I think the bigger issue for me is finding someone that actually knows what they're doing. I'm not dropping money to attend a class ruin by a bunch of meatheads that have no credentials or experience. Being a former "anything" does NOT necessarily qualify a person to teach. I wish the self defence industry would create a standard for certification like the dive industry, and qualify instructors to teach that standard.
1. Certification courses will likely lead to increased cost if required 2. Any putz can still get a certification, look at all the idiots certified to drive, and still be a bad teacher It’s not really that hard to get an idea of if an instructor is quality or not in the Internet age. Google the company, google the instructor, find out how long each has been in business, go to FB groups and forums and ask about both schools and specific instructors, and get reviews. Honestly sounds like you’re just making an excuse not to spend money on a training class
Look at what happened with voda (Lucien black) A firearms blog shared a video of his ‘in house’ classes where he violated basic safety rules like 30 times in a few minutes. He had certifications, but after a video of him shooting the ceiling of a range surfaced he was kicked out of the range and had certifications pulled
I only just started carrying two years ago again, and while I did go through and complete a pistol permit safety course back in the early 2000s when I lived up in New York, the moment I decided to start carrying again a couple years ago, I thought it would be smart to binge watch all of the content I could find from uscca and other channels like this one concerning concealed carrying as well as other defensive videos that everyone made, because I figured there was going to be a ton of nuances since I took those classes back in the early 2000s in New York and maybe some things I forgot, and I'm glad I did because there was quite a few new things I learned that I don't remember from almost 20 years ago, and a lot of things I know I did not learn back in those days that apply to Modern Times. I can't afford to go through classes again at the moment, so I really appreciate all of the content that channels like this that put out to help people like me.
Excellent video. Dry fire practice and slow but steady ammo acquisition. Also. Use the "Envelope system". Find out what the training course will cost. Set a goal of when you want to take the class. Break it down into how many paychecks it will take you. And save the same amount every paycheck. Then enroll.
Great video, Chris. The one thing I would add to it is that I tell people to buy Fighting Smarter first, as it does the best job of any resource I've found of explaining enough about the goals of self defense to prevent wasting time and money on bad training.
This speaks to me. Classes around where I live are $250 per person per day. For a 2 day course that's $1000 just for the class for my wife and I. We've done it, but just don't have the ability to do it more than once every few years. These other resources are great.
Just remember this saying. " In a moment where seconds mean the difference between life and death, the cops are only minutes away." The reason I said this is that in a home defense situation, if you are not properly armed you or your family members could already dead by time the cops got to your house. Just try to keep this in mind.
I just found out my local public range (Castle Rock, WA) has free classes. I am taking the entire course this summer. The instructors are also there at the range afterward.
Great points. I have a co-worker that is junior to me and makes less money but has a large number of high end guns, way nicer than mine. Every time I try to talk him into going to the range, he never wants to go. He has admitted that he has never fired some of his guns. Arrrrrgh!
To quote a friend of mine who has spent the last 20 years in SOF units: "I would not let a family member or friend carry a gun without training, but I would not let them start down that road without first reading Tom's book." I can think of no higher praise.
If you happen to be in southern California, I can't recommend Artemis Defense Institute in Lake Forest enough. They use a simulator so there is no danger for novice shooters. They have Pistol 1-3 which are introductory pistol classes with a self-defense focus. They also offer CCW training, and private sessions. The prices are reasonable and the staff are awesome.
A good recommendation on the book sir. I would recommend a few more books to read as well; 1)Handgun Combatives by Dave Spaulding 2) StressFire Vol 1 (pistol) and Vol 2 (shotgun) by Massad Ayoob 3) In the Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob* *This book was written in the 70's and is a bit dated with regards to "recommended equipment," but the legal information is still pretty relevant.
Awesome video. Another good source and I know not many would have access to this, is perhaps reaching out to a family member who has LE or military experience and is a firearms enthusiast who is willing to teach. I was fortunate enough to be taught by one of my late uncles and given that he was active military during the 80's it didn't really matter because he was smart enough to evolve with the times always kept up with literature and even took some classes himself at his advanced age. So if you have that family member who knows what their doing and has real world experience, give them a shout who knows.
even just going to the range is good training. no its not a substitute for a proper teacher but being able to practice and master the fundamentals, developing good marksmanship at various ranges with different handguns and calibers will put you leaps and bounds ahead of most people.
Another idea is to hit your state (and neighboring states) gun forum online (e.g. ingunowners.com for people in Indiana). There you will find a TON of less well known (and less expensive) trainers that are offering classes nearby. Oftentimes these trainers may offer 3-4 hour classes as well (I have seen classes as short as 2 hours). You won't get the comprehensive experience in a 3 hour class as you would in a 3 day class, but you WILL get some valuable new skills. In my area (Chicagoland) I have found 3 hour classes for as little as $50. Most of those classes focused on the mechanics of defensive shooting, rather than the law or mindset.
I would recommend the RWVA program ( called Appleseed ) to anyone interested in improving their rifle marksmanship. It is not a self defense class, really. It does give you an excellent foundation to take to those classes, however. After all, If you can't hit what your aiming at, what's the point, right? The price is ridiculously low for a two day event, and these teachers know very well what they are about.
Thanks for this video. Money is an issue for many retired people that need to train more. It helps if you can shoot at least 50 rounds once a month. A lot of ranges give vetrians discounts but few to people 63 or older.
I'm a security guard that lives on Maui in Hawaii and I can honestly say I can't afford to take any training classes on the mainland it's just way too much to fly there. I do shoot all my guns alot except for one that I bought to give to my nephew when he turns 21 he'll be the first person to shoot that rifle.
I am lucky to get free training from my USMC CCP instructor brother. Having gone through some training: Can't put a price on being confident and accurate under pressure with your weapons.
There are two broad categories of instruction in the shooting world...fundamental self-defense and competition. They are not the same. You have every right and expectation as a student for classes from qualified/certified instructors but you need to know which of these venues you want to train for. The NRA, and more recently the USCCA, both have certifications programs for individuals who desire to serve as a fundamentals instructor and each of the organizations have standards (very similar ones) that the potential instructor must meet to in order to achieve certification and instruct others. I'd look to find classes offered by such folks for good fundamental defense oriented instruction with a focus on precision in shooting...people like Tom Givens. If on the other hand, you want to learn how to shoot fast with a modicum of accuracy, you might search for classes offered by competitive winners such as Mike Seeklander or Rob Leatham.
In my country, most and all of ammo is imported so 9mm,.380 and .38 and .357 mag, copper FMJ costs around a dollar.... the only thing at a fraction of that price is .22LR I know someone who can reload it for me, I think that is my best bet. Keep a box of nice self defense ammo, and ask my friend to reload simple lead nosed ammo for the range
Great video! I've learned all of my shooting skills through RUclips, and practice. You're right about being picky. There's truly A LOT of BAD info out there. I really like Warrior Poet Society(John Lavell). This dude knows his shit. Period. I've learned something from every single one of your videos, also. Keep up the great work, my friend. You're a breath of fresh air. Some of these "tacti-cool" geeks on RUclips are overwhelmingly annoying. Me, and a couple of my buddies have recently been setting up our own "run, and gun" courses, and we've found out that we weren't as good as we thought we were. It takes a lot of practice, and dedication to become a well rounded shooter. I feel like I'm about half way down the road, of success. So, I'm getting there. Buying new guns is cool, but getting GOOD with them, is wayyyy cooler.
Depends on the class. You can always contact Tom through his website if you have questions about a specific class, but usually the class descriptions give a pretty good idea of what the expectations are for prior experience. I suggest reading Tom's book Fighting Smarter ahead of taking one of his classes. He will cover much of the same material in class, but having some exposure to it ahead of time will go a long way toward retaining the information long term.
decodeddiesel, Reid Henrichs at Valor Ridge, Travis Haley, and even though people shit talk the owners of these places I hear consistently good things about the training at Suarez International and Tactical Response.
Number one self defense training tip; Hammer this into your girlfriend/wife/daughter. Stop staring down at the phone 90% of the time. Have some kind of situational awareness. The amount of people that walk into dangerous situations, that could have been avoided by just using their feet is ridiculous.
I know i wish I could find somewhere to shoot thats not a range. You're just so limited to what you can do there. There is one private club here but apparently it's only 200 people and very hard to get in.
If you're not a statist willing to kill peaceful people, read The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle. It teaches how to develop talent effectively. This should guide you in finding a proper teacher. Chris Sajnog espouses the principles in the book, from what I see, so I plan to learn from him.
I think the bigger issue for me is finding someone that actually knows what they're doing. I'm not dropping money to attend a class ruin by a bunch of meatheads that have no credentials or experience. Being a former "anything" does NOT necessarily qualify a person to teach. I wish the self defence industry would create a standard for certification like the dive industry, and qualify instructors to teach that standard.
Yes, that is definitely a challenge as well. Another topic for another day...
Konish P.
I agree, wish I knew I would get what I pay for even if it was the low standard, at least it would meet A standard
Check out the RWVA program called Appleseed. These guys can teach, and the price is ridiculously low for a two day rifle marksmanship class.
1. Certification courses will likely lead to increased cost if required
2. Any putz can still get a certification, look at all the idiots certified to drive, and still be a bad teacher
It’s not really that hard to get an idea of if an instructor is quality or not in the Internet age.
Google the company, google the instructor, find out how long each has been in business, go to FB groups and forums and ask about both schools and specific instructors, and get reviews.
Honestly sounds like you’re just making an excuse not to spend money on a training class
Look at what happened with voda (Lucien black)
A firearms blog shared a video of his ‘in house’ classes where he violated basic safety rules like 30 times in a few minutes.
He had certifications, but after a video of him shooting the ceiling of a range surfaced he was kicked out of the range and had certifications pulled
I only just started carrying two years ago again, and while I did go through and complete a pistol permit safety course back in the early 2000s when I lived up in New York, the moment I decided to start carrying again a couple years ago, I thought it would be smart to binge watch all of the content I could find from uscca and other channels like this one concerning concealed carrying as well as other defensive videos that everyone made, because I figured there was going to be a ton of nuances since I took those classes back in the early 2000s in New York and maybe some things I forgot, and I'm glad I did because there was quite a few new things I learned that I don't remember from almost 20 years ago, and a lot of things I know I did not learn back in those days that apply to Modern Times. I can't afford to go through classes again at the moment, so I really appreciate all of the content that channels like this that put out to help people like me.
Excellent video. Dry fire practice and slow but steady ammo acquisition. Also. Use the "Envelope system". Find out what the training course will cost. Set a goal of when you want to take the class. Break it down into how many paychecks it will take you. And save the same amount every paycheck. Then enroll.
This is essentially how I saved for my first handgun.
Great video, Chris. The one thing I would add to it is that I tell people to buy Fighting Smarter first, as it does the best job of any resource I've found of explaining enough about the goals of self defense to prevent wasting time and money on bad training.
+TC InVA That's a good point. Wish I had read it before I first started.
This speaks to me. Classes around where I live are $250 per person per day. For a 2 day course that's $1000 just for the class for my wife and I. We've done it, but just don't have the ability to do it more than once every few years. These other resources are great.
I just trust the police to protect me. last time I called them they showed up in only 40 minutes.
zedirich7 it take 0.05 seconds to die
Same as my pizza guy!
Just remember this saying. " In a moment where seconds mean the difference between life and death, the cops are only minutes away." The reason I said this is that in a home defense situation, if you are not properly armed you or your family members could already dead by time the cops got to your house. Just try to keep this in mind.
zedirich7 I love sarcasm.
zedirich7 Totally with you on that one! The 40 min. - two hour wait time for the Sheriff to show up is totally worth being a sheep. #sheeplife #baa
RUclips really is a reliable resource! As are blogs, however nothing beats in-hand training
I just found out my local public range (Castle Rock, WA) has free classes. I am taking the entire course this summer. The instructors are also there at the range afterward.
I just discovered the range, thanks to your post. Thanks!
Great points. I have a co-worker that is junior to me and makes less money but has a large number of high end guns, way nicer than mine. Every time I try to talk him into going to the range, he never wants to go. He has admitted that he has never fired some of his guns. Arrrrrgh!
Mike Campbell I'm the same way, I own them I just don't shoot them. Shooting has just become really boring to me.
@@theoriginaljackal8196 read the 2 amendment
To quote a friend of mine who has spent the last 20 years in SOF units: "I would not let a family member or friend carry a gun without training, but I would not let them start down that road without first reading Tom's book." I can think of no higher praise.
I never thought I could learn anything from a training class. Then I took one. Best gun money I ever spent.
Some really great advice in this video. I'm so tired of internet "experts" acting like we all have a vault full of money.
If you happen to be in southern California, I can't recommend Artemis Defense Institute in Lake Forest enough. They use a simulator so there is no danger for novice shooters. They have Pistol 1-3 which are introductory pistol classes with a self-defense focus. They also offer CCW training, and private sessions. The prices are reasonable and the staff are awesome.
The pizza arrives at my door before the cops.
Jay Pence That’s because the pizza guy has repercussions if his job is done incorrectly.
@@jimmyblankenship5774 👏👏👏
A good recommendation on the book sir. I would recommend a few more books to read as well;
1)Handgun Combatives by Dave Spaulding
2) StressFire Vol 1 (pistol) and Vol 2 (shotgun) by Massad Ayoob
3) In the Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob*
*This book was written in the 70's and is a bit dated with regards to "recommended equipment," but the legal information is still pretty relevant.
Thank you Chris, very good advice. All we need training in this life for everything...why not for self defense? . Stay safe.
4 years later... prices for the classes look okay, it’s the requirement to bring 5-8 hundred rds of ammo is what I’m having trouble finding/affording.
check out Sheriff of Baghdad tactical. that dude is freaking awesome.
Awesome video. Another good source and I know not many would have access to this, is perhaps reaching out to a family member who has LE or military experience and is a firearms enthusiast who is willing to teach. I was fortunate enough to be taught by one of my late uncles and given that he was active military during the 80's it didn't really matter because he was smart enough to evolve with the times always kept up with literature and even took some classes himself at his advanced age. So if you have that family member who knows what their doing and has real world experience, give them a shout who knows.
Very insightful video. Your videos are the best I have seen on the shooting arts.
With that beard, I trust your advice implicitly... Seriously though, another excellent video as always!
solid advice
Hi, I know that John Lovell tours to teach firearms self-defense classes; do you also nationally tour to teach?
Make a video on dry practice.
Uhh, the guy makes his living selling ammo.
Lol on a budget... sir you had like 3 dollars on the thumbnail. That could feed me for 3 days 😎
Good stuff, thanks! Saved to my shooting drills playlist.
even just going to the range is good training. no its not a substitute for a proper teacher but being able to practice and master the fundamentals, developing good marksmanship at various ranges with different handguns and calibers will put you leaps and bounds ahead of most people.
Another idea is to hit your state (and neighboring states) gun forum online (e.g. ingunowners.com for people in Indiana). There you will find a TON of less well known (and less expensive) trainers that are offering classes nearby. Oftentimes these trainers may offer 3-4 hour classes as well (I have seen classes as short as 2 hours). You won't get the comprehensive experience in a 3 hour class as you would in a 3 day class, but you WILL get some valuable new skills. In my area (Chicagoland) I have found 3 hour classes for as little as $50. Most of those classes focused on the mechanics of defensive shooting, rather than the law or mindset.
I would recommend the RWVA program ( called Appleseed ) to anyone interested in improving their rifle marksmanship. It is not a self defense class, really. It does give you an excellent foundation to take to those classes, however. After all, If you can't hit what your aiming at, what's the point, right? The price is ridiculously low for a two day event, and these teachers know very well what they are about.
Thanks for this video. Money is an issue for many retired people that need to train more. It helps if you can shoot at least 50 rounds once a month. A lot of ranges give vetrians discounts but few to people 63 or older.
Awesome points and well articulated, as usual.
I'm a security guard that lives on Maui in Hawaii and I can honestly say I can't afford to take any training classes on the mainland it's just way too much to fly there. I do shoot all my guns alot except for one that I bought to give to my nephew when he turns 21 he'll be the first person to shoot that rifle.
maui808boiz Just out of curiosity, how difficult is it to obtain a CCW in Hawaii?
Good luck finding the book.
Thank you for all these videos
I am lucky to get free training from my USMC CCP instructor brother. Having gone through some training: Can't put a price on being confident and accurate under pressure with your weapons.
Trainers will also come to you if you get enough guys together and pay them up front.
How do you keep that workbench so clean?
+Charles Phillips Elves.
Can you please so a video on how to shoot and practice int the city no one else has a video about that .
Good Information
As far as videos and understanding/recognizing criminal behavior I try to check out the active self protection channel out at least once a month.
just subscribed to the podcasts!
There are two broad categories of instruction in the shooting world...fundamental self-defense and competition. They are not the same. You have every right and expectation as a student for classes from qualified/certified instructors but you need to know which of these venues you want to train for.
The NRA, and more recently the USCCA, both have certifications programs for individuals who desire to serve as a fundamentals instructor and each of the organizations have standards (very similar ones) that the potential instructor must meet to in order to achieve certification and instruct others. I'd look to find classes offered by such folks for good fundamental defense oriented instruction with a focus on precision in shooting...people like Tom Givens. If on the other hand, you want to learn how to shoot fast with a modicum of accuracy, you might search for classes offered by competitive winners such as Mike Seeklander or Rob Leatham.
In my country, most and all of ammo is imported so 9mm,.380 and .38 and .357 mag, copper FMJ costs around a dollar.... the only thing at a fraction of that price is .22LR
I know someone who can reload it for me, I think that is my best bet. Keep a box of nice self defense ammo, and ask my friend to reload simple lead nosed ammo for the range
Great info!
Great video! I've learned all of my shooting skills through RUclips, and practice. You're right about being picky. There's truly A LOT of BAD info out there. I really like Warrior Poet Society(John Lavell). This dude knows his shit. Period. I've learned something from every single one of your videos, also. Keep up the great work, my friend. You're a breath of fresh air. Some of these "tacti-cool" geeks on RUclips are overwhelmingly annoying. Me, and a couple of my buddies have recently been setting up our own "run, and gun" courses, and we've found out that we weren't as good as we thought we were. It takes a lot of practice, and dedication to become a well rounded shooter. I feel like I'm about half way down the road, of success. So, I'm getting there. Buying new guns is cool, but getting GOOD with them, is wayyyy cooler.
Good stuff again
In order for a new shooter to get the most of Tom Givens class, what should their shooting proficiency be? Thanks
Depends on the class. You can always contact Tom through his website if you have questions about a specific class, but usually the class descriptions give a pretty good idea of what the expectations are for prior experience. I suggest reading Tom's book Fighting Smarter ahead of taking one of his classes. He will cover much of the same material in class, but having some exposure to it ahead of time will go a long way toward retaining the information long term.
Happy Halloween!
Thank you
Looking for a dry Practice video for my shooting group, any suggestions?
Is there a website out where you can find good training?
John Johnson... Nice
I picture myself buying B&T or HK and then not having the money for classes.😂
Good vid for the pc bros!
.22 LR ... Cheap ammo, good for practice
Word
Who would be some good, reputable, and affordable instructors to look into in 2017?
decodeddiesel, Reid Henrichs at Valor Ridge, Travis Haley, and even though people shit talk the owners of these places I hear consistently good things about the training at Suarez International and Tactical Response.
Number one self defense training tip; Hammer this into your girlfriend/wife/daughter. Stop staring down at the phone 90% of the time. Have some kind of situational awareness.
The amount of people that walk into dangerous situations, that could have been avoided by just using their feet is ridiculous.
anvior45 I had to re read what you said. "Tip number one, hammer your girlfriend/wife/daughter"
I know i wish I could find somewhere to shoot thats not a range. You're just so limited to what you can do there. There is one private club here but apparently it's only 200 people and very hard to get in.
If you're not a statist willing to kill peaceful people, read The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle. It teaches how to develop talent effectively. This should guide you in finding a proper teacher. Chris Sajnog espouses the principles in the book, from what I see, so I plan to learn from him.
HI POINT 4 LIFE BABY!!!
This guys facial hair looks as fine as the hair on his head.
You can always teach yourself. Someone had to learn it on their own somewhere in order for it to be taught.
don't need the training. I'll use the $ to buy my 5th Glock 19.
MP WMU lol
P
That thumbnail looks like the dresser in my bedroom
*does not apply to pandemics
WHAT is up with your eyes?