Alright, it’s the day after my first-ever pistol match, and wow, there was a lot to take in! With the adrenaline of the timer, the energy of competition, and, of course, guns—and let’s not forget the rules—it felt like I was a toddler learning to catch a ball for the first time. I can’t say I’m a beginner shooter, but adding all those elements together made it a new experience. I felt my brain firing on all cylinders, forming new neural pathways, and reminding me to slow down and just not get sent home on a big mistake. (Because, let’s be real, getting sent home on day one would be a little embarrassing!)
I never thought I’d have the desire to compete, but lately, life has been bringing up some questions that made me curious. And I have to say, I’m really enjoying it. The pressure of competition has a way of revealing areas where I could put in more quality time and attention. I also realized that this experience gave me a new perspective on my own training approach. My students probably feel the same way I did—excited, nervous, a bit out of their element. It reminded me why I take such an empathic approach to training.
The guys I competed with made me feel right at home, like the “little sister” tagging along with the big boys. They were supportive, fun, and took the pressure off by just being themselves, which was a huge bonus. I’m already looking forward to more matches and using this opportunity to train both my mind and body in mastering fundamentals, strategy, and staying calm under pressure.
My first match was… a bit of a mess. It was the hardest course of fire, and yep—I accidentally “smoked the hostage” right in the noggin! I laughed it off, but truthfully, my hesitation to compete has come from knowing how competitive I am. I’ve spent years competing in different arenas, and I know how intense the energy can get. But my focus in life is on helping others reach their potential, not just proving my own. Life has been nudging me to examine why I was so resistant to competing, and here I am, diving in and learning a lot from the experience.
One of the biggest things this match showed me was how the nervous system and skill development play into shooting. I’ve been speaking with one of my mentors lately about things like neurons, synapses, myelin development, and how these biological elements affect our ability to build and refine skills. Mastery isn’t something you’re just born with—it’s something that’s developed. Sure, some people have a natural aptitude, but everyone has to go through the biological process to develop any skill.
When I train new shooters or even more advanced students, I love helping them understand why things happen in their bodies as they train. Recognizing that skill-building is about developing smooth flows of energy and building pathways in the brain makes both mistakes and successes less personal and easier to work with.
I’ve been through this process myself. I spent years developing certain techniques only to find out, when I started training with Tier 1 operators, that there was a smoother, faster way to achieve what I’d been aiming for. Realizing this hit me hard; I’d been priding myself on my skill, only to learn there was a more efficient method I’d never been shown until now. I made the decision to start over and build new pathways from scratch, creating actions that were smoother, faster, and ultimately, closer to the mastery I seek as a person and a teacher. Breaking old habits wasn’t easy—I even stepped away from shooting with others to avoid slipping back into those outdated methods under pressure.
Yesterday’s match was a test, but it also showed me that the work has paid off. Despite the timer, rules, and competition nerves, I stuck with the new methods I’ve been drilling into my training. I could feel that the foundational work I’ve done is holding strong, and now, I’m ready to start pushing more on speed without sacrificing those fundamentals.
This journey is all about mastery for me, and I truly hope to inspire that in everyone who joins my training. I’ve come to realize that competition is simply another avenue to enrich that journey. Here’s to more matches, more growth, and supporting others in discovering the same confidence and capability that I’m building every day.
I gain a deeper understanding as I recognize myself in my biological form. Of course, we might like to think of ourselves as superhuman, but we are gently reminded that there is a wonderful power within each of us that can be explored through biology and the study of the nervous system and brain. Enjoying the process greatly depends on not taking it personally.
