Threat Focused training near Houston (Sept 30)

[Pickpocket]

Hi all -
I ran this by Charles and he indicated that he was fine with it so here goes:

I am coordinating a 2-day Threat-Focused course in the Houston area Sept 30 - Oct 1. Robin Brown out of Phoenix will be the primary instructor and we'll be spending the entire two days learning how to shoot accurately without using the physical sights on the weapon. The training will focus primarily on engaging from inside of 20ft but I have spoken to students who have been able to take threat-focused shooting well beyond 30ft.

I say "physical sights" because it's a bit misleading to suggest that no sights at all are used...what will be required to learn is a re-alignment of our definition of what "sights" are. Much of the shooting will use peripheral vision in order to get rounds on target - if any of you are old-school varmint hunters or archers you probably know what I'm talking about.

The course is called Integrated Threat Focused Training Systems and includes elements of Fairbairn/Applegate/Sykes teachings as well as some combatives work.

I've been speaking with Robin for the past several months and I have been trying to get him to the Houston area for almost as long. I spent 10 years in the Marine Corps and two combat tours in Iraq and realized that I wasn't using my "sights" during close engagements; in fact I realized that I felt somewhat more effective and thus began teaching what I was doing to my Marines. When I got back in 2005 I ran into Robin on another forum and we began discussing Threat-Focused shooting and a lot of what he had to say made sense. I decided I wanted to experience his training to see how much of his philosophy would mesh with my experience...and to see for myself the performance improvements that his students have spoken of.

He's agreed to come down to Houston but I need to be able to pull enough students together to pay for the course.
I need 10 students at $500 per in order to make this work. If there are more students who register then the costs can be redistributed and/or I can put the additional money towards ammunition. I'm not looking to make money off of this, I just want the training.

I have three possible locations for the range and will publish more information as things develop. Students can expect to use no less than 1,000 rounds over the two day course, and Robin suggests bringing about 1,500 just in case. Now you see why I'm willing to put any money I collect in excess of $5,000 back into ammunition for the students.

Threat-Focused shooting is pretty controversial in shooting circles but I've seen enough (and experienced enough) to know that there's some validity to the system. I'm just looking for another tool to put in the toolbox.

Thanks for your time! I would be happy to answer as many questions or concerns as I am able.

Dave

[Pickpocket]

If I could figure out how to add an attachment I would include a copy of the course POI.

As it is, just PM me and I'll email you a copy if you wish. It explains exactly the techniques we will be learning and the objectives for each portion of the course.

Not included in the POI are some newly added Low Light/No Light drills.

[Pickpocket]

Ok, so Charles let me know that the course dates conflict with the CHLForum Day at PSC so I'm not expecting very many responses.

However, even if you're not interested in the dates as published I would still welcome any feedback or questions. A discussion or QA session would still be valuable. I'm getting lonely in here as the only person posting in my own thread :)

Stay sharp -
Dave

[Pickpocket]

Ok, rather than worry about an attachment I figured I'd just put the course POI in a post. Hopefully this helps answer some questions.


Integrated Threat Focused Training Systems
Course Outline and Objectives


Objective:
To bring you threat focused skills and the confidence in these skills, to add to your sighted fire skills. We feel that to be a well rounded fighter that you must have both of these skill sets to have all your bases covered. We are looking to take your threat focus skills into the arena where these skills really shine and where they are absolutely essential.....the most dynamic encounters. Encounters where you are behind in the reactionary curve or the action is very close and fast.

Day One - One handed skills:

Elbow Up/Elbow Down [ EU/ED ]

• Students will learn how to draw and fire as soon as the gun has cleared the holster and the forearm has been brought horizontal.
• From 6 and 10 feet keeping all shots COM inside an 8 inch group with speed.

Quick Kill: Hip

• Students will learn this variation of EU/ED which is more refined and allows faster COM hits on multiple threats.
• From 6 and 10 feet with the same or better groupings of shots on COM with speed

The Hammer

• Students will learn to fire from EU/ED to COM and then without moving the gun.
• Will be able to make head shots immediately if COM shots show no results due to a vest being worn, etc. from 4 and 6 feet away with speed.

The Zipper

• Students will learn how to fire from EU/ED and continue to fire through the extension of the arm to a raised one-handed firing position
• Putting bullets into COM from the waist to the head of the target.

Shooting behind your back without turning to face threat

• Students will be able to fire to their rear position without taking the time to turn and face a threat to their 6 0’clock from 6 and 10 feet away.
• All shots will remain COM as fast as they can pull the trigger.
• Multiple threats will be addressed and the same skills will be taught for two threats to the rear.

Day Two - Two handed skills:

Compressed Ready:

• Elbows tucked, no reference point, but the understanding will help you,
• 2-3yd 3-5 shots into COM

Compressed QK:

• Mid-point of the draw stroke, upper arms touching torso,
• 4"-5" reference point, 2-3-4yd 3-5shots and the gun pushed ½ way to full extension

Quick Kill:

• Two handed skills set that allows the shooter to focus on the threat, ignore the gun with direct vision, and make hits into COM from 12, 15, and 21 feet from full extension.
• This skill will teach the students how to use their peripheral vision and the orientation of the weapon so that they can ignore the sights completely with any direct vision input.

Hide behind your bullets-into into moving and shooting

• Straight in movement, 6-12 shots or more
• Starting at 21 feet and ending about 3 feet from the threat.

Sprint and Hits:

• Starting at 6 feet, the students will learn how to draw, move out of the kill zone both to the left and right in a 45 degree oblique while putting 4-5 rounds COM on the threat before they have taken two steps.
• The drill will be repeated with sprinting out of the kill zone once the students have walked the drill and understand the movement in conjunction with shooting.

Holy Grail Drill

• Lateral draw stroke, multiples, boarding house rules, two on each of three threats from 15 feet out.
• This drill puts the QK skills using ones peripheral vision together and allows the student to successfully hit torso shots over 90% of the time at a flat run on multiple threats.
• One handed shooting on the weak side and two handed moving to the strong side.