Super Senior Success Story - Richard's Road to Nationals
When people start thinking of Competition Shooters, they start thinking of younger guys running around with fancy gear. Sporty shooters, who are like varsity athletes with guns…that is until you start to actually frequent some USPSA matches. Sure, there’s one or 2 of those guys, but you start looking around and see- its just PEOPLE. People with similar mindset and hobbies, trying to figure out how to push themselves. Asking questions, observing their peers, and just a collective sense of getting better. Just your average person looking for an above-average challenge. Americans coming together, Enjoying their Freedom.
But these guys were all new at some point, where do they come from? Every story is different- but this is going to be a success story of one of my longest running students, Richard. Ive helped guide him from a BRAND New Shooter to being invited to Nationals. All as a senior citizen, after buying his first gun only years ago. A very Brief synopsis of Richard’s Road to Nationals.
Richard bought his first gun with no prior experience, back in 2018 as he was turning 65. He was a TriState native and Family man, and unless you happen to come from a hunting family- guns are not that common in NY/NJ. But the current events made everyone reconsider their stance, including Richard. With his newly acquired Sig Sauer, Richard began practicing and quickly wanted more. Im thankful I was there to influence him at the right place, right time.
I was the Training Manager at an indoor range he frequented, and had just re-vamped their programs into something more practical/relatable. No more “tactical acting”, depending on new gear, and certainly no going slow on purpose. I wanted to offer average shooters a way to push their skills beyond standing in a booth and slow firing single groups, and avoid the pitfalls of outdated training. Shooters got an opportunity to go down range and see what its like to use a 3-D environment, for time and score. After using a Shot timer and competition style targets, they got a feel for the Practical skills required to run their guns in a real situation. This built a bridge between the Avid Indoor range shooters and the Competition world.
The first person to come RUNNING over that bridge was Richard. He found his way quickly into my Drills, then onward to my Private Training focused on USPSA competition. I watched a man who bought his first gun in his late sixties rocket past the skill set of police officers and those who wanted to call themselves professionals. He pushed through the crowd of cops and tough guys that often came to the old drills, and stuck out as a dedicated and passionate shooter who was willing to put the work in.
Now this is where Richard separated himself from the average…he stayed dedicated. Kept his training simple and focused. He began picking my brain, Dryfiring regularly, and SHOWED UP- Every class, every training day, he was there and working hard. He would video his Dryfire and live fire and analyze it, and send to me to analyze. Bought the books and Dryfire targets. Richard came out and competed in his first USPSA match in 2018 indoors, then his first outdoor match that spring 2019. And in between, he simply PUT THE WORK IN.
Instead of trying to skip steps and go faster, Richard would ask me things like “How can I improve my grip on my Draw?” or “How do I improve my trigger Pull?”. This sounds minor, but his focus on the process and staying dedicated to training is what accelerated him past people who had been shooting 10x as long as him. We built him his own training program for his first year into the sport, and he rose to the occasion and past the benchmarks. No excuses, he simply kept working and coming out to train. Richard would accept his failures when running my drills and analyze them. Asking “How can I get my first shot off sooner without sacrificing my accuracy?” Basically instead of just shooting for his ego, he shot the process and accepted the results. Then when he found success he didn’t gloat, or stop there…he quickly asked me “What’s Next?” and push his benchmarks further and further. He even picked up his physical health and exercise to support his training.
He attended not only DOZENS of my training courses, but courses with JJ Racaza, Steve Anderson, Tim Herron, Kita Busse. The top level trainers in firearms, those were now who he chose to learn from. He wanted to see and learn from the best. And now here he is, on his way to Nationals to rub elbows with them.
Pictured above is Steve Anderson, published author and worldwide instructor to the champions, with his class. Who do you notice (besides my dazzling good looks and hairdo)….RICHARD.
Richards rise has been remarkable. So much so I sat here procrastinating writing this post for a while. Not only my longest running student, he was one of the first that supported and encouraged me as a coach and trainer. Im actually humbled and honored to have been a part of his journey, and seeing him get invited to Nationals literally felt better than when I got my first invitation. And now writing this and reflecting, I realize while he still comes and trains with me regularly…He is much more a Peer and Competitor now. He’s at all the matches, involved in more support activities, and will continue to succeed and win as he continues this path. Good Work, Richard!! Crush it at Nationals- you got this.