Sorry but I have to disagree with that part of your post. Competition is the "test bed" for techniques and tactics --------- a person can THINK they are the best but untill you try the same in some sort of "competition" it is all just theory. In the very early days of Mixed Martial Arts { MMA } and still today in "underground" mostly illegal MMA competitions , it was proved what would work and what was for "show" ---- Example , if you hit someone hard enough in the nose , the "nose bone" will be driven into the brain , killing them. ---- How many fighters/football players etc. etc. have had their nose completely crushed and how many have died from it ??
I think be it IPSC , IDPA , 3-gun Action,Skeet, MMA or even Paintball --- any "competitor" that has trained will beat a untrained non-competitor 99 times out of a 100.
I have fought inside and outside the ring --- I've also fought Eskrima full contact stick fighting , yes - we did wear head gear and padded gloves and we did Compete against each other. That is as close as you can get to a "target shooting back" in that form of fighting .
Anyway ------- I use a "Boxers Stance" or some say a Modified Weaver --- my left hand and left foot are forward , left leg is bent a bit , weight is 60% on left leg and 40% on right leg --- you "lean" into the gun to lessen recoil --- same stance if I shoot rifle , shotgun or handguns.
When I shoot either revolvers or semi-autos , both my elbows are SLIGHTLY bent to the ground ---- if both elbows are locked straight out , the handgun will Recoil MORE. If you doubt this ---- clasp both hands together and lock your arms/elbows straight out. Now have a six year old pull down on your fists ---- then , try the same thing with both elbows bent and tell us which way is more "solid" .