AAR: I.C.E. Combat Focus Shooting Jan 29-30

[Casaba]

Well,
I thought I would give a brief review of a class I took this weekend. I took my first defensive handgun class last year and decided that it would be good to take another (and another, etc...) so I looked for a new opportunity to get differing perspectives.

I signed up for Rob Pincus' class on Combat Focus Shooting in Crestview, Fl and participated this weekend. The class was held at some private property with a great location for shooting. I will skip the bulk of the logistical crap and get to the point.

Day one started with Rob covering the expectations of the class and I immediately found him to be a very genuine down to earth guy that has the intent to make me a better prepared shooter in the hopefully unlikely event I need to use a weapon. It didn't seem that he was simply going through the motions of the class syllabus nor was he touting all of the super-tactical things he could do or has done. In fact now that I think about it he spoke very little about his past and how he got here. The class was a bit bigger than I expected at 17 people but the odd part was that I left feeling that I got more dedicated instruction with one teacher than I did a previous class that had two plus two helpers.

I really like the concepts that Rob taught and can see how it applies. Working more on being efficient rather than just effective makes a lot of sense. The drills brought the message home rather well. My round count ended up being somewhere around 1200 for the two days due to having hi-cap mags and Rob making sure that we didn't do double-taps or get in to a specific shooting habit but rather mix it up to be more realistic.

Some of the training on reloads, ready position and general handling are very different from my previous training so I have to decide what works best for me like anybody should do however we were not told to do anything blindly, there were valid reasons that were explained in detail when necessary.

Rob had very little problem pointing out things being done wrong and especially seems to like it when you ask stupid questions... (even then he was quite patient and helped the class understand that correcting a bad habit is about potentially saving a life and communicated those concepts well rather than just saying to do it because he said so)

The CFS class explains quite a bit about the human reaction to a threat and how to use the tools available once that threat has been identified and the initial flinch response has occurred. I found it quite interesting to see that the course is rooted heavily in research done on how a human reacts to stimuli rather than the tactical capabilities of the latest mall ninja gadgets, super orange finger-knife being the one exception (sorry, you had to be there!)

All in all I would gladly take additional training from Rob and his team and hope to again in the future.

If I had to give one negative it would be that he really needs to work on his cutlery throwing skills... (again, you had to be there)

T.F.

 

[Hk Dan]

LOL--Did he call anyone an "assclown"? If not, he wasn't on his game...LOL

 

[Casaba]

Yeah, that came out a time or two as I recall, reserved for only the best folks. I like to think we introduced him to a few new terms as well

 

[Fred Fuller]

Thanks much for the AAR, and congratulations on taking the class. I haven't had a chance to train with Rob yet, but I'd like to. I have all his movies... .

lpl

 

[bladenbullet]

nice review joe...glad you enjoyed it...

tomv

 

[1stCivDiv]

Second to this class

I attended this class as well and it was worth the six hour drive each way from Atlanta to Crestview.

I have been studying Combat Focus Shooting for about six months and jumped at the chance to attend the class. I believe that the philosophy of Combat Accurate hits is a much better approach than trying to eat the center out of a target without pushing your limits. The balance of speed and precision is now my training mantra. I still have a few old habits that I will probably stick with even with Rob vocalizing his distaste of my ripping the magazine out on every reload...I just don't trust them to fall free every time. There was very little else that I didn't agree with or feel my old way was better.

I appreciated Rob's approach to instruction even when he had to be "blunt" on correction of my shooting skills. Rob was the only instructor for 17 participants but still managed to provide one-on-one instruction to each of us. I have attended another class that had two instructors and two assistants and cannot remember even one personal pointer or correction during that class. I expected good instruction and wasn't disappointed.

I fired apx 800 rounds through my XD 40, which ran flawlessly in yet another class (for all the XD haters!), with Blazer ammo. I was hoping for some malfunctions from the ammo to practice my Non-Diagnostic Linear Malfunction Drills but nothing...no misfires, no failure-to-feeds, no duds...nothing. I have not fired Blazer in a good while but will be looking for more for great practice ammo.

Thanks to Sandy and Barry for hosting the class and all the work behind the scenes to make the class happen and the quick posting of the class pics!

I have already ordered CFS targets and the CFS iPhone app and can't wait to get to the range again with Rob screaming in my ear, UP...Left...One.

For Rob's future CFS classes...feel left out and ripped off if the Orange Finger Knife doesn't make it to your class!

Be safe and train often!!!

 

[possum]

Great AAR and thanks for sharing here.

I tooK CFS back in 2008 and I was very impressed. I have an aar on here somewhere. I need to make the time, and money to allow me to train with Rob and I.C.E again.

 

[AZ Lawman]

Rob's a great teacher. I say this even though he's a pal. He is one of the best for sure. I rank him right up there with Cllint Smith and Mas Ayoob.