| I was in the middle of a 24 hour scenario and I had | | | | Don't Move Sloppy |
| casually sat down near enemy lines but in an out of | | | | Science has shown that western, media-engorged |
| the way place. I made no big effort to camo in, just | | | | society has about a 7 second attention span. The |
| made sure I was below sight lines and in shadow. I | | | | research shows that websites, commercials or videos |
| was, however, near what I knew was a popular trail | | | | need to get your attention in the first 7 to 14 seconds |
| leading into a main area. It was an opportunistic move, | | | | or you will move on to other things. From a tactical |
| aimed at possibly catching some poor soul unaware, | | | | perspective, this means that If things sit still for much |
| as I had done so many times. I downed a juice box | | | | more than that, our attention wanders to something |
| and as I finished, I picked up movement in my | | | | else. So when sitting in ambush or executing a slow |
| periphery. I slowly leveled my marker but his gait | | | | stalk in the high-ready position, limit movement to the |
| indicated he was deep in un-awareness. He was alone | | | | bare necessities. Acclimate yourself mosquitoes and |
| and walking with his head down. As tactical paintball | | | | dripping sweat and nagging coughs. Resist them. |
| strategy goes, this guy was "turned off". Beautiful. I | | | | Slowly increase your tolerance. Build your mental |
| didn't, however, expect him to step just off the trail and | | | | game. Most people aren't willing to go the distance to |
| head directly for me. I consciously settled my | | | | win, really win. Really crush it. Limit your movements. |
| adrenaline, which dumped at the prospect of my | | | | Get efficient. |
| target stepping right on me if he didn't change his | | | | Don't Move Like You're Wandering Mindlessly Through |
| pattern. He tanked in to the 10 yard mark...the 7...the 5... | | | | The Mall With A Venti No-Foam Decaf Vanilla Latte In |
| He stepped into the 3 yard circle, oblivious, and I | | | | Your Hand |
| squeezed a slow trigger from the hip and caught him | | | | Get your game face on. Get real. I like to call it |
| in the chest. His reaction was actually very subdued, | | | | "stacking the real". My teacher called it "playing the |
| almost like he was kicking himself in his head before | | | | game". It's the subtle shifting of mindset from "just a |
| his body could react. As we conversed briefly (I like to | | | | game" to entering into reality-based training. I can't |
| take these instances and turn them into teachable | | | | emphasize it enough. You ARE in danger. Or your |
| moments) he told me he hadn't seen or perceived me | | | | family is in danger and you stand in the breech. When |
| at all. I shared these observations with him. | | | | I'm out there, it's my three daughters I need to rescue. |
| Don't Move Fast | | | | Wanna crank up your game, take it to that level. The |
| Moving too fast causes two things to happen. Number | | | | more you can convince your mind of the reality of |
| one, your sensory awareness plummets. A fast | | | | your training, the more your mind will direct your body |
| mover casts their head down and looks at the ground | | | | to respond. As the notorious but successful Genghis |
| directly in front of them, about 30 degrees. When you | | | | Khan stated: "As you train, so shall you fight." |
| are moving, ALWAYS, move with your head up and | | | | I've seen tons of people posing as a "paintball sniper". |
| your marker in the low-ready position. Continually scan | | | | I've witnessed dozens of wannabe tactical players don |
| your zones, which if you are alone, are 360 degrees in | | | | the camouflage outfit and wander the woods like their |
| all directions. Number two, when you move too fast | | | | wearing Harry Potters cloak of invisibility but moving |
| you attract visual attention. This seems elementary but | | | | like rhinos. I love the fact that they're trying, they're |
| honestly, I can't count how many times I've watched | | | | having fun. But I've seen very few people with the |
| people get busted just because they brought their | | | | discipline to do what it takes to really play a tactical |
| marker up too fast to shoot or they moved too quickly | | | | paintball sniper game. Step it up a notch. Reach out. |
| to adjust their gear. When you have to move, | | | | Teach someone else. And do it in a way that gets |
| particularly in a camouflaged position, do it very slowly. | | | | them excited. |