My weekend - "Overload" drill #3 - JJ Racaza 2-day class

[rodralig]

Just want to share...

Took the opportunity to drive 5-hrs one-way to Boulder City to attend JJ Racaza's "High-Speed Marksmanship" 2-day class. I wasn't disappointed! I have taken several classes in the 2-years I have been in firearms, both tacti-"cool" and "gamer" - JJ's class is so FAR the BEST...!!! Took as much notes as possible.

His lessons were mostly about developing speed while maintaining accuracy. JJ tells us that when compared to his peers, he really isn't a fast shooter (considering that he live fires significantly way less than his peers)... One can check this out in YouTube/Instagram/Facebook videos... But gets better times through efficiency of movement.

In those 2-days we, which included one USPSA GM and one non-competitor tactical shooter, were introduced to techniques on how to shave off time while maintaining accuracy through:

1. Trigger control
2. Target differentiation
3. Shooting rhythm/cadence (this was difficult for me as I am a klutz)
4. Transitions
5. Position differentiation (and minimization)
6. Entry/exit into/from position (this was ALSO difficult for me as I failed "grace" in school)
7. Sort of a Pareto Principle

There were drills where students achieved 1- to 2-sec gains in a 6-sec string (before the lesson)...!!!

Both to lighten up the mood and drive a point, JJ told us a few war stories... In his own training, training with others, competing in the Super Squad, rivalries, etc. It was very enlightening!

One that particularly resonates with me was on DQs - mostly because when I shared my first DQ here in CalGuns, although I got lots of encouragement/help/support to address a skill deficiency (it was movement) that led to my DQ, I received a few condescending admonitions from supposed experts. Oh, well, JJ mentions that even GMs in the Super Squad get sent home because of DQs.

Anyways, it was an excellent class!!! If one gets the chance, do take it!!! Highly recommended...

That said, on the last day, the class was run through what JJ calls the "Overload" drills. He had the students lay out the targets (steel and paper). Then he designs four COF (course of fire) around the layout - taking into consideration the lessons that were taught (which I have listed above). My favorite performance was the 3rd one - except for a miss on steel, got all As, including the mid/long-range headshots.



Okay... Now to head off to work.

Cheers,


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[sigstroker]

Boulder City? Why was it held there?

How much was it?

How many rounds did you fire?

[rodralig]

Boulder City? Why was it held there?

How much was it?

How many rounds did you fire?

[IVC]

Bare hands?

[rodralig]

Bare hands?

I need my coffee this morning... Hahaha!!! I don't get it...

Shooting with bare hands? (yeah, no gloves nor grip chalk, etc.)


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[XDJYo]

Not to criticize, but I think you need oil on your Glock. I can hear it squeaking when you're shooting the far right and left targets. J/K. Otherwise, GREAT shooting! especially the distant steel targets.

I've seen JJ's videos before about economy of movement. Very interesting stuff! I wish I had the time, money etc to compete. Looks like a ton of fun. Although, I would be 'THAT' guy that always DQ's...

[rodralig]

Not to criticize, but I think you need oil on your Glock. I can hear it squeaking when you're shooting the far right and left targets.

Really? I did a light clean and lube the night before.

Could it be the desert sand? It was windy over the weekend.

Otherwise, GREAT shooting! especially the distant steel targets.

Thanks!!

I've seen JJ's videos before about economy of movement. Very interesting stuff!

They sure are! Just by applying the right movement to exit and/or enter a position can shave off about 0.5 to 1.0. In a 10-stage match with, say, 5-positions each -- that is HUGE!!!

I wish I had the time, money etc to compete.

Due time, money and other responsibilities - I actually afford one match a month. If I had to take a class, that is once every two months (and no matches). It was good that I got mine 'complimentary' when JJ had to cancel the California (Piru) class in July.

It was fun! I think everyone loved it...! Especially the jeering and cheering when Open guns lock up!


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[XDJYo]

Really? I did a light clean and lube the night before.

Could it be the desert sand? It was windy over the weekend.



Thanks!!



They sure are! Just by applying the right movement to exit and/or enter a position can shave off about 0.5 to 1.0. In a 10-stage match with, say, 5-positions each -- that is HUGE!!!



Due time, money and other responsibilities - I actually afford one match a month. If I had to take a class, that is once every two months (and no matches). It was good that I got mine 'complimentary' when JJ had to cancel the California (Piru) class in July.

It was fun! I think everyone loved it...! Especially the jeering and cheering when Open guns lock up!


_

Re: the squeaking. When I first watched the video, you shot so fast, I thought it was sped up. LOL! (It's not). Anyways, I put it on 1/2 speed and wound up watching the rest of the video like that. Maybe it's my bad hearing, but it's mostly apparent that way. Otherwise, it seems to happen too quickly.

[tanks]

Also, sound from GoPro is always funky. That's why sound of gunfire is "pffft" as if it is suppressed.

[tanks]

...[*]Shooting rhythm/cadence (this was difficult for me as I am a klutz)
_

One thing on this statement. The cadence changes with the difficulty of targets in that one shoots slower on difficult targets vs easier targets.

However, that does not mean shoot at a difficult target slowly and faster at an easy target. If you shoot as you see your sights on the target then that will naturally change your cadence if you have to be more precise with your sights.

You practice that then eventually on a lot of targets you will shoot at the same cadence as wide open targets on most partials because you are aiming at an open area so the no shoots or hard covers do not come into play (unless you jerk the hell out of the trigger ).

[IVC]

I need my coffee this morning... Hahaha!!! I don't get it...

Didn't you use to shoot with gloves? Maybe I have wrong person...

[IVC]

Not to criticize, but I think you need oil on your Glock. I can hear it squeaking when you're shooting the far right and left targets. J/K.

I know it's a joke, but the squeaky sound is just from how the camera captures it. All videos of all shooters that I have sound like that.

[rodralig]

Didn't you use to shoot with gloves? Maybe I have wrong person...

Hi... No, I was that person. Hence, I further added that it was no gloves and no grip chalk.

Albeit, I now have quite an aggressive grip tape.

Otherwise, it seems to happen too quickly.

Hhhmmm... I would have loved that it was fast. It wasn't...

Just looking at the video, I would surmise an HF of around 5. The GM in our class was WAY super fast.

At my current splits - if I were able to execute correctly on entry/exit and bump/flat transitions, I think I may have shaved off at least 3-sec. This would push my HF to at least 6...

One thing on this statement. The cadence changes with the difficulty of targets in that one shoots slower on difficult targets vs easier targets.

However, that does not mean shoot at a difficult target slowly and faster at an easy target. If you shoot as you see your sights on the target then that will naturally change your cadence if you have to be more precise with your sights.

You practice that then eventually on a lot of targets you will shoot at the same cadence as wide open targets on most partials because you are aiming at an open area so the no shoots or hard covers do not come into play (unless you jerk the hell out of the trigger ).

I'll be replying based on my understanding of JJ's class...

The cadence is all a balance of several factors, a few of which are:

• Type of target, ie., "Attack" or "Control" (of course, dependent on skillset)
• Sight Picture, ie., "No Sight Picture," "Flash Sight Picture," and "Acceptable Sight Picture"
• Skillset of the shooter to "Prep" or "Prime" the trigger
• Array/string setup
• Next position

That said, in one of the drills, we were asked to shoot an array of targets in several rhythms... For example, two paper at 7-yards and one popper in the middle at 10-yards - "12... 345," "1234... 5," "... 12345," "1... 23... 4," etc. So, it's NOT only about sights - but, on a more wholistic picture, stage planning...

I know it's a joke, but the squeaky sound is just from how the camera captures it. All videos of all shooters that I have sound like that.

I guess I can blame my GoPro Hero 5 Black (recording at 1080/60p in 'Linear' mode).


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