Compact model! Its as close as I can come to my carry weapon! Hours of practice INCOMING!!!!
