westberg wrote:phorvick wrote:Rob Pincus is a highly skilled trainer and has very effective teaching skills. He is worth every penny. But, it is not inexpensive training. Class fee, ammo etc..could easily approach $1000.
Phorvick have you had training by him
I'm asking about your bases for the above quote.
Please understand that I'm asking not to disagree with you at all, because as I stated I could not tell you anything about him one way or the other. I would think he had to be good because of the job he had. I also believe you would not have said this if you didn't believe it or it was fact. I also take seriously your recommendations.
My question is based on if I were to pick an instructor or school based on what I read in his bio I would have picked another school. Although I thought that I would like to attend Valhala because of the shooting facility and location. But that doesn't seem like an option now.
Ron
Short answer...No, I have not personally attended his classes. I do know some folks that have, that I trust, that have very high regard for him and his work. That being said, let me add more....
I highly recommend classes from Steve Silverman of FR&I (
http://f-r-i.com )...I have taken classes from him and also have attended his instructor training (as has FarmerJ). His class was about $400, and about 700 rounds of ammunition. Most of the instructors that are (a) nationally known and (b) go on the road, are very good. What makes them good is the ability to teach and communicate effectively. There is not a huge difference in one defensive shooting class vs. another in actual content. For example, if I am teaching a technique to present the firearm faster, there is not a huge difference in the technique whether I teach it or John Doe teaches it. The difference is in the presentation and communication skills that are used...and I think that I am at least adequate on that!
I have had a chance to see the Pincus DVD's...and I like them. THey show him in action...they show the skills that you would work on at his classes. (I have ordered the series ...I think they make a good refresher for those cold winter nights!)
I know that you know that a person can learn from every class they attend. You go in, adopt what works for you, try the others, and either look into adopting the technique, or perhaps even abandoning it as not workable for you. Pincus classes are the same. Some stuff you will know, some you will try and even embrace, others you may determine does not work for you. Is it worth $XXX to pick up a few tips that are useful? I think it is. Is it worth $XXX to be (effectively) forced to practice for three solid days? I think it is. Is Rob's $600 that much better than Steve's $400 class? How do you quantify that?
Here is my thought...take it for what it is worth. If the "big guns" like Pincus or Ayoob come to Minnesota, saving us travel costs, my advice is to take the class. But....a $1000 is a stretch for most folks. That is why I would not suggest that a person necessarily take that type of class as their first/only advanced class. There are lots of good folks here on this forum that offer seminars/classes on an advanced topic. I would start there. Take one from Don, Jon, Tom...Paul ! Heck, take them all for far less $$$ and see if this is fun for you. (I would never recommend that a person take the classes unless you see it having elements of fun and a personal challenge to improve.)
So, short answer, no, I have not met nor taken a class from Rob. (Although, I am thinking about this one); but, he comes very highly recommended as a communicator and teacher. Whether or not his $600-$1000 class is "worth it" to someone else I really cannot say. Seems to me that if a chance comes to take a class from a good communicator, with generally positively reviewed skills, and if that is in your time and $$ budget, it is at least worth a look.
Remember even Ayoob ...as powerful a name as his is...has many detractors. No one will get 100% positive reviews; heck even I am only at 97.32%