If you will check out my resume you will see that I devote considerable time and money to developing and maintaining my own skills.
I believe continued training is a lifelong activity that must be continually updated to ensure that my skills available to me if they are needed for dealing with a violent encounter. Advanced training is an excellent way to test your skills.
In addition, taking additional training exposes me to other instructors and to new content. If I find a teaching technique that I have found useful in helping me learn the material being taught, I make an effort to include those techniques in my own teaching.
When I find additional information that would be useful in my courses I have the flexibility to change my courses to include the new or improved information. I never make the mistake of believing that I know everything there is to know about the complex subject of preparing to face asocial criminal violence.
I also value feedback from my students and have made changes in course content based on such feedback. Part of my obligation as an instructor is to meet student needs and expectations.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
How does JB Training provide Reality-based training?
Many shooting schools will teach you how to shoot. Some of them will teach you to shoot under conditions of stress. We do this as well but we also take you to the next level.
We have four specific courses that provide as much realism as possible without using real ammunition. Our three Force-on-Force courses provide you with an opportunity to face real people who are armed and will be trying to shoot, stab, or club you. They may shoot first sometimes and usually shoot back. They move and are trying to keep from getting shot themselves. In many of the drills and exercises you will start out in a reactive mode, rather than a proactive mode. When you are being assaulted that is how the engagement is likely to begin.Training with live ammunition on a flat range does not provide this experience.
The guns we use in our Force-on-Force course are Air soft semi-automatic pistols that shoot 6MM plastic pellets. These pistols are realistic in size, weight and function. The pellets sting when they hit you. For safety sake we provide full face masks to protect the face, ears and neck from being hit.The pellets sting when they hit your clothing so you will know you are being hit.
One more realism based course is our Shoot/No shoot video scenario course. In this course you will use a real pistol equipped with a laser insert that fires a laser beam when the trigger is pulled. You face a screen where video images are projected. You will see a variety of situations that you might be faced with in your life. Some of them require you to draw your pistol, issue commands and perhaps pull the trigger. Other scenarios are no shoot situations in which the use of lethal force would not be appropriate. Debriefings after each scenario will help the student understand their actions and what other courses of action were available to you. Many police departments now provide this type of training to their officers.
We have four specific courses that provide as much realism as possible without using real ammunition. Our three Force-on-Force courses provide you with an opportunity to face real people who are armed and will be trying to shoot, stab, or club you. They may shoot first sometimes and usually shoot back. They move and are trying to keep from getting shot themselves. In many of the drills and exercises you will start out in a reactive mode, rather than a proactive mode. When you are being assaulted that is how the engagement is likely to begin.Training with live ammunition on a flat range does not provide this experience.
The guns we use in our Force-on-Force course are Air soft semi-automatic pistols that shoot 6MM plastic pellets. These pistols are realistic in size, weight and function. The pellets sting when they hit you. For safety sake we provide full face masks to protect the face, ears and neck from being hit.The pellets sting when they hit your clothing so you will know you are being hit.
One more realism based course is our Shoot/No shoot video scenario course. In this course you will use a real pistol equipped with a laser insert that fires a laser beam when the trigger is pulled. You face a screen where video images are projected. You will see a variety of situations that you might be faced with in your life. Some of them require you to draw your pistol, issue commands and perhaps pull the trigger. Other scenarios are no shoot situations in which the use of lethal force would not be appropriate. Debriefings after each scenario will help the student understand their actions and what other courses of action were available to you. Many police departments now provide this type of training to their officers.
What is the value of a laser installed on your handgun?
I use lasers in my courses. A fair question is what is the value of using this type of pistol mounted tool.
Some people have installed lasers on their handguns. I have them on some of the guns I carry as well. The lasers have several advantages.
1. They are excellent dry fire tools as they provide visual feedback on where the pistol is pointing.
2. Pistol mounted lasers allow me to make shots when my eyes are not close to the pistol. As long as I can see the laser dot I am confident I know where the bullet will strike when I shoot.
3. Some people believe that a laser dot placed on the assailant will strike fear in the assailant.
What about their disadvantages.
1. They run on batteries. Murphy's law says if something can fail it will do so at the worst possible time. Consequently, I only train with my laser to make shots that I would not be able to make otherwise. I do not train myself to rely on the laser.
2. They can become a crutch if that is how you train yourself to shoot. If you rely on the laser what happens if you cannot see the dot? Strong sunlight can obscure some laser dots. You may find yourself searching for the dot when you should be shooting.
3. A laser beam leads straight back to your gun. You may be exposing your position when it was not necessary to do so. In conditions of low light you may have the laser dot on one bad guy but you are showing his accomplices exactly where you are so they can shoot you.
Some people have installed lasers on their handguns. I have them on some of the guns I carry as well. The lasers have several advantages.
1. They are excellent dry fire tools as they provide visual feedback on where the pistol is pointing.
2. Pistol mounted lasers allow me to make shots when my eyes are not close to the pistol. As long as I can see the laser dot I am confident I know where the bullet will strike when I shoot.
3. Some people believe that a laser dot placed on the assailant will strike fear in the assailant.
What about their disadvantages.
1. They run on batteries. Murphy's law says if something can fail it will do so at the worst possible time. Consequently, I only train with my laser to make shots that I would not be able to make otherwise. I do not train myself to rely on the laser.
2. They can become a crutch if that is how you train yourself to shoot. If you rely on the laser what happens if you cannot see the dot? Strong sunlight can obscure some laser dots. You may find yourself searching for the dot when you should be shooting.
3. A laser beam leads straight back to your gun. You may be exposing your position when it was not necessary to do so. In conditions of low light you may have the laser dot on one bad guy but you are showing his accomplices exactly where you are so they can shoot you.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Why you need to be able to point shoot.!
My first course is entitled Defensive Shooting for Zero to 21 Feet.
At this range it is not necessary to use the sights on a pistol to achieve combat accuracy. Combat accuracy is defined as putting all of the rounds into the person assaulting you.
Point shooting is a technique that can be used to achieve combat accuracy at distance ranging from contact to between 25 to 30 feet. Even more important is the fact that most gunfights and assaults occur within these ranges. In particular the type of shooting needed for a home invasion is likely to be point shooting.
When I teach point shooting it is taught as part of a shooting continuum. What this means is the type of shooting technique that is to be used changes as the distance increases or the situation changes. Therefore my students will learn to make combat accurate shots using one hand and two hands. The handgun positions will range from being held at hip level to just below eye level. They will also learn the distances and situations where the use of the pistol sights is necessary. This is specific to each individual. They also will learn when point shooting is not an appropriate technique to use.
Point shooting is fast, efficient, and effective. It relies on instincts we all have. It works well under conditions of extreme stress and does not require hundreds of hours to learn or extensive practice to maintain this skill. Students who have never shot a gun before seem to pick up point shooting faster than students who have extensive shooting experiences.
Asocial violence
The presence of asocial violence in the world is a good reason to carry a concealed carry firearm.
When a criminal uses asocial violence his objective is to kill or maim the person being assaulted. The person using asocial violence has no moral restrictions and has no regard for the life of the person being assaulted. If asocial violence is being used against you all of your options are reduced to a simple equation. Kill or be killed.
Much of the violence in the world is of the anti-social type. This type of violence is meant to dominant a person but it generally is not intended to kill or maim the victim. It is usually not appropriate to use lethal force to respond to anti-social violence.
When I teach students to use a defensive handgun, the threat of asocial violence is what I train them to deal with. Their options other than resistance have been removed and they must be prepared to respond with lethal force to stop the assault.
When a criminal uses asocial violence his objective is to kill or maim the person being assaulted. The person using asocial violence has no moral restrictions and has no regard for the life of the person being assaulted. If asocial violence is being used against you all of your options are reduced to a simple equation. Kill or be killed.
Much of the violence in the world is of the anti-social type. This type of violence is meant to dominant a person but it generally is not intended to kill or maim the victim. It is usually not appropriate to use lethal force to respond to anti-social violence.
When I teach students to use a defensive handgun, the threat of asocial violence is what I train them to deal with. Their options other than resistance have been removed and they must be prepared to respond with lethal force to stop the assault.
HexSites - Why do I prefer them over other sights?
I have HexSites on some of my pistols. Why did I do this?
There are a number of advantages that the HexSites have over standard sights which have their origin in the target shooting and competition world.
1. Hexagonal design in the rear sight. See the picture of the rear sight above. The hexagonal design provides 16 points of alignment for the eye. This design allows the eye to easily center the rear sight on the front sight. A circle or peep sight has no points of reference for the eye to use to center the rear sight. A circle or peep sight is at a disadvantage when using a pistol.
2. Threat focus - Standard target sighting systems require the shooter to focus on the front sight while keeping the rear sight and threat out of focus. With the HexSite, the focus is on the threat. The design permits the HexSite to be focused on the threat. This takes full advantage of the eye's desire to focus on the threat, not on the front sight.
3. By focusing on the threat the HexSite is much easier to use for someone who has eye accommodation problems. Those persons who are near sighted find the HexSite will work well for them.
4. Cross dominant shooters. Since the HexSite relies on a threat focus, the cross dominant shooter does not need to adjust their head to shoot a pistol with a HexSite.
5. Ability to shoot with both eyes open. Often a shooter who uses conventional target sights must close the non-dominant eye to shoot effectively. This is not the case with the HexSite. I am cross dominant so I am well aware of this issue. FYI, I DO NOT AGREE with those instructors who try to convert the dominate eye of a person they are training. If you want to hear more from me on this subject get in contact with me.
In my opinion the only sighting system that competes with a HexSite is a red dot system such as those now being used by our armed forces. Several companies now make red dot sights that are designed to fit on pistols. Jpoint and Trijicon RMR LED are examples of this technology.
http://www.eabco.com/jpoint01.html
http://www.onesourcetactical.com/millpistolslidetoaccepttrijiconrmrsight-2.aspx http://www.onesourcetactical.com/millpistolslidetoaccepttrijiconrmrsight-2.aspx
Reality-based training
When you take a look at the resume on my website you will notice that I have taken courses from a variety of training organizations. Without a doubt I learned something from each of them. Each course I have taken has helped me prepare to teach others the material I have learned. In my courses you will receive a selection of material that represents the best information that was taught to me.
Suarez International training has had the most influence on me. I subscribe to their realism-based training philosophy and strive to convey that philosophy to my students.
I believe reality-based handgun training is the best training for people who are considering using their handgun for self defense. Unlike traditional training, reality-based training only teaches those strategies, tactics, and techniques that are most likely to be successful when used in a real-life confrontation.
Suarez International training has had the most influence on me. I subscribe to their realism-based training philosophy and strive to convey that philosophy to my students.
I believe reality-based handgun training is the best training for people who are considering using their handgun for self defense. Unlike traditional training, reality-based training only teaches those strategies, tactics, and techniques that are most likely to be successful when used in a real-life confrontation.
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