Training in Connecticut

[peteinct]

Hi, Has anybody ever taken any classes from Defense Associates at Blue
Trail in Connecticut? What do you think about LFI 1 or Chuck Taylor's defensive pistol course?
I am interested in taking these classes and defense associates has a package deal for them. Are they good training? What are they like and what audience are they suited to?
I've been pistol shooting for a couple years now and I would like some real instruction. I don't want to just have a collection of bad habits. Would some other classes be better?
As a New Years resolution I said I would start shooting IDPA but I have been lazy about that so far. I live in CT so if there are any instructors here we could work out a deal.
pete

 

[AZgunstudent]

I took two classes through Defense Associates way back in 1989 -- Chuck Taylor's Intermediate Defensive Handgun and Mas Ayoob's LFI-I. The head instructor at Defense Associates, Frank Cornwall, is a very knowledgable teacher in his own right, and a fine gentleman to boot. He's a multiple Orange Gunsite graduate, and an adjunct instructor for both LFI and Taylor's ASAA.

Defense Associates was still at the old Wooster Mountain Gun Club in Danbury when I took the courses, and I can't vouch for their facilities at Blue Trail.

In terms of the actual course material, it has probably changed since '89, but I feel like I got my money's worth from both. I have reservations about some of the techniques Mr. Taylor teaches, but my shooting skill improved very considerably with four days of his instruction. I went from being a lousy practical shooting competitor to winning or placing in local matches. You will definitely become a very proficient gunhandler if nothing else.

The shooting portion of Mr. Ayoob's LFI-I is not especially instructive for an experienced shooter, being a little slow and deliberate for realistic defensive training, but that's not really Massad's goal, anyway. If I had to do it again today, I think I'd bypass the shooting portion of the LFI-I course, and just take the classroom-only "Judicious Use of Deadly Force" course he offers. Also, don't take everything Mr. Ayoob says as absolute gospel, as some people seem to. While he is very entertaining and persuasive in person, he is also far from infallible.

Keep in mind that neither Mr. Ayoob nor Mr. Taylor will really expose you to the "Post Modern Technique" of pistol shooting, as practiced by the more progressive trainers (Stanford, Suarez, etc.). Massad teaches basic, 1980's-type police-academy techniques. Chuck, I believe, still essentially teaches from the Gunsite/Modern Technique book. However, this training is far, far better than having no "post-basic" training at all. Since good training opportunities are limited in the Northeast, I'd take advantage of those that are available.

I no longer have this problem, since I have escaped the Iron Curtain and now live in Arizona.

Mike

 

[WAPS]

We are based out of Connecticut. E-Mail me at [email protected] or give me a call if you would like to discuss your training needs and see if we can assist you.

Be Safe

Bryan S. Williams
Williams Associates Protective Services, LLC
www.wa-protective.com

 

[C. H. Luke]

Pete,

Have shoot a lot of IDPA, etc. and like it much but ASAA is much more intersting and a hell of a lot mor Fun! {Took me an entire Summer to correct some very bad IDPA habits!}

Have taken 100's of hours of training from Chuck & Frank since '99.
You're very lucky to be so close to DA! {6 hr's. for me}

Frank is an exc. & dedicated Small Arms Inst. in his own right. Chuck
rec's. him very highly.
One of the best things about Defense Associates is their Monthly One-Day Clinics
{you may take after their 3-Day Basic} for $85.00.
It's a great way to hone the skills one's learned in ASAA Courses.
Usually runs 400+ rounds with many repeat Students, etc.
Had a Great time there last Season! It's been worth every penny and all the driving.
You should speak with Frank directly about atending. It's going to be a great Summer there with quite a few Courses being taught by Chuck.

 

[fourpine]

Pete,
In the past 2yrs I have taken all the courses offered by ASAA at Blue Trail, some more than once - most repeats are half price, and they are EXCELLENT. Before that I trained with a retired SF Captain in Florida.

The system that Chuck Taylor has developed is simple and it works and works for more than just handguns. It should be notes that Chuck has "seen the elephant" and developed his techniques based on his years of combat and related experiences around the world. Many of those now referred to as "Post Modern Technique" instructors don't have this experience base.

Frank Cornwall, the main instructor for ASAA in Connecticut, is excellent and serves double duty as an instructor for Massad Ayoob and LFI. Frank has years of experience as an instructor and is also a Combat Master, the highest level of ability recognized by Taylor. From personal experience he has corrected my bad habits (many IDPA related also) and I have observed him with others correct problems with a few words. As with any training the key is to listen to the instruction and then apply it.

Enought about who does what and personal opinions on how great they are, the question is WHY and HOW you want to be trained. If you are carrying concealed, an assumption on my part, you owe it to yourself and those around you to be as profficient and as safe as you can be. For myself, I have distilled this down to two principles; HOW to shoot and WHEN to shoot. Taylor/ASAA can teach how to shoot well with a system that builds on its self and prepares you for the majority of situations you would encounter out in the world. Ayoob/LFI teaches you when you can shoot and the consequences of your actions, in my view these are the basics for responsibly carrying a firearm. I agree with AZgunstudent that the LFI shooting requirement is Police Academy/Qualification based and it is, to allow your score to stand up in court.

There is another way to determine the value of what a school/instructor is offering, I call it the Law of the Inverse Ratio of Ammo Required to Time. If a school/instructor in a two day course, or more, has a long list of techniques that are going to be taught and requires 1000 rds of ammunition, how much instruction/fine tuning or retention do you think you will have? Don't get me more wrong, I enjoy burning through a case of ammo for fun as much as the next guy, that's FUN, learning is different and often more expensive.

The bottom line is you live in CT as I do, and have access to two of the top schools and instructors in the country, an advantage not often found east of the Mississippi.

Call or Email Frank, the season starts the end of this month.
_____________________________
"Proficiency embraces simplicity, and simple is easy" - Brian Enos

Take Care, BE SAFE,
Charlie