[Below is a course review from a man for whom I hold the highest respect. You see, when I first started on the warrior path almost 16 years ago, Senior Master Eric Burke was my first mentor. As well as being my sifu and teaching me Shaolin-Do Kung Fu, he was an excellent role model who played a huge part in instilling discipline and respect in a goofy, unfocused kid everybody called “Cheese.” He currently teaches karate at Tri-County Shao-Lin Do in Corbin, KY. If you’re interested in learning traditional martial arts, then I can give no higher recommendation to anybody else. I’m sure that Master Eric has no idea how much his words mean to me; I am honored and humbled to now have something to teach my old teacher.]
Hello, my name is Eric Burke and I have been practicing and teaching martial arts now for over 33 years. I began my journey when I was around 10 years old and have owned my own school since I was 17. During my training I have been able to obtain in our art the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt, Senior Master Level. The reason I started this review telling you that is because I wanted to set the stage that I know and understand self defense and the importance of training. Self defense takes several forms and today in this review I want to express the importance of the Pistol 1 course that the ATA provides.
Like many of you out there I have been around guns my whole life and I feel like I know how to shoot and handle a weapon. I was raised with the 4 universal gun rules, I know how to be safe and I can hit a target, most of the time. Now that you are nodding your head in agreement let me bust your bubble! I thought I knew about guns and how to shoot. I was wrong! I would bet money that many of you out there are like me and feel like you know what you are doing. I learned so much from the Pistol 1 course that I am going to take it again! Yes you read correctly, I am going to take it again!
Josh is an excellent teacher and unlike many teachers out there that just have a certificate or intellectual knowledge of a subject, he knows how to apply it and can demonstrate what he teaches flawlessly. I can’t stress enough how much I learned in the Pistol 1 course. I learned that my grip was wrong, I learned how to work through several gun malfunctions, I learned how to use my pistol to protect myself and those around me! Josh takes the science of repetition, proper form, consistency and instructs you on those skills as well as many others in real life application. There is no “fluff” in this course, it is all practical and priceless information! I can’t wait to take the course again so I can move on to Pistol 2 and Rifle 1!
ATA is the Real Deal and if you want Quality instruction then you don’t need to look outside Laurel County, it is right here in our back yard and within your reach. Stop thinking about it and just do it! You will not regret it and the bottom line is no matter what you think you know, you will know more and be better after you take a course at the ATA!
[Again, don’t forget to check out Tri-County Shao-Lin Do in Corbin, KY.]