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Handgun coaching and training with emphasis on the "whys" behind the skills.
Specializing in:
Interested in improving your handgun skills and don't need a training certificate for your Concealed Handgun Permit? Pragmatic Protection feels that coaching is a better alternative to taking a formal class. Rather than having a strict course outline with fixed topics, coaching allows the student to be evaluated and those areas requiring improvement can be focused upon. Coaching is a "class" all about, and tailored for, the student.
The student can also drive the coaching content if there are specific areas that they wish to concentrate upon.
Just some of the many components that coaching will evaluate and improve:
Need to get certified training to meet the requirements of the Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)? Pragmatic Protection offers the following classes that meet or exceed the Colorado State requirements:
All classroom work is done in the comfort of your own home. A classroom can be arranged for use at the Whistling Pines Gun Club (either East or West location) but students are responsible for the cost of the classroom.
All live fire (coaching is all live fire) is done at the Whistling Pines Gun Club (either East or West location). Whistling Pines Gun Club consitsts of two clean, well-lit and friendly club locations - the West location is just off Garden of the Gods on Elkton Drive, the East location is near Highway 24 and Marksheffel. The live fire portion of any class can be held at either location.
Please note that range fees ($20 per student) are not covered by the class fee and must be paid by the student.
I founded Pragmatic Protection in 2017, though my NRA teaching credentials stretch back 25 years. I hold a Level 1 NRA Pistol Coach credential as well as being a certified NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO).
A bit about my shooting background:
I was late bloomer when it comes to shooting, only taking up the sport around age 30. My first "class" was an informal introduction to shooting by a friend who, most importantly, stressed safety first! It turned out that I had a bit of natural ability and I quickly became hooked on shooting as a recreational activity.
Wanting to actually do something constructive while shooting, I tried different shooting sports ("Bullseye" and IHMSA to name a couple) and became hooked on the "Action Pistol" sport of USPSA/IPSC. That was about 30 years ago, and I continue to participate in that sport to this day. I find it keeps my skills honed and each competition tests me, allowing for self-evaluation of what skills I need to work on.
Along the way of my shooting adventure I became an NRA instructor to share my enthusiasm with others. To improve my shooting, I took classes from J. Michael Plaxco, Ron Avery and Rob Leatham - all excellent instructors who I would not hesitate to recommend to improve your shooting skills.
Through 30 years of competition, training and teaching I've come to the point where I understand not only how to teach the skills I've learned but why (physics, physiology and psychology) things work (or don't) the way they do - and I teach my students the "whys" as well. If I couldn't explain why things work I wouldn't be a very good teacher!
I mentioned I was a late bloomer when it comes to firearms. Having not grown up around firearms as many people do, I easily empathize with others that come to their first firearm class with little or no experience. Knowing first hand the nervousness that someone new to the activity may feel helps me alleviate that fear or trepidation.
My training focuses on safety, fun and accuracy in that order - although I've found that those last two are inexorably intertwined! If you aren't having fun, you're not going to be inspired to have better accuracy and if your accuracy is good, you'll have a lot of fun!
You have many choices for firearms training here in Colorado. If it sounds like I'm a good match with your goals for either coaching or training, I hope you'll consider Pragmatic Protection as the vehicle that can take you forward. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to use the contact information below!
Roger Oakey
Note that the prices below do not include range fees or optional classroom fee if you wish to use either Whistling Pines Gun Club location for the classroom portion of the class.
Training for an individual (private lessons) is $200. For two (semi-private) it's $175 each ($350 total). I do not teach more than two students at a time to assure that you recieve the attention and quality training you deserve.
Coaching is $25 an hour, individuals only. I offer a money-back guarantee (or, better described as "I don't get my money" guarantee) on coaching: If after an hour you feel you haven't learned $25 worth of skills, don't pay me!
Please feel free to contact Pragmatic Protection with any questions, inquiries or to request coaching or training using the contacts below: