Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Like many jocks of college age, I minored in Physical Education
with an emphasis on coaching. In my case it was Track and Field as I attended
college on a scholarship in the same sport. To successfully complete this
degree, I was required to attend a year- long course entitled “Sports
Physiology” which was the study of human anatomy and that relates to movement
specifically directed at athletics. It was a good thing I could run fast and
jump far as I had (still don’t!) no real hand-eye coordination. I was the poor
kid who grew up unable to catch a ball, hit same or shoot one through a hoop
with any degree of success. This course of instruction was a real eye
opener for me as it explained many things about the body, what it was capable
of and how you could improve its performance by adjusting technique to best
make use of how it wants to move.
Track and Field…especially the field events…are very
technique-driven and great improvement can be attained through what was called
“physiological efficiency” at the time. I attribute the phrase to a very
famous (both in and out of the track world as he was the founder of a little
known company called Nike) track coach as he was the first person I ever heard
use the phrase as it related to the long jump. Basically, the athlete
eliminated any motion that was not required to attain speed and distance.
It was a real asset to me as I tried to excel in my sport. In a nutshell, I
improved my jumping distance by several feet!! Have you ever seen a
runner who was so smooth when they ran that it looked effortless? This is a
good example of physiological efficiency.
Upon entering the police academy, I realized my lack of hand/eye
coordination would once again be a detriment in hand-to-hand combat and
shooting. I could hit my target reasonably well, but all of the other necessary
motor skills were a challenge. I first used a semi auto in 1982 after my
agency’s SWAT team was formed, and I quickly realized a rapid magazine
exchange, better known as the speed load, would be a huge challenge for me. The
gun was a 1911 and as you all know, single column auto loaders are the most
challenging to load fast. Thinking back to my track and field days, I pulled
out some of my old training books to review the sections that dealt with
physiological efficiency and applied the lessons to pistol shooting.
I understood even back then, there were only so many ways to “run”
a pistol and they had all been invented regardless of any current or
future claims of “the latest greatest” technique. Nonetheless, by
applying the physiological efficiency I learned while running track, I was able
to put together a method that worked well for me. Why is this important?
Admittedly, it’s because I’m not a gifted shooter and it is likely that neither
are you! But in three decades of law enforcement, I’ve won a few matches and
faced my share of armed suspects. In addition, I’ve trained thousands, of cops
and citizens using physiological efficiency and it has worked well. As an
instructor, I feel this is my greatest asset…to learn from someone who
struggles with shooting well and found methods to improve versus a gifted
shooter who really does not understand why they are good.
At last count, I have had 112 cops contact me and tell me that
what they learned saved their lives…12 have supplied video tapes of their
incidents. While this sounds like a lot, it really isn’t for an
instructor in law enforcement who has been teaching for decades. Conversations
with large agency instructors at conferences like ILEETA and IALEFI has made me
realize this. Please don’t ask to see the videos as I was told NOT to share at
the time I was contacted. If you are one of those officers and are reading
this, PLEASE get back with me if that ban has been lifted. If so, I would
be more than happy to share so good guys and gals can learn from them. There is
nothing better in this world (well, maybe with your clothes on!) than to hear
the words “What you taught me saved my life! “
I included physiologically efficient methods into my book Handgun Combatives, the video of the same name from Paladin
Press and the four videos I did for Panteao Productions. I feel they are the
simplest and most efficient ways to shoot and manipulate the semi auto pistol
in combative situations. While calling the book something like “Combative
Handgun Shooting made Simple” or “Combative Handgun for Dummies” was enticing,
my publisher felt it might send the wrong message and they were probably right.
I have been informed recently by people who were riding
tricycles or wearing diapers when I first explored the concept that my use of
the word “physiology’ is wrong and that I am referring to “biomechanics” or
“kinesiology”. Huh, I did not know the year- long course I took should have
been called “Sports Biomechanics” or “Sports Kinesiology”. I have found
that when someone feels compelled to “correct” another, rename something or
generally be a pan in the ass it’s because they are trying to get people to
believe they created or invented it. This is usually done to increase profit or
raise profile…whatever. Sorry folks, the study of human motion has been
ongoing for centuries and no “new on the scene instructor” created this stuff.
If you think they did then get with me as I have a bridge in the Everglades to
sell you…and I will offer it at a super price!
Physiological efficiency is a theme I state repeatedly in my classes
and I will continue to do so as it works. When it comes to combative
shooting or open hand fighting if
it feels like you’re hardly moving, you‘re probably doing it right! My search for simpler and easier ways will
probably last until the day I die. ..it’s that important!
