Practicing stress

[mossytrigger]

I was just wondering if anyone else does this too, and what the opinion is of this kind of practice from some of the more experienced folks. This is something I started doing partly for fun and partly because it just seems to make sense. Before shooting, I'll do a bunch of jumping jacks or burpee/pushups, or just run and jump around for a little bit. Then, when my heart is pounding I get my gun and shoot. I change it up- sometimes I'll keep my gun loaded, holstered and just sitting on a bench or stump, sometimes I practice loading and shooting, whatever. Loading a magazine is more interesting when your hands are shaking and sweat is dripping in your eyes. Does anyone have other ways of practicing from a stressed state? It just feels important to me that if you're going to practice for self-defense, you should get used to doing everything necessary with sweat pouring off you, shaky hands, pounding heart, adrenaline and anything else you can recreate that might be present if you actually have to defend yourself.

 

[sonier]

I know one that will get you shaking for sure, come to my house i have a 9 year old 16 hand mare, strap some spurs on. GO FOR A RODEO get off however it may occur lol, grab your gun and shoot a silhoutte target and backstop thats 15 yards from my corral. I have been in many fights, I know what it feels like to have drenaline and heart rate pounding to the point of shaking, when my horses start bucking on me I get a temporary adrenaline pumping and shaking for about 1-2 minutes, I know from past experiences that this feels exactly the same as high stress situations ive had.

 

[Frank Ettin]

Try some IDPA or IPSC competition. Competition adds stress. And you'll get try your hand at solving some interesting shooting problems quickly.

 

[loneviking]

Try cutting wood for a couple of hours, then pick up a handgun and see what you can hit!

I also have a very steep,sandy hill nearby to climb to the top of. Flop down with a 22 rifle and then try to hit the tin cans I've pre-positioned from the last days effort. Yeah, it's really tough to hit a target when your limbs are shaking and you're breathing like a freight train.

 

[leadcounsel]

Short burst exercises are good, but also mix it up by running a longer distance to really get you fatigue and soaking in sweat.

I also second the IDPA or similar stress shooting.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Take a class under a really good instructor. You might not think that 'gun skool' would be a stressor, but a good trainer can tie lots of folks in knots (actually, can induce lots of folks to tie themselves up in knots) without ever laying a hand on them.

And you learn a lot of stuff to boot.

Beyond that, the best stress training I know of is a good force on force (FoF) setup...

fwiw,

lpl

 

[mossytrigger]

I really want to take a good class. I'll finally be getting my concealed carry permit, and while where I live my old hunter's safety card is enough, the sheriff encourages some further training. I know I've probably got bad habits I've practiced thousands of times, having never received any real formal training. Can anyone recommend a school or instructor in the western Montana area?

 

[sidheshooter]

What Lee said.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I really want to take a good class. I'll finally be getting my concealed carry permit, and while where I live my old hunter's safety card is enough, the sheriff encourages some further training. ...Can anyone recommend a school or instructor in the western Montana area?

I don't know anyone in Montana, but if you can swing a road trip, Massad Ayood has MAG20/classroom and MAG20/live fire classes scheduled in Nebraska on 21 - 24 August and a MAG40 (which is the two MAG20 classes combined) in Memphis, TN on 28 -31 Aug. (see http://massadayoobgroup.com/ and http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=527481).

If someone can attend only one class, I think that Mas' class is the best choice. I don't know anyone else who covers the legal side of things nearly as well.

Or if there's a good NRA certified instructor in your area offering Basic Handgun, Personal Protection Inside the Home and Personal Protection Outside the Home, the three courses together will provide a good foundation.

 

[mossytrigger]

I'm always up for a roadtrip, especially to places where I can pick up plenty of osage for bows and rock for knapping. May just have to see what I can do, a class with Massad Ayoob would be pretty cool. It's a chunk of change, but one thing I've learned is you get what you pay for (usually).

 

[netav8tor]

The type of exercises that would be most helpful would model the type of shooting you are focused on getting better at.
Before you go to the range try to systematically pre-exhaust the muscle groups that are directly involved with your type of shooting.
For example, a shooter that wants to get better at quickly drawing and shooting would pre-exhaust their body with a group of fast dynamic weight loaded exercises that mimic the exact type of quick draw they want to improve.
Another example and completely opposite of the fast and dynamic training would be the slow deliberate movements associated with position shooters or bullseye shooting.
Their focus should be isometric type exercises using a time under tension, or holding for a set amount of time in position to achieve a greater level of fine motor control.

For a general gross motor pre-exhaustion weight bearing routines add exercises that are considered 3D like dumbbells, medicine balls, kettle bells, and objects you can move independently.
My personal favorite pre-exhaustion workout is to box the heavy bag or work the practice mitts with a friend.

This is good for hand and finger strengthening. They go up to 9.0lbs.

http://www.isokineticsinc.com/categ...m_medium=PPC&gclid=CJuv-eCGkqICFQ0hDQodXQgb-A

 

[sidheshooter]

I really want to take a good class. I'll finally be getting my concealed carry permit, and while where I live my old hunter's safety card is enough, the sheriff encourages some further training. I know I've probably got bad habits I've practiced thousands of times, having never received any real formal training. Can anyone recommend a school or instructor in the western Montana area?

Mossytrigger, If you don't mind a drive to Couer d'Alene, I can personally vouch for Ed Santos at http://www.centertargetsports.com/

If you peruse the course offerings, you will probably find something that fits the bill.

As well, I can also personally vouch for Mas Ayoob; get on the email list from the link that fiddletown provides-Mas teaches In couer d'Alene fairly regularly. The courses mentioned will probably be offered there at some point in the next year, FWIW.

 

[mossytrigger]

Yeah, that's something I do also- a set of swings or snatches with the kettlebell, then a few shots, then back to the bell- going from squeezing the bell and really annhilating the forearm muscles straight to the dextrous handling of whatever I'm shooting. Certainly makes things interesting- somewhere, I hope I can remember where and post a link, someone wrote some pretty interesting stuff about exhausting the body and while in that state solving problems that require a lot of mental focus, and going back and forth without letting yourself get comfortable with any one thing. A rough example would be boxing a few rounds with someone, and in between rounds playing a game of chess.

 

[Ryder]

Done plenty of shooting under physical exertion while hunting over the years. It is not something I consider hard, doesn't require special effort, it's just something I do. Instinct rules that game. It's fun walking in snow up to your butt, wading swamps, climbing hills, mile after mile, all day long. True that it is a lot different from target shooting when relaxed, but no, I don't exercise at the range before target shooting. There is always the woods for that.

I have however spent some time and effort at the range concentrating on various past threats against my life while attempting to mentally place myself back within these scenarios... With some success.

Do you know what it feels like to seriously believe your next breath might be your last? Do you know what it feels like to know that seeing the Sun rise tomorrow depends upon you alone? Do you know the pure panic of evil stalking you, trapping you, and then reaching out to steal your eternal soul? These are not hard feelings for me to recall.

Fear is infinitely deep. It is an enemy to control. Some time should be spent preparing to resist that. If you can.

 

[uspJ]

Fear is infinitely deep. It is an enemy to control. Some time should be spent preparing to resist that. If you can.

very good point Ryder.

i've tried exercising just before shooting, and yes it is much more difficult (for me anyways). i've never looked at this as training with stress, or practicing stress. when i think of a stressfull situation i think of one where you have to block panic from your mind and do what needs to be done. i feel that most likely if i'm ever required to use my weapon in a sd/hd event i will be highly stressed and trying not to panic.

even with training i always know that it is training, it is not the real thing. how do you incorpaorate fear and panic into your training?

 

[Agostini]

Practical shooting matches have been good means to experience and overcome stress. I finally learned that however much my knees shook, when the start signal went off, my training took over and I had the confidence to shoot the stage.

Anything that generates stress is a good ‘exercise’ to overcome the pressure: sky diving, speaking to large crowds, FoF training, martial arts, any competition, etc.

Nothing replaces real experience.

 

[heron]

how do you incorpaorate fear and panic into your training?

Simple -- find someone who is just a little better shot than you are, and go with them to the range and bet $50 on a course of fire . . .

 

[Straight Shooter]

I really want to take a good class.

mossytrigger,

As fiddletown mentioned the standard NRA classes are a good place to start and you can usually find a local instructor for them.

If going to one of the big name schools isn't doable due to distance or cost see if you can find a local instructor that does one-on-one training. It's usually the same guys doing the NRA classes and they usually charge by the hour.

Call your local ranges and see if they have instructors on staff or if they can recommend one. Ask around enough and you'll usually notice one instructor start to stand out.