Training classes available in Arizona, Q3/Q4 2020

[AJS214]

I'm crossposting this from where I originally put it up on the AZguns subreddit, with some minor edits.

The NICS checks numbers are nice. So are the numbers on permit applications. But how many of us in Arizona will go this year, and stay every year, beyond the one percent in Texas? In order to stay current, a student must attend formal training, in addition to practice and competition.

The following list is based on what I'm looking at for the rest of the year, mostly from traveling trainers.

7/21: Active Self Protection - Defending the Defenseless, Online Seminar
https://activeselfprotection.com/shop/l ... r-asp-ceo/

-- I've put this in its own thread, so check that for more information.

8/2: Immediate Action Combatives - Functional MUC
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/functional ... elpanelorg

-- MUC stands for Managing Unknown Contacts. Here's a PDF and a video explaining it. Regardless of whether firearms, knives, pepper spray, or empty handed techniques are in your toolset, you must be able to use your voice and move your body to be in the most advantageous position while an interaction with a stranger is still ambiguous. As anyone who's been to Cecil Burch's classes with Glen Stilson before (Close Contact and Entangled), this is much easier said than done, and needs more practice and repetition than the 1.5 day format allows.

10/10-10/11: Slytac Training Solutions - Injured, But Not Out
https://www.slytactraining.com/injured-but-not-out.html

-- Bryan Veliz is part of the Centrifuge Training cadre, and it shows in his teaching ability. Many instructors will briefly address shooting with one hand in different ways, but not to this level of depth while incorporating positions, concealment/cover, and movement. Much of the material in this class and the rest of his curriculum is tailored to both law enforcement and regular citizens, with original research and public data to back it up.

10/18: Immediate Action Combatives - Retention Shooting Workshop
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/retention- ... elpanelorg

-- Unfortunately a lot of institutional inertia, and most range restrictions, continue to perpetuate the outdated technique that is the Bill Jordan/Charles Askins, et. al style speedrock at very close distance. Remember what it was like to learn the four-count drawstroke and the time it took to smooth that out? Now you need to learn the Thumb Pectoral Indexand take the time to smooth that out too. Here is a preview of Cecil's material as I've posted in the SIRT pistol thread. If you have some level of interest or familiarity with grappling and/or concealed carry, this (along with MUC) this addresses a critical intersection between these two disciplines.

10/24-10/25: BlueGreen Alliance - Dynamic Marksmanship Course, Rifle/Pistol
https://www.bluegreen-alliance.com/stor ... iflepistol

-- I have not attended a class with them before. It looks like they have recently gone from closed enrollment only (LE/GOV agencies) to adding some open enrollment for the first time since last year, which got a write-up in Recoil Offgrid. I'm under the impression that if you want a taste of what the professionals get, this would be it. The only other training of this style I've seen offered in the $300 range was Glock Professional's Operator Course, which requires a GSSF membership if you're not a cop or a soldier, and they've raised the price since then.

11/7-11/8: Massad Ayoob Group - MAG20
https://massadayoobgroup.com/event/mag2 ... ngagement/

-- Unless you took your mandatory CCW class with someone like Tim Forshey or Myles Schneider or have them on retainer, you very likely did not learn the pertinent Arizona Revised Statutes nor how they've been interpreted in previous case law, from a self-defense attorney. The next best thing is to have the legendary Mas teach you the principles of knowing use of force so that you can prevail in the courts as well as the streets. Your attendance in this class will even be documented and admissible as evidence in your favor, should you ever need it.

11/13-11/15: Rangemaster Firearms Training Services - Handgun Instructor Development
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/three-day- ... 4653690467

-- Tom Givens started offering private training to everybody back in the days where you could start working OJT as a police officer even before you graduated the academy, and most recruits were presumed to have a baseline of firearms experience growing up. Things have gotten a little better since then, in part due to his decades-long efforts. If you're familiar with the NRA Basic Pistol Intructor and/or USCCA Instructor training and felt like you wanted more, then you should attend this. Even if you haven't and have no aspirations to instruct, you should still attend this. Be advised that previous students have failed the written test and shooting tests and not certified.

11/21-22: Tim Herron Shooting - 2-Day Practical Performance
http://timherronshooting.com/schedule.html
http://timherronshooting.com/practicalperformance.html

-- If Gabe White is bridging the gap more from the defensive side, Tim Herron is bridging the gap more from the competition side. Whatever your reasons for getting better, you will make measureable improvements as shown on the timer for efficiency of movement and vision so that you can make better decisions behind the gun. You can be a high-level gamer looking to shave tenths of a second, or a new owner who just bought their first belt and holster, and Tim will give you more individual coaching and feedback than anybody on this list short of paying for a one-on-one lesson. There are very few, if any, USPSA Grandmasters like him offering what he does at his price, and it has been suggested to him multiple times to raise it despite his hesitations. Here's a preview of some of his stuff.

12/11: Citizens Defense Research - Technical Handgun, Tests and Standards
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phoenix-ar ... 4673399687

-- For eight hours in your life, John Johnston has you step outside of competition or defensive context completely, introducing alternative approaches to the fundamentals of stance, grip, sight, and trigger, with some nifty and challenging tests along the way. This is a good class for serious students of the pistol to assess their ability to adapt and perform while trying something different than what they're used to, and for beginning students who have some familiarity with both holster fundamentals and pistol fundamentals, but haven't been to a competition or a class that introduces the pressure of shooting with a timer and shooting with everyone else on the line watching them.

12/12-12/13: Citizens Defense Research - Contextual Handgun, The Armed Parent/Guardian
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phoenix-az ... 4675413711

-- Melody Lauer (with assistance from John Johnston) pretty much wrote the blog, and probably the book, on dealing with the realities of personal protection with a firearm for parents (especially moms) of young children. It's often been brought up that of the many reason for needing to be skilled in singlehanded shooting, one of them is to have a free hand to control and protect your baby and/or your spouse. This is the only training available I'm aware of outside the executive protection sector, and most of us aren't bodyguards for a living. As stated in the class description, you have one additional option besides the full two-day course, which is four hours of classroom lecture only, for $100. Note that the shooting portion of the class will also have four hours of basic concealed handgun skills, before going into the hard skills previously discussed in the classroom.

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Unless otherwise indicated, I have taken training with all of the folks on this list, and I'm open to answer questions or link to reviews. Some of you guys will also be able to vouch for them, or suggest other opportunities that I haven't listed, as this is by no means exhaustive.

[AJS214]

Since the forum URL limit has been capped at 20 links per post, I'm continuing here.

11/21-11/22: Presscheck Training and Consulting - No-Fail Pistol
https://presscheckconsulting.com/training

-- Be advised, if you don't already regularly practice at 25 yards with your handgun, including with strong hand and support hand only,make sure you know what that's like before going to this. I hear Chuck Pressburg holds you accountable for every single round you fire over the two days you're with him, and the only other trainer I know who's that strict is Jeff Gonzales. Unfortunately, I'll be taking Tim Herron's class while this one is going on.

Here's what was available earlier this year that you missed out on:

7/6-7/10: Massad Ayoob Group - Deadly Force Instructor
https://massadayoobgroup.com/event/dead ... tructor-2/

- Formerly the LFI/Lethal Force Institute. Massad Ayoob pretty much wrote the book(s) on how to stay out of the jailhouse and the poorhouse and not just the hospital or the morgue. This is a weeklong course for self-defense instructors to teach use of force to their students as well as how to testify on their behalf. With Marty Hayes of the Firearms Academy of Seattle. Both of them also are on the board of the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network.

- This class is pretty much packed. Keep an eye out for his MAG-20 and MAG-40 classes like the one I listed above, because as sharp as Mas' mind is, he's in his twilight years and will still be around for only so long. I consider both his book on Deadly Force and Andrew Branca's book on The Law of Self Defense to be required reading for any concealed carrier and/or home defender.

10/10-10/11: Gabe White Training - Pistol Shooting Solutions
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pistol-sho ... 0397945226

- Known for competing as a Master class in USPSA from concealment with a stock pistol. One of the few bridges to close the ever-narrowing gap between the competitive and defensive worlds. You will push your technical stand-draw-and-shoot performance at seven yards under his tutelage more than anyone else you will see in Arizona.

- It's no surprise this class sold out in less than a week after it was posted. He'll be back next year. In the meantime, make sure that your holster draw/reholster safety and fundamentals are down pat, and that you can consistently hit a 6"x6" target at 10 yards untimed, on-demand. If you have a shot timer (if not, you should), take a look at his Technical Skills Tests that will be done in class. If you're feeling really spicy, try the Vice Card Challenge.