International Training Inc. (ITI) held its first Women s Only Weekend in July. Sixteen women from various cities attended the two-day training event, which addressed threats facing today s women.
The event, held in Dilley, Texas, focused on advanced driver training and crash avoidance, unarmed defense techniques and handgun orientation.
Driver Training
On the first day, students got hands-on experience in practical driving maneuvers in realistic emergency situations that happen on highways and back roads. Instructor John Estrada demonstrated the power of an air bag and why a minimum safe distance must be maintained from the air bag.
The women practiced effective threshold braking and visual techniques to anticipate and avoid accidents even while driving under stressful conditions until everyone successfully made it through the cones. The same principles were applied to high-speed driving, where students pushed the ITI fleet vehicles in excess of 80 90 mph on the back straight.
Self Defense
Students braved 100 -plus temperatures for a hands-on demonstration and practical application of unarmed defense techniques. Attacks from the front and behind, as well as ground-fighting techniques were practiced on a padded surface.
Handguns 101
The second day started with Senior Instructor Benjamin Kurata s handgun orientation. A thorough review of how to safely load, fire, reload and unload the four major types of handguns was delivered. Types of ammunition, projectiles and ammo components, storage and use were also discussed before the class headed to the firing range.
Director Bank Miller worked with half the class on semi-automatic pistols, and Kurata worked with the other half on double-action revolvers. Then the groups switched, and everyone live-fired several rounds through both types of handguns.
Lady-vs.-Lady Shooting
Later in the day, each student was issued a semiautomatic pistol and magazines. Miller worked with half of the class on Range One, covering shooting on the move and multiple-target engagement. Kurata worked with the other half of the class on the Reactive Steel range, using nontoxic frangible ammunition, which allows shooting on the steel targets at closer, more realistic distances. The groups switched ranges again so everyone was exposed to shooting on the move, engaging multiple targets and lady-vs.-lady shooting on reactive steel. At the conclusion of the day, everyone regrouped for critique and graduation.
Upcoming Weekend
Women s Only Weekend II is scheduled for Oct. 10 11 at the ITC training center in Dilley. It will include a day of driver training and crash avoidance, and a day of home and vehicle defense. The latter will include shooting from, in and around vehicles, as well as such home defense techniques as dealing with corners, hallways, fatal funnels, stairways and poor light conditions.
ITI will supply all vehicles, gas, tires, safety equipment, handguns, magazines, holsters, ammo and targets, including vehicles for ballistic testing. For more information, call 830/334-2990 or visit the ITI Web site atwww.itiwsi.com.
