So Cal Clinic Report - 10/11/2015

[fknauss]

Today was a beautiful day in south El Monte - warm, but not as warm as it was in the week leading up. It was good to see Don back and as feisty as ever, started right in on us with how to learn while you're waiting for your turn in the box.

We had a good mix of beginners and shooters who've been to fourish or a half dozen lessons. It was great because there were groups of us working on the same things. I made a minor modification to my stance that ended up with me not fighting the rotation as much, delayed launches really helped with seeing the bird before I started chasing it, and I made some progress with using my arms for elevation rather than rocking backwards to tilt the gun up.

It wasn't a full class, so we got through the rotations quickly, and even though it was warm, it felt like I was spending as much time shooting as I was waiting to shoot.

The newbies did great, and all of them were shooting reliably at the end, and looked excited to return for another clinic.

All in all, it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

[ysr_racer]

I was there shooting sorting clays, it was HOT !!

[EatsEverything]

Really great piece of gold from today's clinic: use your waiting time wisely. Don challenged us to use our time in line to practice, turning dead time into valuable learning time.

He also bet us that within 25 minutes we wouldn't be doing it.

He got us 20 minutes in, but after that, you could see people on the line, watching the birds, pointing at them, and mimicking the rotations.

We also had some really great conversations about getting out of our heads and letting our bodies and our subconscious take care of business.

[OC_Gunner]

Awesome, looking forward to the next clinic I can attend.

[Demoner1]

Man o man! What a great day! I learned a ton! Had a fantastic time shooting & cannot wait to do it all over again! The knowledge & training were priceless! Very cool group of guys out there! Hope to see you all there next month, and perhaps at triple b's sometime in between to get some practice in! Kudos to the experienced guys for helping us Nubs make the proper adjustments ��������

[spacedoc]

It's amazing how much you absorb at Don and Richard's clinics. Those of us who have been to a few realize quickly how much we've forgotten in the last few weeks or months. On the flipside, all of today's first timers were breaking clays in no time, including at the first station. You can't beat these clinics for their value in getting you started on the right foot- and keeping you going in the right direction for years to come. Don even introduced us to a passerby who happened to be a clinic alum. I believe he started coming to the clinics about three years ago, and the shiny gold belt buckle he was wearing was a testament to how much he's developed.

Thanks also to trapperjohn, who made me realize how much I was flinching on "PULL!" by giving me some delayed pulls. It's "see the bird, shoot the bird", not "yell pull and start waving the barrel around", right?

Believe me, as long as you put yourself into their capable hands, listen and execute what they're telling you to do, and DON'T OVERTHINK things, clays will break! I think everyone in attendance today would attest to that. Here's a Zen story that helps me focus on that:

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era, received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"


I try to show up to each clinic with my cup empty. See you guys next month!

[ceh383]

Sounds like it was a good day @ BBB's, I wish I could have been there!
Don and Richard do a great job with these clinics, the value is incredible.
Listen, watch, learn...shoot better