Training in Ohio!

While the blog was down a few weeks ago, I spent some time in Ohio training. While spending time on the range is nothing new, this time I got to be instructor, student, friend and peer all in one trip!

The first stop was Black Wing Shooting Center in Delaware, OH. Black Wing is an NASR 5 Star Facility, something that is not easy to achieve. Rex and his team do a great job in every way and have an outstanding facility. In addition to training, BWSC offers Clay Fields, Indoor pistol and rifle ranges, a large and well stocked retail store and one of the nicest guns shops I’ve been in in awhile. Robin Salvo runs the training department and they conduct CCW and fundamental firearms courses regularly. Last year I taught two courses at BWSC and this year we filled another CFS Course. After the first day of the course, a few of the LMS crew, including Carmen Laquatra who is hosting a CFS Course in Cleveland on July 16 & 17, came down to meet the BWSC gang and we all had a great dinner.

The next stop was a meeting out at Big Darby Creek in West Jefferson, Ohio. Another great range on the outskirts of Colombus, I’ll be teaching a CFS Course there on July 1st and 2nd, but took this opportunity to visit the range, meet the owner, Pete, and his sales manager, Chris. I even took the opportunity to do some weak handed shooting (not so much weak handed hitting!) on steel from beyond-defensive-distance with some of the regulars who were on one of the ranges honing their skills. I’m not one to shy away from a chance to shoot, even if it is something I’m not that comfortable with! Chris and his guys take training seriously, but after the range session, they also took the opportunity to introduce me to one of the local watering holes! I am looking forward to the course in July.

Mike Janich demonstrating a technique in Grove City, OH.

My third stop while in the Colombus area was a morning session and lunch with none other than my Co-Host on The Best Defense, Mike Janich. Mike was running a 3 day program hosted by Grove City Karate. I got to observe the end of his morning session and join the class for a quick lunch before I had to leave town.

One of the cool things about being “in the industry” is getting to meet, and sometimes know, many of the guys who were writing the articles in the gun magazines that I was reading long before I ever thought about running a training school. While working on TBD:S at US Training Center last month, I mentioned to Ken Hackathorn that I’d be in Ohio with some free time and he didn’t miss a beat before inviting me to stop by if I was going  to be in his area. Of course, with an invite like that, I certainly made sure that I was. If you follow the cliches and internet scuttle, you’d probably think that Hackathorn and I would be among the last two trainers to work together, let alone want to hang out on our off time. Afterall, he’s one of the “old school” guys who taught for API and I’m a younge rouge who’s never even set foot on the supposedly sacred ground in Arizona where all who would wield a gun must be annointed, right? Well, the fact is that, like most instructors who are successful in this industry, when we actually sat down and talked, we found out we had a lot more in common than we had in conflict. And, of course, who can argue that there is value in talking to someone who has been successful in this industry for over 30 years! For his part, I think he might have simply been a little curious what all the fuss is about in some circles when it comes to Combat Focus Shooting and “that Pincus guy”. We spent a great afternoon together

Ken Hackathorn and I at U.S. Training Center last month.

on the range, comparing notes and trading drills. No cameras, no students, no egos… just a couple of guys who like teaching others how to fight with guns sharing info. It was a great afternoon followed by a great meal at a local restaurant. For those interested, there may still be slots in Ken’s class coming up at BWSC in June!

Over the past couple of years, I’ve become aware of just how big and enthusiastic the training scene is in The Buckeye State…. I’m looking forward to seeing some of you in one of the classes this July or anytime in the future!

-RJP