AAR Yavapai Firearms Academy 080514-16

Training Training and Tactics
1

I’m currently attending a Yavapai Firearms Academy class with Louis Awerbuck at Southern Exposure Training Facility. We just completed TD2, and I truly believe that I am learning something new and gaining good experience with every shot fired. This is not a run and gun class, this is not a brass making excercise. We shot approximately 200 rounds yesterday and another 200 rifle and 60 handgun today. Round counts vary as Louis does not have a standard “two rounds to the body” instruction technique but instead asks for “1 to 4 rounds in the body and/or the head” with each drill. Because of this some guys undoubtedly have fired more rounds than I have and some have fired less.

Just so you know a little about my background and understand where I’m coming from, I am a non-professional shooter that runs a monthly carbine match in SE Florida, shoots IDPA 1-3 time a month, and attends training classes as often as possible. My handgun training has been with Randy Cain, Bill Jeans, and Travis, Eric, and Chris at SDI (now Magpul Dynamics). My carbine training has been with Randy Cain and Pat Rogers.

TD1 was largely lecture, zeroing, basic movement left and right, etc. Day two was more of the same with transitions to and from the pistol thrown in and finishing up with a randomly moving target. I’m not going to bore you with a blow-by-blow since those of you that have been to classes already know the basics, and those of you that haven’t wouldn’t get it anyway.

Louis really stresses accuracy. Keep your shot in a 4" group. He also manipulates the targets is ways that keep you thinking about what you’re really shooting for. For instance, when shooting at an actual human that is facing 45 degrees to your right, a shot through the bridge of his nose (while certainly a good way to stop a fight when facing him squarely) may be simply a grazing shot. With the paper targets curved and set at angles, and with the shooters moving laterally left and right and shooting on the move (not to mention issues with holdover when shooting an AR) you really have to think about where each and every shot goes as the dynamics of the target change. Even when squarely facing a target, you’re not really shooting for the bridge of his nose, you’re shooting for what’s behind it. Very enlightening way of shooting and thinking about the dynamics of a gunfight.

below is a picture of the targets curved so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. Later in the day these targets were turned approximately 30 degrees off the vertical and later the base were also rotated approximately 45 degrees.

Series of me transitioning from rifle to pistol.

2

Good stuff Rob. Some interesting things to think about there. I’ve heard good things about Mr. Awerbuck.

On a side note… Glock 19, khaki Wilderness belt, chest rig (and non-black at that), gloves (and TAN no less)… There may be hope for you yet!! :smiley: If you had been using an AR, I might have had to pic my jaw up off my desk. :stuck_out_tongue:

3

I decided that this was going to be the year of the Glock and AK and I haven’t touched a 1911 or AR since Pat’s class in December. I wanted to remind myself that this doesn’t have to be expensive. What I’m finding is that I still don’t like the Glock or the AK, but they are serviceable and I still get a certain amount of satisfaction from spanking the AR/1911 guys when it happens.

The gloves are a very necessary evil on the AK. In Randy’s AK class at the beginning of the year I lasted about half of TD1 (which was mostly zeroing) before I cut myself open.

You’ll definitely have to get down to Lakeland one of these days. Pat will be back in December again.

4

Don’t forget the Kydex! :stuck_out_tongue:

5

Rob_s with an AK & Glock.

I think this is a sign of the apocalypse.

:smiley:

6

Louis Awerbuck = Yoda

I’m glad you’re finally experiencing “Life with Louis.” Everyone should do it.

7

Rob, two questions:

Were you the only one running a Kalashnikov variant?

Did LA give you any platform-specific tips or tricks for the AK?

Thanks for the AAR.

8

Louis is always good stuff.

9

I have been fortunate to teach several courses at Gunsite with Louis over the years, and have also been a student in his courses. He is an excellent instructor and should be on everyone’s “go to” list.

His ability to diagnose shooter error is truly amazing.

10

Louis is very much about assessing whether or not you know how to run your platform and leaving you alone if you do. He asked me how I do my speed reloads and tac loads, watched me do each and declared it “good”. So, nothing specific for the AK platform. I was, effectively, the only one shooting an AK.

11

A few videos (if this works) showing a bit of what we did and how skills learned and tested early in the class came back and were built upon later in the class.

First is simply shooting a moving target. This was on TD2 shortly after lunch. The target is randomly moved back and forth by Louis and the shooter must track the movement and get a shot off. We were instructed to shoot for the head but after a miss or two you were allowed to shoot the body. One of the lessons learned here was about follow through. The drill was to fire one shot, and one shot only. Many of the shooters would jerk the gun down immediately after the shot which caused hits in the neck and even lower. The target is also curved which means that you need to think about what part of the internal anatomy you’re hitting, as well as your hold over, as well as track the target.

Next we added non-threats behind the targets as well as a second shooter. Now you have to not only be thinking of hold over, internal anatomy, and tracking but there’s also shoot-throughs to be concerned with as well as the pressure of running against another shooter.

At the end of TD3 we add moving non-threats to the mix as well as keep the two stationary non-threats behind. The threat in this case is the target with the camo hat. The hat also adds another thinking point. Most shooters will bisect the distance from the brim of the hat to the chin and wind up with mouth hits. Depending on the angle of the shot that may or may not be an effective fight ender.

Finally Louis added two more non-threats, a moving non-threat, and another hooter to the mix. Now you REALLY have a whole hell of a lot to think about while trying to get that one perfect head shot on the bad guy.

Now, before anyone asks “why on earth would you take a shot at a single threat target with all those innocents running about behind him?”, let me tell you that you are missing the point. Yes, it is entirely possible that one day you may be faced with exactly that. However, the point of these drills is to step up the thinking. You have got to be able to think and move when you’re shooting. It’s not optional, it’s not negotiable. This goes double, or triple, when you are a non-LEO civilian. The chances, and consequences, for collateral damage are HUGE. Add to that moving bad guys that are constantly changing their position and consequently the location of their fight-stopping internals relative to the aiming point they present on your body, and you have a very complex situation on your hands.

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As mentioned in the original post, the biggest thing that I got from this class was thinking three-dimensionally. When you’re faced with that badguy creeping up the stairs at 03:00, shooting him in the bridge of the nose may or not stop him. That center-head shot that you’ve been practicing at IDPA or IPSC (or even at most training classes) may well do nothing but pass right through the cartilage and out a cheek depending on the angle of the attacker’s head.

To work on this, we started with targets that were still faced straight-on but were curved to more accurately simulate a human profile. This means that the 8" “kill zone” in the body and 4" “kill zone” in the head get reduced by about half. You can see an example of this below. Then you start moving laterally on the line, increasing the angle at which the target is facing away from you.

Then you take these same targets and turn them 45 degrees to the shooter. Now the area that is marked on the target as a “kill shot” may not be. Shooting a target that is presenting a head that is turned 60 degrees away from you in the eye may stop him, may ruin his day, may hurt a great deal, but it’s not stopping his clock and he CAN still fight back. At that angle you may need to take a shot at the ear, or the cheekbone, or (when talking body shots) in the armpit. Now you add movement to this and you could conceivably be presented with a target that is turned 90 degrees to you, totally changing the dynamics of shot placement.

Now lets turn the targets vertically as well as horizontally. Oh, and let’s add cover, and different body types, and body armor, and weapons, etc. Now maybe instead of an ear shot you need a temple shot, or instead of a center-chest you need a collarbone. Oh, and don’t forget about your holdover!

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Now start dealing with potential shoot-throughs on non-threats while moving forward, backward, laterally, and doing reloads and transitions. There is a LOT to think about.

14

Thanks for an excellent series of commentaries.

The target presentations you discuss are one of the best elements of Louis’ curriculum. Most people who have not spent much time shooting at 3-D, moving targets among moving non-threats have no idea the level of complexity it adds to a shooting situation. The progression from flat paper to curved paper to angled curved paper to the movers is more than worth the time and tuition. Add the diagnostic skills that Louis possesses, his focus on accuracy and “good, deep hits,” and you have a unique opportunity for personal development.

My big regret is that he’s teaching a 3-day carbine instructor’s course, but it’s happening the first week of the new semester and it’s unlikely I’ll be able to attend. I will do the carbine/pistol for (I think) the sixth time, though.

Another thing I’ve learned over the years is that while the basics remain the same, no two classes (even the same course during the same week) will be identical. There are always new things to learn or old things to relearn better when you repeat one of his classes. There is also the fact that Louis misses absolutely nothing that happens on his range. You may think he missed your bobbled reload when you were on the opposite end of the line and he was focused on someone else at the time, but when he mentions it the next day, it’s a little spooky. I know some other instructors have a similar awareness, but Louis’ “goes to eleven.” Perhaps the most important thing is that all students get as much (perhaps more in some cases) individual attention as they need or want. I can’t stress the importance of that point enough.

Louis is well known for his shotgun expertise, but in my opinion he’s equally adept at teaching any of the typical weapon systems. For people who carry two or more guns, his High Intensity Tactical Training class (HITT) for handgun/backup handgun is an amazing educational experience. I thought I had my own situation figured out. Then I did the class, and learned I had just scratched the surface. Then I repeated the class the next year and had even more revelations in terms of how I carry, how to best deploy what I do carry (and when), and of course shooting and weapons manipulations both strong hand only and weak hand only. I’ve believed for many years that it’s mandatory (for me) to carry more than one gun, but now I understand why in greater depth and I am far more adept at actually doing it.

Another class that all should consider is his “problem solver.” In addition to helping you fix any problems you may have with your own skills, it’s a great opportunity for instructors and potential instructors to learn how to diagnose, correct, and coach students. In fact, the course is designed to fulfull those dual purposes.

I apologize if I sound like a commercial endorsement for Louis. I admit that he is my favorite instructor and in my opinion “the best,” but others can take that for what it’s worth. Just my opinion.

15

Looks like it was a great class. I’m sure it is due to their backgrounds; but there seems to be a very similar teaching style between Louis, Scott reitz, Bill Jeans, and Randy Cain.

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I’ve seen things written by Randy Cain where acknowledges the influence of Louis A. on his work. I believe he was a long time student of Louis (maybe still is occasionally). I would not hesitate to participate in one of Randy Cain’s classes if I could.

I know Louis speaks highly of him as well as Scott Reitz.

I suspect there is also a Gunsite/API connection among them all as well.

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That is the connection I was thinking of.

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An interesting bit of trivia is that Louis was the first to publish an article advocating and descibing the 4 (or 5) point draw and presentation that is vitually ubiquitous today in some form or another. It was a deviation from the classic Gunsite/API presentation of the time (with the support hand outward at the belt buckle, gun/strong hand meets, then both hands are raised into the line of sight). I learned this from Paul Gomez (the historian of such things), so I’m not sure if Louis and others started teaching it before or after they left Gunsite/API. I can only imagine that things were . . . slow to change . . . at that insitution.

19

Don’t apologize. Louis is excellent, certainly someone to whom I would be pleased to give my training money. He always returns value.

I read here about accuracy being final and accountability for every shot. Then I think of Louis. “No garbage, gentlemen.” I doubt anyone is as concerned with real-life (3-D) shot placement in their three-day courses. “Deep hits, gentlemen.” We haven’t shot with him since carbine and pistol in 2002 but the lessons learned laid the foundation for all our subsequent Pat Rogers’ classes.

Looks like it’s time to do shotgun with Louis. Movers with his 3-D system is a great addition to an already fine program. Besides, it may be all we have left after the next election.

Added. Rob, thanks for the vids; it’s definitely time to sell some gear and head to Boone County for a class with Louis in August.

20

We had an added benefit on TD3; a surgeon who was taking the class gave about an hour of talk and Q&A on all the principals Louis was discussing with regards to trajectories, “deep hits”, etc. It was great to get that validation of everything Louis was telling us and to get the Doc’s perspective on aiming points and what resides behind them that you’re actually trying to hit. Very educational.