I recently witnessed an unfortunate discussion an instructor was having with a student that reflects a common problem in the training community. The exchange went something like this:
Student: I’m thinking about taking a class from (another school).
Instructor: You don’t want to waste your money on that. They focus on nothing but close range shooting. If you learn how to hit a target well at 25 yards, hitting a target at 5 yards is easy. That’s why we do most of our shooting at 25 yards.
Student: But they say that a lot of fights happen at close range.
Instructor: Nah…
Seriously, I must have been out sick the day they issued crystal balls to firearms instructors. Human beings have been engaging in personal violent conflict since the dawn of mankind. They’ve used their hands, sharp sticks, rocks, knives, guns… they’ve wrestled on the ground and shot at each other from hundreds of yards away. To borrow a phrase from my friend Tom Givens, “No one ever describes the gunfight he was just in as average.”
There are countless pieces of the personal defense puzzle. As instructors, we do ourselves and our community a disservice when we try to convince potential students that my piece of the puzzle is way more important than their piece of the puzzle. Find a serious skeet shooter and he’ll be able to tell you stories about people who’ve defended themselves with over/under shotguns. Does that mean an O/U is a great home defense tool? Or does it perhaps mean that guys who spend their time and money on shotgun sports are more likely to hear & remember stories about shotguns?
I’d never discourage someone from taking a combatives class, a carbine class, or anything else of that nature. Is it what I teach? No. Is it my piece of the puzzle? No. But I’ve taken combatives classes, knife classes, carbine classes… because they are all pieces of THE puzzle.
My skill level in those areas certainly isn’t nearly as high. My understanding of the topics isn’t nearly deep enough to teach. I don’t practice that stuff nearly as much as I practice shooting a pistol. Is that because the pistol is 100 times more important? No. It’s because pistol shooting is my hobby, my profession, and my passion. The trick is to avoid falling into the trap of believing that my personal area of interest is somehow universally necessary for the continued existence of human life on Earth.
I’ve had the great fortune to spend time with many of our nation’s greatest Special Operations warriors. Truth is, I am a far better pistol shooter than the vast majority of them. I’ve had a number of police officers in classes who’ve prevailed in multiple gunfights. Truth is, I am a far better pistol shooter than the vast majority of them. Why? Because shooting a pistol is what I do for a living full-time. But that doesn’t translate into shooting a pistol is the most important skill in the universe. While that Navy SEAL or Army Ranger is spending his time learning how to land navigate, demolish bridges with explosives, and operate a Humvee in the desert… I’m at the pistol range. When the police officer is on patrol, sitting through this month’s mandatory sensitivity training lecture, or practicing arrest control procedures… I’m at the pistol range. They need those other skills. It would be stupid of them to spend all their time on the pistol range.
If we’re being honest about long term survival, getting a personal trainer at the gym and taking some defensive driving classes are probably a thousand times more beneficial than any shooting, fighting, tactics class. So the next time someone starts talking about his particular piece of the puzzle being the really important part, ask yourself if it’s just really important to him.
I have my piece of the puzzle. I think my piece of the puzzle is important. I obviously encourage folks to practice and take classes about it. But I’d never pretend that my piece of the puzzle is the only one that matters.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
(puzzle graphic courtesy of Clker.com)
So, are you saying I shouldn’t take Temkin’s Point Shooting Class?
😉
Great post Todd,
I think you summed up the idea very well, I see this in lots of areas besides just self-defense. As a general rule we all like to practice what we are good at and then rationalize it by attaching more importance to our own skill set than those of others. Only by stepping back and seeing the big picture, analyzing our abilities in all the “pieces” and then making an honest assesment of our strengths and weaknesses can we really strive to improve on anything. Balance in life is important and not understanding the importance of priorties will cause problems whether we’re talking about big picture things like work, family, hobbies or more detailed things like draw speed, low-prob targets, transitions. In most cases, too much attention in one area will lead to detrimental results in another which is why honest self-evaluation and clearly defined priorties are a must. Which is all to say that I agree with you 100% on this and to hear an instructor say that what he teaches is specialiezed and that you should seek other instructors for other areas is refreshing.
Reasonable humility. Refreshing, no?
Absolutely outstanding post Todd.
I knew there was a reason this was the only BLOG on my favorites bar. Truly relevant to todays world. Great Post.
I agree with everything except the sensitivity training comment.
Don’t need it, at all.
Chuck — Please report to Indoctrination Camp 3C immediately. You may bring your own bar of soap.
Chuck, that’s insensitive.
That puzzle piece should be a part of your logo.
As another instructor once said (and I paraphrase) “A way, not the way.” IMO, there are many ways up the mountain (which happens to not have a summit). Some are longer than others, some have pitfalls, and some lead nowhere. Anyone who claims to have “the way” probably doesn’t.
SouthNarc was the one that pointed out that you’ve got to be honest with yourself and look at the “holes in your game”. And I paraphrase again, if you are an IPSC grandmaster and can’t run 100 yrds, maybe you need to reassess your training regimen. Vice versa, if you are a PT stud that can’t hit the side of a barn without throwing the pistol at it.
P.S. – that is the humblest statement of specific expertise compared with real world practitioners I’ve heard.
Todd, thanks for your humble reminder that every one of us who teaches, needs to remember that for as good as we are, there are other skills and thoughts a student can use to help prepare them for the ultimate challenge, a gunfight to save their, or someone else’s life.
A couple years ago we had an instructor come teach us “point shooting.” Many attendees felt he was very abrasive and stuck on “his” way to point shoot. After the class we had some serious conversations about what we learned, both good and bad. We still use some of his materials. Sometimes getting that outside objective thinking stimulates the brain into finding new things to work on. We all get stuck in ruts and need to step outside the box from time to time and attending someone else’s courses are always fun and I have never failed to learn something useful.
Carry on the good work.
Great “words” Todd!
I wished I had a dime for every person who has told me tales of being treated like a dummy, either in a gun shop, or a class. It’s sad that many people in this sport / business become arrogant & self righteous. I need to keep in mind that I too was a “dummy” once upon a time. We all learned something, somewhere along the line.
I thoroughly enjoyed that post. Good stuff.
Now THAT makes me want to get a couple days off and take one of your classes.
and this is why your site is on my ‘morning reads’ favorites folder at work.
Excellent post, Todd!!
Well said.
Some things are just hobbies for people. Accept it and move on. An IPSC Grand Master who can’t run 100 yards is probably not ready for the Pan-Am games, but is that his piece. And just because it is not YOUR piece, doesn’t make it wrong. It’s just different.
Thanks Todd.
As I noted in my Aim Fast Hit Fast AAR, Todd was quick to acknowledge the instructors who influenced him and recommended several. He even highlighted when another instructor was in the area to his former students, pointing out an opportunity for superior training.
I once took a class with a recognized instructor, who unfortunately spent much of the course denigrating other instructors in the industry (and by association, their students). I found it distracting, unprofessional and unnecessary. To my further dismay, many of the students started echoing these views.
One of my friends who is active in the martial arts community describes this as the ‘My sensei can beat up your sensei’ phenomenon.
In any competitive industry, there is going to be a certain amount of rivalry among the practitioners. The best will let the quality of their instruction speak for itself.
Dear Todd,
I just found your blog and must say that I enjoyed it throughly. I am a new instructor and acknowledge that I have much to learn in order to be in a position to give something of value to my students. May I have permitsion to reproduce and share your information with my students? I will use your by line for all your original work, of course. It is only fair to give credit where credit is due.
I look forward to more words of wisdom in the future. Thank you for sharing your insight!
Thanks,
Rhino Chris
Todd, just found your site and it is very interesting. My pistol training is old school GI. I do not understand a lot of the acronyms used. For example I know FAST refers to training for law enforcement. Would you be so kind as to give me the nickel rundown about FAST training? either a post or to my email is fine.
Dave
David — the F.A.S.T. is just a shooting test. If you click on the Drills section here at pistol-training.com, it is one of the exercises listed. Hope that helps! Stay safe…