Why can't we have fun and enjoy training too?

[GeorgeHill]

http://www.tactical-life.com/online/tactical-weapons/combat-focus-shooting/

“This is about life and death,” says Rob Pincus. “I.C.E. is not a ‘fun-with-gun’ class. If you signed up for a ‘fun-with-gun’ training, I’ll gladly refund your money.” By the end of this course, shooters understand how I.C.E (Integrity, Consistency, and Efficiency) are combined with advanced pistol-handling skills to save your life.

I have a great deal of respect for Rob Pincus.  He's top notch.
But this just raised my eyebrow.  Yes, this is a bloody serious business and it does indeed mean life and death.  But shooting is fun.  Shooting is a blast.  Why can't we have fun while we are learning?
Those that have taken my courses, did you guys learn?  Did you guys have fun?  Would my training been any better if no one smiled?  If we didn't have a laugh?  I think a little humor helps break tensions, wakes us up, and gives us sharper focus when it's time to listen up.
At least that's my belief.

[Harm]

George I'd agree that your training was better with a little humor and that yes it does keep you alert when it's "game-time."  The same thing at Front Sight we took time to laugh and refresh, because, especially after 4 days of shooting it starts to wear if your not taking care of yourself. 

It's supposed to be fun, and that can be a combination of pulling the trigger with booms, and some jokes and stray comments.  If people wanted a hard @$$ we'd go take classes from HK.

[HideWithPride]

Wow, funny you should say that, Harm.  I have taken classes from H und K - and they have no sense of humor whatsoever.  I've also taken classes from Glock, SigArms, S&W Acadamy, The Farm, and many, many more.  All take a moment for a chuckle, friendly banter, and a mental break.

George said it best . . .'I think a little humor helps break tensions, wakes us up, and gives us sharper focus when it's time to listen up.'

[Harm]

lol.  I was just spinning it off the "because you suck and we hate you!"  No idea that was the same for their academy classes!  lol

[sarge712]

Back in '96 I went to some HK training in Chantilly, VA, at the Loudon Co. SO range. It sucked to say the least and HK staff were prix extraordinaires.

My buddy got in a shoving match with one instructor and had to be pried off the guy. Afterwards I was lecturing my pal on being cool and what do you know five minutes later I was into it with yet another HK instructor. It was like that with all but one of the instructors.

We were at the car packing our gear to go home early when the HK International Training Division head honcho apologized and gave us free training certificates for some other HK courses to make up for that fiasco. Manuel flung his down. I kept mine but never went back.

The only instructor there who was cool and not rolling with a stack of quarters up in him was a former Delta operator named Gene Zink. He was cool and didn't take himself too seriously and, not-so-coincidentally, he was the most proficient with his weapons and instruction out of the HK cadre we met.

[GeorgeHill]

From the courses I've been too, the best instructors don't have to take themselves so seriously.  They are not putting on acts.

[Michael]

From the courses I've been too, the best instructors don't have to take themselves so seriously.  They are not putting on acts.

Amen brother.  Uncle Scotty Reitz www.internationaltactical.com is the best example of this.

[Desert Rat]

Amen brother.  Uncle Scotty Reitz www.internationaltactical.com is the best example of this.

Wasn't that the fella that was teaching the How to Kill Reanimated Life Form segment of the dvd extras in Dawn of the Dead '04?

That segment was awesome!            

[Desert Rat]

Ah, here we go.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/QdRb35j9PVA&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/QdRb35j9PVA&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0&amp;fs=1</a>

Starts around 4:25

Yeah, this is a guy who knows how to have fun.

[coyotesfan97]

Back in 96 I attended a week long Phil Singleton MP5 Entry class.  Phil Singleton is a hilarious instructor.  He is former SAS and was on the Iranian Embassy raid (outside support) and he was with H&K before he started his own company.

If you want humor filled training Phil is it.  I don't know how much he instructs as the lead instructor anymore but if you can go to one of his classes   and if you do make sure you call him English as much as you can.  He's Welch and it makes him  

[Ishpeck]

Why can't we have fun while we are learning?

Reminds me of this:

http://wethearmed.com/index.php/topic,4997.msg76575.html#msg76575

[MarshallDodge]

I agree George, a little humor really helps.  The main reason I own a gun is because it's fun to shoot although there may be a day when I have to use it to defend myself or a family members life.

We had a lot of fun at your course while learning some good stuff.

[Rob Pincus]

Hey guys... I just stumbled across WTA (thanks to a comment thread at George's Fbook page...) and I decided to check it out. I know this is an old topic, but clarification here is important to me:

That statement taken out of context may make it sound like I don't think training should be fun... I assure that it is quite the opposite. I, and the students I believe, have a great deal of fun even in our training classes. The comment was made to contrast REAL TRAINING courses  and the "fun with guns" stuff that I do during team building type events with the likes of Cartier, Texas Instruments and other groups of people who don't usually own guns and are only spending time with my staff and I for recreational purposes. In those cases, actually skill development is only important for safety... once we are over that hurdle, the focus is on having a good time. In training courses, we all make jokes, take breaks, meet afterwards for beverages, etc, etc... but the focus at the range is on "getting it right" not just "enjoying doing it".

I hope that makes my position more clear.

Thanks!

-RJP

[GeorgeHill]

Ah... Gotcha.