Practice is important, but how do you structure your practice? I am using Steve Anderson’s dry fire book, Refinement and Repetition. It has a log book to record times, which is helpful. Primarily a competitive based training book, but I use my carry gear and adjust the times on the draw and reload. Isolating necessary gun handling skills to a subconscious level of automaticity, allows my mind to deal with the more important problems of shooting. I’ll include a chart that shows different levels of automaticity to accomplish different levels of performance. John Hearne compiled this data and chart, which is a very helpful guide to your present level of performance. I look forward to your input….
FIRST: How do you structure your dry fire practice?
Published by The Complete Combatant, LLC
My name is Brian Hill and I am owner and head Coach at The Complete Combatant. I have over 35 years experience in training and instructional combative firearm techniques and Martial Arts. My expertise is primarily in the context of the armed citizen. If you are your first responder, then you are responsible for a wide array of skill sets. Seeing, recognizing, and believing danger is the first task. Having a plan for avoidance, deselection and escalation is second. If these fail, the fight is on, and it must be won. The first time you have to use the different levels of force, and everything is on the line, should not be the first time you practice your non-lethal (mindset, verbal, walk away, flashlight, etc.), less then lethal (OC/pepper spray, Combatives, etc.) and lethal options (firearms, advanced Combatives, etc.). One of the areas students can improve their self protection skills is through organization and efficiency in their approach to practice. Methodology, structure, and feedback are critical elements that are often overlooked, but provide the best options for improvement. Strategy, tactics, and techniques need to be practiced until they can be performed with unconscious competence. Equally as important is the client's mindset, and how they can strengthen their performance under pressure. Believe it or not, decisions are more important then techniques. While I still teach, and occasionally use iron sights and shoot from strong side, I switched to the red dot sighting system/pistol optics many years ago because it has several benefits that just can't be ignored. The way we aim our firearm is an area that sees constant improvement. These sights offer a tremendous advantage in speed, accuracy, and application. This RDC class will focus on the draw to first-round hits from concealment unless you have an open rig. We will work on proximal extension relative to the attacker, using the red dot to the most significant advantage at different distances, multiple hand positions that the armed citizen encounters during a fight, and stacking complex cognitive tasks under pressure. Biomechanics of movement and the neuroscience of the decisional process and training methodologies will be explored. If you shoot competitively or carry a pistol for personal protection you will benefit from this class. The pistol mounted optic is excellent for quick and precise target acquisition, allowing a focus on the target. Transitions are greatly enhanced due to the simplicity of using the dot aligned on the target, as opposed to the three focal planes of iron sights. If you have vision issues, the dot may be the solution for you. I primarily carry in the appendix position which allows for a quicker draw, and improved weapon retention. Instruction in the proper draw stroke improves the use and safety of appendix carry, and in addition allows you to find the dot sooner. I have specifically designed The Complete Combatant for our US citizens that "carry or want to". I have always seen a need for the varied disciplines of self protection to be combined. Proper strategy, escalation of force and employment of tools…is one complete subject. Making good decisions, thinking ahead, the proper use of non-lethal, less then lethal and lethal tools will help you to fight back more effectively. Being creative, tool cycling and adapting could save you or a loved one. MEASURE. REFINE. PERFORM Brian Hill View all posts by The Complete Combatant, LLC
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