Review: Beyond Fundamentals
I you don’t already know who Brian Enos is then you don’t know much about high level practical shooting.
An incredibly thoughtful masterwork written by a master of his craft at the peak of his excellence, this is more than a “how to shoot” book. It is a text on how to properly think about shooting and training in the context of practical pistol. The title, “Beyond Fundamentals” with the admonishment to master fundamental skills in order to go beyond them sums it up. Of course, one can never truly master the fundamentals and that is part of the thoughtful, no-thought approach this great book takes.
Many pointed out that certain sections will be beyond most shooters until they have already reached a given level of skill. True. Don’t take this as condescending, but certain ideas in here simply won’t make much sense until you’ve experienced shooting at a higher level. When training hard and scratching for skill gains, this book is always worth a re-read.
I’ve pointed out that the best way to find the “cutting edge” shooting techniques of tomorrow is to look at what winning competition shooters are doing today. Brian Enos, along with Rob Leatham, literally rewrote practical shooting and their ideas have trickled down to all forms of military, law enforcement and civilian shooting everywhere. Even Gunsite, Jeff Cooper’s famed school, has restructured parts of its doctrine obviously derived from this. That’s probably like getting Moses to rewrite the Ten Commandments.
Anonymous
Jun 20, 2012 @ 17:05:12
I highly, highly recommend this book. It helped take my pistol scores to a higher level without a doubt.
LikeLike
Ted A Sames iI
Jun 21, 2012 @ 09:24:34
I keep and go back to his book regularly….but, it is Bullseye shooting accomplished quickly. This is not real combat training and he he does not disagree. The next step is Force-on-Force training with high quality AirSoft pistols. Remember: Punching bags and paper targets do not fight back or move in 3 deminsions. Ted A Sames II, Sames Instinctive Shooting School
LikeLike
John M. Buol Jr.
Jun 21, 2012 @ 20:25:33
>> This is not real combat training…..
Fair enough. Physical fitness training isn’t “real combat training” either. Both are incredibly useful for establishing a base of skill and ability that carries over when “real combat training” is needed. Failing to train fundamentals is a training failure.
LikeLike
Gene
Jun 22, 2012 @ 16:34:58
I have had Brian’s Book for some time, and am now reading it again, about half way through.
Surprising how much you learn that you didn’t really get the first time around. May be because of the Practice time spent between readings.
Great Book, highly recommended.
Gene
LikeLike
Colorado Pete
Jun 22, 2012 @ 18:30:12
You have to start somewhere. Bedrock skills are formed on the square range (or in the gym/dojo). If you don’t have some bedrock skills you can apply and adapt to more realistic situations, you might as well stay home.
If your fundamentals suck, you’re relying on luck. Hey, that rhymes.
LikeLike