Yavapai Firearms Academy provides training encompassing gunhandling, marksmanship and tactics, the 3 basic elements of surviving a defensive confrontation.

Using a firearm for DEFENSE implies REACTION to an existing threat, not an INITIATION of an action. Therefore, it is our opinion that the most crucial elements of defensive training are QUICK, REFLEXIVE gunhandling and MENTAL CONTROL. While marksmanship training is certainly necessary, it must be combined with tactics and street practical target systems and situations to allow any possibility of surviving a real-world confrontation. No one can guarantee perfect hits under stress, so training should not emphasize this aspect to the exclusion of the others. Reflexive gunhandling and mental control will leave your mind free to concentrate on SHOT PLACEMENT AND TACTICS.

To this end, we use a variety of target systems, and shooting is performed from various tactical body positions; the drills, however, are not of a strenuous physical nature. Training exercises are done from a tactical perspective. Any pressure applied to the student comes from within him/herself. While stress drills are utilized to attain maximum trainee performance on the range, the object of the exercise is to find your individual maximum potential by the end of the class - not during a later life-threatening confrontation! We, therefore, do not use a stopwatch on the range, but for your benefit, what you put in, you will get out of the courses.

Weapon Restrictions

We do not place restrictions on the type or caliber of weapon used in our classes. We firmly believe that a student should take the class with whatever weapon and "carry" system he/she will be using once he/she leaves the class. It is inadvisable to train with one type of weapon but then use another in a stress situation.

While we feel that .380 should be the smallest caliber considered for defensive pistol work, if you will be using a smaller caliber gun, bring it! A hit with a .22 is a lot better than a miss with a .45.

What to expect when you take a course from us.

Course Background and Pre-requisites.