- Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:58 pm
#6197
Congrats equality!
Your testimonial made it onto Front Sights e-mail.
Dear Dr. Piazza,
I know you get emails like this every day, and I'm not
looking to be the subject of any mass emails, but I
thought you might enjoy this story.
I attended your 4 day Defensive Handgun in April 2009.
I don't need to tell you about the level of training I
received. Many before have said it better than I
could.
Unfortunately, I don't get to dry practice as much as
I'd like, so I'm not your finest example of a Front
Sight Trainee. However, when I do train and dry
practice I take it very seriously and make sure it is
quality time: perfect practice.
Recently a friend asked if I would join him at a
Defensive Pistol competition (IDPA-like).
I don't really like competitions, but I decided to try
it for pure fun.
Good turnout - almost 50 people. Most had shot this
before so I figured I was way out of my league. Team
Glock was even there with their fancy shirts, speed
holsters and tricked out race-guns.
All I had was my Glock 23, a humble Blade-Tech
holster, and some Front Sight training.
I decided I was going to relax and just shoot like I
was trained at Front Sight. I was only there to have a
good time.
At the first stage the Range Officer asked if there
were any "new" shooters, meaning, those who had never
shot at one of their competitions. I was one of a few
that raised their hand. I had a big *star* put on my
score sheet and was told I couldn't present from the
holster. (They didn't want me to shoot myself in the
foot.)
While disappointed, I didn't argue because the first
stage didn't involve the holster anyway.
As I watched those before me I was surprised at many
missteps that showed clear lack of training. I
thought, "I might not be so far out of my league after
all."
When it was my turn, I got a pre-buzzer adrenaline
dump and don't remember much after that. I rocketed
out of my sitting position, picked up my weapon,
loaded and chambered it on the move. I cleared the
first and second station targets with good controlled
pairs.
As I ran to the final station I did an emergency
reload. Few people reloaded on the move and let the
dead magazine fall to the ground. I watched most
people stop and have to think about how to reload - I
just reacted as I was trained.
At the last station I cleared the final targets with
rapid controller pairs. I posted a decent time, and
finished with only 1 point down out of 20 rounds
fired.
The Range Officer came over to shake my hand, clearly
impressed, saying "Nice shootin' Tex!"
The 2nd stage involved the holster. I pulled the Range
Officer aside and politely explained that I had
trained at Front Sight, and would like the opportunity
to present from the holster, even though I was "new".
Given my performance on the first stage, he gave me
permission.
At the end of the 2nd stage the Range Officer came
over to me and said "Wow, you have a really nice
presentation! Very smooth. Front Sight, huh? I gotta
talk to you about that."
By the end of the 3rd stage, a string of Failure to
Stop drills, I had a small crowd around me asking
about Front Sight!
At the end of the 4th and final stage, the Range
Officer called everyone around and asked me to step up
to the line. He said "I want everyone to watch this
guy's presentation. It's how we ALL should be doing
our presentations! Watch him!"
I then spent the next few minutes giving a brief
lesson on Front Sight's 5-Count Presentation.
I also worked one-on-one with another Range Officer to
fine tune her presentation.
I went from not being worthy to present from the
holster at the start of the day, to giving lessons on
Front Sight's 5-Count Presentation at the end of the
day.
I think Front Sight got some good press at this event!
I finished 10th out of 48 people. I carried myself far
better than I thought I would thanks to the comfort of
skill at arms provided by Front Sight.
It also gave me a better appreciation for the quality
of training I received at Front Sight.
While I'm usually not fond of competitions, I did have
a good time and might go back - if nothing more than
to hone my skill and sing Front Sight's praises!
Your testimonial made it onto Front Sights e-mail.
Dear Dr. Piazza,
I know you get emails like this every day, and I'm not
looking to be the subject of any mass emails, but I
thought you might enjoy this story.
I attended your 4 day Defensive Handgun in April 2009.
I don't need to tell you about the level of training I
received. Many before have said it better than I
could.
Unfortunately, I don't get to dry practice as much as
I'd like, so I'm not your finest example of a Front
Sight Trainee. However, when I do train and dry
practice I take it very seriously and make sure it is
quality time: perfect practice.
Recently a friend asked if I would join him at a
Defensive Pistol competition (IDPA-like).
I don't really like competitions, but I decided to try
it for pure fun.
Good turnout - almost 50 people. Most had shot this
before so I figured I was way out of my league. Team
Glock was even there with their fancy shirts, speed
holsters and tricked out race-guns.
All I had was my Glock 23, a humble Blade-Tech
holster, and some Front Sight training.
I decided I was going to relax and just shoot like I
was trained at Front Sight. I was only there to have a
good time.
At the first stage the Range Officer asked if there
were any "new" shooters, meaning, those who had never
shot at one of their competitions. I was one of a few
that raised their hand. I had a big *star* put on my
score sheet and was told I couldn't present from the
holster. (They didn't want me to shoot myself in the
foot.)
While disappointed, I didn't argue because the first
stage didn't involve the holster anyway.
As I watched those before me I was surprised at many
missteps that showed clear lack of training. I
thought, "I might not be so far out of my league after
all."
When it was my turn, I got a pre-buzzer adrenaline
dump and don't remember much after that. I rocketed
out of my sitting position, picked up my weapon,
loaded and chambered it on the move. I cleared the
first and second station targets with good controlled
pairs.
As I ran to the final station I did an emergency
reload. Few people reloaded on the move and let the
dead magazine fall to the ground. I watched most
people stop and have to think about how to reload - I
just reacted as I was trained.
At the last station I cleared the final targets with
rapid controller pairs. I posted a decent time, and
finished with only 1 point down out of 20 rounds
fired.
The Range Officer came over to shake my hand, clearly
impressed, saying "Nice shootin' Tex!"
The 2nd stage involved the holster. I pulled the Range
Officer aside and politely explained that I had
trained at Front Sight, and would like the opportunity
to present from the holster, even though I was "new".
Given my performance on the first stage, he gave me
permission.
At the end of the 2nd stage the Range Officer came
over to me and said "Wow, you have a really nice
presentation! Very smooth. Front Sight, huh? I gotta
talk to you about that."
By the end of the 3rd stage, a string of Failure to
Stop drills, I had a small crowd around me asking
about Front Sight!
At the end of the 4th and final stage, the Range
Officer called everyone around and asked me to step up
to the line. He said "I want everyone to watch this
guy's presentation. It's how we ALL should be doing
our presentations! Watch him!"
I then spent the next few minutes giving a brief
lesson on Front Sight's 5-Count Presentation.
I also worked one-on-one with another Range Officer to
fine tune her presentation.
I went from not being worthy to present from the
holster at the start of the day, to giving lessons on
Front Sight's 5-Count Presentation at the end of the
day.
I think Front Sight got some good press at this event!
I finished 10th out of 48 people. I carried myself far
better than I thought I would thanks to the comfort of
skill at arms provided by Front Sight.
It also gave me a better appreciation for the quality
of training I received at Front Sight.
While I'm usually not fond of competitions, I did have
a good time and might go back - if nothing more than
to hone my skill and sing Front Sight's praises!
- By SR9