Written by Troy Vanoostendorp (ISP Lead Instructor)

When we talk about training, mindset is everything. Whether its firearms training, edged weapons training, or empty hand training.

If you have been around firearms training for a while you have likely heard the saying “muscle memory”. What that refers to is repeating some type of movement like an emergency reload or transition drill enough times to where it becomes second nature. The goal is to achieve the point in which you complete the movement without hesitation. In a way you are shortening your OODA (observe, orient, decide, act) loop cycle.

What are we actually training when we are repeating these steps over and over? Is it your muscles? It is called muscle memory. However, any movement in the body starts with the mind. Your brain has to send all muscles involved in the movement signals telling them when and how to respond.

So, with that in mind every time you set out to train prepare your mind before you even step foot on the range.

              -Develop a mental and notional checklist of what you want to accomplish

              -Train for every contingency

              -Conduct purpose driven training

              -Force yourself to be uncomfortable

              -Identify mistakes and decencies and work on fixing them

Train beyond the range. Training doesn’t end when you leave the range, it just takes on a new form. As you drive to and from work, while you’re at work, when you’re out with your family continue your training by using the ‘what if’ method.

This is done by playing out scenarios in your head and forming an appropriate response. For example, what if you’re at the grocery store with your family and someone comes in with a gun to rob the cashier. Do you have your gun, will you draw down on the suspect, where are potential points of cover, what will you instruct your family to do?

By preparing a response in your head you are creating a blueprint in your memory and when the time comes you will respond quickly and without hesitation