It Isn't About Just Knowing How To Shoot.

      Self-defense is not about just knowing how to shoot. It is a mind set and physical ability. Training to shoot is absolutely a key component. However, leaning to be proficient with a handgun is far more that passing a License to Carry Class. It is about training yourself to be prepared. It is also about training yourself to be situational aware.
      I’m a guy who is well on the north side of middle age. I learned how to shoot when I was a kid. That means I could hit a stationary target without shooting myself or someone else. It didn’t mean I knew how to defend myself on my loved ones. I was trained as a police officer in the 1970’s at that time weapons qualification was one a year 100 rounds from 5 yards, 10 yards and 25 yards, standing in one place and shooting at a stationary target. In the Army qualification was also once a year, but again it was a test of self defense it was standing in one spot shooting at one target at various distances. None of these scenarios involved a great deal of physical exertion.
      I began self-defense training about a decade ago. I learned one thing really quick. I needed to get in shape. Self defense involves not only shooting, it also involves moving, and moving quickly. Situational awareness keeps you on your toes, but once you recognize a threat, you must deal with it. The first rule of gunfighting, is don’t get in one if you can get away from the threat, that means moving quickly. If you can’t get away from the threat and must counter, it then a golden rule is distance is your friend. To maintain distance, you must move quickly. An average bad guy can cover 21 feet in a blink of an eye. That means you must get off the mark, draw, and engage in that same blink of an eye. If your exercise regimen has consisted of working the remote or game console, you may very well loose the movement and distance game and thus loose the fight.
      Maintaining an exercise regimen doesn’t mean training for a decathlon. It means maintaining a physical level of activity that helps your body cope with stress and rapid short movements. How you do that is determined by your age and your level of fitness. If you’re my age the way your exercise will be different than when I was in my 20’s or 30’s. It will, however, help me maintain cardiac stamina, agility and strength.
     It is never to late to begin to train your body and your mind to react to a threat situation. Start small and build up over time. This isn’t a one-time thing to get to a certain level then quit. As you age, your physical abilities will change, you must continue a regimen that allows you to stay fit to fight for your lifetime.