The Bubba Effect
Grandmaster
In reading training AAR's I occasionally see people to refer to a class as being a "life changing experience". I realize that every experience changes one's life, but here I am looking for something more significant.
I recently took Tactical Response's "Fighting Pistol". While it was a good class and I am glad I took it, for me, it was not a "life changing experience".
Looking back on my limited training experience, I have taken some worthwhile and valuable classes, but only two stand out as classes that really changed the way I look at things on a broad scale; Appleseed and Mindset Lab's Intro to Force on Force.
I took my first Appleseed clinic in Riley in April of 2009.
This was the first formal firearms training I had attended and I shot very poorly. Despite this poor performance when I had such a high opinion of myself going in, I remember driving home from this class with a good friend and being totally excited. This class really changed things for me as it provided me with a path to basic proficiency with a rifle and an introduction to formal training and an introduction to a group of people who held beliefs similar to my own who felt strongly enough about those beliefs to volunteer their time to strengthen and connect their people. I consider that first "seed" to be a "life changing experience".
I took Mindset Lab's Intro to Force on Force at their facility in February of 2014.
Going into this class I had taken a few firearm's classes. I had taken basic and intermediate pistol instruction. I was comfortable in the classroom environment and understood what was going on. I had read a few books on Force on Force training and the effects of adrenaline in a violent encounter. Despite my preparations, I must admit that this class shocked me. I cannot say much more beyond my strongest suggestion that you take some good force on force scenario training. This class fundamentally changed the way I think about self defense and firearms ownership/carry. I consider this class to be a "life changing experience".
Again, this is not to take away anything from the other classes I have taken. I have taken other classes that were extremely valuable and have added skills/knowledge that I am grateful to possess, but these two stand out as causing a substantial shift in my thinking.
So, INGO, how about you? Am I the only person to experience such a thing in a training class?
I recently took Tactical Response's "Fighting Pistol". While it was a good class and I am glad I took it, for me, it was not a "life changing experience".
Looking back on my limited training experience, I have taken some worthwhile and valuable classes, but only two stand out as classes that really changed the way I look at things on a broad scale; Appleseed and Mindset Lab's Intro to Force on Force.
I took my first Appleseed clinic in Riley in April of 2009.
This was the first formal firearms training I had attended and I shot very poorly. Despite this poor performance when I had such a high opinion of myself going in, I remember driving home from this class with a good friend and being totally excited. This class really changed things for me as it provided me with a path to basic proficiency with a rifle and an introduction to formal training and an introduction to a group of people who held beliefs similar to my own who felt strongly enough about those beliefs to volunteer their time to strengthen and connect their people. I consider that first "seed" to be a "life changing experience".
I took Mindset Lab's Intro to Force on Force at their facility in February of 2014.
Going into this class I had taken a few firearm's classes. I had taken basic and intermediate pistol instruction. I was comfortable in the classroom environment and understood what was going on. I had read a few books on Force on Force training and the effects of adrenaline in a violent encounter. Despite my preparations, I must admit that this class shocked me. I cannot say much more beyond my strongest suggestion that you take some good force on force scenario training. This class fundamentally changed the way I think about self defense and firearms ownership/carry. I consider this class to be a "life changing experience".
Again, this is not to take away anything from the other classes I have taken. I have taken other classes that were extremely valuable and have added skills/knowledge that I am grateful to possess, but these two stand out as causing a substantial shift in my thinking.
So, INGO, how about you? Am I the only person to experience such a thing in a training class?