What CCW related training have you had?

[BearFlagger]

Note: The following is my experience and MY OPINION only. I am not employee, paid, or instructed to advocate or promote any one persons site for any gain to myself or anyone else. If it typed it, I believe it on my own.

I have found a comfortable fit with Greg Blocks' Self-defense firearms training (www.firearmstraining.com). There are several reasons beyond the obvious. First and foremost I am not in law enforcement, I don't pretend to be one nor do I have the desire at this point. Add to that I'm not rambo, I'm not military, and I'm not a weekend warrior looking to take my agressions out on an innocent piece of wood and paper.

I was looking for realistic and useful self-defense training that is pratical for use in my home and for my family. That's exactly what I got from training with Mr. Block. I have so far taken his basic and intermediate courses and I can gurarntee that I'll be back for more. The focus on safety, the reality of the situations, and most important of all, this point a this is point b style of training makes it, in my opinion, one of the best options.

His classes are tought with someone who's ever held a gun all the way through advanced law enforcement officers. You are in an enviroment that makes you feel comfortable and you will never be made a fool of for asking ANY question simple or advanced. And perhaps the most important reason that sets his style of training apart for the rest is: Shooting. You will absolutly sit in the class room and go over everything you need to know: however, that would all be fairly useless without extensive hands on training. The "talk some, shoot more" interactive experience is what set it apart for me.

In addition I have also trained for my Utah CCW with another recommended trainer at www.alphasafetytraining.com

I can only speak of my own experiences however, I think it's safe to say that in addition to training with established and safe companies you should search out a trainer or training system that if comfortable and fits you and your training needs.

[canuck]

Currently I have my California ccw, did that deal, working on NRA Instructor training with the Range safety officer, pistol handling, personal protection endorsements, Utah ccw, Nevada ccw as well as Florida ccw! I have taken private lessons in low light combat,defensive pistol training, close quarters training, point shooting fundamentals and introductory tactical shotgun defensive training. Real busy but need credentials for my future endeavors of private security and law enforcement tactics instructor.

[sealbeach]

Coast Guard marksmanship training at Fort Ord, CCW class with Bill Murphy Firearms Training Associates, and Intermediate Handgun with Greg Block Firearms Training. Of the three, no question Greg Block does the best job--not to say anything bad about the others---i got a lot out of Greg's class, in a comfortable atmosphere, instead of just barking out orders, he explains things. http://www.firearmstraining.com

[VanLogan]

I have taken quite a bit of training recently and here they are...

Greg Block at firearmstraining.com
Intermediate Pistol
Excellent Class but dang I went through some ammo

TJ Johnston allsafedefense.com
Basic Pistol x4 (I help instruct this one as well)
Intermediate Pistol x2
Advanced Handgun Challenge x2
Cert for NRA Pistol Instructor
TJ is a great teacher

Master Sgt Rick Brown (SEAL Pistol Instructor)
Iron Sights Oceanside (Private 1on1 instruction)
Basic Combat Pistol
Advanced Combat Pistol

IDPA Prado
I have shot many matches there

OT Saturday Competition
x2

[SilentOne]

I have taken the following classes through Firearms Training Associates. All classes were taught by Bill Murphy.

General Handgun
Advanced Pistol
Pistol Night Ops.
Basic Live Fire
Advanced Live Fire
Surefire Low-light Instructor Course Level 1
Advanced Scenarios
Gunsite Advanced Pistol Tactics

This April, wanting to get a different perspective, and to broaden my horizon, I took the Intermediate Handgun Series with ITTS. The ITTS class was taught by Scott Reitz.

After having studied under Bill and Scott, I will say that if I had to pick whether I would select Bill or Scott as a beginner or as an advanced student, I really will not be able to differentiate on the basis of the quality of the instructors. Both are superb instructors. Almost all the tactics and techniques taught by both schools are pretty much the same. If there is a difference, then it is based on valid reasons, and not just some vodoo science.

I will admit that the one advantage of taking a class with FTA is that they have an End of the Month shoot where one gets a chance to do all the drills that a student has learned in the General Handgun Class (five point draw, tactical reloads, shooting on the move, malfunction drills, etc.). ITTS does not have anything like that. I think that I am lucky that Iron Sights in Oceanside allows people to draw from their holsters. That is great as I can continually practice and refine my basic skills. Personally, taking a class is all fine and dandy, but if it is not followed up by dedicated, continuous practice, then IMHO the class was a waste.

As I mentioned earlier, even though I started off studying under Bill, I highly recommend both Bill Murphy (FTA) and Scott Reitz (ITTS). From a personality perspective both are very professional, although I think that Bill is jovial and Scott takes time warming up to the students. None of the instructors is harsh, except probably to the over-sensitive types. Neither Bill nor Scott got wound up when I mentioned that I took a class (or classes) with the other. Both have an "open door" policy, and both take the time to answer their students' questions during class or months after the class. Let's put it this way, I will definitely sign up for the Advanced Handgun Series with ITTS as soon as the hotel rates go down in the off season (if there is an off season in SoCal).

[rundmlee]

I've taken multiple training classes from multiple schools:
Self Defense Firearms Training
Firearms Training Associates
FrontSight
Tactical Response Systems

They were all were excellent schools. I was glad to have had training from each of these schools since even though they had much overlap in their course curriculum, I was able to also gain some unique perspective/information/technique from each of the schools. I will continue to take training from these schools as well as seek out new schools, such as ITTS, and try to continue to take the best from all they have to provide.