Moving beyond fundamentals to dynamic shooting, but keeping the fundamentals, and being a practical shooter

I have now also trained dynamic shooting - here in the form of IPSC shooting. Outdoors under the open sky, with sun, rain, wind and cold. And it's like watching Pinocchio, being conjured from a wooden puppet into a real live boy.

In POMW! 1 we learned safety as well as basic and optimal shooting technique according to the Shindenkan shooting manual. It was practiced during lots of dry training. In addition, it was practiced in range shooting, carried on to terrain shooting with transition, and to IPSC with movement - all with airguns, supplemented with SIRT (professional laser pistol). For us chief instructors there was also shooting with cal. 0.22 in shooting association.

In POMW! 2, which we chief instructors took in parallel, with POMW! 1 we learned (again 🙂 ) safety as well as basic and optimal shooting technique according to Shindenkan's shooting manual. It was practiced during even more dry training. In addition, it was practiced in range shooting with cal 0.22, and to a limited extent with 9mm. It took place in accordance with the regulations of the law in an approved shooting association.

In POMW! 3, we took the theory and the basic and optimal shooting technique into the "field". Over 3 compact sessions of 5-6 hours of effective shooting, our shooting came under more realistic conditions. Initially, simply because we were under the open sky, with light and weather as our masters and DMI had decided that that day. For me it meant shooting came to life and became much more enjoyable. Shooting indoors, or semi-indoors under a half roof, is comfortable free of drizzle and blinding sunshine, but also devoid of life compared to shooting in the open.
The shooting also took place in full IPSC rig, i.e. belt with pistol holster and magazine holders, so we could get used to it.
Outdoors, we practiced range shooting at increasing distances (7, 12, 15, 20, 25 and 50 meters) both as single shots with double action, as 2 shots with double action and single action, and as series of 5 shots, to practice reset, which is the shortest possible travel of the trigger before the gun can fire again.
We also practiced terrain shooting, i.e. shooting with transitions between different targets, and went through the recommended order in which to take targets, as well as how to assess whether the recommendation also suited you. Kimu Sensei placed a lot of emphasis on the rhythm of the shooting, which should be constant, and not in bursts or changing speeds.
Periodically we were Range Chicken; we collected used cartridge cases. Each time it was a golden opportunity to think about one's own efforts, analyze and celebrate before the next round.

In the first shooting session, we focused on precision and analysis of our shot series, also against steel targets at a distance of 50m. We received individual feedback from Kimu Sensei about our mistakes, weaknesses as well as strengths and continuous improvement.
In the second shooting session, we focused on maintaining the accuracy while increasing the speed, as in IPSC it is about completing as quickly as possible, with the best possible number of points. Here we also started to focus on strategy and choice – in this case, the order in which to shoot different targets

The next stage was to add movement, and then we're done with IPSC
Here we reviewed how to best move the body to the positions from which to shoot, and in what way. Here, we know a lot about body movements, balance, etc. from Karate, and were able to draw on lots of examples that were relevant for IPSC.
Here again we used SIRT pistols – professional precision laser pistols, with exactly the same weight, balance and feel as Glock pistols. This allowed us to draw from our pistol holster and move during the shooting, which otherwise requires an A license in Denmark.
We trained by going through the different targets and "shooting" walking forward, walking to the side, walking backwards, and walking to the other side, exactly as we had learned with airguns at POMW! 1.
On the third shooting session, we also tried to navigate around barricades, as well as learned how to best get into a shooting position, and out of the shooting position again, quickly and safely, as well as how the gun must be pointed while moving.
We ended the third and final shooting session by running through a stage to see how the combination of movement and precision was, and how good our choices were.
On my first "run" I got through our little IPSC stage in 41 seconds, which was the second fastest time. It was a good time that I would like to improve on the second attempt. It just didn't work out that way, because when I chose to run further towards the target to make sure I hit it. BUT it doesn't take much running for the heart rate to rise, making it that much harder to hold the gun steady. So time for the second (and optimized runs) was 47 seconds. Then I can learn to trust my shooting 🙂
In reality, you also have to consider whether you have hit a popper or record, something experience says you cannot always hear with ear protection (electronic ear protection is recommended), and there is also magazine change to think about. Here you change the magazine before the gun is empty, to save precious time, and to know where you are and how much ammunition you have left.
Everyone remembers the scene from Dirty Harry where Clint Eastwood pretends not to know if he has a cartridge left in his Magnum .44 or not. Life is too short not to know if you have more ammunition left - or at least it can be short! 🙂

Summary

IPSC is bold and vibrant, and associated with light and fresh air. IPSC is also to that extent more difficult, while at least I have the feeling of exercising something alive and active, rather than range shooting, where you have up to almost infinite time to make the perfect shot.
But reality is not like that! You never have time to put everything on hold, to analyze everything thoroughly. When you have finished analyzing, the rest of the world has moved on and the result is outdated.
I am looking forward to the upcoming license test, where my marksmanship combined with my ability to move will be assessed together.