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Art Eatman · April 11, 1999, 01:30 AM

In 1980, nine of us took a defensive/combat pistol class. 750 rounds over a three-day course.

The first day was esentially a no- or low-stress training period, learning the Weaver stance and the sequence of drawing from a holster and firing.

The second day, the stopwatch came out, and we got into "El Presidentes", among other drills.

Except for the nighttime shooting, the stopwatch and time pressure was always part of the deal. By the end of the course, most of the students were shooting 8-second Presidentes, including the two small women--and one of them had never fired a pistol of any sort, before.

I started an IPSC club the next spring, and that ol' stopwatch was a constant. I have seen folks do all manner of weird things from no more than time pressure and competition.

You want stress? Try this: Three IPSC targets, five yards out at 90 degrees left and right, and one in front. You have 1.5 seconds from the buzzer to shoot three head shots. Now, this was the "shoot-off" in 1982, South Africa. This was before the days of race guns and weird holsters. Back then, it was still tactical and practical. Ross Seyfried won, after two or three ties with the other three top scorers...

Or, hang a target on a pulley-ed frame, and let it roll down a sloping wire. Have it appear from behind a wall; go behind a no-shoot and reappear; and disappear...Guys will go nuts!

A stopwatch, and shooting for just that day's bragging rights will induce as much stress as most folks can handle!

Regardless, the only way to deal with the negative effects of stress is continuous training under stressful conditions. With time, you get used to it and feel less pressure. You get used to it. In part, this is why the older race drivers have fewer wrecks in traffic than the newer guys--they've been there before, and don't have as much of the "tunnel-vision" sorts of problems. Practice, practice, practice!

Nighty-bye, Art

[This message has been edited by Art Eatman (edited April 11, 1999).]

April 11, 1999, 01:30 AM	#10
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	In 1980, nine of us took a defensive/combat pistol class. 750 rounds over a three-day course. The first day was esentially a no- or low-stress training period, learning the Weaver stance and the sequence of drawing from a holster and firing. The second day, the stopwatch came out, and we got into "El Presidentes", among other drills. Except for the nighttime shooting, the stopwatch and time pressure was always part of the deal. By the end of the course, most of the students were shooting 8-second Presidentes, including the two small women--and one of them had never fired a pistol of any sort, before. I started an IPSC club the next spring, and that ol' stopwatch was a constant. I have seen folks do all manner of weird things from no more than time pressure and competition. You want stress? Try this: Three IPSC targets, five yards out at 90 degrees left and right, and one in front. You have 1.5 seconds from the buzzer to shoot three head shots. Now, this was the "shoot-off" in 1982, South Africa. This was before the days of race guns and weird holsters. Back then, it was still tactical and practical. Ross Seyfried won, after two or three ties with the other three top scorers... Or, hang a target on a pulley-ed frame, and let it roll down a sloping wire. Have it appear from behind a wall; go behind a no-shoot and reappear; and disappear...Guys will go nuts! A stopwatch, and shooting for just that day's bragging rights will induce as much stress as most folks can handle! Regardless, the only way to deal with the negative effects of stress is continuous training under stressful conditions. With time, you get used to it and feel less pressure. You get used to it. In part, this is why the older race drivers have fewer wrecks in traffic than the newer guys--they've been there before, and don't have as much of the "tunnel-vision" sorts of problems. Practice, practice, practice! Nighty-bye, Art [This message has been edited by Art Eatman (edited April 11, 1999).]