Look, this was without a doubt a big “FAIL” on my part…
But I own it, and I have no problem putting myself out there.
Thanks to the revolutionary Praxis Gunfighting Method, I have since learned how NOT to do this… but that’s kind of the point, and I’ll explain:
You see, it was my first day training with my private “concealed carry shooting coach” out on his own personal range.
He told me to go ahead and draw my weapon from 7 yards away and hit the steel silhouette target in front of me.
Simple enough, right?
I readied myself like Wyatt Earp preparing for a quick-draw duel in the dusty streets of Tombstone… flashed my hand down to my Glock 19… whisked it out of my holster…
My instructor laughed.
I think I pooped my pants.
You see, that was my “Oh sh*t!” moment when I realized that I had secretly developed a “training scar” — a bad habit when using my gun.
I was putting my finger on the trigger while drawing the gun, something I didn’t realize when I wasn’t allowed to train from concealment.
Don’t think YOU have any of these types of “training scars”?
Think again amigo…
How To Tell If You Have Any “Invisible” Gun Training Scars (And How To Fix Them!)
Look, not all bad habits with guns are as obvious as my dumbass mistake.
But since most ranges won’t even let you draw your weapon from concealment, unless you’ve done it “for reals,” most people will eventually have the SAME problem when they’re shooting under pressure.
(You know, like in a REAL gunfight?)
In other words, it’s “square range” training, that CAUSES most of these “invisible training scars.”
When someone trained on a traditional range gets a chance to go pull the trigger at a less restrictive live-fire course, these problems really come out.
I’ve seen it happen with shooters at EVERY course I’ve taught or attended…
They reload wrong, fumbling and taking their eyes off the target.
They jerk their heads around like they’re checking for threats, but they’re not really SEEING anything… just going through the motions.
Or worse, they freeze up entirely, and stop moving while they focus on the target… which leaves them sitting ducks!
But here’s the thing about “training scars”…
… you really don’t even know you have them… until it’s too late!
In other words, most people who ARE training are doing it all wrong.
Not necessarily “technically” wrong (though that’s a factor)… but TACTICALLY wrong.
What I mean is, the environment – and rules – you’re forced to train with are what instill these bad habits in the first place.
Unable to draw realistically from concealment… no movement allowed… no “speed shooting” allowed… the list goes on and on and on.
Make no mistake, any ONE of these “invisible scars” could mean the difference between life and death in a real gun battle with some drugged-up thug at the gas pump.
The good news is… YES, it IS possible to fix these “invisible training scars”!
How To Identify – And Fix – Your Own “Invisible Training Scars”…
There are a few ways to expose your bad habits AND train good ones.
For example, one way is to sign up for a local IDPA competition shooting match.
“IDPA” stands for “International Defensive Pistol Association” and it’s a really great trial-by-fire test of your skills because…
- You’re performing under stress in front of other people.
- You have to shoot and move.
- You have to use cover, reload, etc.
The best thing I like about this method is that it gives you a “no B.S.” look at exactly WHAT scars you may have that you didn’t even know were there.
Of course, it’s also pretty damn embarrassing because all your tactical mistakes are on full display for all those other macho gun dudes watching you, right?
I mean, you can just imagine them all tipping a frosty beer after the match and deep belly-laughing at “that fool who shot that round into the ground 4 ft. in front of himself! Har-har-har-har-har!”
That really doesn’t happen (that much) and the key is to NOT think about anyone else and just consider YOU as the only person you’re competing with – not a chance at the trophy.
But hey, I get it… performing in public is a big reach for most people.
If you’re sensitive to this type of criticism, a better approach might be to find a private instructor at a private range.
Training privately with your own instructor is what helped me at first – and I still use one today.
Again, checking into your local IDPA network would be a good resource for locating a good instructor and location to train more realistically.
But I’ll warn you… many of these instructors are expensive and you may have to join a shooting club that requires fees in order to have access to this type of range.
Again… more time… more effort… more moolah needed – but it’s worth it in my opinion if you’re willing to go the extra mile.
My best choice though is to train realistically right in your own home with “dry-fire” training.
I know, I know…
Most people don’t believe me when I tell them they can get BETTER training at home using dry fire.
Fact is, though, even the “pro” shooters and high-speed, low-drag, spec-ops secret squirrels agree that 80% of your training should be dry fire.
Using dry fire, you can work over and over again to isolate your bad habits.
And because it costs you nothing (and you can work in completely privacy), there are no real obstacles to finding and stamping out your “scars.”
There’s just one real PROBLEM with this method, and that is “block training.”
This is when you work on a single skill that’s only ONE of the factors in a real gunfight — like drawing from concealment — without looking at how all the other factors fit together.
In fact, there are SEVEN factors in a real gunfight.
One thing I’ve discovered is that to truly become a “master gunfighter,” ALL these seven factors have to be trained…at the same time!
I know… sounds impossible, right?
I did too, until I started training closely with my buddy “Ox.”
He showed me that it is completely do-able… and it’s actually really fun, too!
He developed a step-by-step training regimen he calls “The Praxis Method” that does it all for you.
I’m not kidding when I say that I’ve found this method nothing short of ground-breaking.
Ox goes way beyond things like, “Hey, maybe don’t carry a bad holster,” and right into the nitty gritty of how to become an expert gunfighter.
In fact, I believe his method could literally revolutionize firearms training as we know it – and it’s starting to get a TON of buzz right now in the tactical training world.
If you’d like to see how it works, we did a FREE workshop for a select number of shooters last night – and for a limited time, you can watch a replay of that workshop, at completely no cost, right on this page.
Check it out before it comes down – you’ll be really glad you did!
I’ll see you at the training! 🙂
