Interesting video.... opinions welcome.

specops56

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I stumbled across this video and was actually surprised that the guy names names! I thought he would just talk about "types" of trainers in general. Some of the names I never heard of but some are quite well known. I know nothing about this guy and what his own qualifications are. Can anyone here validate his claims? Has anyone here actually trained with any of the instructors mentioned?



Terry
 
Hah! Somehow, I knew how that was going to end. :D

I trained a fair amount with Gabe Suarez many years ago. Things have changed since then, but what I learned from him was some of the most valuable information I have ever received. It is the foundation of my firearms beliefs. He was ground breaking, like Mas Ayoob was ground breaking. Outside the box thinking that made a lot of practical sense. Not many know he was also a former Gunsite instructor. I've trained with another former Gunsite instructor, Jack Furr as well.
That era, many years ago is filled with fond memories. We had a very close knit "crew" of very experienced and knowledgeable guys on WarriorTalk, his web site. Our first "get together" the Warrior Talk Symposium was a training mecca of instructors from all over the world. That was how I met Tom Givens. He hosted the event at his place in Memphis. The remarkable thing was the consistency of thought and conclusions that everyone (instructors and students) had come to in years of experience. It was the next step in development of combative skills. From Sykes Fairbain to The Modern Technique (Cooper) to Combatives. It was a remarkable time and I learned a lot. And the skills and techniques still apply. Gabe was a friend and back then he was a cool guy and I believe sincere.
Having said that, it seems things went off the rails. The web site became inundated with loud mouthed over the top types. I tried to go back after leaving it for about 3 yrs and was welcomed back with open arms. I was a prolific poster there. But, it wasn't the same and I quietly left again along with a few others. Gabe kinda went off the rails as well. His already boisterous attitude went on steroids and he got to be hard to take.
 
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Yeah, I figured it would end with either Gabe or James Yeager. I've never trained with Gabe, but I've followed him for many years, and his stuff has always seemed pretty sound to me. I myself use to be on the Warrior Talk forum alot, but I also kinda tired of the way some act over there. While I'm sure there are some real "been there, done that" dudes over there, it just gets to be a little much sometimes. I can take it in doses. As far as training, I've never talked to anyone that has actually trained with Gabe who had anything bad to say, same with Yeager.
 
I liked the video, and it seems to speak the truth, which can still he hard to today in this day. Gunsite today is not the Gunsite of Jeff Cooper, from the reviews I have read, they are teaching dated material. Gabe Suarez is a criminal, he did end up pleading guilty to a bunch of charges. When I was looking to take a defensive pistol class 3 years ago, I spend close to 6 months researching various schools and instructor, I ended up going to a MAG40 class. I think is money very well spent.
 
Yeah, I figured it would end with either Gabe or James Yeager. I've never trained with Gabe, but I've followed him for many years, and his stuff has always seemed pretty sound to me. I myself use to be on the Warrior Talk forum alot, but I also kinda tired of the way some act over there. While I'm sure there are some real "been there, done that" dudes over there, it just gets to be a little much sometimes. I can take it in doses. As far as training, I've never talked to anyone that has actually trained with Gabe who had anything bad to say, same with Yeager.
If you have any questions on any of his stuff, let me know.

I liked the video, and it seems to speak the truth, which can still he hard to today in this day. Gunsite today is not the Gunsite of Jeff Cooper, from the reviews I have read, they are teaching dated material. Gabe Suarez is a criminal, he did end up pleading guilty to a bunch of charges. When I was looking to take a defensive pistol class 3 years ago, I spend close to 6 months researching various schools and instructor, I ended up going to a MAG40 class. I think is money very well spent.
Gabe was on disability from the PD when he moonlighted by teaching some courses for extra money. That's what they busted him on.
 
Gabe was on disability from the PD when he moonlighted by teaching some courses for extra money. That's what they busted him on.

I can understand the workers comp fraud to a point, but how did that turn into money laundering?
 
But Gabe is the only one who sells genuine “Face shooter” triggers for yer Grocks.
 
So what was this guys purpose? Why make the video?
Axe to grind?

And don’t go to a trainer cuz he said something about gay people? Is this guy gay, with another axe to grind?
 
But Gabe is the only one who sells genuine “Face shooter” triggers for yer Grocks.
Yep, and I have two of them, love em. I don't care what he calls them, they work great, and are very reasonably priced. Gabe and Yeager may be brash and a little far out there, but I like how they don't give two craps about what others think about the way they feel or talk about stuff. Kinda refreshing from all the PC BS we hear about everyday, and being afraid someone might offend someone else. Gabe's business is still thriving, so others must feel the same way.

Sent from my LM-Q710.FG using Tapatalk
 
I can understand the workers comp fraud to a point, but how did that turn into money laundering?
I don't know, trying to hide the money he wasn't supposed to be making while on workers comp? I'm not here to defend him breaking the law. What he did was illegal and he paid for it. I just think it was not as insidious as it sounds.
What I do know is that he was teaching things few others were teaching. It was real world stuff. This was backed up by real world BTDT (been there done that) people on his site. Some of them still active. It was a philosophy and an attitude. It's the attitude that got outta hand. AAA alpha male with steroids. A bunch of them. Ironically, most of the BTDT experienced guys were relatively quiet and understated. Some real stand up guys and gals. I don't think he's even personally teaching now. He has a network of SI instuctors around the world and an enterprise to run. I had talked to him about becoming an instructor when there were only a hand full. Then suddenly it became a monster of an enterprise with rules and regulations, etc. Lots of complaints from the early instructors, not being permitted to teach any thing else. Before it was, I'm an instructor and I teach the SI method. It became, I'm an SI instuctor and that's all I teach. Many quit over it. I don't know what their classes look like now. I don't know if anyone is teaching similar stuff. What he taught was significantly different than what others were teaching and I'm glad I got it when I did and got to meet the people I did.
 
Yep, and I have two of them, love em. I don't care what he calls them, they work great, and are very reasonably priced. Gabe and Yeager may be brash and a little far out there, but I like how they don't give two craps about what others think about the way they feel or talk about stuff. Kinda refreshing from all the PC BS we hear about everyday, and being afraid someone might offend someone else. Gabe's business is still thriving, so others must feel the same way.

Sent from my LM-Q710.FG using Tapatalk

Enjoy yer "Face Shooter" triggers.
 
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