The Practical Pistol Course Series
Defensive Handgun Training for People Who Take Protection Seriously
Most concealed carry classes teach you the law, the safety rules, and how to punch holes in paper. Then they send you home. If you’ve ever finished a course and quietly wondered whether you could actually perform under pressure — you’re exactly who this series is for.
The Practical Pistol Course Series is 40 hours of progressive defensive handgun training across four phases. It starts where Pistol Basics ends and takes you through malfunction clearance, movement, cover, low-light engagement, and one-handed operation — building each skill on the last until it’s automatic.
This is not competition shooting. It is not a military or law enforcement course. It’s built specifically for the armed citizen: the parent, spouse, neighbor, or business owner who wants to be the person their family can count on when something goes wrong.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Verify your placement and equipment before enrollment.
Who This Is For
- Responsible gun owners who want to move past static range shooting into genuine defensive capability
- Parents, spouses, and household protectors who want confidence, not just a permit
- Anyone who has decided that “probably fine” isn’t good enough when it comes to their family’s safety
- Shooters who want a structured, progressive path instead of scattered one-off classes
You do not need to be an expert. You do need a serious attitude and a willingness to be honest about your current skill level.
Every Training Journey Starts With a Conversation
Every student begins with a mandatory in-person Free Consultation. This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a working session where we:
- Assess your current skill level and place you at the right starting point — whether that’s Pistol Basics or direct entry into Phase 1
- Inspect your firearm, holster, and gear for safety and suitability
- Talk honestly about your goals, your concerns, and what you’re realistically ready for
If you’re not ready for the series yet, we’ll point you to the Pistol Basics course that gets you there. If your equipment isn’t safe for the course, we’ll tell you that too. Our job is to make sure you succeed, not to sell you a seat.
Taught by Instructors Who Can Trace Every Technique to Its Source
Brian Simmons — Co-Founder and Lead Instructor Brian began his armed self-defense study in 1998 under Michael Harries, creator of the Harries Flashlight Technique used by law enforcement agencies worldwide. He earned Marksman I at Gunsite Academy under the late Pat Rogers, and his teaching is grounded in the Modern Technique of the Pistol developed by Jeff Cooper. Read Brian’s full story →
Gigi Simmons — Co-Founder and Director of Operations | Instructor Gigi brings over a decade of corporate human resources experience to her role as Director of Operations, ensuring every student’s journey from inquiry to range is seamless and professional. Her firearms training spans over a decade of pistol and rifle instruction, providing the technical foundation for her roles as instructor and Range Safety Officer. Read Gigi’s full story →
Nothing we teach is filler. Every drill has a documented origin, a reason for existing, and a measurable outcome.
The Four Phases
Phase 1 — Building Your Foundation for Practical Pistol Builds directly on Pistol Basics. Essential handling drills, refined accuracy principles, rapid presentation, and your first malfunction clearances. Prerequisite: Pistol Basics: Shooting Fundamentals, or instructor approval via Free Consultation.
Phase 2 — Malfunction Remedies, Muscle Memory & More Introduces movement and the environment. Advanced malfunction clearance, effective use of cover and concealment, tactical reloading, and foundational tactical movement. Prerequisite: Phase 1.
Phase 3 — Crisis Management & Dynamic Engagement Decision-making under stress. Searching and clearing, rapid threat assessment, low-light engagement, and efficiently handling multiple threats. Prerequisite: Phase 2.
Phase 4 — Close Quarters, Single-Hand Operations & Advanced Control Integrates everything into complex, realistic scenarios. Strong-hand and support-hand-only shooting, advanced marksmanship under stress, and intricate combat tactics. Prerequisite: Phase 3.
Advanced Ongoing Pistol Program — Stay Sharp Specialized high-level skills for the most demanding situations: disarming techniques, firearm retention in close quarters, and live-fire application of movement and shooting. Prerequisite: Phase 4.
Common Questions
Do I need to be a great shooter to start? No. Phase 1 assumes you’ve completed Pistol Basics or can demonstrate equivalent fundamentals. If you’re unsure, the Free Consultation settles it.
How long does the full series take? 40 hours total across four phases. We encourage you to move through phases consecutively rather than spacing them out — skills build on each other, and momentum matters more than flexibility. That said, life happens. If you do take a break, we’ll resume where you left off using your training tracking sheet. For gaps longer than a month, we recommend scheduling an additional indoor review day before starting your next phase.
Is this going to get me in legal trouble? We train for lawful self-defense, but we don’t teach the law — that’s not our lane, and we won’t pretend otherwise. For legal education, we recommend taking a Texas License to Carry permit course (we’re happy to refer you to a trusted partner). For advice on your specific situation, talk to an attorney. What we provide is the skill and judgment to act decisively within the law — knowing when to act is your responsibility, and we make sure you understand that going in.
What if I’m older, or not in great shape? Defensive shooting is a technical skill, not an athletic competition. If you can safely handle and operate your firearm, you can train with us.
Ready to Be Ready?
The consultation is free. The conversation is honest. And you’ll leave knowing exactly where you stand and what comes next.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Urban Defense Academy — Liberty Hill, Texas “When survival is the only option!”
Are you looking for unarmed self-defense classes? Visit our partner Shin Gan Dojo for martial arts training in Liberty Hill, TX.