People ask me how an old fart like me can handle traveling to teach and testify all the time. It’s simple, really.
My generation grew up with the mantra “Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse.”
It’s already too late for me to live up to the last two of those imperatives, so living fast is all I have left.
This month we’ll be teaching our signature 40-hour MAG-40 course for law-abiding armed citizens (http://massadayoobgroup.com) in both Idaho and Washington state. We do these as a rule as a four-day immersion course, ten hours per day, encompassing a weekend. Why? Because we found that for most candidates, the tough part was getting a whole week off work that didn’t involve a vacation for the whole family, but anyone serious could get two days and a weekend. The Washington class is full, but there are still a very few openings in the Idaho class for anyone interested.
While in the Pacific Northwest, we’ll be taking a class in Active Mass Murder Interdiction at Firearms Academy of Seattle (still a few openings, www.firearmsacademy.com) , and staying for the regional Rangemaster Tactical Conference there. Hosted by Tom Givens, it brings together a conclave of top self-defense instructors (shooting, hand to hand, courtroom, etc) from all over the country. I’ll be teaching for a few hours of it, and soaking up knowledge the rest of the time. There’s nothing like teaching to make you appreciate learning. Info at www.rangemaster.com, still a very few openings there too.
If July is PNW month, August is our Northeast month. We have MAG-40s in Connecticut (short drive north from NYC area), southern New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania (Harrisburg). Our massadayoobgroup.com website will get you to any of them.
September will see us teaching in Wichita, Kansas and Brooklyn, Michigan (MAG-40s also), and rounding out the month delivering (and absorbing) continuing legal education training for attorneys “out west.”
Yes, there’s learning as well as teaching in there. Actually, the teaching itself is learning: it’s rare that I teach a class and don’t learn something from one or more of the students. I had the privilege of serving for nineteen years as chair of the firearms/deadly force training committee for ASLET, the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers. ASLET’s motto was, Qui doscet, disket. “He who teaches, learns.”
I figured out real early in my life that someone who didn’t read wouldn’t be able to write well, and that someone who didn’t keep learning probably wouldn’t be able to teach well.
We finished June with an awesome MAG-180 class, so called because it completes 180 hours of training with me and my team. Hosted by master instructor David Maglio (far right, front row) it encompassed 60 hours, police qualifications shot at four times required speed, and instructor certification in handgun retention and disarming, and the Persuader mini-baton. It is an honor for us to teach committed students like these.
Mas.
In one of your books, you included a quote by some Vietnam officer that said something like “it’s better to avoid even the hint of a problem, than to have to bail yourself out of the mess afterwards.”
Do you remember the exact quote?
Thanks
While the advice makes sense, I don’t remember who said it, Mark. Sorry I couldn’t be more help on that.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in August in NH.
Mas
Over the weekend I taught “stressfire” skills to a new shooter. His family is from London, so he never touched a gun before. Wow, he was shooting tight groups. He has more passion for the gun then anyone I know. Funny with a European background. I’m pretty sure he plans to take MAG-40 soon.
The thing about your MAG classes is the people you bring in. Every MAG class I’ve attended has had some amazing students. I was surprised at the number of people with advanced degrees who attend your classes! But regardless, the like minded comarodary was remarkable and I haven’t seen that since my days in the Marines! What a unique blend of fun, learning and friendship you bring to your classroom! Hope to see you and Gail again soon!
Cheers Mas,
…and MAG-180 is over, just like that! My life is measured in weeks, not days as everything is going by too fast. Was pleased to score a 291 out of 300 on the final quadruple speed qualifier with no D hits, and to complete eight 300’s at standard speed.
You honor us by teaching how to think and the process of completing a perfect shot. Then one has to go achieve the skill and finish with “Winning in Mind.”
Please accept my sincerest gratitude and respect to David Maglio, Herman Gunter, Steve Denney and you for offering a safe and comprehensive learning experience. There is much to consider in danger recognition, and situational awareness, and the learning never stops…
See you on the Kohala coast for MAG-235. I will research licensing requirements for a Rolling Rock brewery franchise!
– PALADIN
Thanks, Don. You did great.
Yeah, but I’m beginning to have trouble “living fast” as old age catches up to me….. 🙁
Mas – any chance you’ll put Reno, NV on your schedule? I can’t imagine the Western Nevada Pistol League (WNPL) or others wouldn’t be supportive. It would augment your motto – “living fast”!
I have tried to make your Sacramento course several times, w/o success due to business conflicts; Mag 40 does take time. I did send a friend to your June class last year, to which she responded (inferno aside) she loved & learned from the course. Perhaps most importantly, it gave her a sense of confidence.
Jeff, I’m afraid we don’t have a host on the ground there in Nevada. Ours moved to a warmer state.
Mas – if a sound,respectable host should surface, would you be willing to return to the Reno venue for Mag 40 or any of your Mag courses?
Since joining the ACLDN group, having carried for 5 decades, the “what if …” awareness and knowledge is ever more critical to our daily lives. Particularly as aging occurs; I am less than a year behind you!
Not for me to opine on how you’ll look as a corpse, but at least you’ve got enough going for you to snag a very cool wife. Congrats on that.
MAG 40, Hot Springs grad
Good to hear that your open to learning as you teach, Mas, but you also remind me of a quotation from Horace which states: “You must amuse the reader at the same time as you teach him!” (Please forgive the ancient chauvinism;)
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