It seems that there are two schools of though on priority of how one should try to get their hits in combat or self defense. Most of the argument seems to come from two types of shooters with different levels of experience. When it comes to combat shooting, it is important to not only be able to employ speed, but also to be able to take those fast shots and place them in an area that will have the best effect on target, such as the CNS(Central Nervous System). However, which one rules above the other and will be a more valuable tool to practice and build?

Being a human being, we have to be real with ourselves and understand that we are bound by physical limitations. Of course we can always ask more from ourselves and train our bodies to a higher level of performance. However, we must at least understand that we are flawed from birth. After understanding this, we must establish a reasonable and practical standard for how we will perform with our firearms, as far as accuracy is concerned. Barring you being part of a team/department/unit, you must focus on yourself and your abilities and just keep practicing and asking more of yourself....within reason.

I think it is very productive to look at the history of different warrior cultures and analyse the qualities that made them so successful. This is not going to be a quick read about a trendy workout program for an unrealistic outcome. I am simply going to go over some ideas that the Roman Army had for getting their troops ready for battle. The purpose is to give the reader a few ideas about how to take historical examples and adapt them to current weaponry in order to help them train to a higher level of proficiency. Keep in mind that I am going to have to leave alot of stuff out since this is not a book, but rather a quick jot about incorporating historical examples into current training methods.

Throughout history, warriors of all types learned the hard way that physical fitness pertaining to their style of fighting was absolutely necessary. If we look at warrior training from successful militaries around the world and throughout history, there are many examples that show a pattern of focus on methods of conditioning and fitness priorities.

I will admit that I am one of the worst when it comes to making a concerted effort to practice with just one hand. However, recent injuries from over-training mixed with a strong desire to continue my advancement of skill with a pistol have led me to training with at least one hand. I found it to be quite rewarding. Let me break down how this can do wonders for you in practice and on the range.

When it comes to being able to shoot, it is nice to be able to stand there and put your rounds on target when you need to. However, your ability to apply effective marksmanship while using cover and after quick movement in or out of different shooting positions is even better. This is a real test of a shooters' agility and discipline. The SAS developed this test decades ago and ended up sharing it with the author of the book 'Rattenkrieg' where it was well described, as well as many other tests and drills for aspiring shooters. This is a test for those who dare to put their body and ego to the test.

The Dot Torture targets are a pretty good skill test for those that want to see where they stand. The target will guide you through the basics such as drawing, reloading, transitioning targets, and shooting one-handed. That is all good, but if you get a bundle of 100 of these babies, you might like to hear that there are things you can use it for things other than just what is printed or suggested on the target. Creativity is key to a fun and challenging time at the range.

How many times have you been told to "FOCUS ON THE FRONT SIGHT"? I can tell you that this has rang against my ear drum for years, since I was in boot camp and on the range. Jeff Cooper even said "Blessed are those who, in the face of death, think only about the front sight." This is a bit radical and unreasonable in my mind. It is like saying you are perfect if you have zero fear in combat and you are completely cold and indifferent to killing or being killed. Instead I think a better and wiser quote would be " Blessed are those who can account for their sights, even in the face of death." This term is more rational in my mind.

Physical conditioning for combat is not something I would take lightly. I know plenty of people who think they will simply rise to the occasion when it comes time to fight for their life. However, the first time they have to hump gear or do any real work, the excuses flow about why they can't keep up. All these movies showing people shooting and moving at a sprint pace is not something these individuals just picked up and started doing with ease. Even when they are in the middle of sprinting in their gear and manipulating their weapons, they are pretty well fatigued and fighting to maintain awareness and concentration on the fight. This requires lots of physical training, repetition, and coordination. If you want to be conditioned to fight, there are a few things you will need to keep in mind.

The center axis relock is a style of shooting that has been around for a good long while, but has become more noticed as of late, thanks to the John Wick series of movies. I do not think that it is a bad thing to have this semi-mysterious and showy style presented on film. However, I think that people might be interested to learn a little bit about the style and how it was intended to be used. In addition, I would like to cover my own observations about the John Wick style of using this style for offensive close quarters engagements.