After completing the first two courses in POMW I, which had absolutely lived up to expectations, I was very much looking forward to the third and final course in POMW I. We had trained dry training at home, partly to ensure that what we had learned, did not go into oblivion, partly to get the basic technique and safety into the spine.
The second course was a very intense course, with a duration of about 8 hours, where we practiced safety, safety and safety as well as a good portion of basic dry training, which consisted of shooting with Airguns and laserguns (SIRT) from a stationary position.
In the third course, we repeated what we had gone through earlier and continued with transition shooting. That is, where there were several targets, and the shooting position had to be continuously corrected in order to hit the targets.
It must be added that my own shooting experience is limited to shooting wood snails with an air gun ;O) and my motivation for participating in the course is partly to learn to shoot and handle a gun, but also to experience how I can transfer my learning from Yakami Shinsei-ryu Taijutsu & Karate-do to shooting, which is a completely different sport, which has also made me curious about how the two things can even be connected and where the common thread is to be found.
After a thorough and exciting theoretical and historical introduction in the first course, and more practical training in the second course, a picture began to emerge - in the third course - of the mindset, attitude and mental state required for to be able to hit correctly every time.
There is of course correct posture, breathing and gun handling that are of great importance to getting a good shot, but in fact it is the mental state and clarity that is absolutely critical to placing a good shot EVERY time!
During all the courses, in addition to safety and basic technique, we also heard concepts such as ego, believe in the process and be humble repeated several times. It slowly dawned on me that my reaction to whether I had a good shot or a bad shot (probably happened a time or two…cough-cough) affected my next shot. It was my ego that played a trick on me that either I could be euphoric about a good shot and thus reduce my focus in a negative direction for the next shot, OR I could be annoyed by a bad shot and take the negative feeling on with to the next shot. When shooting, there is an immediate consequence as soon as the shot is fired and you can see the result immediately on the target. It is therefore not useful to dwell on the feelings, but to accept the result and move on. Then you can learn from your mistakes afterwards and improve better for the next shooting.
And that brings me on to the fact that you have to believe in the process; This means, among other things, do as you have learned and do not focus on the target and use the aiming devices instead. You immediately think that you have to focus on the target in order to hit it, yes and no - You must of course be able to see the target, but if the front sight points to the target and it is correct in relation to the two rear reticle, yes, you hit actually! I wear glasses and can only see a blurry target in the distance, but when I did as I had learned ie. believing in the process, proper gun handling and position, yes I actually hit really well and even every time when my ego wasn't playing tricks on me.
It is obviously not a process that I have mastered after three courses, but I am now beginning to understand that it is closely related to the fact that I must know myself before it all comes together. It was just some of what was told during the theory course and things are slowly starting to come together! There is still a long way to go for me, as it is only from Menkyo degrees ("To know yourself") where you have the best prerequisites and knowledge to understand the process.
The above-mentioned concepts became even clearer in the third course, where movement was introduced when shooting for several targets - Several shots had to be fired in a row and you had to make a transition from one position to another before the next shot. There was no point in letting your ego get in the way, because otherwise you wouldn't hit what you were supposed to! Here it was essential to use the knowledge we had gained, to be able to hit it right every time (which was also not successful every time 😊).
The degree of difficulty was now increased further, as we now had to run on a track, from one position to a new one and hit new targets - For my part, the pressure was now greater and I often forgot the very basic positions and had to fight to believe in the process. The primary goal (we were told later) was not necessarily to hit the bullseye, but to complete the course as quickly as possible while also hitting the target.
I prioritized hitting the bullseye, but even though it went reasonably well, I certainly didn't complete the course quickly, so there is some work ahead (and it's probably something to believe in the process and leave the ego in the drawer!).
But that shows exactly what it means to be humble enough to learn! If you go around thinking you're as cool as Clint Eastwood (or Kimu Sensei 😊), then there's still a long way to go. But that is exactly what I think is a step on the road to self-knowledge and getting to know myself - believe in yourself, but let yourself learn with humility.
The entire POMW I course has so far lived up to my expectations and I am looking forward to POMW II where our limits and abilities will be pushed once again, thank you.... I guess.
