Training with Taran Butler

I recently spent a weekend training with none other than Triple Crown Grand Master, Taran Butler. He said he lived in Simi Valley. He should have said he lived in "Target Wonderland" ...a menagerie of steel, stages, and hidden hillside gongs. I would have come sooner. It's easy to find... just go through the spotting glass, make a left at every airsofter's wet dream, step over the film crew, and you're there. Can't miss it.

Day 1 - Pistol 

We started out on a walled stage, and worked on accuracy while moving. I've always planted my feet to aim & shoot, so this was completely new for me. It was hard to break the habit of planting and setting up, even as Taran was bringing up my heels with, "Don't stop! Keep moving!" When running through the stage, proper target sequence, and footwork were key. I tried not to sacrifice accuracy for speed, but in doing so, I got a taste of how to game it.

When moving between steel bays, Taran had me practicing a low center of gravity, wide stance, and long steady strides to cover short distances ...instead of my natural bouncy shuffle. I cringe when I watch myself run in my videos. Do I really move like that? My whole life? Why didn't someone tell me I run like a flaming fawn sometimes... every time.

It must be funny watching a goofball like me hack through a stage like a Hutu rebel with a dull machete, and then be all like, "OK my turn." and BOOM. Surgeon Butler with his scalpel over here, eviscerates the stage like it's no big deal. The man is a finely tuned machine. I could barely keep up with him. I'm convinced he's got two cheetahs zipped up inside his belly that eat all his food for him, and slow him down so he doesn't accidentally break the sound barrier. All his double taps were perfect inch-group, straight A zone hits. 100% accuracy.
Skill Level: ASIAN.

Day 2 - Pistol, Rifle, & Steel

We practiced on plate racks, plate fields, and plated hills. Transitioning from either side, near and far, distances of 2 yards to 275 yards. This was my first opportunity to run'n gun with a rifle. Again I struggled with the fluidity of shooting while moving, but my targets were still toast so I was happy.

I brought Wifey (my custom Citizen Arms AR15) and was able to hit my marks with iron sights, but when in Wonderland... you drink the kool-aid. So I took the TTI TR-1 Ultralight AR15 with Trijicon Accupoint for a few spins and was more than impressed. The TI TR-1 is definitely something I could fall in love with! As a woman I'm always keen on weapon weight, and the TTI TR-1 is highly accurate, light, and maneuverable. Champions like Jessie Duff, Allie Barrett, and Taran use it to win their world titles. It's badass, to say the least.

Taran was an excellent instructor. I've never had as much individual attention & competition specific coaching. He was able to critique every movement I made, and humor me out of my comfort zone. I have a lot of work ahead of me. Particularly issues with my grip, and tracking my sights. Besides tightening the fundamentals, movement seems to be my next biggest challenge.

Before I left, I got to browse through the Taran Tactical Innovations workshop. TTI cooks up some serious customizations, and accessories. I've got my eye on that TTI custom Benelli M1 shotgun. Unf. It was like being a kid in candy store, and Christmas came early for me! Taran hooked up my M&P with TTI extended basepads. Depending on what type of mags you're competing with, you can max out at 23rounds +1 in the chamber for 9mm, or 20+1 of 40S&W. He also had my M&P grip stippled to perfection. And he hooked up Wifey with a PRI compensator. I'll be changing divisions, from Production to Limited, to try out the new basepads. I can't wait!


-Jess

www.tarantacticalinnovations.com/

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Training with Stoic Ventures

Been stoked to do a lot of training recently, and I figured I'd start blogging about it, among other things. I've been a life long journal keeper... of sorts. I'm that type of person. There's a lot of paper in my house. And gun powder. If my house burns down, it wasn't arson. It was just a matter of time. You ever notice how on some class descriptions, on the list of things to bring is a "Note pad, and pen/pencil" ...and you're like, "Who brings a note pad to a gun fight?" ...I do.

So... Mike Lamb & Stoic Ventures. I most recently completed the Combat Carbine 2 & Intermediate Distance Carbine classes. This is my AAR... of sorts.

Day 1 - Combat Carbine 2

My biggest take aways from Carbine 2 were problem assessment, multitasking, transitioning between barriers, transitioning between weapons (carbine/pistol), and clearing malfunctions. With the help of a buddy who would load your magazines with dead brass, we fabricated malfunctions into most of the drills, as Mike was pounding into us "It's not how well you function when your weapon works, it's how you function when your weapon doesn't work."  And to drive that point home he had us all moving laterally left & right-- if your carbine malfunctions, switch to pistol, and then if your pistol malfunctions what do you do? Which do you clear first?
It went something like this:

MOVE LEFT!
Fire. Fire. Fire.
Jam.
FIX IT! FIX IT! FIX IT!!!
Assess. Safety.
Go to secondary.
Fire. Fire. Fire.
Secondary jam.
Attempt to clear.
MOVE RIGHT!
Don't shoot your foot.
Don't shoot your neighbor.
Don't plow your neighbor.
Release magazine.
Rack Rack Rack.
MOVE LEFT!
Empty mag.
FEED IT! FEED IT! FEEEED IT!!!

Under pressure this quickly becomes a cripple's ballet, and I was Quasimodo.

I felt like I got the most out of clearing malfunctions. Seeing how comfortable I got with it from the beginning of the day, to the end of the day was empowering. I felt more connected with my weapon, like I could maintain it, and clear anything. Well... except for the brass over bolt malfunction that Mike cleared one-handed. Mike has clearly done a deal with the devil, for... legs for arms, and superior dexterity. If that ever happens to me, I'm gone like the wind. Bye Guys! I'm OUT not retreating! Im moving to a position of advantage in the rear!!!   

>.>

Day 2 - Intermediate Distance Carbine Employment

Here we focused on accuracy & precision at distance, shot assessment, hold overs, various prone, kneeling, and barrier positions. I got familiar with bone support, and the different ways I can manipulate my own body to act as a brace, arms as buttresses, relaxing into a natural stillness. Breathing. My biggest take away was-- the most stable positions always involve dirt naps.

The first half of the day involved torrential rain and cotton spongebob pants. Not so ideal for carbine training, but VERY ideal for training the wimp in you to STFU. I was freezing my ass off. Teeth chattering. Bones rattling. Soaking wet. My mind started to knock on my heart with ideas like "Do you really want to do this? You'll never make it to the end. Just quit. Just go home." To which my heart responded, "Jetpack, Muthaf*cka!" So on I went, trying to trap my shots between shivers. As the cold was lowering my core temperature I started to loose my mental focus. It was taking all my fortitude to try to retain the info and constructive critique Mike was giving us, because all I could focus on was heat retention, and flexing my muscles groups to keep warm. My pecs were going full Chippendale.

My basic fundamentals were deteriorating, which made me think about how I'd deal if shit really did hit the fan. It's unlikely that I'll be sipping a mai tai on the beach, armed to the teeth, with barriers conveniently placed 10 feet apart, when Humanity goes tits up. Am I training hard enough? Will I be ready if the time and place for action chooses me? Cue deep thoughts.

Half way through the class the weather turned for the better, and I got a hold of my nerves again. I was able to borrow a dry change of clothes from my friend Kevin. As Mike so kindly pointed out, I was ready for my pre-Jenny-Craig photos. We finished the day shooting steel at 200 yards. The sound of that plinking was like sweet music to my ears.

I say, Mike Lamb is a great instructor, and Stoic Ventures is an awesome opportunity for anyone to train with him.

- Jess

www.stoicventures.com
Photos by: Kevin Mah : pointandshootmediaworks@gmail.com
Stoic Ventures: Combat CarbineTwo
Stoic Ventures: Intermediate Distance Carbine Employment

Focus.

Practicing strong hand only.

Dirt Nap.

No Excuses.

Pool Shark.

Math Test.

Mike showing me the ropes.

Execution.

200 Yards.

My pre-Jenny-Craig photo!

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Fleet Week San Francisco

I went to enjoy Fleet Week at Pier 39 this past weekend- it was officially my first airshow. Apparently airshows are RAD. The Blue Angels & The Patriots were my favorite. I'll definitely be back next year. I can only imagine how thrilling it must be for kids, heck I felt like a kid again.

"Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt."

-Sun Tzu 

Does God believe in humans?

 

I left my heart in San Francisco.

 

'Merica! Fuck Yeah!

 

These colors don't run. 

"People like you and I, though mortal of course like everyone else, do not grow old no matter how long we live.... We never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born."

-Albert Einstein 

 He Who Dares Wins

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

"Start wide, expand further, and never look back."

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

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FLUX Magazine

So the latest issue of FLUX Magazine is out. It's the "Men's Issue." I collaborated with my brother, by doing digital illustrations on top of his fashion photos. On the "Contributor" page they had to cut one of my answers short in order to make it fit, so I've included the full version below :)

*******

Men are …
task-oriented as boys, and purpose driven as men.

Men are not …
as rough as they seem.

Name a male figure that you have the most respect for (explain):

The Lord is my Shepard. My father is a Sheepdog. And my brother is my best friend. But the thing I respect the most in this world, is Chris Costa's beard. It's a kevlar brush of tactical over penetration, a deep black maelstrom of Mandingo proportions. Every time God kills a kitten, Chris Costa's beard grows a hair.

What was the most important lesson your father/grandfather/brother/best guy friend/or other/ has taught you?

So, last week at Church, a very elderly lady hit the back of my parked car. I was sitting in the driver's seat when I felt the impact. As I stepped out I was already bananas because I had just replaced the bumper on my G35 a week ago, and filled with indignation when she said she didn't think she hit me, because she didn't feel it. I was so mad! But at the same time I felt horribly douchey for being angry at a woman so old her spine looked like a question mark. She was nervous and bewildered. I was mad, and conflicted. I felt like calling the insurance company would be like prying her social security check from her cold nearly-dead hands. I just couldn't do it. There's a special place in Hell reserved for people who grief old ladies. I called my Dad to ask him what I should do. He taught me an important life lesson, he said, "Always be the first to apologize. In any relationship, especially in marriage, always apologize first, even if it's not your fault. Your apology will disarm the other person, and shields will be lowered. Be fearless in your effort to resolve an issue in a tactful and caring way." So next Sunday I'm going to find her at Church, so I can apologize for "over reacting" and give her my number in case she ever needs someone to move her furniture, clean her gutters, or pull her weeds.

Please provide a brief summary of your credits:

Jessica is a Fine Artist and Illustrator currently working in the video games industry as a Senior Texture Artist at Sledgehammer Games, an Activision Studio. She most recently shipped Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

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Never Forgotten

This is Ken. A Vietnam Vet I met at the VA Hospital the other day when I was drawing portraits there. It was a humbling experience. I spent the whole day drawing and talking to these Heroes. Some in better shape than others. I spent about 30-45 minutes with each person, and if you've never sat for a portrait, you may not realize how very intimate and reflective it can be. To be thoroughly, meticulously, studied by my eyes... every wrinkle, every hair, every moment... your countenance... you are the entire focus of my attention. Some of these men are there because they're having a hard time coping with who they've become... some have a hard time looking in the mirror... So I tried to keep it light. I tried to start each conversation about myself so that no one felt obligated to talk about anything they didn't feel like talking about. One person came over and sat down looking particularly downtrodden and stoic, I struggled to find the words to say, I kinda grazed over some generic things, and started to resolve that maybe a comfortable silence was in order... but I had this gripping feeling, that he wanted to talk to me but wasn't relating... I thought, maybe I should ask him about something a little closer to home, so I asked.... "Do you like shooting shotguns?" And his face lit up like Christmas morning!! haha! The floodgate opened. His eyes gleamed as he told me all about hunting game back home. I told him I had done an 8 hour shotgun class the day before, and my drawing hand was still shaking from it. Little did anyone know, I could barely hold my pencil. I told him about our drills, and hot loading, and just maybe bringing Magnum buckshot wasn't the best idea. I showed him the bruises around my collar bone and he joyfully pointed and laughed his ass off! I was happy to be the source of his laughter.

I was drawing another Vietnam Vet named John. He asked me if I could incorporate his granddaughter into the picture from a photo he had in his wallet, so that it was him and her together. Of course I could Sir. So as I was drawing his granddaughter he was smiling ear to ear watching me draw, and his PTSD counselor walked by and said, "Wow John, this is the first time I've ever seen you smile since you got here!" And he said [pointing at me] "It's all because of her. Man Jessica, it must feel good to know you make people -so- happy." My heart nearly broke. I was so touched. It had never occurred to me that my presence or my art could actually help someone this way. Here I am, so focused on the technique, I was absorbed in trying to make the drawing "good," and accurate... as if that was what anyone cared about. It dawned on me that the day wasn't even about drawing, it was just about being there. Being there was enough. Talking was enough. Caring was enough. The drawing was -my- honor to do. This experience was a gift to -me- ...in that moment, it became very clear that I wasn't here to work... I was here to serve.

I only hope that when I lay down that final night, that I may have contributed to this world even a fraction of what these men have already sacrificed.

Thank you to anyone who has served in the armed forces. Thank you to my Dad, retired Army Colonel Jack Hook. Thank you to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Not just on Memorial Day, but every day. You are never forgotten.

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