Cruel Hand Luke

Got that email last night and am not terribly happy about it.....   I busted my butt last year travelling around shooting enough sanctioned matches to get into the World Championship in Puerto Rico. I was looking forward to taking the wife there on vacation and shooting the match while we were there. That makes for a cool vacation to a tropical locale.....now I get to go back to Tulsa.... Wow. Now instead of going to the beach and to some cool historical places maybe we can go to the tumbleweed museum or the stock yard....... :shrug:

OK, but if G19 and SW MP Compact are OK (per the announcement) then it truly is not a "BUG" friendly classification. Sure you can shoot your Khar PM9 if you want....but someone with a "mid size" pistol is going to have a huge advantage if stages are same as the rest of the match. An 18 round stage is 3 full mags from a Khar PM9....... And shooting 5 round only stages with a G19 is just frankly just ludicrous.   If it is a seperate category to be run at matches on the same course of fire with SSP Division capacity then OK, fine,  that makes sense. People are going to shoot the biggest gun they can to be competitive and as such, the G19, one of the most carried CCW guns is conspicuously absent at IDPA matches in the holsters of higher level shooters.    I shot 10 sanctioned matches this year and do not remember seeing 10 TOTAL G19 sized guns in my squads all year combined. So if this is adding a division so that people can compete against each other with one of the most often carried CCW firearms and not full size service guns and long slide competition guns in the same division then I'm all for it. ....but if this is just a bastardization of the BUG matches but allowing bigger guns than are currently allowed in BUG then that is a waste of time and effort and ANOTHER big miss by IDPA HQ.   Add the CCP and KEEP the BUG stuff too, don't get rid of the BUG by adding a category that they CAN shoot their BUG in but will never be competitive in. Heck, for that matter you can shoot a BUG in SSP now.....but no one does so they need to keep BUG as a seperate thing, not merge it with CCP.

Where did you see/hear that?

These two classes are coming up in just about 4 weeks! If you wanted to get started on the right foot thses two are for you. If you need a refresher on defensive pistol skills and shotgun skills then this is for you. Last chance at it in the TN/GA/AL area in 2014, so come on out and join us. You'll be glad you did.

The 15 round tend to be more reliable anyway....   With modern ammo (Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense) the M1 is more effective now than ever before. It may not be uber-modern and sexy , or look cool on the cover of Recoil magazine, but the M1 carbine is still a reliable and accurate gun in the zero to 100 yard range. Would I suggest you buy one over a new AR ? No simply because the AR is a more modular design and it can be accessorized and customized easier. But if you already have an M1 or can get one for a good price, they are solid performers....and always have been if you actually hit what you are shooting at....

I will probably be doing one in the not too distant future. I'll post it here as soon as I have a date on it.

Quick reminder, this pair of classes is coming up in about a month.   This is an excellent opportunity to get a 1 day pistol class and a 1 day shotgun class all in the same weekend.   I hope to see you there!!! 

Less than a week to go ! It is looking like this class will be on the small side so if you were looking to get a lot of personal attention and one on one coaching in the skills of fighting at two arms length and closer then this is your chance! 

ONE WEEK TO GO ON THIS ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THREE DAYS TO GO!    Weather is supposed to be 65 and partly cloudy ...perfect weather for this type class. 

One week to go!!!! This event is THIS COMING SUNDAY.  If you ever wondered how you'd react to a touching distance attack, how you'd be able to get to your gun and how you'd keep from getting the gun taken away from you this is the perfect opportunity to add those tools to your toolbox. Hope to see you there!

November 22, 2014 Suarez International COMBAT PISTOL MARKSMANSHIP Chattanooga, Tennessee Price: $200 Instructor: Randy Harris In this class you will learn how to fire an accurate shot with your carry handgun, from concealment, in situations replicating what may be necessary to prevail in a proactive street gunfight. This course is perfect for the novice or new CCW licensee (although no licenses are necessary to attend). DURATION: 1 day   TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM (Central Time)   AMMUNITION: Approximately 150 rounds (Minimum)   YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape)   REQUIREMENTS: Modern Defensive Pistol, Holster specifically made for that pistol and designed to be worn on the belt at the "strong side", 3 Magazines and One Magazine Pouch, A Belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, Range Safety Gear (Eye protection and ear protection) To register......http://www.suarezinternationalstore....anooga-tn.aspx And then on Sunday..... November 23, 2014 Suarez International DEFENSIVE SHOTGUN Chattanooga, Tennessee Price : $200 Instructor: Randy Harris The shotgun is the top choice among Americans for limited role home defense. In its niche it is a devastating weapon. This one day class will teach you everything you need to know to employ this iconic American fighting tool to its best utility. DURATION: 1 Days   TIME: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Central Time)   AMMUNITION: Approximately 100 rounds of Birdshot, 50 rounds of Buckshot, 15 Slugs and 50 rounds of pistol ammunition.   YOU NEED TO BRING: Clothing appropriate to the weather. Lunch, snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day. Baseball or other style hat, sunscreen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), folding chair, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape).   REQUIREMENTS: Shotgun (any caliber pump or semi-auto). All shotguns must be equipped with a sling and a stock. Pistol with at least two magazines, suitable belt, holster, and magazine pouches. A method of carrying extra shotgun ammo (for example: shoulder bag, ammo pouches, side saddle, or butt cuff). Ear & eye protection.     To register.....http://www.suarezinternationalstore....anooga-tn.aspx Sign up for BOTH classes and save $50! Both classes together for the discounted price of $350

Just a reminder...this class is coming up in about 3 weeks!

AWESOME.    The little details being accounted for makes the difference in a match and an excellent match....Hognut runs an excellent match.

Hey Hognut, as to the lunch situation will there be "extra lunches" for non shooters to purchase?   Making sure that we don't run into a situation like at the Nationals where they made no provision for "non shooters" who were there with the "shooters".  Apparently their plan was to feed all the shooters and then if any lunches were left over then non shooters could purchase lunch...   The first problem with that plan was that lunch was already over before you would even know if there would be any extra left over and the other problem was they apparently didn't have enough lunches for the shooters...much less the non shooters....so the non shooting spouses etc either had to go without lunch or then had to try to leave the range after lunch was over and navigate a strange city to find food instead of being there watching the shooters when they started back shooting.......

OK. When "the Knoxville group" did the back in 06 the guy who taught it was a certified Monadnock instructor. He mentioned that ASP certifies people to use ASP equipment only but Monadnock certifies the material you use.....not the weapon. So I was just curious as to who the certification was through.

Who was the training certified by? Was in Monadnock? 

Ok guys, this has been a long time in coming but it is here now! This is a full day of empty hand skills. No crouching tiger hidden dragon silliness, just good solid old school combatives combined with some modern influence and geared toward the street not the octagon. The class is priced accordingly and there is a hefty discount for anyone who is signed up for the Zero To Five class Oct 25-26.....http://www.suarezinternationalstore....x#.VCLOI_ldUas Students don't have to be a cross fit instructor, you just have to be in good enough condition to do one of our regular pistol classes.  TITLE- "Stayin' Alive" - Empty Hand Combatives in a Weapons Based Environment DATE- October 19  TIME- 10AM- 4PM CENTRAL TIME!!! LOCATION- Phillips Edwards Farm 763 County Rd 332 Pisgah Alabama 35765 (the usual place) PRICE- $100 (ONLY $50 if you are signed up for the Zero to Five October 25-26 ) Just bring check or cash to the Training Group.  AMMO - 50 rounds...this class is all empty hand techniques and transitioning to weapons but there is a little live fire to tie it all together.  EQUIPMENT NEEDED- Pistol , holster, Blue gun or Airsoft pistol (I do have loaners if your holster will work with a full size glock), Paintball mask or at a MINIMUM shooting glasses - getting poked in the eye sucks... OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT- mouthpiece and cup. Seriously, no one likes getting hit in the junk. A cup is a good investment . Training knife if you want to bring one. Focus pads-if you have 'em bring 'em. ANY kind of personal padding you want to bring.  This is NOT an MMA class. This is NOT a traditional martial arts class. This is a combatives class based on dealing with criminal assault initially with empty hands and bridging to weapons if needed. This is an awesome primer for our Zero To Five class.  The reason we are offering this is that when polled on what they want to work on the training group students say they'd like to do a combatives class. It makes sense. You cannot carry a gun everywhere...but you carry hands, feet, elbows and knees every where you go. Also you cannot just shoot everyone who hits you. And sometimes gunfights and knife fights start as fistfights and usually start before you get a weapon in hand. If all you have in the tool box is to stand and shoot ..well...good luck with that.  Hope to see you there!!!!!!!

So....how'd it go?

This one is coming up in about a month.....

This one is coming up this weekend. We still have spots available if anyone else still wants to get in on this one!

Then I'd strongly suggest you not run around handcuffing people...... ;)

Thanks man, been working with Mike Fielden in the evenings after work getting ready for the match. I'm about as ready as I'm going to get....now it is just up to me to steady the nerves and keep mistakes to a minimum. 

Yeah....cops tend to take a dim view of self appointed "citizen police"...... carrying a gun to defend yourself is one thing....carrying handcuffs or zip ties makes you look like either a cop wannabe or a sexual predator.....and I'd damn sure make sure I didn't have any gloves, duct tape, a hatchet, saw or a shovel in my car if I were going to carry cuffs on my person.....just sayin'....

Holy cow people.....this opportunity does not come along every day.    It is cheap, and only 4 hours out of your life and it will open up new options you previously did not have in carrying tools to defend yourself. It is ILLEGAL in TN to carry an impact weapon....unless you are certified in the use of an impact weapon.....go to this and get certified! I did the class to get certified back in 2006 but if I were going to be in town on the 13th I'd probably go do this one just because it would be a fun time.    Seriously....I don't know why more people are not making use of this opportunity......