Your confidence in your training

[siglite]

Another thread on training sparked some curiosity with me. Folks were posting their various training levels... and I'm curious about how confident people are. Here's a little insight into my philosophy...

I've been in combat situations. I've disarmed an attacker on the street that came at me with a knife. I've saved a man's life at a rest area by doing very basic first-aid. All I did was keep his airway open until EMTs arrived. He was NOT breathing before I opened his airway. Basic. Simple. When I disarmed the guy that came at me with the knife, I found myself on autopilot. There was no ninja crap. No fancy aikido locks. I wound up using the most basic and highly drilled tools in my toolbox. I got out of a knife-fight where I was unarmed with only a small nick below my left eye. Luck, the basics, and training.

A friend of mine recently literally walked up on a horrific crash scene. He and all of the folks that were there had first aid training. It's likely they saved a couple of lives, as EMS was a LONG ways away. He said "man, I was on autopilot through the whole thing. Ten minutes after EMS rolled off with the victims, I threw up."

I forget where I heard it. But I swear it's true. "You will not rise to the occasion. You will default to your training."

This raises the question. How comfortable are you with your training? How comfortable are you that you will react appropriately while on autopilot and the adrenaline surges and the world reduces to a deadly tunnel?

Feel free to comment as well as answer the poll.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Train, Train Train And Train Again And If You Think You Got Enough Then Train Some More

 

[pbearperry]

I am highly confident and feel I need no more training.However,that does not mean I don't practice often.

 

[re-pete]

I am confident that I need more training.

 

[psyopspec]

The more I learn, the more I learn I have more to learn. See also: My sigline.

 

[siglite]

Hey psyopspec, Do you know where that phrase originated? Just curious.

 

[starshooter231]

I'm reasonably confident, I need more training.

I don't think that I could ever say that I don't need more training. We all have more to learn no matter how much we have learned.

 

[psyopspec]

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/ccw/training.htm

It took some looking, but it's credited in a couple places to a military author named Mr. Barrett Tillman. His specialty is aviation, and it seems that the original context was in reference to aerial emergencies.

That said, I've been bearing that quote for years now and never knew where I picked it up. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

 

[possum]

as a good man once said:
IN A FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE YOU WILL NEVER WISH YOU HAD LESS TRAINING

i am highly confident but you me or anyone for that matter can never have "enogh" tarining imho that is

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm reasonably confident that such training as I've had so far was good training.

I'm 100% certain that I must drill and practice regularly to cement those skills.

I'm 100% certain that I will benefit from additional training when I have mastered my basic skills.

 

[Tim Burke]

Skills are perishable, the art changes. Thus, the need for training is ongoing. Ignore it at your peril.

As for the Tillman quote, that's out of The Sixth Battle. Copyright March, 1992. Page 82 of the paperback version.

"On the bulkhead next to the fridge was a hand-painted sign bearing the conventional wisdom of the Fightin' Felines. It read:

VF-181 Lessons to Live By

1. You can only do what you can do.
2. You won't rise to the occasion- you'll default to your level of training.
3. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
4. A little subtle keying helps on radio calls.
5. At 90 degrees angle of bank, the lift slides off the wings.
6. Use the sun, but remember everyone else is there.
7. Be King Kong on the radar and have King Kong eyes.
8. When the BBs are flying, it's time for your Last Best Move.
9. Think big- think basics- and cheat like hell.
10. When planning a fight, see Rule No. 1."

 

[romma]

I am rolling with what I have. Which isn't alot. I have some Judo training, some street fighting skills, situational awareness that goes back to my drug using days going into places I had no business going to, and common sense.

Plus which ever firearm I happen to be wearing at that particular time, which is still better walking around disarmed which I did most of my life.

Maybe some day I will seek more training. I am in decent shape, I workout and run as well...

 

[hso]

Skills are perishable, the art changes. Thus, the need for training is ongoing. Ignore it at your peril.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[scurtis_34471]

In addition to regular dry practice, regular range practice and monthly practical shooting matches, I intend to pursue training at least every other year. This year, it was Front Sight. I think next time will be Massad Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute.

 

[cloudedice]

Where's the "I'm highly confident I need more training" option?

 

[Tim Burke]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I probably stole it from you.

 

[Legionnaire]

I've trained at LFI, Insights, and Storm Mountain ... and need more training (at least that's what I tell my wife).

 

[hecate]

You need a selection for "There's no such thing as too much training."

 

[jfountain2]

You need a selection for "There's no such thing as too much training."

+1

 

[The Tourist]

I wonder about this periodically. I've never been a soldier, a LEO or a working mercenary. I have no sheepskin to hang on the wall. Even my reloading skills were gleaned from other sportsmen.

However, anytime a guy could teach me something, I went and learned. That includes everything from (sword) fencing to lectures on rocks and geology from a noted university professor.

Last year I even bought the DVD "Ride Like a Pro" to improve my riding skills on heavy motorcycles driven at slow speeds.

Therein is the strange way we look at things. As stated, I have no licenses or credentials, except for my college diploma. About the only thing I can say is "been there, done that."

And don't think for a moment it doesn't hurt once in a while. I've never even met a real-deal samurai sword polisher, so why should someone believe me simply because I own a nagura stone?

If Massad Ayoob or Chuck Taylor came to my town I would be the first in line. And I would be prepared to choke down my pride.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The state of the art is a constantly moving target. And there really is no such thing as too much training.

The best instructors I have known have always been students first, and if continuous training is good enough for them, it's good enough for me also.

lpl/nc

 

[AndyC]

I'll happily learn more stuff whenever I get the chance.

 

[nwilliams]

I'm very confident in the handgun training I've had, I can put the shots where I want them most of the time and I have a lot of respect for the instructors I've had. I have never trained heavily in long guns however and that's something I want to get into. I would love to take some rifle and shotgun classes down the road if I ever get the time and the money.

However I'm a firm believer that there is always more you can learn and room to improve. There is still much I have to learn and aspects of shooting I haven't even delved into yet. I see myself as a lifelong student of the shooting arts, I don't need to learn more but I certainly want to.

 

[bnkrazy]

As I've mentioned before, I'm not a fan of paper targets or bench rest shooting. That does you no good in terms of likely real life scenarios.

I do a TON of shooting on the move, from cover, crouching, sitting, prone, strong hand, weak hand, point shooting, you name it, I probably do it. And during the summer months I do it often.

I consider myself an excellent shot under most situations. My general goal is to keep them on a 9" paper plate while moving at 10-15yds. Usually groups are around 4-6" under stress. Still, I placed myself in the reasonably confident, needs more training category. We can all improve.

Get out there and shoot some reactive targets. Shoot tennis balls in a closely shaved field. Preferably with multiple people shooting at the same ball(s). Hit them before they stop bouncing. Practice shooting while retreating. Draw from cover. There's a lot more that comes into play than being able to hit a paper target at 10yds in the real world. Push yourself, but stay safe. Keep it smooth and controlled but do things that will be of benefit if the time comes that you actually need to defend yourself.

Not to mention, it's much more fun to shoot at helium balloons blowing in the wind, water bottles swinging from tree limbs and bouncing tennis balls than a stationary piece of paper.

 

[Good Shot Group]

Student of the Firearm

I am a student of the firearm, I never practice enough no matter how many rounds go down range or how many malfuntions I clear. It takes 3000 repetitions to burn an action into your muscle memory. After the 3000 reps, it requires constant practice to maintain. When the "fight or flight" situation presents itself, all you have is your muscle memory. All fine motor skills, such as operating slide releases with your index finger, go out the window and all you have left is gross motor skills such as operating bolt releases by hitting the side of the weapon with the palm of your hand. No one knows until that "pucker factor" pegs out if you will function effectively in a combat situation. Practice, Practice, Practice.