I never ceased to be amazed at the reaction we get from people that take our courses. It can be summarized in what they tell us they get from the class. It is a change in how they see their training. Many people in our realm simply "practice" their individual skills in a manner that allows them to get it done and check it off the list. This is true in many disciplines but most obvious in shooting skills and open hand combatives. When you simply "practice" there is very little psychological or emotional engagement involved in the act. This is easily seen in those that consider their firearms training to be simply standing on the firing line and shooting a single ragged hole in targets. While accuracy is essential to the formula, we must strive to apply that skill under pressure. Additionally, we must strive to make our skill development reflect what we will really face as opposed to what is easiest to set up at the range.
Even beyond the physical environment we train in, we must train the mind. In some locations you are forced to shoot from a static line against static targets. Even if this is the case, you must train as if you were really engaging a threat. This is where there is a separation between practicing and training. To practice is to take a drill and simply move through it. To train means you take that same drill and now do it as if your life depends on it.
Mental scenarios are a great way to move away from simple practice. Set it up in your mind and execute the drill in that framework. I can not say enough about conditioning the mind for conflict. There have been thousands of accounts of men and women who have failed to execute in dire situations. Their skills as measured by qualifications and their superiors were generally high. But why did they fail? They failed because they did not condition their mind to the fight. To shoot a 1" group on the range is very different from shooting an oncoming armed suspect bent on cutting your head off.
Only through moving from a practice mind to a training mind can we really get the most from our time spent in training. One of the most common things we hear from our students is "I will never see the range the same way again". We hope this is true for you as well. Here is to your training and safety as you load up and head into the breach.
Stay Safe!
Fred Mastison
President - Force Options Tactical Training Solution
