By Tommy Hansen, Member until 2021
POMW I (A, B and C) - Project Old Modern Warrior
Back in 2011/2012 when Kimu Sensei told about the POMW project and Minouchi Sensei's hypotheses at the Christmas, spring and summer meetings, that it is the person behind the weapon that is the decisive factor. It makes a lot of sense but at this point it was quite diffuse for me and I was learning my syllabus a lot. In 1992 I served my military service at Den Kgl. Lifeguard, and have a lot of shooting experience from that time, but since then my shooting experience is very limited. The training I received at the time was not very systematic, so when I started to hear more about the project (and understand more), I was 100% determined that I should participate as soon as I had the opportunity. This article is only about POMW 1 and the three modules A, B and C.
Module A – 12 June 2015:
Module A was designed as a 3 hour interactive lecture and 30 minutes of POMW practical shooting technique. Jens Hanshi-dai was responsible for the lecture and Keld Renshi-dai was responsible for the practical part.
The lecture was based on technological development, which has constantly been driven by survival and being superior to one's opponent. The more primitive a weapon is and the shorter the distance to the enemy, the greater the level of competence, attitude and external and internal clarification it requires from the person behind the weapon, corresponding to a lower level of competence the further away you get from the target.
Why the technological development in weapons something to do with karate? This is because at Shindenkan we practice multi-track karate, where we constantly develop our skills with e.g. Ken jutsu, Kotachi jutsu and Jo jutsu, then it is also about internal and external clarification in relation to one's opponent. In today's Denmark, we don't meet many people on the street who want to fight with swords, but on the other hand, you meet firearms more and more often. In order to understand an opponent with a firearm, one must learn to use a firearm themselves, thus expanding one's toolbox and one's options. This is a clear red thread to Shindenkan's multi-track karate system.
Several times during the course we were challenged in relation to our own attitude to the use of firearms if the opportunity arose, and there were divided opinions on this, although more than expected would increase the opportunities, and thus take advantage of being multi-tracked.
The important thing in POMW is training according to a common thread, step by step. It is a development process that reflects reality with yourself at the center.
Finally, we were introduced to the POMW Shooting Technical Handbook, where optimal shooting position, grip on the pistol, handling of the pistol, and not least SAFETY, SAFETY and SAFETY, and this is repeated in the later modules.
Module B – 22 June 2015:
This module consists of 6-8 hours of practical indoor shooting technical training with CZ 75 airguns and SIRT Laserguns. Before the practical part, the presentation from Module A is reviewed again. It was a pleasant reunion, even if the presentation is a bit long – J, but you get the opportunity to discuss the thoughts and questions that have arisen since Module A, and part of the presentation is also repeated on Module C. Thereby the important points about Do-Michi and that it is the man behind the weapon who is the decisive factor repeated several times. It also gives you the opportunity to reason about the experiences you yourself have had with e.g. firearms within the defence.
Was the POMW Shooting Technical Handbook reviewed again, and now follow carefully and familiarize yourself with the safety rules, and if in doubt ask. When shooting with both airguns and CIRT Lasergun, a breach of the safety rules will result in a disqualification (DQ), which entails 2 min. On the bench, so you can think about what you have done wrong. The safety equipment was also reviewed below. For all POMW shootings, it is a must to wear both inner and outer hearing protection and shooting glasses.
During the shooting with airguns, we shot at targets at different distances, 3, 5, 7 and 13 meters and with the SIRT Lasergun at approx. 12-15 meters. The important thing in these shootings is not really the result of the shooting but the process. That is From standing with the gun pointing 45 degrees down to the floor, pick up the gun, find aim and press the trigger. Here you must ensure that you hold the gun correctly, stand correctly (JEP with the hip cf. KataFit), breathe correctly and that you hold the tricker finger up along the side of the gun, i.e. the finger should not be on the trigger you are aiming at the target and make a correct trigger (straight back). If the finger was on the trigger before there was a target in sight you got a DQ, and yes almost all participants tried to be DQed during the course. The positive thing is that by being DQed during shooting with airguns, you learn from your mistakes before you get on the shooting range and shoot sharp.
With the SIRT Lasergun, you had to work with the same process and safety rules, and learn to hold the gun still and make a proper trigger, and this is revealed by the laser light appearing as a line instead of a dot on the writing.
It's hard work, you're going to sweat, so it's important to have plenty of drinks, a good lunch and something sweet to clear your mind.
Before the course ended, we were given homework during the holiday, we had to train POMW optimal and correct shooting technique during the holiday, so that we were ready for after the holiday 10 – 20 minutes every day.
Module C – 22 August 2015:
As mentioned, the course started again with the POMW presentation, and again we were asked the questions that had come up during the summer holidays. After the presentation again a review of the POMW shooting technical handbook and not least SAFETY.
On Module C, the focus is again on shooting at 3, 5 and 7 meters standing, but the focus is also on shooting in motion now, both going towards a target and going sideways towards several targets. Here, there are many who forget the warning around the finger on the trigger, as you do not constantly have the gun on the target when moving. It is therefore important, especially when shooting sideways at several targets, but also when shooting vertically at several targets, to get the trigger finger up along the side of the gun. There was both shooting with airguns and SIRT Laserguns in motion.
Finally, what we had learned about movement and shooting was tested on an IPSC course, i.e. action course, where you first had to go forward towards a target and put a few shots into it, then go sideways and shoot at 11 targets, where you had to remember that take your fingers off the trigger, then a magazine change, then shoot at 6 torso discs, where you were only allowed to hit the brown ones (the white ones are hostages) and then finally shoot at 3 steel targets on the floor and finally shoot at a steel disc for approx. 180 cm. height. IPSC is called shooting formula 1 and it is demanding, and now remember not to hit the white targets. I can say with a clear conscience that I am fortunately not in the anti-terrorist corps, because if that were the case, then there would have been a hostage loss. So what can I learn from it?
I have to train, train and train, because at the time of writing we have been on the first module of POMW 2, and here you will be punished on the results if you do not train and take the homework seriously. You must train to hold the gun still, take the correct trigger, train your arms to be able to hold the gun stably (they weigh 1-2 kilos).
In summary, POMW I Modul AC is basic shooting training, with a common thread - it is the foundation of the Shindenkan House, you have to crawl before you can walk.
An exciting and recommendable basic competence course in shooting technique and safety, where you learn to take responsibility for yourself and others, as well as learn more about internal and external clarification and, not least, attitude.