Fighting Pistol (Mobile) AAR
When: January 10-11, 2015
Where: American Police Hall of Fame- Titusville, FL
Indoor range with excellent ventilation, lighting and programmable targets. I was local and had plenty of experience target shooting there.
Instructors: Jay Gibson, Tim Morris, Calvin Lim (Special Guests-Ben “Mookie” Thomas and Family)
It was really interesting to meet the men I’d seen on so many YouTube videos. All three were professional, courteous, and knowledgable. They inspired my trust, confidence in their abilities, and were excellent teachers. I’ve had vast experience teaching others, and I am certain that they could perform well teaching almost any subject matter. They all took turns with lecture and instruction and, while there were different (very enjoyable) personalities, never once did I feel like the substantive task at hand would have been administered differently from one to the next. They are all three very funny motherfuckers and the humor really helped get through some complex and/or difficult subjects. They are all good men, and I would have them in my home without reservation.
Who is this class for?
This class is for YOU. If you can safely handle a pistol (4 rules), shoot a pistol (Pull the trigger), and follow instructions (They will be simple and clear), you will get something from this class. We had a wide variety of ages and ability levels, from very low (*very* low) to somewhat advanced (and a few that had taken the class before), and all 3 instructors helped the lower levels while making sure the more advanced shooters weren’t bored.
While waiting outside for an exercise, an older (maybe late 60’s) lady who was using the public side of the range (bay 1) asked what it took to take the class. I had no reservations recommending the class to her with the full knowledge that she’d come out of it better able to defend herself with a pistol.
About me
I’m 40 years old, and a GM/Executive Chef for a great foodservice management company- Metz Culinary Management. I had scoliosis as a child, resulting in a severe “hunchback” that took 7 fused vertebrae and 3 metal rods to stabilize. I have a repaired ACL in my left knee, type II diabeetus, high blood pressure, and am still addicted to cigarettes.I had no issues with any part of the class. What’s your excuse?
I was raised in a very liberal, anti-gun, pacifist home and came to enjoy firearms about 5 years ago. Owning firearms, and the personal responsibility it entails, changed my ideology dramatically on a number of issues. As most of my friends have never been “gun people”, I haven’t had any mentors and learned (or thought I did) by watching videos and reading. I quickly understood what I’ve been told so many times: THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REAL TRAINING.
Mindset
Mindset is the thread that runs through the entire class. It is evident from the first word to the last, from the first drill to the last. This is not a shooting class, although they will help you shoot better. This class is about fighting for your life and/or the lives of others. “You are the weapon, the gun is a tool”-you will hear it often and believe it firmly by the end of the second day.
With the 4 rules of firearm safety in practice (If you don’t know these rules, you are “Wronger than dick cancer”), Martial Gun Handling will be observed at all times. You will not perform any action in a fashion that you wouldn’t in a gunfight. No administrative bullshit. You will see quickly how administrative action on the range translates to administrative action in a real fight, and why you don’t do that if you want to live.
Accuracy. When we first started drills, I was shooting fast and missing. The moment I took the instructors’ words to heart-”You can’t miss fast enough to win a fight”, I slowed down and immediately got better.
The day-two lecture was profound on many levels. The 3 fights (Gun, Legal, Emotional) were discussed in depth. You must have all three to fully “win”. The PTSD part was especially interesting. As Jay recounted the after-effects of stress and adrenaline, you could tell that he had first-hand knowledge of them.
Tactics
I’m not going to rehash every drill. I’m not going to try and re-teach the class here. Read the course description on tacticalresponse.com. You will learn all they say you will. Here are some generalities and what hit the hardest for me:
The big one for me was “FAST”- Fight Assess Scan Top-off. I won’t lie, it wasn’t easy to remember after every drill. If I thought it was hard to remember in class, it will be exponentially harder in a real fight. I’ll be practicing the shit out of that one.
MOVE! It’s so easy to get vapor-lock when your gun goes “click” or runs dry. If you aren’t moving in a real gunfight, you will be a bullet sponge. Always be moving.
Shooting & Moving. I can’t think of anyone who teaches this in a level one class. It is fun, but serious and humbling. It will translate well to life, where “The object of winning isn’t shooting the bad guy-it’s you *not* getting shot”. I learned what cover is, how to get to it, and how to shoot from it.
Skills
I gained a tremendous amount of skills over 2 days, but this wasn’t a “skills builder”. They are there to teach you what and how to practice. Skills come from that practice. I have plenty of tactics to practice, though, and I’m looking forward to it. Their dry-practice sheet is simple, safe and can be done effectively to replicate drills that you may not be able to do on a public range. You will get out of this class what you practice later.
Gear
Read the list, watch the videos, bring what it tells you to. I did and had everything I needed. It’s really that simple. I did, however, learn the limitations of my holsters and mag pouches. There’s a good chance you’ll adjust your gear after day one. I did. There were a few others who had sights drift and/or completely fall off. They still finished the class.
“Train like you’ll fight”! I showed up like I would dress and carry every Saturday. I learned the error of clearing a garment with only one hand. I learned that my holster sucks (hybrid iwb). There were many students wearing competition set-ups, wearing “open-carry” style with their shirts tucked in. Looking back, I hope they never get into a fight and reach for something that isn’t where it was in class or not there at all. That could be deadly.
In the video “Preparing to train”, James says “Don’t buy anything just for the class”. I didn’t buy anything “just” for the class, but it did expedite the purchase of things I should have had anyway. I bought a gun belt, electronic ear pro and mag pouches and I’m glad I did. The “Aker Carry Belt” (amazon.com) was awesome and I never knew what a difference it makes. I used Howard Light “Impact-Sport” ear-pro and saw many others with the same. Keep spare AAAs for it. Mine ran out at one point.
You will chuckle at the instructors using $10 Glock OWB holsters, until you realize that they can try or buy whatever they want….and they choose them.
Conclusion
I had high expectations for myself and the class. The class FAR exceeded those expectations, and I know I have a lot left to practice. I’d take the same class again tomorrow if I could. I will take it again, of that I’m sure..
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by HopetonBrown
