"I Don't Need To Take a Training Class"

One of the biggest problems we see in any sport or hobby, and especially shooting, is the belief among experienced or even high performers that they don’t need a training class or that training wouldn’t be helpful. They have a flawed belief that they are already good enough (“I was in the army”), without knowing how much better other shooters are. Or, they think there isn’t anything of value left to learn and believe it’s just a matter of doing what they are doing but better. “I just have to be faster,” or “I just have to miss less,” they tell themselves, without ever truly thinking about how those things are made possible. The ego is a challenging thing to overcome.

We tell our students all the time, you don’t know what you don’t know. If you want to reach the highest levels, your curiosity should never be satisfied. And if you don’t know the why behind a specific technique, do you truly understand what you’re doing? That low level of understanding prevents you from seeing the bigger picture and recognizing better when it spits on your shoes.

Taking a class exposes you to content you may have never considered before. If not from the instructor, then from fellow students. Going in with an open mind, being humble, and just trying what’s being taught might help your craft. It might not, but then you’ve only confirmed that the other things you've learned or are doing are on the right track. Even those random discussions might expand your thinking in beneficial ways.

The highest performers in any discipline are the ones who prioritize learning. They are always looking for better ways of doing things, and they also know that knowledge doesn’t have to come from someone better than them. We see it all the time. A seasoned veteran and great shooter will take a low level or basic class, and discover that their grip or trigger press could improve. And that minor issue has kept them from reaching a higher level, totally unbeknownst to them. Having the right mindset is the key to growth.

So don’t be that guy who thinks they know everything or enough. That’s teenage arrogance and your ego talking. Step out of your comfort zone and seek out training. We live in the golden age of accessible, diversified, and qualified firearms training from thousands of instructors. We promise, nobody will think less of you so take advantage.