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Letter Re: A Well-Rounded Skillset Requires Both Range-Based and Force-on-Force Training
Jim,
I agree with a recent post, Front
Sight offers excellent training,
and will get the beginning shooter to feel comfortable with their weapon and
build in quick and automatic malfunction clearances, but it has shortcomings
that
all range based training classes share. By default, range based
handgun training teaches us:
1) Stand still while you shoot
2) Use two hands when you shoot
3) Focus on the front sight
This type of shooting is a very specialized form of shooting. It is perfect
when you are:
1) Target/competition shooting
2) Shooting at the edge of your accuracy range from cover
It is terrible when you are:
1) Dealing with someone shooting back
2) Dealing with potential multiple aggressors
3) Dealing with close range shooters
Why is this? Force on force teaches us that we need to move when we shoot.
If you stand and take a traditional weaver stance, you will get a great shot
off... and so will your opponent. Of course, neither Front Sight nor any other
traditional range will allow you to shoot while you are running, but this is
exactly what
you need to be able to do.
Force on force teaches us that when we explosively move off the X, we will
typically have only one hand on the gun. Why? It's easier to run that way.
It's instinctual. In a class with Gabe Suarez, after a group Airsoft scenario,
he asked the students, "who took a traditional stance?" This was
a seasoned class and we all looked around sheepishly. None of us had
done it.
I had this assumption that since I had trigger control and sight picture and
training, I would be able to outshoot any gang member with his one-handed running
shooting. Yes, this is true for distances past 15 yards. Within that distance,
(the distance most gunfights take place in) the street style was better. At
distances of three yards, a sight picture will just slow you down. Even an
untrained gangster at 10 feet shooting as fast as he can pull the trigger
will likely
put hits on you at the distance despite his lack of professional training and
sight picture.
Finally, the traditional sight picture of looking hard at the front sight creates
tunnel vision. This is perfect for a sniper shot and stupid for a close range
gunfight. You have just traded your peripheral vision for tunnel vision. In
one scenario, I was able to put six rounds into my opponent: four body shots
and two head shots in under two seconds before he got a shot off at me. Unfortunately,
I didn't even see the second bad guy at my 3 o'clock only 5 feet away as he
shot me two times in the side of my torso. Tunnel vision does that.
Game over.
You should seriously consider taking a force on force training, not just to
learn the skill set, but also to unlearn some range-based behavior that will
get you shot in an gunfight. If you can't get to a class, then buy some Airsoft
pistols, [wrap-around] eye protection and a
DVD from Suarez International on
the subject. - SF in Hawaii
