Tangle

I'm sure I'll ruffle some feathers here, but, one of the reasons I left the Suarez forum is because of the "nothing you've been taught works" attitude along with a we've got the answer - throw away everything you've ever been taught, stances don't work, sights don't work, etc.

We know that we can design drills to "prove" just about anything we want to; that doesn't mean tried and proven methods should be abandoned. If we don't have a stance to shoot from, what do we practice - any and every position we can come up with?

I once got into a debate about point shooting versus flash sight shooting and it prompted me to go to the range to do some experimenting. I decided I would do nothing but target focused shooting at the ranges (3 - 5 yards) I normally do sighted shooting. Although I never practice point shooting, and I mean never, I discovered that I could shoot just as well and maybe a bit faster point shooting than I could flash sight shooting.

When I posted my hits and times, a guy asked if he could post my post on his point shooting board. My response was: think about it; do you really want to post a message that says if you always practice sight shooting, you will be able to point shoot on demand? He agreed that wasn't the message he wanted, so he didn't post my remarks.

So do I now practice point shooting? Absolutely not; I don't even think about point shooting. If what I'm doing developed my ability to point shoot on demand, why should I change?

My point here is that that there seems to be a "core" of shooting principles that lead to continued, improved shooting. Will we be able to get in our stance and grip in that moment of truth? We won't know until it happens, but should we abandon good shooting principles because we may not get to use them. I think not because they still lead to improved shooting.

One last story. I had a buddy named Alan who was the number 2 man on the tennis team. I asked him if he thought he would ever be able to beat the number one guy. Without hesitation, he said, Yep! He (the no. 1 guy) uses unorthodox techniques and I (Alan) learned correct techniques from a professional. The more I practice, the better I will get, but he will hit a limit because of the insufficiency of his techniques. He told me that over 30 years ago and it made such an impression of the importance of technique that I never forgot it.

I watched a golf game yesterday (was a slooow day) and you know what the commentators talk about? Proper stance, grip, swing, in other words, proper technique. The same techniques were used to tee off, in the fareway and in the really "rough". I couldn't help but wonder if these guys would be willing to give up there core techniques because in the rough, you can't get into the proper stance etc.

When a football team loses a game what do they do the following week in practice? Do they abandon their core techniques because they didn't win a game? No, they often practice the fundamentals of blocking, tackling, etc. that much harder. Why? Because those core fundamentals have been proven time and time again to work.

I believe the same is true for shooting; there are core fundamentals that work and they will enhance our shooting even when we can't get into that perfect set-up.

Well, as usual, I've used up more time and space than I deserve.

Tom357

I think technique is important, and having an SOP, well-drilled, automatic, that you don't have to think about is important. BUT, the real world rarely cooperates with classroom assumptions, and it doesn't matter what field or skill you are talking about. Fundamentals still apply, but the devil is in the details. People who are so bound to a technique that they CAN'T shoot/fight if they can't use a particular stance or grip are going to be in trouble in the organic, real world. A base technique ends up being the foundation upon which you build your repertoire. The repertoire needs to include methods for dealing with the awkward and unexpected. I've read several of Suarez's books and incorporated some of his drills into my training. I have not had the fortune to attend one of his classes, though I know folks who have. Maybe they are overstating things when they say to throw out everything you've learned. I've also heard that used when instructors were trying to get people to open up to something outside the boundaries of their experience, knowing full well that people aren't going to abandon entirely what they have learned. The way I've read Suarez, it seems like he says modern isosceles stance works for some folks, Weaver for others, modified Weaver for others, and some people use stances that have no names. All are proven in combat by some folks. You also need to have a technique and stance for dealing with the situation where your hands are full and you are two-thirds of the way into your car, or when you are flat on your back, or at a dead run. I'm glad you got something useful and positive out of the course. In the end, that's what matters.

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xmeister

Technique is a funny thing- the more you have it, the less you need it. Only through the assimilation of proper technique can one move past the need for it. Examples: Horowitz- wonderful piano technique as a student, but left it all in the dust as a master, because he could. #2 Bruce Lee- the consummate warrior. Master of every technique, but moved past them AFTER HE HAD MASTERED THEM. [B]Friends, the key is have such complete control and mastery of your technique that you no longer think of it as external- in fact you don't think of it at all.

Tangle

That's excellent!!!

grnzbra

There is much validity to your observations. However, the problem occurs when the reality is radically different than the drill. For example, a good one shot draw for me is 1.5 seconds from an old Bianchi appendix draw holster. With a lot of practice, and a levitation holster, I know I could get this down significantly. However, on the street, while not in condition white, I will not be at the level of alertness as at the beginning of an IPSC stage or even waiting for the buzzer during practice, I will have an IWB holster and it will be under some kind of outer garment. Furthermore, on the street the final range may be about 6 inches.

So when I dry fire, I practice clearing the clothing, remembering to disengage the safety, rotating the gun horizontal and get it far enough forward so that the clothing doesn't get between the hammer and the firing pin. Do I still practice sighted fire? Yes, but always from under a garment. (Either that, or starting with the gun in hand and just going through the process of acquiring the sights and target and dropping the hammer.)

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Basic Pistol

Masterfinger

I wouldn't throw away the idea of checking out Gabe's courses due to a forum. Every forum has it's share of less experienced practitioners that tend to spout off something stupid. Tangle has a good point when it comes to learning the proven fundamentals, but once they're down pat, it's also good to think outside the box, and have an open mind. I can't elaborate more without repeating the great respones that the others gave.

Franco

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FortyFive

Gabes newsletter is really an eye opener to attitudes we develop about playing fair and the expectation the bad guy is going to comply. Gabe is really outstanding in my book, he is a street fighter that will keep you alive when the terror starts. He provides a service with his news letter by teaching us what to expect and how to modify your attitudes about fighting to stay alive.

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NRA Life Member

Tom357

He makes a lot of sense, to me. Why do some treat him as a pariah?

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You have the power to donate life.

grnzbra

Perhaps because they haven't had the "Aha" experience one gets from taking one of his classes.

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Basic Pistol

rocky

I think airsoft as a close drill training aid is good. I have done this for a few years now . Sometimes with a few friends. It opens your eyes to how fast you can end up hit and how cover will really help.