Every time I ask a class what the KISS Principle is I always get the same answer, “Keep it simple, stupid”. Instructions who use this term and then apply it to their students are making a grave mistake. Mainly because few instructors truly understand the power of “Wizardry”.

Wizards are anyone who holds some power of authority or credibility. For most of us the first wizards in our lives were our parents. Later teachers, coaches, ministers, friends etc, were added to our wizard list. Some wizards are even institutions; like schools, universities and, yes, even Top Gun.

These Wizards influence us all our lives. Because we hold them in such esteem we believe about ourselves what the wizards say about us. Most of this impression, and the most dangerous part, is held in our mind which dictates who and what we are, and shapes how we behave and perform.

Wizardry is nothing new. In fact the book “The Wizard of Oz” is based entirely upon it. Wizardry is real. Even pets understand its power.

In this context the instructor speaks to the student and the student/participant accepts what we say because of our Wizardry. They believe about themselves what the instructor tells them about themselves; about 1/4th of it on a conscious level; the remainder on the subconscious.

Those instructor / wizards who use the traditional KISS Principle are basically telling the student that they are stupid; that they are being taught simple things because the wizard believes they are too stupid to handle anything else.

Once their stupidity is confirmed by the wizard, on what ever emotional level it may be, the student’s ability to perform under the extreme pressure of survival stress has been adversely effected. They hear the word “simple” on the conscious. Level, but the word “stupid” is registered on the subconscious. This is further compounded by one or more of the following three truths about teaching people survival skills.

1. The act of shooting begins and ends as an emotional event.
2. The ability to think on your feet can sometimes enhance your survival potential more than your marksmanship skills.
3. People attitude toward their gun, or about firearms in general can have an adverse effect on their performance.

Most of these issues show up on the range of poor, and even dangerous performance while shooting. Often we are quick to label these people as stupid. However, it is not stupidity we are witnessing, it is the persons behavioral manifestation of their lack of personal confidence in themselves. That confidence, or lack there of, is the direct result of wizardry.

Once the instructor knows, understands and accepts their wizardry they can then confront the students before they even came to class. Usually that will take on one, or more, of four identities.

1. The level of interest the student has in shooting: Some people will go to the range whenever they get a chance. Others, especially in the ranks of law enforcement and security, are extremely reluctant if not out right resistive to it. Once there, their mindset definitely will effect their performance. Often, however, their seeming disinterest is actually a defense mechanism used to cover up their lack of confidence. They shoot “minimum” scores because they see themselves as minimal shooters. Others have simply had no reason to be gun oriented had no reason to be gun oriented until they joined the force. Some could even have been former anti-gunners who have suddenly changed their value system, (usually because they or someone close has been victimized), and have now decided to arm themselves.
2. The Marksmanship skills they already posses: This factor is both as complicated and different as the individual to which it is being applied. Whatever prior shooting experience they have had comes to the class with them. This factor is further amplified if that experience is in the shooting sports. It really shows if the person is switching to a semi-auto. Or perhaps weapon type such as a shotgun or rifle. This problem is one of the reason we developed the technique of Integrated Firearms Training. By making the various components, and the terminology similar it becomes easier for the student to adapt to the new system.
3. Their prior gunhandling skills: Whether good or bad, the way the person handles their gun may be so ingrained into their subconscious “program” that replacing or repairing it can be frustrating to the student and instructor. This is especially true in the areas of the Administrative Functions of the gun and in Tactical Firearm Safety.
4. The highly experienced or exceptional shooter: Either through avid recreational shooting or competition, The person has developed their skills based upon fine and complex motor skills, or do things which are tactically unwise for the sake of winning some game. This individual can be very resistive to learning. Many times they believe they know it all and spend a lot of the classes time arguing. Some will nod their head as if they understand, but the go do what they want to do anyway. Most of their concepts and beliefs come from a media guru and not from combat experience. Some individuals in this category go from class to class and school to school just to argue with instructors.

A smaller category of this type are the ones who do come to learn new things. They have learned through experience that the only thing that reduces the effects of stress during combat is confidence in themselves, their firearm and their training. They are particularly attracted to our classes because they know our motto is also a simple basic truth; that advance techniques are the basics mastered.

For these reasons we have redefined the KISS Principle. We call the new version K.I.S.S. Because we teach techniques that are;

1. SIMPLE: Easy to program into the individual and for them to do when to do when under the effects of survival stress.
2. SURE: Sure to work in a combat environment and/or solve the problem. Methods which have been extensively researched and/or validated in combat.
3. SAFE: Safe to perform under the mantle of tactical Firearms Safety when the person is in a highly charged 360-degree environment and no direction is a safe direction. An environment where both threat and non-threat can come at them from any direction.

We have adopted this definition because we do not think any of our 5,000+ students were/are stupid. Our goal is to build their confidence, not destroy it.