As a firearms instructor everything I teach is designed for self-defense. The techniques I demonstrate during my courses are taught for one reason only, to help you in a self-defense incident.
Every drill is practiced for a specific reason and all of the drills are based on what might occur when using a firearm for self-defense or the defense of another.
There are many conditions that you will face when using a firearm and you should practice all of them, so the techniques become second nature where not much thought is needed in performing the drill. You are building muscle memory which allows you to naturally address the issue quickly and effectively.
A large part of my training involves knowing how fast I can complete each drill needed to keep my firearm working. I use a device called a shot timer to record each shot taken during a drill. The device prompts me to begin the drill and then it records each shot.
When I teach students that enroll in my intermediate to advanced courses they experience the use of the shot timer during those courses.
It is very important to know what your average speed is when preforming specific drills with your firearm. For example: The drill is to remove your firearm from a concealed position located on your person and then fire two rounds into the target. This is a very basic drill that almost everyone practices. This is also one of the most important drills that should be routinely practiced by the citizen who carries concealed every day. It is important to know how fast you can draw from a concealed position and fire. This general speed should be part of your decision-making process when faced with a life-threatening encounter.
I’ve witnessed many situations where people draw their firearm at the onset of a threat just to lose the gun fight. Rather than waiting for the right opportunity to draw based on their known speed in which they can do. If you do not know your skill level you are gambling that the movement can be done fast enough to save your life or the life of another.
With this said, there might be that situation where there’s nothing else you can do but go for it. The point is, everything you train with your firearm is not only for creating muscle memory and second nature, but it is also letting you know the speed in which you can do these drills. I need to be faster than who I am going up against, and since I won’t know that until the time comes, I need to be as fast as I possibly can be.
In every timed event type task that I have set out to do, the saying “smooth is fast” applies to firearms also. Learn the drill the proper way, practice using the proper steps, create the muscle memory and then push for speed. Do not put speed as your first priority because you will either skip important steps in the drill or your push for speed will mess you up during the drill.
Everything you do with your firearm is a diminishing skill. If you do not routinely practice your speed and smoothness will slowly decrease. It doesn’t take 500 rounds a week to become or remain proficient, but it does take constant practice. Dry fire practice with dummy rounds or snap caps is a very under rated way of becoming very sharp and fast at many of the manipulations done with a firearm. You can also use the dummy rounds when live firing to simulate a class 1 malfunction, failure to fire.
Know your skill level. If you are a beginner, get training. Don’t create bad habits because it will take more time to correct them. Your skill level should always be part of your decision-making process.
NEVER STOP TRAINING!
Oz Johnson/Lead Instructor, NRA Certified
Karin Johnson/Operations Manager
JohnsonGroupTAC.com
[email protected]
602-410-7355
TRAINING ADVISORY
— Concealed Carry Permit Training planned at Ben Avery Shooting Facility
Public encouraged to learn Firearms Laws
Cave Creek, Arizona –Johnson Group Tactical will offer Concealed Carry Permit Training on Saturday, MAY 4th from 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM for people interested in securing a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Permit. The class, which costs $79, will be held in the High-Power Building at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, which is located at 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd, Phoenix. Discounts are available for military and first responders. The class does not include the $60 application fee to AZ DPS for the final permit.
Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) is the practice of carrying a weapon in a public place, in a concealed matter, either on one’s person or in close proximity.
“If forced to draw your gun in self-defense, you must know exactly what to do next” says Karin Johnson. “It’s about making the right decisions.” This class meets the requirements for those who want to obtain their Concealed Carry Permit. Regardless of whether you choose to get your permit, the education provided is beneficial for all Responsible Armed-Americans.
The business can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 602.410.7355.
