Which one do I choose

[Bill]

Wife says go for it, so here I go. Now if I could only figure out which to choose. I would like basic gun defence, then i want more advanced class, maybe a knife class as well. Here are some I have found

*Suarez will be in Houston 20-23 for 2-advanced classes Pistol and rifle http://www.suarezinternational.com/tech.html
*Tactical response is in Bastrop same date *** this looks really good *** http://www.tacticalresponse.com/training/schedule.php
*John Farnam 19-21 Advanced Defensive Handgun, Urban Rifle and *Shotgun, Victoria, TX http://www.defense-training.com/sched/schedform.html
*KR Training has a 2day end of September http://www.krtraining.com/KRTraining/Cl ... edule.html

I am sure there are others but I really like the sound of Suarez, however I will have to take a basic course somewhere else before I can enroll. I need to contact him and see if he will accept someones else basic course instead of his. I really do not want to fly out of state to take his basic course.
Tactical Response might be a better class?
My total budget is about 2k

Anyone have a experience with Suarez or these others

[Skiprr]

Bill:

First, thanks for your interest in advanced training. I wish all CHL holders were as concerned about honing their skills.

I'll be in Victoria October 19-21 for John Farnam's advanced handgun/shotgun course. I learned from Phil Oxley that Gabe Suarez's course at Impact Zone in west Houston was the same weekend.

Thing is, every instructor has his nuances. It's very much like the Japanese martial art styles that burgeoned after World War I: fundamentals may be the same, but every "master" teaches his own technique.

I've made it a goal of mine to take courses from all the handgun "masters" before I am too old to do so.

I regret never meeting Col. Jeff Cooper.

[GlockenHammer]

Skiprr has great advice. To extend, I suggest that you read some books and othe writings by these trainers and see which philosophy sits well with you. I really like Suarez' approach to fighting and he certainl extends from pistol to knife and other forms of fighting--a complete fighter, if you will.

I don't know the others except by reputation. I have read much of James Yeager's stuff and also think he's a pretty squared away kind of guy. Unlike Gabe who honed his skills on the police force, Yeagar is more into the private security contractor/military style.

I don't think you'll go far wrong with any of these, but if you take the time read up on each, you may find that one has a disposition or nuance that you don't care for and thus you might be better served by another trainer.

When you decide, why don't you post an after action report so others considering these trainers can help make their decisions.

GH

[ELB]

Bill,

I have taken Farnam's basic and advanced courses, and I wrote up my (outstanding) experiences in this same forum. Here's links to them:

Basic:
http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 3800#83800

Advanced:
http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 4192#84192

As Glockenhammer says, reading up on the instructors is a good idea, and you can catch some of Farnam's thoughts in his "Quotes and Quips" at his website. Once you have a class with him, he sends his students an email or two each week relating his experiences, other students experiences, and new self-defense related ideas, techniques, and products -- also a considerable amount of philosophy. Check it out here:

http://defense-training.com/quips/quips.html

John Farnam was a Marine in Vietnam, has been a police officer for a long time, and I think he has some US Army reserve time, but might be mistaken on that. He seems to do a lot of training for both the military and the police/civilian side of the business, in the US and outside of it, and does an excellent job on preparing you mentally and "legally" for a self-defense encounter. He emphasizes teaching gun handling techniques that are applicable to pretty much any firearm. I really enjoyed the courses and learned a lot.

Best wishes to you, and happy training.

elb

p.s.

Skippr - don't know if I will make it to Victoria again this October, but hope so, and if so, will look forward to meeting you! If I read your lat/lon correctly, you are close to Houston and may know this already, but if you haven't been to Victoria before, be prepared to dress warmly -- even if the temp is still up in the 70's and 80's, it is VERY windy on the range, which helps keep the perceived temperature down. Some shooting is done after dark, and it can be rather chilly then and first thing in the morning.

Best wishes to you too!


elb

[Skiprr]

Skippr - don't know if I will make it to Victoria again this October, but hope so, and if so, will look forward to meeting you!

ELB, I sincerely hope you make it Ocotober 19. I plan to arrive by noon, and will gladly buy you, and Bill, lunch. The rest of the weekend looks pretty full, but I do plan to stay over the following Monday.

And, Bill, we'd be in this together. I have 54-year-old knees and don't shoot quite like Robbie Leatham...

[Bill]

My knees have seen the knife 5 times, my Doc says I am a walking 100 years old man but my wife says I am still a teenager.
The Tactical response might be what I am looking for, so I am not sure yet as to where I will end up in October

[Bill]

I am set for Hofners tomorrow at Impact Zone for a condensed basic pistol. I will then take II and III on the 20th-23rd. I will report back whilst things are fresh on my mind, maybe some pictures if allowed