Have you ever wondered if there was a way that you could sharpen some of your attributes like visual processing and reflexes in order to read your sights faster, shoot faster, process threats faster, and be able to handle stressful events with a cool head? Yeah, there are ways to program your brain and keep it sharp and performing at a high level.
TARGET TRACKING
One of the simplest ways to develop the ability to process information while the world is moving around you is to just process information while the world is moving. Take your pistol or thumb and put it over a light switch and start walking side to side while blocking your view of the light switch. Decrease the distance for a greater challenge and move faster and go from standing to kneeling, and even do erratic movements to challenge your coordination.
Another thing you can do is read a book while walking around. I like to read while walking up and down stairs. This tests your proprioception and expands your peripheral sensitivity. For an extra challenge, read and walk while holding the book so high that you can barely see your surroundings in your peripherals. Keep the book or screen outstretched and lock out your arms so your eyes have to track the text. If this is too easy, increase the pace and add in walking backwards. Just make sure that you are actually reading and comprehending the material you are reading.
A method I like to use to increase my ability to transition from target to target is simply to practice that activity with a pencil acting like my sights or using a weight to add a stability challenge. You can get creative with this type of stuff, and it is quite easy to develop the visual skills.
One of the simplest ways to develop the ability to process information while the world is moving around you is to just process information while the world is moving. Take your pistol or thumb and put it over a light switch and start walking side to side while blocking your view of the light switch. Decrease the distance for a greater challenge and move faster and go from standing to kneeling, and even do erratic movements to challenge your coordination.
Another thing you can do is read a book while walking around. I like to read while walking up and down stairs. This tests your proprioception and expands your peripheral sensitivity. For an extra challenge, read and walk while holding the book so high that you can barely see your surroundings in your peripherals. Keep the book or screen outstretched and lock out your arms so your eyes have to track the text. If this is too easy, increase the pace and add in walking backwards. Just make sure that you are actually reading and comprehending the material you are reading.
A method I like to use to increase my ability to transition from target to target is simply to practice that activity with a pencil acting like my sights or using a weight to add a stability challenge. You can get creative with this type of stuff, and it is quite easy to develop the visual skills.
TARGET RECOGNITION
One of the most important things you can do is be aware of your surroundings and be able to read an individual or an entire room. There are a couple of ways to also speed up your visual processing for situations like room clearing. Identifying a threat versus a non-threat is vital in low light as well. If you can’t get POSITIVE ID, then you don’t really have legal standing to engage. This means reflexes and visual processing of data needs to be sharp.
First thing I like to do is practice clearing my house room by room. I have stickies hung up on the walls at random. They are color coded to specify engagement methods. This makes me have to think fast and be decisive. If I want to be a real stickler about my timing, I will video my engagement and time it for later scrutiny. I even have certain verbal commands that I will use to certain colors. Get creative and make your brain have to process information and respond/react appropriately. Even if this comes down to role-playing with family members and blue guns or rubber knives.
An unconventional drill I will play is practice drawing while watching TV. Basically, I play the tactical version of a drinking game. When I see a scene with certain things in it like a weapon or a color, I will draw while moving and dry fire at a preplaced target on the wall next to the TV. I recommend staying away from audible cues for action. This will merely risk developing a flinch response to audible signals and self defense is based on actions not sounds or words.
One of the most important things you can do is be aware of your surroundings and be able to read an individual or an entire room. There are a couple of ways to also speed up your visual processing for situations like room clearing. Identifying a threat versus a non-threat is vital in low light as well. If you can’t get POSITIVE ID, then you don’t really have legal standing to engage. This means reflexes and visual processing of data needs to be sharp.
First thing I like to do is practice clearing my house room by room. I have stickies hung up on the walls at random. They are color coded to specify engagement methods. This makes me have to think fast and be decisive. If I want to be a real stickler about my timing, I will video my engagement and time it for later scrutiny. I even have certain verbal commands that I will use to certain colors. Get creative and make your brain have to process information and respond/react appropriately. Even if this comes down to role-playing with family members and blue guns or rubber knives.
An unconventional drill I will play is practice drawing while watching TV. Basically, I play the tactical version of a drinking game. When I see a scene with certain things in it like a weapon or a color, I will draw while moving and dry fire at a preplaced target on the wall next to the TV. I recommend staying away from audible cues for action. This will merely risk developing a flinch response to audible signals and self defense is based on actions not sounds or words.
REINFORCEMENT TRAINING
This is just as it sounds. This is physical training to reinforce and build muscles used for the skills you are trying to develop. For instance, I took a method the Roman Legionnaires used. I will use a weight that is several times heavier than the weapon I am training with in order to mimic certain movements, or even just static aiming. My favorite thing to do is isometric holds for 30-45 seconds per set. I like to make sure the weight is enough to make these holds a real challenge. I will do several sets of isometrics to really work the muscles. I will also wear gear that is pretty heavy and practice moving in and out of positions and working around cover. This accelerates the development of stabilizers and supporting muscle groups that are vital for controlling your movements and making sure you don’t fall over when leaning out to take a shot or when you are dashing to cover at a crouch. It would be bad to overshoot cover or trip because your muscles are not able to handle the balance or coordination for that particular movement.
This is just as it sounds. This is physical training to reinforce and build muscles used for the skills you are trying to develop. For instance, I took a method the Roman Legionnaires used. I will use a weight that is several times heavier than the weapon I am training with in order to mimic certain movements, or even just static aiming. My favorite thing to do is isometric holds for 30-45 seconds per set. I like to make sure the weight is enough to make these holds a real challenge. I will do several sets of isometrics to really work the muscles. I will also wear gear that is pretty heavy and practice moving in and out of positions and working around cover. This accelerates the development of stabilizers and supporting muscle groups that are vital for controlling your movements and making sure you don’t fall over when leaning out to take a shot or when you are dashing to cover at a crouch. It would be bad to overshoot cover or trip because your muscles are not able to handle the balance or coordination for that particular movement.
READ A CROWD
Going out on the town is not just a way to make a living, shop, or have fun. It is also a way for you to practice reading behaviors, getting a “thin slice” from a person’s behavior to read their mood, or just taking the temperature of a crowd to spot anomalies. When I was in California going through the Covered 6 Security Academy, I practiced reading crowds and individuals constantly. I would start conversations with strangers and lead the conversations to see if I could predict their response based on their body language. I will say that it has become a habit, which is good for security, but can be taxing on your brain if you are new to it.
Going out on the town is not just a way to make a living, shop, or have fun. It is also a way for you to practice reading behaviors, getting a “thin slice” from a person’s behavior to read their mood, or just taking the temperature of a crowd to spot anomalies. When I was in California going through the Covered 6 Security Academy, I practiced reading crowds and individuals constantly. I would start conversations with strangers and lead the conversations to see if I could predict their response based on their body language. I will say that it has become a habit, which is good for security, but can be taxing on your brain if you are new to it.
SNAP, RELOAD, SNAP
Dry firing, performing a reload, and firing an aimed ”dry” shot is an effective way to learn to quickly process peripheral information. I don’t focus on my front sight, but rather will super-impose my front sight on my target, just as you should with a red dot. To get fast, you have to get good at reading your sights peripherally. Adding a time limit is helpful for adding stress and demand on your brain. The key is to force yourself to AIM after reloading. This is where live fire can be a good verification of skill development. However, I am not an advocate of tap, rack, bang or just arbitrarily shooting after a reload. Be sure to visualize a threat/continued threat. You can also not fire, but rather just have your finger ready on the frame of the pistol.
Dry firing, performing a reload, and firing an aimed ”dry” shot is an effective way to learn to quickly process peripheral information. I don’t focus on my front sight, but rather will super-impose my front sight on my target, just as you should with a red dot. To get fast, you have to get good at reading your sights peripherally. Adding a time limit is helpful for adding stress and demand on your brain. The key is to force yourself to AIM after reloading. This is where live fire can be a good verification of skill development. However, I am not an advocate of tap, rack, bang or just arbitrarily shooting after a reload. Be sure to visualize a threat/continued threat. You can also not fire, but rather just have your finger ready on the frame of the pistol.
STRAIGHT TO THE TRIGGER
I believe that one of the vital parts of your training should be developing peripheral sensitivity, especially when it comes to accurately reading your sights and registering movement during dry fire practice. I like to do a drill that not only trains my peripheral sensitivity, but also trains my ability to pull the trigger fast without disturbing the alignment of my muzzle with my target. I simply will aim in with super-imposed sights on a small target (The smaller, the better) with my finger straight and on the frame of the gun. I will set a timer for a half second and try to beat the par timer by pulling the trigger as fast as possible while preventing ANY movement. Add lateral movement to make this more challenging.
I believe that one of the vital parts of your training should be developing peripheral sensitivity, especially when it comes to accurately reading your sights and registering movement during dry fire practice. I like to do a drill that not only trains my peripheral sensitivity, but also trains my ability to pull the trigger fast without disturbing the alignment of my muzzle with my target. I simply will aim in with super-imposed sights on a small target (The smaller, the better) with my finger straight and on the frame of the gun. I will set a timer for a half second and try to beat the par timer by pulling the trigger as fast as possible while preventing ANY movement. Add lateral movement to make this more challenging.
GET CREATIVE
If you want to advance your performance and your brains ability to perform tasks and keep up in a fight, you need to be creative in developing drills to exercise specific abilities you are trying to hone or develop. With a creative mind and a well-rooted understanding of neurology and biology, this can not only be simple, but fun as well.
If you want to advance your performance and your brains ability to perform tasks and keep up in a fight, you need to be creative in developing drills to exercise specific abilities you are trying to hone or develop. With a creative mind and a well-rooted understanding of neurology and biology, this can not only be simple, but fun as well.
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