Self-guided study is a terrific way to learn new things. It’s also the way to learn several versions of the wrong way to do virtually anything. That’s why YouTube videos have essentially replaced “How-To” manuals for many people.
If you’re old school like me (or just old- I’ve been out of school a long time), you still enjoy going through dog-eared shop manuals and pulling up memories from the notes you’ve made in the margins, the oil stains you’ve dribbled on the pages and the bent spines where you’ve occasionally come a bit unhinged and tossed the manual across the garage.
But “how-tos” are essential containers of knowledge for the outdoors. Not everyone travels with solar chargers, battery packs and alternate power supplies. In case you haven’t noticed, all those items add weight to every trip. And weight matters.
That’s why I have a dog-eared copy of our late tactical instructor and friend Tiger McKee’s “Book of Two Guns” on my desk along with one of his knives. They’re to remind me to keep my edges sharp, whether I’m talking guns, knives or the most adaptable tool I have: my brain.
A couple of other books have been on my desk the past few days. They’re both books designed to help you learn to perform physical tasks better. Yes, I know reading doesn’t teach you how to perform a physical task. If if did, we could all read a book and play in the Masters golf tournament, race in Formula One or win the New York City Marathon.
But books do something better than “how-to” videos: enable you to break down tasks into bite-sized pieces, work through challenges, then…move on.
That’s why I’m suggesting some at-home reading.
If you’ve been reading The Wires very long, you know that I’m a fan of the writing of Paul Markel. He’s written for plenty of publications, but he’s taken his theory of continuous learning and applied it to his teaching, calling it “Student of the Gun.” As he says, you’re a beginner once; you’re a student for life.
Frequently, that’s what separates the expert from the amateur. Shooting is a physical skill. And any physical skill requires repetition to learn, master and turn into an unconscious action.
The goal of all shooting - from spitballs to .500 S&W hand cannons, isn’t to look cool, scare people, or renew your man card via a lick of flame and a ridiculous amount of recoil. The goal is to hit the target….whatever it is.
Markel says it’s a simple thing that boils down to only two factors: index (point) the muzzle of the gun at the target, then press the trigger and cause the gun to discharge without moving the muzzle off the target.
Simple, eh? Sure it is, but those two simple things are compounded by 10,324 (rough estimate) of negative thoughts that interfere with the operating software of the shooter.
Paul being Paul, he couldn’t put just any title on his book. Instead, the title of the easy-to-read tutorial on shooting isHow to Shoot BETTER Than A Navy Seal. And it seems the title’s working. Right now, his book’s the top rated Shooting book on Amazon. If you’re interested, here’s the information.
The next piece of suggested reading isn’t even available yet…but it will be on Thursday (November 9). It’s the latest in the “for dummies” series of books that offer knowledge on just about anything imaginable. The latest effort is by Damian Ross, founder and CEO of The Self Defense Company.
Care to venture a guess as to the subject? Yep, protecting yourself, or as the book puts it “Protect yourself - whatever it takes”.
I was intrigued because of something Ross wrote early in the book. It’s a clear-eyed observation that, if realized, could have saved some “martial artists” from some painful beat downs. “The truth about self defense,” Ross writes, “is that it’s not a sport or a style; it’s an instinct that every living thing on this planet has…including you.”
The fundamental “secret” (everything has a “secret” right?) isn’t the spinning back fist, the front kick, hitting with hammers (although hammers are effective). Nope the first step to enlightenment and possibly avoiding a mugging in a parking lot, is this: Get Your Head In The Game.”
That soft skill, situational awareness, gets you ready to progress to the harder skills. Knowing how to recognize the uncomfortable feeling that usually prefaces an attack, then reacting appropriately, can minimize the hard stuff. But that won’t get you off the hook when an attacker’s absolutely dead-set on ill intent.
When you look at the human body- any of them- you’ll notice there are a wealth of actual weapons. And your fist isn’t even the first one. The first time I was the unexpected recipient of a “Liverpool Kiss” it left an impression- and a goose egg on my forehead. A head butt isn’t a joke. Neither is a chin in your throat, an elbow to the nose, a knee to the…(you know) or the “knife edge” of the hands. Punching someone with your fist is asking to break your fingers. Don’t do that.
I’m not feeling the slightest bet ferocious knowing a few of these methods. That’s because I believe predators have an even more highly developed sense of prey. They’re not looking for a donnybrook. They’re looking for easy pickings.
That’s why there are now three books sitting on my desk. One’s a familiar friend -that’s still available - the others are new resources that are easy, illustrative reads.
Now you know about them as well.
— Jim Shepherd