When you come out of a training course that lasts one or two whole days, do you feel accomplished and a bit more prepared to defend yourself? What if I told you that your skill during that course is not only temporary, but basically an illusion based on decades of industry insanity? If this idea sounds preposterous to you, perhaps you should wait two weeks, and not practice at all and then try to perform a simple drill you did in the training class. I guarantee you will not only forget the course of fire, but will not be able to perform as effectively as you did. In this article, I am going to discuss training patterns and how to get your moneys worth instead of spending hundreds of dollars, only for your brain to be overwhelmed and for the skills to fade away practically overnight.
TRAINING COURSE FAILURE
Neurologically we are not capable of retaining a majority of the information we are told or what we enact during a training course. Unless you are already well versed and practiced in all the subjects covered in the class, good luck being able to retain 10% of the physical skills you had developed by the limited reps you got in class. Yes, the skills you are taught are perishable, but not as perishable as you think. If you practice properly after a class, and continue to make a pattern of practice for your brain to recognize and understand is necessary, you can program your brain to have long term retention of the skills you learn in class. This means you will have a physical skill that you can draw on in a stressful event like a real life and death adrenaline dumb. Therefore, you will have gotten your money’s worth. However, the majority of the work is on you to do.
Neurologically we are not capable of retaining a majority of the information we are told or what we enact during a training course. Unless you are already well versed and practiced in all the subjects covered in the class, good luck being able to retain 10% of the physical skills you had developed by the limited reps you got in class. Yes, the skills you are taught are perishable, but not as perishable as you think. If you practice properly after a class, and continue to make a pattern of practice for your brain to recognize and understand is necessary, you can program your brain to have long term retention of the skills you learn in class. This means you will have a physical skill that you can draw on in a stressful event like a real life and death adrenaline dumb. Therefore, you will have gotten your money’s worth. However, the majority of the work is on you to do.
TRAINING CLASSES ARE A PRIMER ONLY
I hate to hear people refer to all day training classes as good training, because it really is nothing more than an exercise in short term memory, or working memory. The brain will not recognize the few reps you do as a long-term important skill to learn. This is why reps need to be deliberate and done constantly for days. Your brain recognizes patterns, and one day of doing an activity you never do any other time is not going to interest your long-term memory. Training classes are merely a primer to a skill you are trying to develop. It is an opportunity for you to feel and see what right feels like and take notes… yes, take written notes because you will forget.
I hate to hear people refer to all day training classes as good training, because it really is nothing more than an exercise in short term memory, or working memory. The brain will not recognize the few reps you do as a long-term important skill to learn. This is why reps need to be deliberate and done constantly for days. Your brain recognizes patterns, and one day of doing an activity you never do any other time is not going to interest your long-term memory. Training classes are merely a primer to a skill you are trying to develop. It is an opportunity for you to feel and see what right feels like and take notes… yes, take written notes because you will forget.
DITCH THE WARMUP
Have you ever heard of a warmup prior to a gunfight? Neither have I, but the industry seems to think practice requires warmups at the range. This is not only BS, but it is teaching your brain to accept mediocrity and not test or demand proficiency. This is all facts about the function of the human brain and how it learns. Yes, your training should be done without a warmup and you should hop straight into demanding performance under a timer or some type of pressure.
Have you ever heard of a warmup prior to a gunfight? Neither have I, but the industry seems to think practice requires warmups at the range. This is not only BS, but it is teaching your brain to accept mediocrity and not test or demand proficiency. This is all facts about the function of the human brain and how it learns. Yes, your training should be done without a warmup and you should hop straight into demanding performance under a timer or some type of pressure.
99% DRY
I am here to tell you now that 99% of your training can be conducted without having to fire a shot. How is this possible? Your brain doesn’t need to separate training dry from training live. If you are deliberate and intentional in your training and you focus on mechanical automaticity techniques, your body won’t know how to do it any other way than right. Neurologically, the largest reason for failure at the range is anxiety and a lack of having habits that aid in good performance. Train to do it right from the start and you will have success. Also, it is vital that you not just do a drill over and over to the point of perfection. Without reaching a point of failure, your brain will not give importance to learning a physical skill.
I am here to tell you now that 99% of your training can be conducted without having to fire a shot. How is this possible? Your brain doesn’t need to separate training dry from training live. If you are deliberate and intentional in your training and you focus on mechanical automaticity techniques, your body won’t know how to do it any other way than right. Neurologically, the largest reason for failure at the range is anxiety and a lack of having habits that aid in good performance. Train to do it right from the start and you will have success. Also, it is vital that you not just do a drill over and over to the point of perfection. Without reaching a point of failure, your brain will not give importance to learning a physical skill.
KEEP MOVING
When you are conducting training, keep your body moving like you would in real life. Learn to sprint and shoot accurate shots from different angles, move around cover/concealment. Going to a training class is a good way to introduce or prime you for practicing later on while moving. Practice this intently and add a lot of variety of direction, cover types, locations, etc. Don’t imitate the paper you are shooting at or that is what you will do in a fight. be hard to hit and train to hit first, which most likely will depend on you being able to visually track a target and quickly align your proprioception to make good hits while moving fast.
When you are conducting training, keep your body moving like you would in real life. Learn to sprint and shoot accurate shots from different angles, move around cover/concealment. Going to a training class is a good way to introduce or prime you for practicing later on while moving. Practice this intently and add a lot of variety of direction, cover types, locations, etc. Don’t imitate the paper you are shooting at or that is what you will do in a fight. be hard to hit and train to hit first, which most likely will depend on you being able to visually track a target and quickly align your proprioception to make good hits while moving fast.
FORGET ABOUT THE ADRENALINE MYTHS
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say stupid stuff like how your fine motor skills are going to be unavailable in a stressful situation. That is an ironic claim considering that drawing the gun, aiming it, and firing requires a long list of fine motor skills. Yes, you can use the slide stop under adrenaline if you practice right and consistently, with emphasis on varying your training and practice situations and environments. And the beautiful thing is that all fine motor skills and scenario drills can be carried out dry, meaning you don’t even need to leave the house or spend money in order to test yourself and develop skills that you need in a self-defense situation.
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say stupid stuff like how your fine motor skills are going to be unavailable in a stressful situation. That is an ironic claim considering that drawing the gun, aiming it, and firing requires a long list of fine motor skills. Yes, you can use the slide stop under adrenaline if you practice right and consistently, with emphasis on varying your training and practice situations and environments. And the beautiful thing is that all fine motor skills and scenario drills can be carried out dry, meaning you don’t even need to leave the house or spend money in order to test yourself and develop skills that you need in a self-defense situation.
SEEK FAILURE
In training, it is important to challenge yourself to a point that you encounter at least a 10% failure rate. This tells your brain to not only pay attention, but that learning and being efficient is important for survival. Again, this is only going to help store your skills in your long-term memory.
In training, it is important to challenge yourself to a point that you encounter at least a 10% failure rate. This tells your brain to not only pay attention, but that learning and being efficient is important for survival. Again, this is only going to help store your skills in your long-term memory.
INCREMENTAL GOALS
It is important that you set goals in order to add strain to your training. However, it is vital that you set goals that are not only realistic, but will help limit over-training. Just because you were able to spend two hours and FINALLY get a sub-second draw time, it is not good enough. For example, if you were consistently able to get a 1.75 second draw, aim for a 1.6 second draw tomorrow, and then 1.5 the next. The next second will explain why.
It is important that you set goals in order to add strain to your training. However, it is vital that you set goals that are not only realistic, but will help limit over-training. Just because you were able to spend two hours and FINALLY get a sub-second draw time, it is not good enough. For example, if you were consistently able to get a 1.75 second draw, aim for a 1.6 second draw tomorrow, and then 1.5 the next. The next second will explain why.
TRAIN FAST
It is vital that you limit the time you are training, and to not train to the point of lacking concentration. If you are to the point that you are doing mindless reps, you need to have the presence of mind and wisdom enough to call it quits for the day, or at least take a break for 10-20 minutes to rest your brain. Doing a hundred reps one day a week is not going to help you develop a skill faster than doing 10 reps a day every day. More frequency and varied scenarios spaced out over time will be the difference between success and failure in having those skills on tap under stress. So let us train smarter, not harder, despite your ego trying to make you crush it for hours. It doesn’t help in the gym and it doesn’t help in training a physical skill.
It is vital that you limit the time you are training, and to not train to the point of lacking concentration. If you are to the point that you are doing mindless reps, you need to have the presence of mind and wisdom enough to call it quits for the day, or at least take a break for 10-20 minutes to rest your brain. Doing a hundred reps one day a week is not going to help you develop a skill faster than doing 10 reps a day every day. More frequency and varied scenarios spaced out over time will be the difference between success and failure in having those skills on tap under stress. So let us train smarter, not harder, despite your ego trying to make you crush it for hours. It doesn’t help in the gym and it doesn’t help in training a physical skill.
IMMERSION AND VISUALIZATION
I am an advocate of visualizing my practice prior to and after conducting the training. This has been proven to be just as good as physically performing the movements. However, this is dependent on how vivid you are in your visualization, such as FEELING the weapon, the strain, and the vibration of a dry fire or live shot recoil. The second part of visualization is a complete immersion in the training. Watch videos on training techniques and/or police shootings on YouTube while physically relaxing/resting. Read books on it, and/or brainstorm training scenarios. Stay immersed in the subject of training and using that training to save your life. This added stimulation is vital to focusing on the context of training. Without focusing on context, your training is just running through the motions and therefore your brain will just disregard all the time you spent on the training.
I am an advocate of visualizing my practice prior to and after conducting the training. This has been proven to be just as good as physically performing the movements. However, this is dependent on how vivid you are in your visualization, such as FEELING the weapon, the strain, and the vibration of a dry fire or live shot recoil. The second part of visualization is a complete immersion in the training. Watch videos on training techniques and/or police shootings on YouTube while physically relaxing/resting. Read books on it, and/or brainstorm training scenarios. Stay immersed in the subject of training and using that training to save your life. This added stimulation is vital to focusing on the context of training. Without focusing on context, your training is just running through the motions and therefore your brain will just disregard all the time you spent on the training.
BE A GOOD STUDENT
If you are wanting your money’s worth from a class, make sure you hang on every word that the instructor(s) say, take notes, record yourself and the instructor demonstrations. Be proactive with getting details and feedback on the skills. This is your opportunity to feel what right feels like so you can have a reference for your follow-up training. Suck as much knowledge out of the instructor as you can and TAKE NOTES. I am dead serious that written notes are vital. They should look something like this:
DRAW:
-Establish Master firing grip before pulling pistol out of holster
-Relax shoulders (do not shrug)
-Explode out of the holster, bring up to eye, push straight out (decelerate and track sights during extension)
-Break shot upon full extension (do not lock out arms, and crush pistol with 360 degree vice-like grip. Tighten all three firing hand fingers)
-Practice drawing while moving in all directions at varying speeds and positions (Jogging, speed-walking, sprinting, crouched, bent forward, duck walk)
It is fairly simple to take notes and hit the wave tops. You need to have references on the key factors you should focus on. This will be the way you stay on track and get your money’s worth. The other half of this equation is simply you taking the time to show how serious you are and follow a training plan to build REAL skills that are going to be available when your life/your family’s life is dependent on your ability to perform. Other than that, I have no opinion.
If you are wanting your money’s worth from a class, make sure you hang on every word that the instructor(s) say, take notes, record yourself and the instructor demonstrations. Be proactive with getting details and feedback on the skills. This is your opportunity to feel what right feels like so you can have a reference for your follow-up training. Suck as much knowledge out of the instructor as you can and TAKE NOTES. I am dead serious that written notes are vital. They should look something like this:
DRAW:
-Establish Master firing grip before pulling pistol out of holster
-Relax shoulders (do not shrug)
-Explode out of the holster, bring up to eye, push straight out (decelerate and track sights during extension)
-Break shot upon full extension (do not lock out arms, and crush pistol with 360 degree vice-like grip. Tighten all three firing hand fingers)
-Practice drawing while moving in all directions at varying speeds and positions (Jogging, speed-walking, sprinting, crouched, bent forward, duck walk)
It is fairly simple to take notes and hit the wave tops. You need to have references on the key factors you should focus on. This will be the way you stay on track and get your money’s worth. The other half of this equation is simply you taking the time to show how serious you are and follow a training plan to build REAL skills that are going to be available when your life/your family’s life is dependent on your ability to perform. Other than that, I have no opinion.
RSS Feed