When I started out as an instructor or even before I was an instructor, it wasn't about making a ton of money, being famous or popular and making YouTube videos never was a concern of mine. I wanted to be an instructor for one reason, TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER.
That being said that has been a major flaw of mine. I have taught numerous courses on my dime. I've comped people courses and not because they would benefit me in the long run. Most of the time it was because someone really wanted to train and couldn't make it happen financially, or they were a LEO, military or I just liked the drive they had to train. This is no way me boasting about being a nice guy, because I'm not. As I said earlier, it's about making people safer. Money comes and goes and a very influential person in my training worked with me on course cost. I just try and pay it forward.
Awhile back I was on a iPhone app talking with a group of people and a guy who has never trained anyone and who essentially just fanboys out to people said "he tried to YouTube me and nothing comes up. Besides a video where I'm on the sidelines in a internet sensations video". Needless to say that video was on a course I put together. I was the SENIOR instructor and have/had taught more CFS courses than the person he spoke of. To say this exchange pissed me off would be an understatement. Not to mention his opinion that I didn't know anything since I wasn't on YT was pure ASSCLOWNERY.
Recently someone I consider a close friend and one hell of an instructor and I were discussing social media and YT came up. We were talking about people who do YT videos and are putting out horrible information to people. Yet people take them as an authority because they have a YouTube channel. Then you have the flip side to that coin. You have the guys who actually are decent instructors, but are gear whores. They make YT videos to score free gear, maybe make YT money and build a name off YT. To each, his own.
I have four people who have been huge influences in my training. One guy happens to be one of the best instructors in the world RJP. My two friends Aaron & Tim happen to be guys I trained with on a regular basis. Two guys you have never heard of in the industry, yet they run a gun better than anyone I've seen. Both LEO, SWAT (or former), both instructors for the agency they work for and have had to use a gun to defend themselves. None of those things mentioned matter, besides they train a lot on there own time, they can run a gun & they helped me become a better instructor and to run a gun better. Lastly is the founder of D.A.M.N I had the opportunity to take a Human Weapon System course last year. It was an eye opening experience and changed the way I think about SD, operational medicine & life.
Notice three of those people aren't internet sensations? Two you wont ever hear about in the industry. I've been fortunate enough to meet, train with & run a gun with some pretty top notch guys. I'm very skeptical of most information I run across or hear someone spout off. I dissect it, I ask WHY. If they have a valid WHY, I ask more questions. If it makes since I change what I'm doing.
So I guess the moral of this tangent DON'T BE A FANBOY. Just because someone teaches, has a YT channel or teaches (insert awesome program name here) doesn't always mean they are the best to train you. Check out a blog I wrote a while back http://sacredcowkicking.blogspot.com/2011/03/taking-self-defense-courses-based-on.html That will give you more info on how I think people should choose a SD course or instructor.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Reloading shenanigans
Over the last few days I have seen a few videos from a company showing a Tactical reload and emergency reload.
Let me start by saying I think it's great they are taking the time to make short videos containing free tips, but I think the information is okay at best.
I commented on these said videos and was attacked, the best was by a guy talking about his airsoft experience.
My biggest problem with the videos was looking at the gun during a reload. Like I tell my students, you don't need to look at the gun to make sure you're still holding it.
I'm not sure why everyone thinks they need to look at the gun to reload it. Besides the obvious, I don't want to look at the gun to reload it when someone is presenting a lethal threat.
Not to mention the distortion of the perception of time that happens during a critical incident. People in car accidents or violent encounters will talk about things slowing down. So if you were experiencing a distortion of the perception of time and looked down mid-reload you would perceive that you were reloading slower than normal, which could cause you to speed up your reload (which was already at your full "efficient" speed already) which could cause you to screw it up. That's an abbreviated explanation to further research the distortion of the perception of time Google Tachypsychia.
My next problem with these videos was the putting the gun up in your line of sight while reloading it.
That method way work well on a square range or during gun games, but not so great during a fight. Besides if you're so busy looking at a gun during a reload and don't notice the bad guys buddy who rushes up smashes the gun off your face or grabs your arm.....what now?
Next this video showed flipping the magazine out with the fresh mag....Really, way to get back in the fight as fast possible.
The reason the mag wasn't dropping in the video is because the gun was up in the guys face turned sideways not letting the mag drop.
Next the video showed using the slide STOP, the best part was he fumbled it and commented how stiff the slide stop was to use.
Fine motor skills go out the window during critical incidents, so why not over hand rack the slide. The video also commented use your support hand to hit the slide stop, what about a lefty? That wouldn't be efficient on a square range let alone a fight.
These are just a few things that made my WTF moment today.
Let me start by saying I think it's great they are taking the time to make short videos containing free tips, but I think the information is okay at best.
I commented on these said videos and was attacked, the best was by a guy talking about his airsoft experience.
My biggest problem with the videos was looking at the gun during a reload. Like I tell my students, you don't need to look at the gun to make sure you're still holding it.
I'm not sure why everyone thinks they need to look at the gun to reload it. Besides the obvious, I don't want to look at the gun to reload it when someone is presenting a lethal threat.
Not to mention the distortion of the perception of time that happens during a critical incident. People in car accidents or violent encounters will talk about things slowing down. So if you were experiencing a distortion of the perception of time and looked down mid-reload you would perceive that you were reloading slower than normal, which could cause you to speed up your reload (which was already at your full "efficient" speed already) which could cause you to screw it up. That's an abbreviated explanation to further research the distortion of the perception of time Google Tachypsychia.
My next problem with these videos was the putting the gun up in your line of sight while reloading it.
That method way work well on a square range or during gun games, but not so great during a fight. Besides if you're so busy looking at a gun during a reload and don't notice the bad guys buddy who rushes up smashes the gun off your face or grabs your arm.....what now?
Next this video showed flipping the magazine out with the fresh mag....Really, way to get back in the fight as fast possible.
The reason the mag wasn't dropping in the video is because the gun was up in the guys face turned sideways not letting the mag drop.
Next the video showed using the slide STOP, the best part was he fumbled it and commented how stiff the slide stop was to use.
Fine motor skills go out the window during critical incidents, so why not over hand rack the slide. The video also commented use your support hand to hit the slide stop, what about a lefty? That wouldn't be efficient on a square range let alone a fight.
These are just a few things that made my WTF moment today.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Random Thoughts
I get asked a lot, do you have a LE/Military background and have you ever had to shoot someone in self defense? The answer to those questions is NO.
Some people in this industry and students think if a instructor doesn't have a yes to any of those questions they shouldn't be a instructor or don't have the ability or knowledge to teach. I'm calling shenanigans on that.
Example: Has Chuck Liddells coach ever fought for the UFC championship belt? No, so how was he able to coach/teach Chuck and help him become a champion? He shared his knowledge and skills and made him a better warrior.
People get to caught up with certificates on someones wall or by special tshirts. A smart guy once wrote in his book, "I'm not impressed by tshirts anymore".
Tons of people have amazing backgrounds, but cant teach. It also goes back to the training you NEED compared to the background the instructor has. You wouldn't go to a Muay Thai guy to learn Judo. That doesn't mean the Muay Thai coach isn't good, he just isn't good in the context of what you're looking for.
Fitness (or lack of) in self defense with a firearm. The myth of being safe just because you have a gun with you. I could hand someone a gun and holster and say "carry this and now your safe." It just isn't the way it is. If your over weight and get winded walking to the car how safe/prepared are you to defend yourself in a critical incident? People tend to be ambushed (caught off guard).
Example you re over weight and not very athletic and you get ambushed by a guy who is really athletic and already has the advantage because you're reacting to him. He gets to you, your in a physical fight and you cant get to the gun. Not to mention the fact you haven't exercised in years and are out of shape.
Carrying a gun isn't the end all, be all to being safe. People spend all this time, effort and energy reading about self defense and new guns, buying the newest gun,ammo and etc. Spend a little money on a gym membership or a weekly self defense class and be better prepared to defend yourself besides just carrying a gun.
Some people in this industry and students think if a instructor doesn't have a yes to any of those questions they shouldn't be a instructor or don't have the ability or knowledge to teach. I'm calling shenanigans on that.
Example: Has Chuck Liddells coach ever fought for the UFC championship belt? No, so how was he able to coach/teach Chuck and help him become a champion? He shared his knowledge and skills and made him a better warrior.
People get to caught up with certificates on someones wall or by special tshirts. A smart guy once wrote in his book, "I'm not impressed by tshirts anymore".
Tons of people have amazing backgrounds, but cant teach. It also goes back to the training you NEED compared to the background the instructor has. You wouldn't go to a Muay Thai guy to learn Judo. That doesn't mean the Muay Thai coach isn't good, he just isn't good in the context of what you're looking for.
Fitness (or lack of) in self defense with a firearm. The myth of being safe just because you have a gun with you. I could hand someone a gun and holster and say "carry this and now your safe." It just isn't the way it is. If your over weight and get winded walking to the car how safe/prepared are you to defend yourself in a critical incident? People tend to be ambushed (caught off guard).
Example you re over weight and not very athletic and you get ambushed by a guy who is really athletic and already has the advantage because you're reacting to him. He gets to you, your in a physical fight and you cant get to the gun. Not to mention the fact you haven't exercised in years and are out of shape.
Carrying a gun isn't the end all, be all to being safe. People spend all this time, effort and energy reading about self defense and new guns, buying the newest gun,ammo and etc. Spend a little money on a gym membership or a weekly self defense class and be better prepared to defend yourself besides just carrying a gun.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Taking self defense courses based on the skill sets you need. (Training in context)
Hey do you ever have an operators course?
Nope, are you an operator?
This comes back to training in context. I'm not an operator or a sniper, so why would I waste my time, effort, energy or my resources to take a class based on on those principals?
That being said if you're a civilian who CC you wont get much benefit out of a course where you are doing room clearing with a team.
If you're a civilian who carries concealed a majority of your time should be based on reacting to being ambushed, not clearing a room and etc. S;pend the time and resources learning and understanding what the body does during critical stress, so when it happens you don't just vapor lock in the startle flinch. Create a mental blueprint to that oh shit moment, where you are in a full blown startle flinch.
Let me guess you wont ever be ambushed because your always in color code red with pink stripes? I'm calling shenanigans, none of us are always clicked ON. We look at menus, we have our hands full of groceries, we turn our heads to check out an attractive female and etc.
So when you look for a course don't just think its a good course because a cop or military guy has taken it, or because a ex SWAT or military guy is teaching it. Attend a course that will teach you the skills you need in the context you will most likely need them.
Would you go to a heart surgeon for a tooth ache. Both are highly skilled, but have two different skill sets.
Nope, are you an operator?
This comes back to training in context. I'm not an operator or a sniper, so why would I waste my time, effort, energy or my resources to take a class based on on those principals?
That being said if you're a civilian who CC you wont get much benefit out of a course where you are doing room clearing with a team.
If you're a civilian who carries concealed a majority of your time should be based on reacting to being ambushed, not clearing a room and etc. S;pend the time and resources learning and understanding what the body does during critical stress, so when it happens you don't just vapor lock in the startle flinch. Create a mental blueprint to that oh shit moment, where you are in a full blown startle flinch.
Let me guess you wont ever be ambushed because your always in color code red with pink stripes? I'm calling shenanigans, none of us are always clicked ON. We look at menus, we have our hands full of groceries, we turn our heads to check out an attractive female and etc.
So when you look for a course don't just think its a good course because a cop or military guy has taken it, or because a ex SWAT or military guy is teaching it. Attend a course that will teach you the skills you need in the context you will most likely need them.
Would you go to a heart surgeon for a tooth ache. Both are highly skilled, but have two different skill sets.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Kicking Sacred Cow's
This blog was brought forth by my buddies bitching about the training
industry, be it martial arts, the use of a firearm in self
defense training and any other it's always been done this
way industry.
A smart man once said "people tend to get upset when you kick
sacred cows" (or something like that) dumb it down a little bit,
people can't handle change or evolution of tactics or training and fall
back on sensai, this SEAL team guy, this S.W.A.T team "said this" or
it's always been done this way or I have always done it this way.
GREAT things change, people evolve and people realize what they said
10 years ago is BS compared what they know now.
Now the industries above have a lot of dogma and no one wants to admit
what they said 6 months, a year, 2,3,5,10 years ago wasn't the
best......Well it was the best they knew "then". Just say hey I was
wrong, hey things changed, what I knew then I thought was the best.
But thing have EVOLVED and so have I.
This is the first entry, so I wont get into mine or my buddies who
train biggest pet peeves, "hey I will never flinch I'm a Martial arts
expert, or hey the color code of awareness is a story in the bible, or
how you need to index a magazine and/or look at a gun to reload it, and my favorite I've always done it this way."
I have plenty of time to write about those antiquated things.
industry, be it martial arts, the use of a firearm in self
defense training and any other it's always been done this
way industry.
A smart man once said "people tend to get upset when you kick
sacred cows" (or something like that) dumb it down a little bit,
people can't handle change or evolution of tactics or training and fall
back on sensai, this SEAL team guy, this S.W.A.T team "said this" or
it's always been done this way or I have always done it this way.
GREAT things change, people evolve and people realize what they said
10 years ago is BS compared what they know now.
Now the industries above have a lot of dogma and no one wants to admit
what they said 6 months, a year, 2,3,5,10 years ago wasn't the
best......Well it was the best they knew "then". Just say hey I was
wrong, hey things changed, what I knew then I thought was the best.
But thing have EVOLVED and so have I.
This is the first entry, so I wont get into mine or my buddies who
train biggest pet peeves, "hey I will never flinch I'm a Martial arts
expert, or hey the color code of awareness is a story in the bible, or
how you need to index a magazine and/or look at a gun to reload it, and my favorite I've always done it this way."
I have plenty of time to write about those antiquated things.
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