I attended the HK Pro 3-day training event in February this year at Where Our Families Train (W.O.F.T.), and just nine months later, I found myself back for a completely different training experience than last time. If you haven’t heard of W.O.F.T., it is a one-of-a-kind training facility centered around scenario safety training. It is not another firearms academy or school, even though there are dedicated blocks for firearms training. Instead, this facility focuses on much more than firearms training, including anti-carjacking, low-light scenarios, medical, stick and knife, and combatives training.

Where Our Families Train: Part 2

Furthermore, W.O.F.T. tailors the training to each individual or group (spouses, family members, co-workers, friends, etc.) to meet them where they’re at. For example, if a student doesn’t carry a gun every day or doesn’t even own one, they do not use a simulation gun in the low-light scenario room. Another example from when I attended in February: two ladies were brand new to shooting, so instead of going straight into drawing from a holster and working on tactical reloads during the firearms training session, the lead firearms instructor, Buck, took them to a different portion of the range to teach them firearms basics. I don’t know many training facilities that can do this, nor are they willing to take the time to customize the curriculum.

What surprised me most about the two-day training in November was how different a person I was since being there in February. It wasn’t until I found myself back in low-light training that I realized how much confidence and knowledge I had taken away from the last time I was there. During this trip, I got a whole new block of training I wasn’t expecting, learned a lot about what happens after an incident, and got my hands on various Sig Sauer pistols for this trip’s firearms training. Let me share the training I experienced this time and how much my training nine months prior paid off. 

Combatives Training

In February, I took the stick and knife training session, which was beneficial to me in learning how to use a blade temporarily to give me time to get to my gun if need be. During this trip to W.O.F.T., my small group started with combatives training. This training focused on using your hands, feet, and body to kick, throw punches, protect your head, get out of holds, escape physical restraint, and the proper technique to throw an unwanted person off if they mount you. We learned to fall correctly to protect our skulls, not bite our tongues, and prevent ourselves from breaking bones.

This training was entry-level since we were all new to it, but it was the most beneficial because I learned how to fight someone off and break out of a hold to escape or get to my gun. Carrying a firearm every day is great, but if you allow someone too far into your personal space, you might never be able to draw it out of your holster. Taking the blade training first helped prepare me for this training, as I knew it would be intimidating to learn something so new to me. The instructors at W.O.F.T. never belittle or embarrass; they make students feel safe while they are vulnerable and learning new concepts, techniques, or how to use the tools they have. Overall, this was my favorite training block of the weekend.

Range Training

It doesn’t matter how advanced a shooter you are; everyone needs regular firearms practice and has things they need to work on. Our group had two range sessions and was given Sig Sauer pistols, all mounted with red dot optics, to train with. The P320 striker-fired pistol is an easy-to-shoot full-size pistol for new and advanced shooters alike. I know many pro-level and entry-level shooters who use this in shooting competitions. With my higher experience with firearms, the W.O.F.T. team allowed me to use the P226-XFive, a single-action-only 9mm pistol with an external thumb safety and flat trigger. I mostly shoot double-stack 1911s when I compete, so this gun was right up my alley.

Buck, the lead firearms instructor, had us focus on trigger prep, target transitions, how to be target-focused, and throttle control on target distances where a better sight picture and trigger pull are necessary. Buck taught us how to break down each shooting fundamental by setting up simple drills that work on improving one aspect of firing a gun. By breaking down the shooting process, you can address where you need to improve the most and practice drills at home in live fire or dry fire practices.

The Sig Sauer pistols outfitted with Sig red dot optics made it easy for students to communicate what was happening to their sight when they shot their gun. Red dot optics give easy-to-see feedback to the shooter, who can then relay this information to a firearms instructor, so they know how to help the student. I enjoyed learning more about the Sig Sauer firearms, practicing with a new gun, and getting intentional reps on things I need to work on.

Scenario Training and What Happens After

The only thing you can expect from low-light scenario training is that you can’t predict what will happen. Philip Toppino, the Director and Founder of W.O.F.T., is the lead scenario training instructor. He assigns the assistant instructors roles to play in each scenario and instructs them on how to respond to the students based on their reactions. Everyone in my small group who participated in the low-light scenario training together carried a gun daily, which meant we got to use simulation guns. Outfitted with a holstered SIG Sauer P365 simulation gun and spare magazine pouch, we all began with two magazines each. Students faced multiple scenarios in daylight and low-light settings with varying degrees of threats and non-threats.

In my final scenario, the door closed behind me to start. I took a mere step when the door flew open again. Philip uses electric training shock knives, delivering the temporary sensation you suffered a cut. These knives are big and loud, so I heard the electric knife before I saw or felt it. Philip had immediately run in with the knife to fake stab me in the back and test my reaction time. Remember my sharing that we learned to fall correctly in the combative training? Here is where it paid off. Immediately, I went to grab my gun from the 4 o’clock position while also turning around to face my attacker.

Hazards Ahead

The floor of the scenario features a thick, soft mat underneath a layer of carpet, ensuring a higher level of safety when training. I tripped over the edge of this setup while turning, fell backward, and tucked my chin as best I could with my mouth closed so I didn’t bite my tongue. My strong hand stayed on my gun during the entire fall. I recovered quickly and then drew my pistol one-handed while lying face up and fired multiple rounds at the center mass area of Philip. Watch the video above to see how fast this happened and my response time. I immediately recovered the flashlight I had dropped and ran back the way I came out the door to “safety.”

What happens after a self-defense scenario? After the scenario ended, I was brought back into the scenario room to break down everything—what I saw, how I felt, and what was running through my mind. We also discussed the critical steps that follow a defensive situation. My friend John Brand from Firearms Legal Protection trained with me throughout the weekend and shared valuable insights on what typically happens next. “Even if your actions are justified, there’s a strong possibility you’ll be detained while the police investigate,” John explained. “That’s why having legal protection is invaluable for anyone who carries daily.” 

He described how their service immediately dispatches an attorney to your aid and covers all attorney fees for both criminal and civil trials. One crucial point John highlighted explained even without criminal charges, you could still face a civil lawsuit. Their protection isn’t limited to firearms either—it extends to defending yourself with other weapons, both lethal and non-lethal.

Legal Requirements

If you carry a gun or any weapon for self-defense, having legal protection isn’t just a luxury; it’s peace of mind. As John put it, “What happens after is just as important as what happens in the moment. You need to be prepared for both.”

Unfortunately, we have all seen good guys with guns defend themselves or others against bad guys with guns go through legal trials and go bankrupt in the process. X-Insurance is a company that offers specialty insurance solutions for concealed carry. It covers incidents that happen at home or in public spaces, as well as expenses such as bond payments and civil lawsuit legal expenses. The moral of the self-defense story is to get coverage should you ever need to use your firearm.

This second trip to W.O.F.T. was valuable for me because it showed how much confidence I had gained from the first trip. I have so much more to learn, and each journey to W.O.F.T. builds upon the last one, with training catered to your needs. I look forward to my next trip for more training!