What would like to have in a defensive shooting class?

[loper]

Hi folks.
When I return to the States, (currently in Iraq) I want to get started instructing CCW classes and personal defense firearms training.

I've already contacted an NRA instructor school, and have all that laid on, as well as discussing the requirements with my local CLEO. I've got pretty good bona fides, NRA competetor, military, a lot of gun schools and CQB schools in the Army, and a life long familiarity with firearms.

What I'm asking is, what would you like to see in a CCW class, other than the state required material, and what would you like to see in a basic level defensive pistol course?

My intent is give the student the best value for his or her dollar, and to insure that they leave the class with a basic skillset that help them to either avoid a deadly force situation, if possible, or to survive it if it becomes unavoidable.

Thanks in advance,

loper

 

[Shawn Dodson]

The best value? Basic skill set?

First there's the mechanics of combative shooting - manipulations, marksmanship, presentation, shooting positions.

Second, and most important IMO, is "Gunfighting 101": learning to recognize threat indicators, interacting with a live human adversary(s), movement, decision making, lawful actions, etc. This is best taught through tightly scripted, realistic, high stress, force-on-force scenarios.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The most important thing IMHO in an instructor is the ability to teach. That's one of those intangible things that is hard to hang a set of descriptions on sometimes - like a certain judge once said about a definition of pornography, "I know it when I see it." It doesn't really matter so much how much individual mastery of the subject matter a person has (though that's necessary in a good instructor), it's the ability to transfer that knowledge effectively to a class that matters more in defining a good instructor. Yes, it's necessary to be able to "do" in order to teach. But being able to "do" doesn't necessarily guarantee success as an instructor.

I used to work for a while in the College of Education at a certain state university. There's this old saying about teachers you may have heard before - "Those who can, do. Those who can't do, teach." Well, at the College of Education way back when in the 1970s, the running joke was, "Those who can, do. Those who can't do, teach. And those who can't teach, teach teachers."

fwiw,

lpl

 

[Al Thompson]

a lot of gun schools

Which ones did you like? I would try and copy the things you liked and discard things you didn't.

One of the things I appreciate in class is the teacher knowing not just "how" but the reason for the how and why their method is better.

 

[SentinelStrategic]

The best thing I can suggest is to make sure you stay in your lane. Don't teach something you aren't intimately familiar with. If you've been to firearms training, use that knowledge to your advantage. However, don't use it if you don't understand it or haven't employed it enough to create a level of proficiency. If you stray out of your lane, you will not be able to answer questions that people have, or your answers will be poor. For more intuitive or experienced students, their BS detector will go off and you'll lose credibility. However, if you stick to what you intimately know and can validate, your credibility will increase. It's not about your ability to answer a question, but about your ability to explain WHY that is your answer to the question.

I have been to firearms training where I knew more than the instructors, and it's embarrassing. I'll usually start asking lots of questions that they SHOULD know, and see what they say.
On the same token, I've been to firearms training where the knowledge of the instructors was so substantial that it blew my mind.
Such is how I do my training. I want people to train with me because they want to really learn and use what I have to teach. I don't want people taking my training just because it's an end to a means. Essentially, the training should be more valuable than the certificate.

For CCW training, the biggest issue I see is with tactics. Here in my state, the Permit to Carry training is basically general introduction to MN law, introduction to types of pistols, and then a qualification shoot and you're done. My little brother just took his training, and there were people in the course with scoped hunting revolvers and .22LR target and plinking pistols. I laughed when I heard that. Most people who do that training in my state do it because it's an easy paycheck. I have no respect for them. I have respect for the people that do it because they truly want people to have the knowledge and skill.

Things to put into quality CCW training:
Application of the law in the real world (and not just what the law reads)
Identifying real threats vs. distractions
Methods of carry and holsters that work and ones that don't
Drawing from a holster
Verbalization of warnings, and the reason why you verbalize
Tactical considerations when you draw
Follow-through (what you do after you shoot, or after the assailant gives up)
Only allow guns that people will actually use for carrying


Good luck!
Cheers!

 

[Old krow]

Essentially, the training should be more valuable than the certificate.

I agree with that. I do not live in a state that requires a certification for a CCW. I have several friends that do and we have discussed exactly what the class that they took en tales. I think that in the cases that I am personally aware of that the summary in post #2 would have been a better alternative. On the other hand, should I take a course it wouldn't be for the certificate, it would be for the knowledge that I was able to get from it.

I am aware that I cannot become proficient in 2-3 of instruction. It's a process. In addition to what these others guys have said, I would like to have a decent foundation that I could expound upon. I would like to be able to walk away from that class with a method or means to build the skills that I have been introduced to. I can't always practice in a force on force scenario, but I would like to be able to practice good solid techniques.

 

[loper]

Thanks folks! Looks like I'll be spending some time with some lawyers, both defense and prosecution, to get some info to pass down to my students.
Again, thanks for the input.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

1. Give a show and sell your personality, do it well and people will come back for more classes, its the same for any for profit teaching.
2. Figure out what the legal trigger is in your state to employ lethal force, and be prepared with examples from actual cases in your state - don't make them up.
3. Find a criminal defense attorney you like in your area, and give out his number. If you have big classes, he will probably be happy to come along and explain the legal side of things.
4. Be prepared to teach something beyond an NRA first steps class the next week, so you have something else to sell.

 

[bobmcd]

Better than picking a lawyer's brain on what to teach, try to get a gun-friendly lawyer to do a brief guest-lecture in the class. That's what was done in the NRA "Protection in the Home" class I took. That way the primary instructor did not have to do the usual "I am not a lawyer, but..." routine.

 

[smince]

Another thought:

Have a medical emergency plan in the event of an accidental shooting during the class.

Rare, but it could happen. I'd steer clear of any instructor who doesn't take this into account.