Learning from Mistakes and Failures
- Thread starter Talyn
- Start date
TGW79
Alpha
Personally I find the best way to learn anything is by trial and error. Just so long as it's not jeopardizing your or anybody else's life. My skills with shooting pistols rifles and shotguns for example.. I'm 42 years old and I started shooting when I was eight. It's taking me my entire life to get as good as I am but the problem is when I get a new weapon in my hand a lot of people assume because I've been shooting my entire life. That's not even remotely close to the case most of the time. I just picked up a Beretta 92 clone. Girsan Regard MC. It took me a few magazines to get used to that. Definitely doesn't shoot like my 1911s. Practice practice practice. And then more practice. It just sucks that ammo is so goddamn expensive these days. The attached image.. those are my babies..
Attachments
Not me, not my shirt - picture taken from the Breach Bang Clear writeup of a past "Friends of Pat" gathering.
This is the Way of Pat and his disciples. I never got a chance to train under Pat, but I have logged enough hours with those who benefitted under his mentorship so as to have benefitted from this motto.
What is unsaid from the shirt (since there's not enough space) is the corollary: "Dwell not on your failures nor your successes." Take the lessons from each, and let the rest roll off your back like water from a duck's tail.
It's a great way to approach not only martial training, I've found, but also just life in general. My only regret is that it took me over 40 years before having come across this philosophy.
KillerFord1977
SAINT
^ Yup, having a good training partner or shooting pal is a GREAT thing.
Mine pulls me out of that rut much faster and more efficiently than I ever could by myself.
I wrote about a range-trip I shared with my buddy last year - https://www.xdtalk.com/threads/new-xdm9-from-cleveland-poa-poi-magazine-questions.163960/page-4
And then again...
Having someone to push me and/or help/correct me - to beat me over the head with my failures and shortcomings and make fun of me for them in a good-natured way that makes me want to push past it and get better..... That's priceless.
Mine pulls me out of that rut much faster and more efficiently than I ever could by myself.
I wrote about a range-trip I shared with my buddy last year - https://www.xdtalk.com/threads/new-xdm9-from-cleveland-poa-poi-magazine-questions.163960/page-4
*emphasis addedTSiWRX on XDTalk said:
And then again...
TSiWRX on XDTalk said:By the time we finished at the 50 with StrongHO, we both had become so accustomed to what the targets looked like at the 100 that we thought we were at the 25 yard line. We actually had to pace it out for ourselves to double check that we weren't mistaking our engagement distances.It's wonderful what pushing a bit of distance does for one's fundamentals.
Having someone to push me and/or help/correct me - to beat me over the head with my failures and shortcomings and make fun of me for them in a good-natured way that makes me want to push past it and get better..... That's priceless.
KillerFord1977
SAINT
I’m excellent out to 15 yards.. open sight pistol. 15-25yrds I need the red dot or a darker target. The bullseye that are red/orange/yellow at 25 are hard for me as they fade together trying to see w the sight. I can see the colors, can’t make out the bullseye. Black targets or brown , no issue.^ Yup, having a good training partner or shooting pal is a GREAT thing.
Mine pulls me out of that rut much faster and more efficiently than I ever could by myself.
I wrote about a range-trip I shared with my buddy last year - https://www.xdtalk.com/threads/new-xdm9-from-cleveland-poa-poi-magazine-questions.163960/page-4
*emphasis added
And then again...
Having someone to push me and/or help/correct me - to beat me over the head with my failures and shortcomings and make fun of me for them in a good-natured way that makes me want to push past it and get better..... That's priceless.
@SimonRL really likes 25 yard pistol, so it ups my game. He gets challenged on the rapid fire in close as he is a slow, calculating, methodical red dot target distance shooter.
SimonRL
Hellcat
I never thought when I bought my first gun just two years ago to the day that I would become a student of the game the way I have or that I would be at the range 2-3 times a week in that time. I have always taken a methodical, analytical approach to the things that I do and shooting has definitely slaked that thirst. Having an accomplished shooting buddy has had a huge effect on me, not only because it gives me someone to compare my results to and learn from, but also because I have made a great friend. @KillerFord1977 has made shooting even more fun for me and in turn made me a better shooter. His compete level (with himself most of the time) is off the charts and he’s guns blazing “I shoot better when I shoot fast” and I’m doing my 25yd Mr Miyagi “Wax On, Wax Off, KF-San”. We’re the perfect odd couple!
KF is also very social at the range and I think his camaraderie encourages others at the range to up their game too.
KF is also very social at the range and I think his camaraderie encourages others at the range to up their game too.
KillerFord1977
SAINT
Word !
Bassbob
Emissary
To learn from your mistakes you must first KNOW that you are making mistakes and KNOW what those mistakes are. I was an avid shooter for over 20 years before I took any instruction. Typical, " I have been shooting my whole life and I don't need anyone to show ME how to shoot" BS. It's pretty much exactly why women make such good students.
Nothing like training with guys and being instructed by guys that know what they are doing to knock you off your high horse and make you understand that you really don't know jack.
Nothing like training with guys and being instructed by guys that know what they are doing to knock you off your high horse and make you understand that you really don't know jack
.