Tactical Skills Institute

[newracer]

In order to apply for my CCW, I took the Basic and Intermediate Handgun courses from Tactical Skills Institute (www.tacticalskillsinstitute.com) and I cannot say enough good things about the courses. The intermediate portion was intense and very fun. All the instructors were excellent. Anyone looking for instruction should consider these courses. I will be attending more for sure.

[Jensen_Arms]

Jim Torrez gives the best bang for the buck out there! We have taken his classes and have nothing but great things to say about Jim and his level of instruction. If you have a firearm, take his class, its that simple!!!!

Rave reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim is one of the very few who can shoot well, and INSTRUCT. Not very many instructors have the ability to actually teach. JIM DOES!!

Give Jim a look at http://www.tacticalskillsinstitute.com/

[Phillygunner]

Jensen_Arms,

Thanks for that encouraging word. It's so frustrating to pay a lot of money for a class only to find out that the people teaching it don't have teaching skills. Most of the classes today are so far overpriced as to keep the guy whose department isn't paying for it from participating. And most of the better courses are great distances away.

I'm scheduled to take a class with Jim in about a week and a half. I'm looking forward to it and he was way more than fair with his pricing.

Phillygunner

[bbadmin]

I updated his information on Colorado Shooting. Thanks for the feedback.

[Phillygunner]

I took the tactical rifle class with Jim this past weekend. It was a great experience. Jim is a consumate professional. As well, several of the people in the class with me were also skilled professionals. The group ranged from active duty military, to local police organizations and skilled civilians.

The class helped me to get rid of some bad habits as well as taught me to adopt some new good habits. I will be taking additional classes with Jim Torrez.

Phillygunner
aka

James

[Driftwood]

I was just recommended this instructor, as well. I've taken a couple of NRA basic pistol classes but am looking for more advanced training.


The intermediate portion was intense and very fun.

So just how intense is intense? Say, compared to other advanced courses out there? I really want something thorough and am leery of many schools and their "advanced" courses.

[newracer]

I cannot compare it to anything else because it is the only class I have taken. It did get my heart pounding and get the adrenaline going.

Here are two scenarios we did at one station.

Start inside a car, shoot through the passenger window (it was rolled down) to hit two pepper poppers. Then exit the car keeping the pistol pointed down range, come around to the back of the car and shoot three targets as they become avaialble. Back behind the car, reload. Then go further down range and shoot three targets two times each from behind three different covers.

Start inside car, car moves down range, shoot 5 targets as you go by (I should say try to shoot). Car stops, exit car, you and driver (instructor) take cover and shoot each of three targets two times.

We shot a lot at a lot of different sized targets and at different elevations. Also you work on some good communication skills between shooters. They also do a drill where you shoot other peoples guns, I ended up shooting 3 guns that I have never shot before.

I plan on doing it again and taking the rifle class.

[Driftwood]

DANG I'm impressed! Thank you for sharing those scenarios with the cars, etc. That kind of training is exactly what I'm looking for.

I sent him an email regarding training with some of my questions so hopefully I'll hear back soon!

Thanks again!

[newracer]

We got to do each of those senarios twice.

Then there was another where you are walking down a shallow gulley, side by side with a partner. There are metal targets of differet sizes at different heights along the sides. When the instructor yells "gun!!!" you go to cover if available, give a stop command, and then fire until the targets are knocked down. Reloads are done as needed and you have to ask your partner to cover you while reloading.

I'll admnit the entire class isn't all scenarios but it was all good. Did a lot of drills to work on trigger pull, follow up shots, and drawing from holster, most where timed. Also did competitions between groups on how fast you can knock down targets, losers had to setup targets. Between the two courses I took in one day I shot about 400 rounds.

Also we had 12 in the class with 3 instructors. All the instructors were very skilled and taught well.

[Driftwood]

I just Googled "Chief James Torrez" cause I was bored and came up with this link:

Frederick police chief resigns
http://www.metrowestfyi.com/farmerminer/story_display.php?sid=3764

:?:

Couple this with the fact that I emailed him at his Tactical Skills address a couple of days ago about some training questions and have not heard back from him, I wonder if he's still in business or what's going on? Has anyone heard anything else? I'll give the email reply another day or two and then I'll give him a call about my training questions. But if any of these allegations in the story are at all accurate......then I'm now a tad uneasy about taking training from him. Might be another Gabe Suarez situation. I sincerely hope not, though.

[newracer]

I think he is still training and working at Jensen Arms. I also emailed him about some training and have not gotten a response. I do know that he had a class recently though.

[kwando]

he still is in business... i have a buddy that just took his class about a week ago

[Driftwood]

Thanks guys. I guess that's good to know.

Ahh, he works at Jensen's too, eh? Pretty cool place.

[Phillygunner]

Jim Torrez is still in business and he's a straight shooter. I believe the real problem is with the new city manager. He just conducted a class last weekend and it was first rate.

He's got classes scheduled through the end of the year. The training is excellent and Jim is a good guy.

Phillygunner aka James

[Jensen_Arms]

It's best to keep in mind that there is always two sides to every story, and the press has not been known to give an unbiased report.

Jim is definately doing classes! In fact he has never been busier!

It is best to call him as the classes are keeping him VERY busy, and we are trying to take all his remaining time. He is a very good asset to us.

It is also best to call him. Hopefully between the classes and working for us, he has no other time to do anything! Sorry but we are selfish.

Please take one of his classes, then give a report, don't go by what the press or anyone else has to say. We're sure you will enjoy his training.

We have indeed taken it, and fully endorse it!

[Jensen_Arms]

Actually, we just got off the phone with Jim, his email service is down until next week, try calling him on his phone.

[Phillygunner]

In this case, the case seems to be extremely biased and equally full of quanno.

You will not have a better learning experience anywhere. Register for a class and save me the trouble of saying I TOLD YOU SO!

[Driftwood]

It's best to keep in mind that there is always two sides to every story, and the press has not been known to give an unbiased report.

Jim is definately doing classes! In fact he has never been busier!

It is best to call him as the classes are keeping him VERY busy, and we are trying to take all his remaining time. He is a very good asset to us.

It is also best to call him. Hopefully between the classes and working for us, he has no other time to do anything! Sorry but we are selfish.

Please take one of his classes, then give a report, don't go by what the press or anyone else has to say. We're sure you will enjoy his training.

We have indeed taken it, and fully endorse it!

Thank you very much for the info!

By no means was I passing a definitive judgement on the situation, I just want to make that clear. I just found an article on the 'net that was startling and wondered if anyone else had any other info on it. ABSOLUTELY I am aware that there are two sides to every story and that the media more often than not blur reality and distort with their bias.

So....I was and AM still planning on calling him. God knows I need more training and from all of your recommendations it seems like Jim is the gentleman to do it. Thanks again!

[Driftwood]

Actually, we just got off the phone with Jim, his email service is down until next week, try calling him on his phone.

Sorry to hear his email is down but it's good to know that he wasn't just ignoring me....

:cool:


Register for a class and save me the trouble of saying I TOLD YOU SO!

Yes Sir! You don't have to tell me twice!

[westy1970]

I just took the basic handgun course from Jim and I learned a tremendous amount of useful training habits. I have been shooting since I joined the Army in 1987 and I still learned a ton. I recently moved from an oppressive foreign country (Kalifornia) where firearms training is non-exsistant. Oh there are lots of ranges, they are just run cold.

Jim's class was very informative, fun, easy to be comfortable in and darn good pratice. He runs a few scenarios and explains why he PREFERS to do it that way. I highly recommend it and will be sending my wife soon.

[Driftwood]

I just took the basic handgun course from Jim and I learned a tremendous amount of useful training habits. I have been shooting since I joined the Army in 1987 and I still learned a ton. I recently moved from an oppressive foreign country (Kalifornia) where firearms training is non-exsistant. Oh there are lots of ranges, they are just run cold.

Jim's class was very informative, fun, easy to be comfortable in and darn good pratice. He runs a few scenarios and explains why he PREFERS to do it that way. I highly recommend it and will be sending my wife soon.

Thanks for the review!

I've signed up for Jim's Basic and Intermediate classes and am anxious to get started! I've already had a basic class from 'another' school but it didn't cover everything that Jim's does according to his course outline, so I thought it best to take the basic again. Like you said, it'd be a nice refresher anyway. Sure wish I had known about the "other" school sooner - could've saved some $$$.

[newracer]

When is your class? I want to take the intermediate again.

[Driftwood]

The class is Aug. 12 (if memory serves me....I don't have my day planner in front of me...) right after the range time for the basic. I think it's 1-5.

[Driftwood]

Well, I took Jim's Basic & Intermediate pistol classes yesterday and am SO impressed! I learned new skills from the Basic portion - it was FAR more informative than the basic class I took at Safe Arms. And the Intermediate portion was a hoot with the gulley training at the end!

So other than my bad sunburn [blackeye], this was a GREAT experience. Jim is very professional indeed, as others have said here. I told him to put me on his waiting list for the next Urban Rifle course that he gives and eventually I plan to take his Tactical pistol course, as well (as soon as my wife let's me spend the money). I'm just so impressed. After researching a bunch of different training schools, I also HIGHLY recommend his school above others.