AAR: Ken Hackathorn 2-Day Tactical Handgun Course 12-13 SEP, Bellevue, WA

[okie john]

I’ve read several excellent AARs of Ken Hackathorn’s 2-Day Pistol courses that could have been the AAR of this course, so I won’t repeat them. Instead, I’ll just make four aditional points:

1. The low-light portion of the course alone is worth the tuition.
2. Ken is a kind man and a superb instructor. One student was in well over his head, and Ken kept him moving right along without slowing anyone else down.
3. In the months before the class, I spent a lot of time shooting the drills described in AARs. That helped, but in this class, you’ll get individual coaching from a man who has the experience to critique EVERY aspect of what you’re doing and help you get better on the spot. As with the low-light work, just this level of individual diagnosis and coaching is worth the tuition.
4. I was one of the better shooters in this class. I would not be surprised if I spend the next 12-18 months getting good on the drills we learned, which will then form the basis for a lifetime of practice and training.

If you ever get the chance to train with the guy who trained all of the world’s best trainers, including the former Tier I guys, do it.

You can thank me later.


Okie John

[rremington]

That was a great class!

[okie john]

That was a great class!

Which one were you?


Okie John

[rremington]

I was the big guy on the far left of squad 1 with the 9mm 1911.

[Maple Syrup Actual]

I've had instructors I liked and instructors I didn't like.

Instructors I became friends with and instructors I'm pretty sure never want to see me again.

Ken is the only instructor who I actually got serious nerves from and had to actively work down my heart rate when he was timing me on an individual drill. I wouldn't say I rattle easily but he is the only "celebrity" instructor that had any impact on me just from who he was. I consider his classes to be the absolute foundation of tactical and it was my privilege to do 4 straight days with him up here a couple of years ago. He's a hell of a teacher and a hell of a guy. I'm not a "bucket list" person at all, or a "course collector", but that was a once-in-a-lifetime brush with greatness for me and I will never forget it.

[okie john]

I've had instructors I liked and instructors I didn't like.

Instructors I became friends with and instructors I'm pretty sure never want to see me again.

Ken is the only instructor who I actually got serious nerves from and had to actively work down my heart rate when he was timing me on an individual drill. I wouldn't say I rattle easily but he is the only "celebrity" instructor that had any impact on me just from who he was. I consider his classes to be the absolute foundation of tactical and it was my privilege to do 4 straight days with him up here a couple of years ago. He's a hell of a teacher and a hell of a guy. I'm not a "bucket list" person at all, or a "course collector", but that was a once-in-a-lifetime brush with greatness for me and I will never forget it.

Exactly. It was like taking Physics 101 from Isaac Newton.


Okie John

[Cheap Shot]

I’ve read several excellent AARs of Ken Hackathorn’s 2-Day Pistol courses that could have been the AAR of this course, so I won’t repeat them. Instead, I’ll just make four aditional points:

1. The low-light portion of the course alone is worth the tuition.
2. Ken is a kind man and a superb instructor. One student was in well over his head, and Ken kept him moving right along without slowing anyone else down.
3. In the months before the class, I spent a lot of time shooting the drills described in AARs. That helped, but in this class, you’ll get individual coaching from a man who has the experience to critique EVERY aspect of what you’re doing and help you get better on the spot. As with the low-light work, just this level of individual diagnosis and coaching is worth the tuition.
4. I was one of the better shooters in this class. I would not be surprised if I spend the next 12-18 months getting good on the drills we learned, which will then form the basis for a lifetime of practice and training.

If you ever get the chance to train with the guy who trained all of the world’s best trainers, including the former Tier I guys, do it.

You can thank me later.


Okie John

Succinct and to the point. Hope to take a class in the future with Mr Hackathorn.

Thanks, your review helps.