December 5, 2016
In 2010, I was first learning how to shoot a pistol and I sought out instruction from one of the members of the gym where I was coaching at the time. I knew this member was former military and was currently working as a shooting instructor for a military contracting company, and knew he would have lessons to teach me that would extend far beyond shooting. I was right. Everything we did that day was designed to build good habits in the long term. The way he first exposed me to this ideal was when we were finishing a particular drill and I had to clear my pistol (for those not in the firearms world, this means to make sure the gun is unloaded and safe). I went through the clearing process and then he had me repeat the drill we had just finished, this time by dry-firing the gun, before placing it in the holster. He looked at me and said simply “Never miss a training opportunity.”
What a profound idea? Everything is a training opportunity. Cleaning the bar to place it in the rack or perform an exercise. Picking up the dumbbells for a farmer’s carry. Beginning a set of kettlebell swings. For athletes that train with me, they will often be told to drop a bar or redo a clean when they are being lazy about picking a bar off the ground to place in the rack. I make them treat every single rep as if it matters to take advantage of the training opportunity it will provide. Over 250 training sessions in a year, how many training opportunities are being missed in your workouts?
-STEPHEN BUTCHER
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