Something else. My USPSA skills carried me in SOME of the drills. But before I could start feeling that good about it or that I was going to have an easy go of it he would introduce a drill that was not in my norm. Ask me to move left/right while drawing and shooting, no problem. Start asking me to talk or toss a distraction at the same time and my so-called technical skills immedaitely started failing me.
Apparently I can walk or chew gum, but I can only do both once I have considered the value of doing both and the same time, and then devoting some PRACTICE to it.
As a similar example, I can shoot on the move very well in many ways requried in sporting matches. It is something I specifically practice and is usually an advantage for me. Those skills were useful, but nto nearly as useful as I hoped when I tried to break into a sprint left or right, draw and shoot. I was repeatedly humbled when other shooters in the class were repeatedly making shots on steel in competitive drills and I was making dirt clods into puffs of dust. I guess I need to expand my practice to include things that you might want to execute well in the real world, but that perhaps aren't of as much value in a match.
I think the discussion of human factors and the capabilties of an uninhibited, mortivated yet untrained opponent were sobering.
I have seen this in practice many times. Go catch some n00b unawares on the paintball field at point blank range and say 'surrender' vs. putting a welt on his/her back. Damn if I haven't seen that untrained, adrenaline fueled n00b spin like a B-grade movie star and put a shot between the eyes of myself and my team mates more times than I could even believe. You cannot underestimate the raw performance of others - untrained or not - especially if they have zero compunction about where any stray rounds may hit.
Yes I am a gamer by day, but I pretty much always carry and like to stay in touch with my inner Timmie.
Thanks for the tactical wake-up call, Gabe!