crebralfix
member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,356
Training...it is key to success. Many folks attend their state's concealed carry course and think that is sufficient. Most are really legal notices and basic certification of shooting ability. They do not teach you to fight. Fighting includes more than guns. A handgun is not a magic talisman that, when waved, makes the goblin go away (to sorta quote Tom Gresham). BEWARE, because many schools teach you to stand and shoot ("shooting schools"). Standing around in a fight is a great way to...accumulate heavy metals in the body.
Start with guns and fitness--they are the easiest. Can you run at full speed doing abrupt turns for three minutes? Expand into knives and basic combatives (side affect: fitness). Furthermore, a folding knife can go where a gun cannot. Fitness gives you more effective fighting time. Even gun fighting requires high performance to avoid (reduce chances of) getting shot. Furthermore, depending upon the circumstances, going for a gun may be the wrong action. You will need to learn how to choose your weapon based upon who has the initiative and the circumstances.
Focus on handguns. Forget the shotgun and rifle because the handgun will be with you. The long guns will be at home or in the car and are NOT viable responses for the next five seconds. Sure...take up riflery, but your budget is limited and it will decrease your training time on handguns. Remember, your first handgun (please make it a quality piece suited to the purpose and NOT some tiny pocket pistol) will cost at least $500 above the retail price. I have posted several buyer's guides; search around THR.
You still need to learn to shoot. Any shooting school can do this. I suggest you look at private lessons at your local range. The reason for this is a dedicated coach will help prevent bad habits. It is very important that you learn how to practice properly to avoid accumulating many small bad habits that result in bad technique. Just don't forget you're in it for FIGHTING, not competition (unless you decide to change careers--go for it!).
Finally, the most important part is MINDSET. If you cannot shoot, stab, kick, bite, wrench, whack, smack, spit, or maim another person IN YOUR MIND, then DO NOT carry weapons. You should see evil men and women where the targets are. If you cannot visualize this when practicing, then you need to do some soul searching.
When you call a shooting school, ask these questions:
What do you teach about:
1) mindset?
2) fighting?
3) awareness?
4) movement?
5) killing?
Also ask them "What is the purpose of a gun?" If the answer is not "killing", then it's a shooting school. Cute, but the school won't instill the mindset needed for the intended purpose of self-defense. If they refuse to call a gun, knife, stick (or whatever) a WEAPON, then it's a shooting school (NRA courses are notorious for this and we were instructed to NEVER use the 'W' word). If it's "shooting to stop"-- that's gunPCspeak for court and pretty accurate, but it candy-coats the purpose of bullets ripping through heart tissue. A shooting school has its place and is good for teaching the basics. Beyond that, though, you'll really need someone who can teach you fighting.
I'm sure some folks here at the THR are going to whine about the non-gunPC nature of the last paragraph. Believe me, the gun store commandos have their PC speak and are the majority. Ignore them; they're weenies who think shooting equals fighting and their small groups validate their prowess. By your post, you're in it for fighting, not having a good time at the range. Keep the goal in mind and you'll do fine.
Start with guns and fitness--they are the easiest. Can you run at full speed doing abrupt turns for three minutes? Expand into knives and basic combatives (side affect: fitness). Furthermore, a folding knife can go where a gun cannot. Fitness gives you more effective fighting time. Even gun fighting requires high performance to avoid (reduce chances of) getting shot. Furthermore, depending upon the circumstances, going for a gun may be the wrong action. You will need to learn how to choose your weapon based upon who has the initiative and the circumstances.
Focus on handguns. Forget the shotgun and rifle because the handgun will be with you. The long guns will be at home or in the car and are NOT viable responses for the next five seconds. Sure...take up riflery, but your budget is limited and it will decrease your training time on handguns. Remember, your first handgun (please make it a quality piece suited to the purpose and NOT some tiny pocket pistol) will cost at least $500 above the retail price. I have posted several buyer's guides; search around THR.
You still need to learn to shoot. Any shooting school can do this. I suggest you look at private lessons at your local range. The reason for this is a dedicated coach will help prevent bad habits. It is very important that you learn how to practice properly to avoid accumulating many small bad habits that result in bad technique. Just don't forget you're in it for FIGHTING, not competition (unless you decide to change careers--go for it!).
Finally, the most important part is MINDSET. If you cannot shoot, stab, kick, bite, wrench, whack, smack, spit, or maim another person IN YOUR MIND, then DO NOT carry weapons. You should see evil men and women where the targets are. If you cannot visualize this when practicing, then you need to do some soul searching.
When you call a shooting school, ask these questions:
What do you teach about:
1) mindset?
2) fighting?
3) awareness?
4) movement?
5) killing?
Also ask them "What is the purpose of a gun?" If the answer is not "killing", then it's a shooting school. Cute, but the school won't instill the mindset needed for the intended purpose of self-defense. If they refuse to call a gun, knife, stick (or whatever) a WEAPON, then it's a shooting school (NRA courses are notorious for this and we were instructed to NEVER use the 'W' word). If it's "shooting to stop"-- that's gunPCspeak for court and pretty accurate, but it candy-coats the purpose of bullets ripping through heart tissue. A shooting school has its place and is good for teaching the basics. Beyond that, though, you'll really need someone who can teach you fighting.
I'm sure some folks here at the THR are going to whine about the non-gunPC nature of the last paragraph. Believe me, the gun store commandos have their PC speak and are the majority. Ignore them; they're weenies who think shooting equals fighting and their small groups validate their prowess. By your post, you're in it for fighting, not having a good time at the range. Keep the goal in mind and you'll do fine.
