Defensive shooting is a dynamic action not occurring in a void. It is a martial art at its truist form. And, as with the many martial art forms, there are various applications and many purposes for taking up the training of martial arts. There are students of the arts who merely train for the sake of the discipline chosen and to maintain its heritage and many rituals. These students are not preparing for, dare I say even imagine, using the arts for actual combat. Some, as in the case of judo, learn it as a competitive sport. That is why upon entering the arts the master will ask, "What is your purpose in seeking the knowledge of ______?" If the answer is, To learn to fight, he likely may be sent away. Olympic riflemen train and practice for years, but self-defense shooting is not part of their training.
So what is our purpose? That is the uppermost question one must ask as he learns the art of the gun. Anyone can pick up a gun and shoot it. Or, as we see daily, pick up a gun and rob a store. Someone of this ilk would be analogous to a street-fighter in martial arts terms. A very dangerous fighter indeed. But for him we have the trained martial artist skilled in defending himself against the street-fighter; to neutralize the street-fighter with minimal injury to himself. Is that not what we here who seek knowledge on improving our skills want to accomplish - neutralize the threat while minimizing the risk of death or injury to ourselves? Therefore, although all handgun training will have its beginnings in shooting paper targets we must progress beyond the static range practice. And, as with most martial arts, a good fighter must have learnt upon a good foundation and understanding of his craft. Learning from others, as we do here, is vital to our growth. In an ever changing world we must stay abreast of our own technologies and try new things and ideas so that we continue to learn and grow in our own martial art of the gun.
Training should be dynamic. It must anticipate what the environment we likely will find ourselves when set upon. And what our response should be. If run up from behind by an assailant and pushed to the ground face first, will you know how to immediately react. Will you be prepared to draw and shoot from that position that now finds you on the ground. Have you practiced that? If a bad man charges headlong towards you in a bum rush or Pittsburgh jack (grabbing you low while trapping your lower arms to throw you down after picking you up by your legs) will you know what to do? Can you draw and shoot from the hip as you barely clear leather? No aiming here. No sight picture. We can learn from one and other based on our own experiences. Watching the behavior of robbers on YouTube videos that now proliferate the internet is a great source of watching what we can expect from the "street-fighter" we most prepare for.
So what is our purpose? That is the uppermost question one must ask as he learns the art of the gun. Anyone can pick up a gun and shoot it. Or, as we see daily, pick up a gun and rob a store. Someone of this ilk would be analogous to a street-fighter in martial arts terms. A very dangerous fighter indeed. But for him we have the trained martial artist skilled in defending himself against the street-fighter; to neutralize the street-fighter with minimal injury to himself. Is that not what we here who seek knowledge on improving our skills want to accomplish - neutralize the threat while minimizing the risk of death or injury to ourselves? Therefore, although all handgun training will have its beginnings in shooting paper targets we must progress beyond the static range practice. And, as with most martial arts, a good fighter must have learnt upon a good foundation and understanding of his craft. Learning from others, as we do here, is vital to our growth. In an ever changing world we must stay abreast of our own technologies and try new things and ideas so that we continue to learn and grow in our own martial art of the gun.
Training should be dynamic. It must anticipate what the environment we likely will find ourselves when set upon. And what our response should be. If run up from behind by an assailant and pushed to the ground face first, will you know how to immediately react. Will you be prepared to draw and shoot from that position that now finds you on the ground. Have you practiced that? If a bad man charges headlong towards you in a bum rush or Pittsburgh jack (grabbing you low while trapping your lower arms to throw you down after picking you up by your legs) will you know what to do? Can you draw and shoot from the hip as you barely clear leather? No aiming here. No sight picture. We can learn from one and other based on our own experiences. Watching the behavior of robbers on YouTube videos that now proliferate the internet is a great source of watching what we can expect from the "street-fighter" we most prepare for.