BFA leaders spend a day with handgun combatives expert Dave Spaulding

by Dean Rieck

The leadership of Buckeye Firearms Association spend so much time with politics and legislation, we don't get to enjoy shooting and socializing as much as we'd like. So we were thrilled when an opportunity came along.

It all started when we decided to host four separate handgun training classes with Dave Spaulding. Because of Dave's outstanding reputation as a self-defense instructor, each of these events sold out within an hour of announcing them.

We got caught up in the excitement and someone got the idea to ask Dave to come in the day before our first event to run a class for a few members of our leadership team.

So we showed up on the morning of Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the private range of BFA Leader and NRA Board Member Linda Walker. The weather was sunny and warm and we spent the entire day shooting and improving our skills.

Dave teaches what he calls "Handgun Combatives," which is also the title of his best-selling book. His approach is based on the idea of keeping things simple and drilling the fundamentals. Why? Dave says, "Simple is easier to teach, easier to learn, easier to anchor in your motor skill sets and most of all easier to maintain with limited practice time and available, costly ammo."

The day began with a one-hour presentation where Dave gave us an overview of his self-defense philosophy, including mindset, stance, grip, trigger control, and ready positions. Then we hiked to the range to put the ideas into action.

We enjoyed how Dave not only explained what he wanted us to do, but why. He proved himself to be a great teacher, and a great shot as well.

Dave got up close and personal with BFA Chairman Jim Irvine as he demonstrated close quarters combat.

BFA team members stepped up to the line to practice drawing from a holster and firing.

Dave likes to shoot. And he showed off a little by drilling the target with a grouping you could easily cover with half a credit card.

We got in a lot of target practice, shooting at practical defensive distances from about 3 feet to 21 feet.

We couldn't come close to matching Dave's pistolcraft, but as this target shows, we did okay.

We ended the day around 5:00 p.m., tidied up the range, and hiked back to Linda's home where we had pizza, talked guns, and enjoyed the company of our fellow Second Amendment supporters.

We want to thank Dave and his teaching partner Brian Buchanan for spending the day with us. We all learned a lot and came away from his class with better shooting skills.

For more information on Dave Spaulding, visit his Handgun Combatives website.

Dean Rieck is the Marketing Director of Second Call Defense and a Leader with Buckeye Firearms Association.