rob_s
04-01-08, 08:01
Travis Haley (http://youtube.com/watch?v=3b6PinhhVww) and Eric Torres of SDI Tactical (http://www.sditactical.com/) conducted a 3-day "Mindset Handgun" class at the Southern Exposure training facility (http://www.southernexposuretraining.com/) outside of Lakeland Florida beginning on Saturday, 29 March 2008 and ending on Monday, 31 March 2008. The class included 2 hours of reduced/no light training on TD2. We were joined on TD3 by Chris Costa (http://youtube.com/watch?v=cAxWaGRic1I), Director of Magpul Training Division (http://www.magpul.com/training/training.html).
The class was made up entirely of civilian shooters. There was one LEO, and a few prior service military of various backgrounds. Virtually all of the students have had multiple classes from many varied instructors. My own background includes classes from Randy Cain, Bill Jeans, and Pat Rogers. Many of the students have been training for many more years and with many more instructors than I have. In other words, this was a bunch that knows the basics, knows how to shoot, and has a good base of knowledge.
Three terms emerged over the course of the 3 days that help to summarize SDI's methodology; "efficiency", "fundamentals", and "master your weapon". Travis and Eric make a point of reinforcing efficiency of movement. For example, if you have to add inefficient movements to your shooting, reloads, draw, etc. due to gear issues then you need to address your gear to resolve the issue.
TD1 began with a 1-hour lecture/Power Point block. When I first heard about this I was somewhat skeptical, thinking my usual "awe man, I just want to get to the range". 10 minutes into the presentation, however, I began to appreciate it. Travis went over many aspects of the "fighting" or "combat" mindset, and SDI's take on how the human body's physical limitations and reactions to stress can limit your ability to fight and how we can use those issues to our advantage.
After the lecture block, we all moved out to the range and the shooting began. SDI has a take that is, at least in my experience, somewhat different than other classes. They do not generally teach "steps". Whether the draw stroke, turning 90 degrees, turning 180 degrees, performing a reload, etc. We began with the draw, and Travis and Eric discussed their take on the draw stroke. We made a few repetitions of same. The rest of TD1 was fast-paced and included reloads (tactical and speed), malfunctions, and positions.
I really appreciated SDI's take on malfunctions which was based on a diagnostic immediate/remedial action. Rather than rely on the "tap-rack-bang", they suggest that the shooter take a split second to rotate the barrel up 10 degrees and diagnose the problem, then initiate the correct immediate/remedial action. Failure to go into battery? smack the rear of the slide. Failure to feed? Tap, rack, bang. Stovepipe? Sweep the top of the slide. Doublefeed? Lock the slide, strip the mag, rackrackrack, insert new mag and drop the slide. I appreciated their confidence and respect in the group to know that we are all capable of identifying the malfunction and initiating the appropriate correction. This goes to the "master your weapon" mentality and was borne out to be extremely effective over the 3 days as many 1911 shooters got to experience these malfunctions repeatedly during other drills.
Positions included the usual standing, squat, kneeling, prone, etc. and also included rollover right and rollover left, which we used extensively as the course went on. Travis and Eric really pushed the efficiency issue here, as well as stressing the ability to not only quickly get into, but out of, these positions.
We ended TD1 with a man-on-man drill that summarized everything we learned that day, to include the draw, positions, reloads, and clearing a doublefeed. The drill included paper and steel targets and was a great way to wrap up the day.
TD2 was all about moving. Moving forward, moving backward, turning 90 degrees, turning 180 degrees, etc. And all while incorporating the skills learned on TD1. TD2 also ended with a night/lowlight shoot and Eric and Travis demonstrated a variety of methods of utilizing a hand-held light that we all got to try out, then we selected which one worked for us and began incorporating all of the moving/turning lessons we had learned earlier in the day, as well as performing speed- and tactical-reloads with the light in your hand.
TD3 stepped things up by beginning with drawing from concealment, and discussions of gear selection as pertains to same as well as how said gear selection affects your efficiency, fundamentals, and weapon mastery. From there we moved into drills involving engaging threats while seated and use of cover. The day ended with a block on vehicle techniques (not tactics) and we ran a drill that involved shooting from inside of and exiting from a real vehicle, as well as engaging targets from around the vehicle. This drill was especially enlightening to see how we all acted under the stress of time, operating in and around an unfamiliar vehicle, with various loud distracting sounds, and with the instructors yelling at us to "move" and "get down" and "reload". I particularly enjoyed the added stress on this drill.
Overall I had a fantastic time, as I always do at Southern Exposure, and truly enjoyed SDI's instruction under Travis, Eric, and Chris. They each offered a slightly different, yet cohesive, perspective to combat handgun shooting. I learned things that I can apply to my daily carry, my self-defense training, and my competition shooting. We are all looking forward to having them back for a "Mindset Carbine" class in the future.
Thanks again to Travis, Eric, and Chris, as well as the tireless efforts of Irv Lehman in hosting and organizing these classes at Southern Exposure.
The class was made up entirely of civilian shooters. There was one LEO, and a few prior service military of various backgrounds. Virtually all of the students have had multiple classes from many varied instructors. My own background includes classes from Randy Cain, Bill Jeans, and Pat Rogers. Many of the students have been training for many more years and with many more instructors than I have. In other words, this was a bunch that knows the basics, knows how to shoot, and has a good base of knowledge.
Three terms emerged over the course of the 3 days that help to summarize SDI's methodology; "efficiency", "fundamentals", and "master your weapon". Travis and Eric make a point of reinforcing efficiency of movement. For example, if you have to add inefficient movements to your shooting, reloads, draw, etc. due to gear issues then you need to address your gear to resolve the issue.
TD1 began with a 1-hour lecture/Power Point block. When I first heard about this I was somewhat skeptical, thinking my usual "awe man, I just want to get to the range". 10 minutes into the presentation, however, I began to appreciate it. Travis went over many aspects of the "fighting" or "combat" mindset, and SDI's take on how the human body's physical limitations and reactions to stress can limit your ability to fight and how we can use those issues to our advantage.
After the lecture block, we all moved out to the range and the shooting began. SDI has a take that is, at least in my experience, somewhat different than other classes. They do not generally teach "steps". Whether the draw stroke, turning 90 degrees, turning 180 degrees, performing a reload, etc. We began with the draw, and Travis and Eric discussed their take on the draw stroke. We made a few repetitions of same. The rest of TD1 was fast-paced and included reloads (tactical and speed), malfunctions, and positions.
I really appreciated SDI's take on malfunctions which was based on a diagnostic immediate/remedial action. Rather than rely on the "tap-rack-bang", they suggest that the shooter take a split second to rotate the barrel up 10 degrees and diagnose the problem, then initiate the correct immediate/remedial action. Failure to go into battery? smack the rear of the slide. Failure to feed? Tap, rack, bang. Stovepipe? Sweep the top of the slide. Doublefeed? Lock the slide, strip the mag, rackrackrack, insert new mag and drop the slide. I appreciated their confidence and respect in the group to know that we are all capable of identifying the malfunction and initiating the appropriate correction. This goes to the "master your weapon" mentality and was borne out to be extremely effective over the 3 days as many 1911 shooters got to experience these malfunctions repeatedly during other drills.
Positions included the usual standing, squat, kneeling, prone, etc. and also included rollover right and rollover left, which we used extensively as the course went on. Travis and Eric really pushed the efficiency issue here, as well as stressing the ability to not only quickly get into, but out of, these positions.
We ended TD1 with a man-on-man drill that summarized everything we learned that day, to include the draw, positions, reloads, and clearing a doublefeed. The drill included paper and steel targets and was a great way to wrap up the day.
TD2 was all about moving. Moving forward, moving backward, turning 90 degrees, turning 180 degrees, etc. And all while incorporating the skills learned on TD1. TD2 also ended with a night/lowlight shoot and Eric and Travis demonstrated a variety of methods of utilizing a hand-held light that we all got to try out, then we selected which one worked for us and began incorporating all of the moving/turning lessons we had learned earlier in the day, as well as performing speed- and tactical-reloads with the light in your hand.
TD3 stepped things up by beginning with drawing from concealment, and discussions of gear selection as pertains to same as well as how said gear selection affects your efficiency, fundamentals, and weapon mastery. From there we moved into drills involving engaging threats while seated and use of cover. The day ended with a block on vehicle techniques (not tactics) and we ran a drill that involved shooting from inside of and exiting from a real vehicle, as well as engaging targets from around the vehicle. This drill was especially enlightening to see how we all acted under the stress of time, operating in and around an unfamiliar vehicle, with various loud distracting sounds, and with the instructors yelling at us to "move" and "get down" and "reload". I particularly enjoyed the added stress on this drill.
Overall I had a fantastic time, as I always do at Southern Exposure, and truly enjoyed SDI's instruction under Travis, Eric, and Chris. They each offered a slightly different, yet cohesive, perspective to combat handgun shooting. I learned things that I can apply to my daily carry, my self-defense training, and my competition shooting. We are all looking forward to having them back for a "Mindset Carbine" class in the future.
Thanks again to Travis, Eric, and Chris, as well as the tireless efforts of Irv Lehman in hosting and organizing these classes at Southern Exposure.