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Article: 01-2007
Developing a Use of Force Education
Part III of III
By: Skip
Gochenour
COMPETITION VS. TRAINING
Organized dynamic
shooting competition can be useful in a training regimen. Competition shapes
behavior. In order for a practitioner of tactics to reach the goals of a
competition, he must engage in behavior that is not in keeping with sound
tactical judgment. It is up to the practitioner and his personal discipline to
use the competition environment with out sacrificing his training goals.
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
In bureaucratically
driven shooting competition a system is devised to mathematically compute
individual rankings of participants. The system is always tied directly to the
numbers of points scored on a paper target. Occasionally some attempt is made
to recognize conditions under which the gun may be used. So long as the
operating bureaucracy promotes the "score" as the measurement device
for individual ranking, decisions made by the shooter about equipment and
shooting behavior will be driven by a desire to increase his score. Attempts by
event organizers to incorporate sound tactical behavior will be ineffectual
because it will interfere with the ability to get a better score. Target
generated numerical scores also lead to all manner of silliness in arbitrary
rule making in the name of "fairness". A notable example is
restricting the number of rounds that can be put in an auto pistol so that
there is no unfair advantage over a revolver. Fairness is a concept debated
only by grade schoolers and liberal democrats.
Tacticians find the concept loathsome. They understand that real environments
are dynamic and constantly changing. They understand that the most dangerous
weapon they posses is their mind. That weapon system will allow them to prevail
in a fight, more certainly than any prowess at shooting a higher numerical
score.
It is important to do
some training on a paper target that has scoring zones. It is very important to
do a lot of training on a reactive target system that is calibrated to fall
only when struck with sufficient accuracy and power to replicate what would
reasonably fall an adversary. Find a competitive organization that uses
reactive targets extensively. The training value of shooting a target until it
visually leaves the fight cannot be over estimated. A reactive target system does
not lend itself handily to scoring and ranking systems, but such matters are
only of interest to those who are ego driven and of little interest to those
practitioners who care about their family's well being.
There are in most
sections of this country small groups who meet regularly to compete, using
sound tactical principles. They take the form of study groups more than
competitions. Find such a group and join them. If you cannot find one, start
one. There are plenty of graduates of schools such as John Farnam's,
Thunder Ranch, Gunsite and Greg Hamilton's InSights, who could serve as the nucleus and study
director. If you have formed or do form such a group - let us know- we will
list your group on our web site so that others can find you.
Measurement systems are
useful in developing your training. Those systems that recognize that dynamic
environments change, requiring the practitioner to think his way through, are
the most valuable and instructive. Measurement systems, used in such an event
are subjective.
Objective scoring is used
for ranking purposes. It encourages behavior that flies in the face of sound
tactics. Score is about public ranking - public ranking is about ego - ego is
about personal glory, not life saving skills
GUNHANDLING SKILLS
I.P.S.C. shooters show an
extraordinary ability at moving over, around and through difficult
environmental obstructions while managing deployed weapons. To the very great
credit of Dave Arnold, the
Train
and study hard.
Then come and test yourself at N.T.I.