Fist-Fire - Complete System of Self-Defense Shooting

Reviewer: Brian Y.

I've research a number of protocols and find Fist-Fire to be the best. After reading the book, you must see both these DVDs. They over-lap a little but they show you what you need to know about defensive shooting basics. Watch Mrs. Middlebrooks in particular. I highly recommend. SmartFlix was a great way to go and the quality was tops.

Reviewer: Brian Y.

Really great system! Well presented. Look forward to more advanced. Would have like some more SLOW detail! Watch his wife closely for best presentation. Second DVD is a little redundant. (it was meant to stand alone) and not all that advanced.

Reviewer: Hugh K.

No need to rent the 1st dvd, as it just shows that they can hit targets with the system. Rent the 2nd one to learn the basics of how to do the system itself. It's well done and well worth a peek.

Reviewer: Wayne B.

Excellent video. D.R. Middlebrooks has an easy to understand style to his teaching, is concise, as well as logical in his methods. A very good beginner to advanced system that helps those who may even have hand strength and failing eyesight problems. Amazing that someone did not come up with this sooner. Strongly recommended. Hope he has more coming. Will now order directly from him to practice and hone the technique.

Reviewer: Isabel S.

Fantastic system. An evolution of pistol fighting.

Reviewer: Christian L.

Fine teaching of a point shooting system. You being shown how to get your firearm into action and on a central body mass target as quickly and consistently as possible. The instructor does encourage the student to use the sights if time/distance permit, but you will primarily learn practical, not bullseye, accuracy. Enjoyed the teaching style and humor. Disc 2 is more oriented to the nuts and bolts of the system, disc 1 is more about demonstrating what is possible with point shooting.

Reviewer: Jon M.

It was mostly look at how good I can shoot without sights. After every round of shots they would zoom in to show that the gun still didn't have any sights on it. That got old.

I would say skip this DVD and rent the second one in the series.

Reviewer: Jon M.

I enjoyed the second DVD in the series much more than the first. It told the how to which is what I was more interested in. The first DVD only showed what index shooting could do.

Reviewer: John T.

I have no doubt that the man is a skilled shooter. So that said, the camera work had a lot to be desired along with the format (can we get another close up on the slide). I have seen much better but hope the second on will be better.

The only useful information was the section on the sentry position and on reloading drills except for his "practical reload technique". I would never recommend someone make it a habit to use their off hand to operate the slide release or mag release with the exception of sling shotting the slide closed. The sentry position is an awesome concept and wish it was more universally taught. This is the only video I have seen it in.

For the most part, the beginner is not going to understand a lot of what he is talking about, like the word "indexing" and what it means to do so to a weapon, but may find the reloading section useful. The experienced shooter is going to be saying "Well duh dude. Now show me the target. I am happy you can shoot but show me if you are hitting anything."

Watch it, take it for what it is and fill in the gaps with other sources of knowledge. I just hope the second one is better.

Reviewer: John P.

This is an odd set of videos. The first DVD is sort of an infomercial which proves little besides the fact that both Middlebrooks and his wife can shoot pistols. The second DVD goes briefly into the actual techniques that the system tries to teach. Unfortunately, some of the most important elements (especially his method of indexing) are skimmed over while most of the video is spent showing, again, that the instructor is, indeed, a good shooter.

The things that makes me really uncomfortable on these two discs are the defensive attitude and "what if" mentality of the instructor. My guess is that Middlebrooks has been harshly handled in the press and, perhaps, the internet. In any case, he tells the viewer over and over that his system really does work in spite of what others say. It's sad, really, that he feels he has to defend himself rather than letting his reputation and accomplishments speak for themselves. The other discomforting thing is Middlebrooks' constant playing the "what if" game which seems to be so prevalent among beginners and amateurs in the martial arts. What if this, that, or another thing happens...in the case of pistol shooters it usually has to do with confronting many bad guys in long drawn out fire fights. The majority of real firefights are over in seconds and you'd be reasonably served with the five shot capacity of a S&W Chief's Special. The need to do quick reloads exists, when it exists, mostly in movies and certain kinds of competition shooting. Oh well, rent the video for entertainment, but don't expect to learn much of value.

Reviewer: leo q.

Fabulous!!! Here is the man who knows how to shoot and not only that he knows how to teach. We can clearly see that his students shoot very well.

Reviewer: Chad G.

Really does NOT explain how D.R. Middlebrooks "does what he does". To me it seems more like an infomercial to invite potential students to pay for onsite training. A good portion of the video is spent on reloading and other topics besides "fist-fire". I'd pass on this one.

Reviewer: leo q.

Outstanding!!!!

This is the only thing that works for me. Every time I point my gun at a target now the sights are already aligned for me. Always wanted to be able to point a gun at something quickly and be able to hit it every time. Now I do just that. Used this technique in a match last Saturday. It sure moved me up a few people :)

Thanks