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View Full Version : Analyzing Max Michel's Footwork



robot
10-13-2015, 08:52 PM
I got to meet Max at the USPSA Open Nationals in Florida and had the pleasure to watch him shoot a few stages. Max is such a friendly person and exudes professionalism. True mark of a champion. He even entertained my fanboyism by taking a selfie with me.

While watching him shoot, I noticed that he uses an interesting movement technique and I thought I'd share it with you. Let me know what you think.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JSdEc8b9VI

Clay1
10-14-2015, 07:02 AM
I have many things to work on, but I really think my movement would be a big step in the right direction. When I look at about 50 seconds into the video and watch that stop on the closest target to the cameraman, I would note how the stop is really done with the right foot / leg and that the heel technique is just a little balancing act on the fault line. Also notice that Pekiti take off foot work coming out of that position. I love how low he sat down coming into that position and as you noted how he fired two full shots before he really stopped.

It's one thing for me to look and say, yes, that's what he did - it's a whole different thing to be able to execute those same actions.

Thanks for sharing, cool beans.

LittleLebowski
10-14-2015, 07:16 AM
Another reason why I will never excel at competition...."coordination."

Thanks for posting this.

rsa-otc
10-14-2015, 07:38 AM
Max has posted a couple of YouTube videos where he has said that there is little difference in raw shooting skill from upper A up to GM. It's the ability to plan a stage and move into and out of positions that separates the Super Squad from the upper mid pack.

Peally
10-14-2015, 08:09 AM
Another reason why I will never excel at competition...."coordination."

Thanks for posting this.

Never at a national level. At a local level if you can pull a trigger back half decently you'll look like a god to 90% of your competition :D

Clusterfrack
10-14-2015, 08:33 AM
Excellent topic. I thought exactly the same thing when I saw Max shoot at Production Nationals. His movement was noticeably different from the other super squad shooters. I wonder if he would use the same footwork on gravel?

JRCHolsters
10-14-2015, 09:20 AM
Max is a great guy. My daughter Casey got to spend several hours training with him at the MGM Junior Shooter Camp. He really stressed movement and knowing when sight picture was good enough to take the shot. He does make it look easy, though he trains like crazy. He also gave a really good talk to all the kids one evening about sportsmanship. Max is a true class act.

Mr_White
10-14-2015, 02:06 PM
Max has posted a couple of YouTube videos where he has said that there is little difference in raw shooting skill from upper A up to GM. It's the ability to plan a stage and move into and out of positions that separates the Super Squad from the upper mid pack.

That's very intriguing coming from him. I haven't seen those videos - got a link?

I've heard that statement before, and quite honestly it sounds like something a less good shooter would say to conjure an equivalency with a better shooter. So I'm intrigued if MM said it, because he certainly seems to be one of the very best shooters.

From what I've seen, and that is surely less than MM has seen, I think the difference from A to GM is being better across the board. The GM shoots more accurately and faster, more consistently, integrates shooting efficiently with movement, physical barriers, and pressure, and plans and executes stages better than an A. It's being better at all the things measured in USPSA.

Since Classifiers contain little movement and virtually no stage planning, it would probably be pretty easy to go look at the classifier records of a bunch of A, M, and GM shooters and see if there was little difference in their scores and levels of consistency. If there were more than a little difference in their classifier records, then I think that would argue against the difference between those shooters being mostly in stage planning and movement. It's probably also fair to say that people do vary as individuals and I bet different people do well in USPSA through different combinations of what it takes to do well - some from their strong shooting, some from their strong movement and athleticism, etc.

robot
10-14-2015, 02:10 PM
From what I've seen, and that is surely less than MM has seen, I think the difference from A to GM is being better across the board. The GM shoots more accurately and faster, more consistently, integrates shooting efficiently with movement, physical barriers, and pressure, and plans and executes stages better than an A. It's being better at all the things measured in USPSA.



Totally agree. They can do more stuff consistently to the point that nothing is really difficult. As you know too, the winner of the match is the person who gets 2nd place for every stage.

Sal Picante
10-15-2015, 11:44 AM
I think the difference from A to GM is being better across the board. The GM shoots more accurately and faster, more consistently, integrates shooting efficiently with movement, physical barriers, and pressure, and plans and executes stages better than an A. It's being better at all the things measured in USPSA.


This. Totally.

It is really a lot of (good) "performance on demand" at that level...

Someone in A-class might be able to split and transition just as well as any GM, most of the time, but being able to do it all the time with boring consistency is where it is at.

Sal Picante
10-15-2015, 12:46 PM
BTW - Bill Drummond in the Carolina's does A TON of footwork training ... Really good info.

Hoping to jump down there and take a class before too long.

rsa-otc
10-15-2015, 05:46 PM
That's very intriguing coming from him. I haven't seen those videos - got a link?

I've heard that statement before, and quite honestly it sounds like something a less good shooter would say to conjure an equivalency with a better shooter. So I'm intrigued if MM said it, because he certainly seems to be one of the very best shooters.

From what I've seen, and that is surely less than MM has seen, I think the difference from A to GM is being better across the board. The GM shoots more accurately and faster, more consistently, integrates shooting efficiently with movement, physical barriers, and pressure, and plans and executes stages better than an A. It's being better at all the things measured in USPSA.

Since Classifiers contain little movement and virtually no stage planning, it would probably be pretty easy to go look at the classifier records of a bunch of A, M, and GM shooters and see if there was little difference in their scores and levels of consistency. If there were more than a little difference in their classifier records, then I think that would argue against the difference between those shooters being mostly in stage planning and movement. It's probably also fair to say that people do vary as individuals and I bet different people do well in USPSA through different combinations of what it takes to do well - some from their strong shooting, some from their strong movement and athleticism, etc.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdc7Q-IC5GQ

In this video he doesn't put a lower limit (say A class) but references everyone inclusive. He states that you may be shooting as fast but it is transitions and movement, with movement being the number one reason GM's are so much faster than the rest. I know I've seen others where he stated Upper A class, just haven't come across them yet. Max puts a great deal of time working on his foot work. There's another video out there showing him running through the equivalent of footballs drill of running through a series of tires then picking up the gun to fire.

Mr_White
10-15-2015, 05:55 PM
Thanks, I'll check it out!

SLG
10-15-2015, 06:30 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdc7Q-IC5GQ

In this video he doesn't put a lower limit (say A class) but references everyone inclusive. He states that you may be shooting as fast but it is transitions and movement, with movement being the number one reason GM's are so much faster than the rest. I know I've seen others where he stated Upper A class, just haven't come across them yet. Max puts a great deal of time working on his foot work. There's another video out there showing him running through the equivalent of footballs drill of running through a series of tires then picking up the gun to fire.

He has told me that in person as well.

Clay1
10-15-2015, 06:45 PM
The above video was a great teaser with not very many real pieces of meat for me. He said to use his legs to drive the gun, but doesn't specifically tell you how to use your legs to drive the gun. He talks about an easy soft exit and I get the keep shooting as you lean out before you leave the box. I need more than a 30 second youtube video to help me. Anyone know of a good DVD just on movement skills?

rsa-otc
10-15-2015, 07:38 PM
The above video was a great teaser with not very many real pieces of meat for me. He said to use his legs to drive the gun, but doesn't specifically tell you how to use your legs to drive the gun. He talks about an easy soft exit and I get the keep shooting as you lean out before you leave the box. I need more than a 30 second youtube video to help me. Anyone know of a good DVD just on movement skills?

That's the problem with many of these YouTube videos, they only give you a taste. While YouTube and DVDs can point you in a direction, if you can afford the time and money actual in person training is where it's at.

That said, Travis Haley has a YouTube video that describes rotating from the hips in a "little" more detail. While I haven't watched it recently I liked Frank Proctor's performance pistol DVD quite a bit. I believe he has a section on movement.

PPGMD
10-15-2015, 07:40 PM
In this video he doesn't put a lower limit (say A class) but references everyone inclusive. He states that you may be shooting as fast but it is transitions and movement, with movement being the number one reason GM's are so much faster than the rest. I know I've seen others where he stated Upper A class, just haven't come across them yet. Max puts a great deal of time working on his foot work. There's another video out there showing him running through the equivalent of footballs drill of running through a series of tires then picking up the gun to fire.

Honestly I saw it in person. Ben Stoeger's shooting ability is quite high, but he isn't shooting nearly as fast as you would think a multiyear consecutive national champion would shoot. Instead he moves so quickly and seamlessly in/out of shooting positions that it is clearly that is one of the reasons he is winning.