Class for Old Folks

[Bill_in_TR]

Is anyone aware of self defense, home defense training classes that focus on issues related to old folks? Us baby boomers are often a target of low life's looking for an easy score of some kind. But even if we have a lot of years experience with a handgun and can still shoot pretty decent mobility and reflexes and so forth can be an issue. But the training and classes I have reviewed are for younger, reasonably fit specimens. Does anybody offer training that helps old folks defend themselves despite the effects of age.

 

[Kleanbore]

Waiting for reponses....

 

[Jeff White]

I am unaware of any class specifically designed for people with mobility issues. I have been in open classes with people who had mobility issues and the instructor accommodated their physical limitations. I would suggest that you seek out a good instructor and ask for a class tailored to your specific limitations. I think it would be hard to come up with a class that would accommodate every possible infirmity.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

It is not necessarily about an infirmity or specific disability. It is just about old age with the usual deterioration of strength, reflexes, quickness, etc. There are enough of us baby boomers out there that I would think a class focused on how to best defend oneself and one's property would generate some interest. I'm talking about folks in their mid to late seventies.

 

[Jim Watson]

A range in Huntsville AL offers Skills and Drills, Silver Edition

Course Description:​

Designed for our senior shooters (60 Plus) who still want to have fun and learn, this down-range experience teaches the fundamentals of self-protection using a firearm. We will work on multiple target threats, magazine changes, movement, and use of cover. One of the highlights of this class is to improve your draw time by demonstrating with gear that works.

THIS IS NOT A BEGINNER CLASS!

Our Drawstroke class is a prerequisite. Any shooter being unsafe will be asked to leave. Must use an approved holster. Finger-lock (Serpa) and old worn-out leather holsters will not be allowed in the class.

This down-range session is designed for our senior shooters who want to have fun! If you have eye and ear protection please bring it for the class, if not it is available to purchase. You may also choose to bring something to write with if you wish to take notes but keep in mind this class takes place on the range.

What to Bring:

• Your own firearm
• Holster
• 2 extra magazines
• Magazine pouch

Duration: 1.5 Hour +/-
$35 100 rounds.

 

[dweis]

I have never known of such a class. It would be very difficult to design such a course because as we pass through old age our physical capability changes, usually for the worse. At 81 I cannot come close to 5he strength and agility I had at 70 let alone at 75. I operate knowing that my best defense is to avoid potential harm. Accordingly I have fine tuned my situational awareness. I have also distilled the H2H skill I acquired decades ago into a few I could still execute today. In a few more years i might be able to perform those. It is like going downhill with no brakes.

 

[Old Dog]

* edit to add that while I was taking a phone call in the middle of typing, Jim Watson checked in with some info)

You know, this is actually a great question and I think there's a lot of interest for something like a "seniors" version of many of the popular training sites' courses. I will say that after shredding shoulder labrums, knee replacement, arthritis in every joint and both hands, I am not as limber nor fast as I once was (although I can maybe be limber and fast once as I ever was, sorry Toby). I like to do at least one training course a year; it'd be somewhat pleasant to not feel the need to (try to) keep up with guys a third of my age.

Up here at Firearms Academy of Seattle (which isn't close to Seattle at all, actually), they occasionally offer women-only classes with female instructors. I do know of a couple training sites in other parts of the country where there have been one-off offerings of courses for shooters with disabilities.

I think I will reach out to some contacts and see if there's anything out there.

 

[Jim Watson]

There are getting to be lots of women’s classes and even for kids.
Surely there can be something for We Codgers.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I will check out the Huntsville place although it is a bit of a drive for just a 1.5 hour course.

One thing in particular I am looking for in a course though is that they cover techniques or tactics specific to dealing with age related slowing down. I am not looking for the same methods taught to younger folks but just slowed down to accommodate a class full of geezers. Looking for ideas on how to overcome superior speed, strength and agility. The old cliche that old age and treachery will beat youth and vigor every time may or not be true. But I want to learn some of that treachery.

 

[4v50 Gary]

There are cane fighting instructors.

I recall that Col. Rex Applegate (Kill or Get Killed) used to teach that stuff and was mugged by two criminals whom he laid low using the cane fighting techniques he taught. Fairbairn also taught the use of cane in self defense.

 

[Jim Watson]

I will check out the Huntsville place although it is a bit of a drive for just a 1.5 hour course.

One thing in particular I am looking for in a course though is that they cover techniques or tactics specific to dealing with age related slowing down. I am not looking for the same methods taught to younger folks but just slowed down to accommodate a class full of geezers. Looking for ideas on how to overcome superior speed, strength and agility. The old cliche that old age and treachery will beat youth and vigor every time may or not be true. But I want to learn some of that treachery.

I am not sanguine about these gun store training classes, but they are all that is reasonably available to a lot of us.
The local PD used to run a 3 parter that started about like mandatory CCW classes (ours is not, this was a courtesy program) and went on from there.

 

[Scrapiron45]

Interesting thought.
Assuming everyone had been thru some sort of level 1 with all the basics, how would you set up the class and what are your thoughts about content ?

 

[.38 Special]

Our local Krav Maga school has quite a few senior citizens, although none with really significant disabilities - they can all walk unassisted, for example. They have occasionally offered "one-off" classes for older folks as well, but again, these aren't folks in wheelchairs.

A lot of community centers seem to offer "self defense" courses, at least in the California cities where I have spent most of my time. I kind of doubt their effectiveness, though. They seem more like "Be aware of your surroundings and carry an air horn" kind of stuff.

As for firearms-specific stuff, I've never heard of anywhere specifically offering such a thing - but I also have seen quite a few instances of instructors welcoming disabilities and working with people to manage whatever issues they might have.

 

[Jeff White]

I've thought about this problem and I just don't see a generic class that would address someone's idea of diminished capacity due to age. There is just too much difference between the physical capabilities of people of the same age. I'll be 67 this coming Sunday and my body has been beaten down by my chosen professions. I have degenerative disk disease and have had three vertebrae at the cervical level fused, I've got arthritis. I'm well aware that I'm not as physically capable as I was in my prime. That said I know several people my age and older who aren't dealing with those limitations. My point is that everyone is different. It would be easy to put together a class based on someone's individual limitations. I think it would be a lot harder to put together a class that 10-20 people of a certain age group would find useful to their particular disability.

 

[Buzznrose]

Skills are skills. Find someone who is willing to work with you on your shortfalls and issues.

If you are seen as a more likely victim due to age, physical ability, size, mobility, physical ability, then you will need help offsetting them.

And do not discount the value of awareness and boldness in situations that may become threatening…it’s often the last thing an attacker expects.

I know Gunsite Academy has a “Seasoned Citizen” 250 Pistol class…if that’s something interesting to you.

www.Gunsite.com

 

[Buzznrose]

Skills are skills. Find someone who is willing to work with you on your shortfalls and issues.

If you are seen as a more likely victim due to age, physical ability, size, mobility, physical ability, then you will need help offsetting them.

And do not discount the value of awareness and boldness in situations that may become threatening…it’s often the last thing an attacker expects.

I know Gunsite Academy has a bunch of “Seasoned Citizen” classes…if that’s something interesting to you.

Gunsite Academy

Gunsite’s operation covers 2800 acres, with modern facilities, large classrooms, a fully stocked Pro Shop and a full-service gunsmith operation for our clients only. We have a modern new campground with pavilion, laundry facilities, hot showers and hookups for travel trailers and recreational...

www.gunsite.com

 

[Scrapiron45]

I was hoping the op could be a little more specific about his thoughts for a senior class. The Gunsite senior class seems to based on limiting kneeling and prone positions and slowing the drills a bit which makes sense for us higher mileage models.
As Jeff said we're not all equal, especially as we age. I believe that most instructors when approached, would be willing to work with senior limitations, especially if you put a small group together.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I was hoping the op could be a little more specific about his thoughts for a senior class. The Gunsite senior class seems to based on limiting kneeling and prone positions and slowing the drills a bit which makes sense for us higher mileage models.
As Jeff said we're not all equal, especially as we age. I believe that most instructors when approached, would be willing to work with senior limitations, especially if you put a small group together.

I thought I elaborated a bit in post #9. Although I realize disabilities and wheelchairs are important things to consider for many that is not what I was looking for. There are a lot of us boomers out here that are just slower, weaker, less agile than we ever were. But I don't want a slowed down version of the same stuff you see in a tacky Kool personal defense class. I am looking for something that focuses on ways to overcome those disadvantages of getting older.

I agree that situational awareness is a big factor. Avoidance of potential problems is also big. I get that. Maybe there are no better answers. But certain encounters might be unavoidable when you are viewed as an easy target by low life's. It just seems that there are enough of us out here that would benefit from a course on how to make the most of what we have left if necessary.

 

[Jeff White]

It just seems that there are enough of us out here that would benefit from a course on how to make the most of what we have left if necessary.

The instructor has to know what you have left before a plan and training program can be developed. And since not all of us “boomers” have the same capabilities I don’t see how you could develop a generic POI for over 65.

I think what you are looking for is mindset and again that is mostly dependent on your physical capabilities. We all age at different rates.

We need to be able to do a realistic self assessment and adapt to what we are physically capable of. If you lose a lot of strength in your arms and hands you may want to switch from a semi auto to a revolver.

My father in law is 82 and still builds furniture in his shop. Big, heavy pieces of furniture. He doesn’t have the stamina he used to but he’s still physically strong. On the other hand, my left arm is not nearly as strong as it was because of nerve damage from the collapsed disks. It’s not disabling but I notice that I’m not nearly as strong in my left arm as I was. We are all different.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I understand the differences that occur and that what works for one may not work for another. And any such course would need to illustrate alternatives. I just thought maybe someone knew of someplace that offered something specifically targeting techniques that would be useful for older folks to be familiar with. Would all of us be able to make use of all of them? Of course not. But I just thought there would be something more enlightening than just a detuned version of the same stuff the younger folks do. From a couple of the responses here there seems to be at least some interest.

 

[Jeff White]

There are no "senior citizen drills and techniques" There are only the drills and techniques that have proven effective, modified to be done by someone with limitations. The goal is the same for the young and fit and the old and infirm. It's about knowing how to use the skills you have to prevail. It's all about what you are physically capable of doing and that is different for everyone.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

There are no "senior citizen drills and techniques" There are only the drills and techniques that have proven effective, modified to be done by someone with limitations. The goal is the same for the young and fit and the old and infirm. It's about knowing how to use the skills you have to prevail. It's all about what you are physically capable of doing and that is different for everyone.

Your second sentence actually points in the direction I am looking. Specifically: "modified to be done by someone with limitations". Those modifications would be a good start point. And somebody above pointed to cane fighting. Call these things what you want but they can add up to what amounts to "senior citizen drills and techniques". So I respectfully disagree with "there are no" such things.

 

[Buzznrose]

I was hoping the op could be a little more specific about his thoughts for a senior class. The Gunsite senior class seems to based on limiting kneeling and prone positions and slowing the drills a bit which makes sense for us higher mileage models.
As Jeff said we're not all equal, especially as we age. I believe that most instructors when approached, would be willing to work with senior limitations, especially if you put a small group together.

I've been in Gunsite classes with older folks. They don't make you do anything that isn't comfortable. If you don't want to kneel or get on the ground, you don't have to...no shame. Their instructors are absolutely professional.

 

[Jim Watson]

Nobody is going to teach you the attitude.
You can’t duke it out, you can’t flee.
per John Wayne aka J.B. Brooks
Friend, there's nobody up there shooting back at you. It isn't always being fast or even accurate that counts. It's being willing. I found out early that most men, regardless of cause or need, aren't willing. They blink an eye or draw a breath before they pull the trigger. I won't.

 

[Jeff White]

Call these things what you want but they can add up to what amounts to "senior citizen drills and techniques". So I respectfully disagree with "there are no" such things.

Like I said in an earlier post, those things are specific to the individual. A general class that covered all of them wouldn't be practical.