Awareness

[TheBrick]

I read Brian's book about a year ago and even though I have an IQ of 148 and a college degree; I can say it was the most cerebral expression of shooting that I ever read. I wasn't quite sure I would ever come to terms with any of the concepts he expressed.

Months ago, I started training for steel matches and I was getting nowhere. I then convinced myself that regardless of my instincts, I must shoot as fast as I possibly could even if it meant I didn't hit the plates. At first, I would knock down two plates at a five to six second time (at 10 yards-9 inch plates) . Then as I forced myself to continue to shoot faster and I could knock down three or four plates in about the same time. Within the last couple of months, I started shooting at paper plates so I wouldn't wait for audio input and I would rely just on my sights and calling my shot. Within the last month I finally became AWARE of my sights and index without consciously making it happen, just letting it happen but with being aware of what was happening. This was happening so fast that I couldn't think it in my head while it was taking place. It was just there. I could think about it afterward but not when it happened. My time for knocking down all five plates at the same distance is now well under four seconds. If I could get my draw down to one second, I could easily knock all five plates down in under three seconds.

I guess I just wanted to share that it took approx. one year and forcing myself to shoot as fast as I could on a target that would not indicate a sound response in order to finally become AWARE and FOCUSED. I found that it is something that finally finds you and the harder you try to make it happen the less likely it will.

I recently shot a USPSA match and the speed at which I engaged the targets was phenomenal as compared with my past experiences. It is almost as if I can shoot the gun on auto pilot which allows me room to think of my movement.

What a great experience it is to be able to shoot accurately at targets without consciously making it happen.

Brain's book is on the money.

[Chris Keen]

BRAVO! Welcome to "calling your shots"!

And welcome to the forums too!