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Firearms Instructors:  Our Beginners Workshop is your starting point for training new shooters.

• This class can be taught anywhere – your church, clubhouse, even your garage or barn.  No shooting range required.
• We've taught hundreds of beginners how to shoot using this curriculum.  Now many are shooting in our live-fire tactical events.
• Trainees need no firearms experience to attend this class.  We've had many attendees who have never held a gun before.
• After this class, follow up with your trainees by offering your own advanced classes.  Use our Defensive Shooter curriculum – mix & match to create your own.
  

Our Beginners Workshop provides in-depth training for both new handgun owners and experienced shooters who want to refresh their skills. This 4-hour event covers all the basics of handgun safety and operation in one session. 

Developed in association with Armed Defense Training Association, a Washington State nonprofit gun club founded in 2011.  ADTA volunteers helped create this training curriculum and have taught hundreds of beginners how to shoot.

Download Lesson Plan PDF

• Overview of Beginners Workshop training exercises:
  

• Segment 1:  How to be safe around handguns | Watch video
  In this segment we help trainees learn the four basic rules of gun safety.  We also talk about how to stay safe around others who are handling guns in an unsafe manner.  Our objective is to help trainees memorize these rules, so that they always have them in mind when they are around firearms. 
  
• Segment 2:  How a handgun works | Watch video
  Our objective in this segment is to help trainees learn the basics of handgun operation.  This will set the stage for everything else they will learn later. 
  
• Segment 3:  How to load and unload a handgun | Watch video
  In this segment we help trainees learn how to unload a handgun and make it safe to handle.  They'll also learn how to load a handgun and make it ready to shoot.  
  
• Segment 4:  How to hold, aim, and dry-fire a handgun | Watch video
  In this segment we help trainees learn how to hold and aim their guns, and how to get the guns on target accurately.  We’ll also show them the proper body stance for shooting accurate shots. 
  
• Segment 5:  How to live-fire a handgun at the range | Watch video
  In this segment we show trainees a video about shooting at the range.  Our objective is to show them this involves the same steps as our Basic Dry-Fire Exercise, except they will be using live rounds. 
  
• Segment 6:  How to present a handgun from the holster | Watch video
  Our objective is to help trainees learn how to safely draw their handguns from a holster.  Why do they need to know this?  First, this skill is required to participate in any live-fire practice event in an open bay.  Second, if they plan to carry a gun for self-defense, they need to know how to draw it from a holster.
  

Documentary video of a Beginners Workshop (37:11)

This documentary video chronicles a Beginners Workshop presented by the Armed Defense Training Association at one of its board member's condominium clubhouse.  The video presents an overview of the six segments listed above, and shows excerpts from the hands-on interactions with trainees.  The objective is to give you a picture of what an event like this looks like.