What do we mean by Defensive Shooting?
When we talk about developing defensive shooting skills, what exactly do we mean? What skills do we need and under what circumstances are we anticipating the need to use them?
Answer these questions about what we mean by “Defensive Shooting” and the circumstances under which we will be likely to be doing it:
- What type of gun will we use?
- Will we know what and where the target is just before we know we need to shoot?
- Will we know how many shots we need to fire?
- Will we need to assess our shots while we are shooting?
- Will we be on balance?
- Will we have time to prepare?
- Can we take a do over?
- Are we in danger?
- Will we have a set time to perform our shooting?
Now go back and answer them again, but replace defensive shooting with hunting, practical competition shooting, shooting to measure your skill, recreational shooting, bull’s-eye competition shooting and defensive competition shooting. Did you get different answers? I know that I do.
It is those different answers that lead us to the conclusion that defensive shooting is fundamentally different from other types of shooting and should be treated as such when we choose our gear, techniques and practice methods.
Questions 5, 6, 7, and 8 are directly related to the condition of our brains and bodies when we are performing our skills. It is very well documented that there are predictable changes that take place throughout our system when we are startled, scared, and in a life and death fight, they include changes in blood flow, heart rate, vision, motor control, posture and the perception of time. The degree of these changes may vary, but their existence is about as close to an absolute as we can have in a real fight.
These changes are significant and they will impact performance. While we can’t really simulate them in our training environment, we should choose to train techniques and tactics that take them into account, not simply accept that something is a good idea because it “can” be done or works well in another type of shooting.
Go back and look at the questions again with a thought to the worst-case-scenario defensive shooting; No, not zombies at the movie theater, just a single attacker situation where most of the questions are unanswerable because you are truly caught off guard. We call this the Ambush. True defensive shooting should be done from the approach of Counter Ambush Training. The foundational requirement for any training to be truly Counter Ambush is The Processing of Information prior to the Execution of any Learned Skill.
Without that important component, you are merely shooting free throws instead of training for the conditions of the actual game. When you are defending yourself, you are doing so from an attack that ultimately is an ambush in some form. If it weren’t, then hopefully you would have avoided it.
I often say that my instructors and I don’t just do firearms training, we strive to help our students learn how to make rapid decisions and execute complex motor skills under extreme and unexpected stress. This enters into all facets of our programs. (Rob Pincus, May 1 2011)
Intuitive Defensive Shooting
Based on the renown Combat Focus®Shooting, is an intuitive shooting program designed to help the student become a more efficient shooter in the context of a dynamic critical incident.
That definition sure sounds sexy, but let’s explore its meaning.
- Intuitive, from a physiological perspective, is something that works well with what the body does naturally.
- Efficiency allows us to achieve our goal with the least amount of time, energy, and effort. Note that efficiency includes effectiveness (achieving our goal) in its definition.
- A dynamic critical incident is any surprising (you didn’t know it was going to happen), chaotic (you don’t know what’s going to happen next) event that presents you with a lethal threat that you deem necessary to respond to with a firearm.
If we work with what the body does naturally during a dynamic critical incident, we are being more efficient. Therefore, by dealing with a dynamic critical incident in an intuitive, more efficient way Intuitive Defensive Shooting aims to make you safer faster.
Intuitive Defensive Shooting (IDS) is based on the study of empirical evidence from real, violent encounters and builds on the body’s natural reactions to an attack. The range of most lethal threat encounters is 3 to 10 feet. At this distance IDS provides the most efficient way to engage your threat with a handgun.
This course empowers students by encouraging them to embrace and utilize the body’s natural reactions to neutralize threats as efficiently as possible.
Intuitive Defensive Shooting recognizes that understanding your balance between speed and precision is one of the most important factors in achieving maximum efficiency. We acknowledge that there is not one “best” response to every threat, but that the necessary response is dictated by many factors that make each threat unique. Therefore the Intuitive Defensive Shooting technique does not rely solely on either “unsighted fire” (focus on the threat) or “sighted fire” (focus on the front sight), but teaches that there are appropriate situations for both. However, Intuitive Defensive Shootin does emphasize that with good defensive shooting fundamentals you can get combat accurate hits (Combat Accuracy: “any shot that significantly affects the target ability to present a lethal threat”) while focused on the threat in the majority of cases. This is important because in a counter-ambush situations your brain (and eyes) natural reaction is to focus on the threat, not on the front sight.
Course List:
Counter Ambush Seminar
This one day seminar is about HOW and WHY your should train for personal defense, especially for the unexpected defensive shooting.
This one day seminar is meant to help educate people interested in personal defense and the most efficient and effective ways to approach training for unexpected encounters.
The Counter ambush One Day Seminar details comprehensive training options for how to survive a deadly surprise attack. The fact is, few deadly encounters are ever seen coming. In fact, most attacks are actually more like an ambush, a complete surprise attack delivered with little to no warning.
The one day seminar will focus on the following questions and much more…
- How will your body react when startled or attacked?
- What are your body’s natural defenses and how can you fully take advantage of them?
- What defensive shooting techniques work best under stress?
- How can you use the power of Recognition to respond more efficiently?
- How can you set yourself up to survive an unexpected attack?
- The Counter Ambush Home Study Course will answer all these questions and more as you learn about the Neuroscience, Physics and Physiology of training for personal defense.
Course Information
- Cost for the 1 day class is $150. Bring notepad, digital recorder, etc.
Fundamentals of Concealed Carry
The Fundamentals of Concealed Carry course is designed to educate the student about the handguns that are best for concealed carry, how to carry them safely and securely, and how to use them efficiently in the context of a Dynamic Critical Incident.
This course is designed to take 4-6 hours, depending on class size.
Students will need to bring 250 rounds of ammunition and should bring their defensive handgun, if they own one, and three (3) magazines.
Contact the Instructor on the course listing to discuss the availability of firearms for use during this course.
Course Information
- Cost for the 3/4 hours class is $150. Students will fire around 250 rounds.
Fundamentals of Home Defense Handguns
The Fundamentals of Home Defense Handguns Course is designed to educate the student about the handguns that are best for personal defense and how to use them efficiently in the context of a home defense scenario.
This course is designed specifically for those new to firearms, but experienced shooters who are interested in learning specifically about using a handgun for personal defense in a home defense environment may also want to attend.
This comprehensive course takes place at a live fire range where students will be introduced to the fundamentals of defensive shooting. Students will learn about various firearms types and the distinct advantages that some have over others with regard to defensive use. Students will be introduced to the most important shooting skills and have the opportunity to develop their competency in the context of a “home defense” shooting situation. Fundamental Home Defense Tactics, Responsible Defensive Firearms Storage and dealing with Law Enforcement Response will also be covered.
This course is designed to take 4-6 hours, depending on class size.
Students will need to bring 250 rounds of ammunition and should bring their defensive handgun, if they own one, and three (3) magazines.
Contact the Instructor on the course listing to discuss the availability of firearms for use during this course.
Course Information
- Cost for the 4/6 hours class is $150. Students will fire around 250 rounds.
Introduction to Intuitive Defensive Shooting.
Introductions to the Principles and Fundamentals of the Intuitive Defensive Shooting Course can be taught in one to four hours. These courses range in price according to the planned course time. Intro to IDS is offered to give prospective students, media, hosts or those without the time or resources for a full 2 day course an idea of what that course covers, the core principles of the IDS Program, the fundamental techniques of intuitive defensive shooting and the training methodology that is used in all of the IDS Programs. This course will provide the student with base level defensive shooting skills and some ideas for efficient practice of those skills.
Course Information
- Cost for the 3/4 hours class is $150. Students will fire between 250/400 rounds.
Fundamentals of Intuitive Defensive Shooting
The Fundamentals of IDS is a one day course that will expose the student to all the core principles and fundamentals of the Intuitive Defensive Shooting Program.
Course Information
- Cost for the 1-day Fundamentals class (6/8 hours) is $250. Students will fire between 500/700 rounds.
Intuitive Defensive Shooting
This course is two full days of intense training, teaching and practice. The course will cover the following topics:
- Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting & Intuitive Skill Development
- Combat Accuracy
- Lateral Motion
- The Balance of Speed & Precision
- The Critical Incident Reload
- Volume of Fire
- Realistic Training for Multiple Target Engagement
- Understanding the Body’s Natural Reactions during a Dynamic Critical Incident.
- The Skill Development Cycle
- One Handed & Weak Handed Shooting
- Non-Diagnostic Linear Malfunction Clearing
- Shooting in Motion (When, How & Why)
The Intuitive Defensive Shooting Course is not designed to make you the best shooter you can be on the range, rather its goal is to help you quickly develop fundamental skills that you can apply in a worst case scenario defensive shooting situation.
IDS is based on years of constantly evolving information about how the body works and what really happens during Dynamic Critical Incidents and has been heavily influenced by the diverse group of instructors that are certified to teach it and the thousands of students who have been through courses all around the world. The program features a variety of specialty drills and training methods that the student will be able to utilize in their own practice after the course in order to continue to develop their abilities.
Course Information
- Cost for the 2-day class (14-16 hours total) is $400. Students will fire between 800/1200 rounds.
Advanced Pistol Handling
The Advanced Pistol Handling course is designed to expand the circumstances and conditions under which a student can apply the skills developed in the Defensive/Combat Focus® Shooting Course. This course will cover:
- Non-Diagnostic Linear Malfunction Drills
- One handed & Weak Handed Reloads
- One Handed & Weak Handed Malfunction Drills
- Presentation from the holster in 360 degrees
- Unorthodox Shooting Positions (grounded, seated, in car)
- Shooting Around Cover
- Unreasonable Distance Shooting
- Volume of Fire
- The Balance of Speed & Precision
The APH Course is designed as a follow on for students who have completed fundamental Intuitive Defensive Shooting training in the IDS Program and want to expand their skill sets and increase competency. At the end of the course, the student will have been exposed to (and practiced) shooting positions from all plausible angles while standing, seated, kneeling, prone or supine as well as properly shooting around cover in order to maximize its protective value. Students will also train one handed firearm handling, reloading and malfunction clearing. Unlike the IDS Program, in APH students will be forced to deal with a variety of malfunctions in a way that is congruent with the conditions of an dynamic critical incident.
The APH course is an intense physically and mentally challenging course that will take any students
confidence and ability to defend themselves with a gun to a higher level.
Course Information
- Cost for the 1 Day APH class is $300. Students will fire between 400/500 rounds.
- Cost for the 2 Day APH class is $500. Students will fire between 800/1000 rounds.
Intuitive Defensive Carbine – 1 day/2 day
Intuitive Defensive Carbine Course is designed to expose students to an efficient method of defending themselves with a semi-automatic rifle during a dynamic critical incident. All of the principles and fundamentals of the Intuitive Defensive Shooting program are applied to the carbine and the following topics are covered:
- Four Points of Contact with a rifle and Intuitive Shooting Fundamentals
- The Balance of Speed & Precision with a carbine
- Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Aiming Methods
- Combat Accuracy
- Volume of Fire
- Critical Incident Reloads & Efficient Carbine Handling
- Transitioning to a Pistol
- Counter Ambush Response with a Slung Rifle
- Shooting while Standing, Squatting, Kneeling & Seated
- Shooting around Cover & in Unorthodox Shooting Positions
- Fundamental Carbine Malfunction Clearing
The IDC Program is physically challenging course with a lot of activity and high round count. This
program is often offered as a one day add on to a Intuitive Defensive Shooting Course, but is also
available as a two day stand alone course.
Course Information
- Cost for the 1 Day CFC class is $300. Students will fire 700. 600 rifle and 100 pistol during the 0ne day course.
- Cost for the 2 Day CFC class is $500. Students will fire 1500 rounds. 1200 rifle and 300 pistol during the 2 day course
Intuitive Defensive Shooting and Advanced Pistol Handling
This 2 day program combines the curriculum of the Intuitive Defensive Shooting Course with much of the Two Day Advanced Pistol Handling Program into one 1500 rnd course. In addition to exploring the principles and fundamentals of the Intuitive Defensive Shooting and numerous drills to help students develop a better understanding of the Balance between Speed & Precision, this course will cover the techniques of 360 degree presentation from the holster, one handed (strong & weak) weapons handling, unorthodox shooting positions and much more. This course can be taught at any square range and will also expose students to making the most out of any range session to keep tactical pistol training in context!
Course Information
- Cost for the combo DFS – APH class is $ 500. Students should expect to fire 1000/1200 rounds.