TRAINING STATION
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Do we need to practice moving
and shooting?
Some instructors like to portray moving while
shooting to be an advanced level of shooting,
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reserved only for experts. This is definitely not the
i
case; in reality, it is a natural progression to training.
Mastering techniques for moving and shooting is not
only a necessary skill, but it can be rewarding and
very fun. Whether you’re training to participate in
one of the many competition shooting skill groups or
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NICOLETTI if you are training to be on an elite entry team, moving and shooting is simply the next step.
I frequently read articles posted on the internet to stay in tune
with the newest training techniques. One author compared learning to move and shoot with walking with a full cup of coffee and
trying not to spill it. We’ve probably all, to some extent, mastered
that skill, but now try that in reverse. Could you move backward
efficiently while not spilling a drop of coffee?
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NEW JERSEY COPS
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JULY 2015
The reference to a full cup of liquid is great and I applaud the
author of that article for the reference.
Moving and shooting is very similar. Trying to keep the weapon
steady while moving can be very difficult the first few times you do
it. We have all reached a certain level of expertise with regard to stationary, or “port,” shooting. Even if you are an expert shot who can
make tight groups on a target, once movement is incorporated you
have added a “game changer.”
I have participated in a lot of training that concentrated on forward movement, but the likelihood that this would be used in a
real life scenario is very minimal. The fact is, if there is a threat
throwing rounds in your direction, your posture will most likely be
moving either sideways or backward. Just put it in the legal perspective: If you are advancing and shooting, it better be because
that is the only option for egressing or moving toward cover.