When it comes to handgun proficiency, simplicity and consistency are your greatest allies. I’ve honed a steadfast approach to shooting through my years of diverse training in the police academy, martial arts and advanced instructor courses.
In the chaos of a self-defense shooting, where adrenaline reigns and split-second decisions matter, your training becomes your foundation. Keeping your shooting stance simple and consistent is key.
Build Confidence With Proper Shooting Stance Training
Understanding shooting stances is just the first step. Proper training transforms you from a gun owner into a confident protector.
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The Weaver and Isosceles: Foundations of Pistol Shooting Stance
Renowned California Deputy Sheriff and competitive shooter Jack Weaver revolutionized handgun techniques with the Weaver shooting stance. Replacing outdated one-handed methods, the Weaver stance involves dropping your strong foot back, pushing the handgun forward, and locking it on target with a solid grip of both hands.
Another popular technique is the isosceles stance, forming a triangle with your feet as the base and your arms as the apex. While effective for shooting in controlled environments, its limitations become apparent in dynamic situations. It’s not the stance you’d adopt when navigating a building or covering a suspect.
IFS Stance: Interview, Fight, Shoot
As a certified police firearms instructor since 1986, I advocate for the “interview, fight and shoot” (IFS) stance. Rooted in a boxing stance, it provides a stable foundation while allowing quick transitions between an officer’s primary duties.
This position not only offers situational flexibility but also serves as a non-threatening posture, easily adaptable to draw and deploy tools other than firearms.
The IFS stance aligns with the reality of law enforcement scenarios, where officers need to seamlessly shift between various responsibilities. Its adaptability allows for swift response without arousing suspicion, ensuring readiness for any potential threat.
Drawing parallels between sports training and firearms proficiency, sometimes honing your skills involves activities that don’t require shooting. Just as sports camps focus on fundamental movements, defensive firearms classes dedicate substantial time to discussing and practicing stance. Recognizing that a defensive situation may not allow time for perfect adjustments, there’s value in understanding how body position and stance impact your ability to manage recoil.
Getting Into a Proper Stance
The athletic stance involves the feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, with knees bent and flexible, back straight, chest and eyes up, and weight forward on the balls of the feet. This stance is used in many sports because it positions the body to move quickly in any direction while maintaining balance and control.
Try executing any movement while resting on your heels and you’ll feel how long it takes to accelerate. Forward momentum matters.
When practicing, rock slightly forward on your toes so that you’re able to roll your heels up. Use a training gun or an unloaded, cleared pistol to complete the athletic stance with a firearm properly gripped in hand.
You should be able to feel your toes “grab” or curl. As you roll your heels up, your ankle, knee, and hip joints move while your upper body remains steady.
The Rock and Roll Exercise: Custom Work for Optimal Stance
Customize your stance through the rock and roll exercise, exploring the most comfortable, stable platform before advancing to movement. A proper stance will make a world of difference in your shooting.
If your weight is incorrectly back on your heels, the gun will move vertically, resulting in poor recoil management and climb with follow-up shots. To correct this, focus on balance and forward drive — especially with rifles or shotguns, where rocking backward becomes even more evident.
Why Does Your Shooting Stance Matter?
In a life-threatening situation, maintaining a stable stance is critical. On a range, you may have the luxury of time and a stationary target. But in the real world, gunfights are dynamic.
The first rule of a gunfight is to not get shot. Movement, cover, and flexibility all matter. The IFS stance positions you for readiness, ensuring you don’t waste time fumbling into position when every second counts.
Flexibility is survival. Mastering your stance prepares you for the unpredictable.
For those looking to elevate their skills further, consider exploring the USCCA’s Marksmanship Simplified and Defensive Shooting Fundamentals courses. These programs dive into the core principles of defensive shooting and marksmanship, offering invaluable insights for anyone serious about firearms training.
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This article is a compilation of previous blog posts authored by Kevin Michalowski, Scott W. Wagner and Beth Alcazar.
