Reviews and Testimonials

Below, please find some reviews and testimonials from people we coach:

  • Training with Alex is great!  Every week he gives me four or five drills focused on one of my problem areas.  At the end of the week he analyzes my targets and or SCATT,  provides very helpful feedback, and another set of drills.  I’ve worked with him for a year and a half and he’s fixed my many bad habits and I’ve watched my scores become much more consistent and steadily increase, right along with my confidence in my shooting.  He always has positive feedback and insightful comments about how to overcome my problems.  Working with Alex on a weekly basis keeps me striving for better performance.  Knowing that the training I’ll be doing at the range is the right training for me is well worth the price.  Alex encouraged me to stretch and come to Camp Perry in 2019.  With advice from him and Vladimir I won Grand Senior in the 22 only Bullseye category.  –  Mike H, MA

 

  • About two years ago I picked up competitive shooting as a sport and hobby.  I searched to find the best coach possible.  My search led me to Alex Chichkov. I could not be more happy.  He is an excellent coach for both the basics and the high level skills.  His depth and breadth of knowledge in the shooting sport belies his age.  Alex is very accessible (probable too much so).  So if I’m at the range and need a question answered. I just pick up the phone and the issues are fixed then and there.  Not a week later at the specified call in time like some other coaches.    His coaching plan emails are detailed and very specific which definitely are beneficial. They are a great road map and I refer back to them frequently. My only regret is that I didn’t pick up competitive shooting early and start training with Alex at that time.  With Alex’s help I know that I will make it to the upper echelon in the sport. –  Anire O, TX

 

  • Alex works with me to develop thoughtful weekly training programs based on my performance and feedback. As a result, my training is much more purposeful and focused often includes elements that add “match pressure”. As a result, I am seeing meaningful improvements in my execution.
    Alex has also helped me to completely redo my warm-up routines and given me a lot of good feedback and tips on my position and execution. – Jeff H, MA

 

  • I have come to consider Alex a valued and credible resource since I began coaching sessions with him in early 2019. He has good technical knowledge of equipment and how to maintain it properly. He also provides good insight on the techniques currently used by the top shooters, based on his years of first-hand experience. Also, he is able to explain things in a clearly understandable way and gives homework that is tailored to my needs. He is patient and encouraging, and I usually leave each coaching session in an upbeat mood.
    I believe my technical foundation has become more consistent since I began the coaching sessions. My body posture, balance and grip have been improving. Vladimir recently fitted the grips for my air pistol and standard pistol, which has been helpful. Alex encourages me to abort shots as necessary, since he says that aborting shots is a skill to be cultivated. The mental aspects apparently are dominant for successful pistol shooting, and this is perhaps my biggest challenge. Alex has given me some good advice for maintaining a positive attitude and for improving my visualization skills. – John J, FL

Isometric Training & Pistol Shooting

By Assistant National Pistol Coach Vladimir Chichkov

As with any other sport, practicing sport shooting requires physical strength, endurance and developing specific athletic qualities. I would like to take a moment and elaborate on one of these qualities as related to pistol shooting.

When observing the shooting process, we do not see a lot of dynamic activities but this does not mean that there is no muscular work. To execute a perfect shot we need a well trained, controlled and immobilized system from the body to the pistol; moreover, a system that is oriented to the desired point. To achieve this immobilization we need a specific strength—isometric strength. What exactly is an isometric activity? It is muscular work without visible movement. For example, there is neither change in the angles of the joints nor change in the length of the muscles. Thus, shooting is primarily an isometric activity. We, as shooters, need to stand still and hold the pistol with no movement in order to aim properly and execute a shot. Most of our physical activities are completed by the larger muscles and muscle groups, but the isometric hold requires the use of the small muscles that are not commonly engaged in the dynamic (isotonic) exercises. This is why it is very important to understand the need for isometric exercises and building a plan to improve your isometric strength.

Since the muscles responsible for isometric activities do not participate in dynamic exercises, we cannot expect to train them while performing a typical workout. How do we train them? The biggest advantage of isometric training is increasing the hand and forearm strength for pistol grip. However, it is important to train with both hands (regardless of your shooting hand) in order to keep the harmony of your body. Isometric exercises work only for a very limited angle, and only at the angle you train. So if you train at 90 degree angle, you are not gaining power for the position at 45 degrees. That is why you have to exercise at multiple positions. In my practice, training at fifteen degree intervals is proven to give the best results (Figure 1). To achieve improvement in all participating muscles, it is important to exercise in all four directions UP-DOWN (Figure 2), LEFT-RIGHT.

Isometrics are divided in two groups based on the amount of power you use: maximal isometrics—when you use your maximum strength against an unmovable object (pushing against the wall or a specifically designed stand) or submaximal isometrics—when holding an object in a certain position (holding the pistol in the aiming zone).

Practicing maximal power exercises is building your strength. The submaximal exercises are very often used for rehabilitation, but in our sport they can be used for maintaining the level of our physical condition.

For practicing you can use simple accessories. The simplest one to use is a rope with a loop that can be put around the gun or with a knot so that you can hold it in your hand. Step on the rope and pull up with a straight hand. To change the angle, release a little bit of the rope and pull again. To exercise in the opposite direction you need to attach the rope to the ceiling (and not to dry wall please, I don’t want to be held responsible for damaging your living room) and pull down. Having loops or knots at different heights will allow you to practice different angles.

You can make another easy accessory with a two foot by four foot wood stud. Put four six-inch lag screws at different heights (corresponding to 45, 60, 75 and 90 degree angles). Then, insert the screws in pre-cut pieces of rubber hose to make it more comfortable. Cut the top of the two foot by four foot stud so that it fits in the door frame. Make sure the stud is steady, and then you are ready to practice. You can use a toy gun (so that you do not damage your competition pistol) or just push with your fist up and down against the lag screws. To exercise in the left-right direction you can push against the door frame. For safety, make sure that your finger is outside the trigger guard of your pistol and that your gun is unloaded.

There is no exact science to the organization of the drills. The general consensus is for one to three groups of five short attempts at any of the desired angles and directions. The length of the attempts is usually five to 10 seconds with maximal strength. Don’t forget to take a 15 to 30 second break between the attempts and rotate the right and left hand after each group. Three to five minutes breaks between the different directions are recommended.

Isometrics can be used for strengthening your entire body. Just determine which muscle groups you need to train and develop your exercises following the principles we just discussed.

Do not forget to properly warm up and never over-do it. You will see results in two to three weeks even if your attempts are as short as two to three seconds. If you are practicing air and free pistol you can train only at 90 degrees, but it is always beneficial to practice at multiple angles. For the sport and rapid fire pistol events, multiple angles drills are a must. I wish you all straight shooting and good luck!

Training with us

Welcome to the first step to becoming a champion!

Our goal as your coach is to guide you along the path of the Champion. Between the coaches at Pardini USA, there is over 50 years of training experience. We will take our knowledge and provide you with training regiments, macro planning, and personalized coaching.

As you start the training regiment, you will quickly find yourself tackling new challenges and obstacles, all while improving your skills as a shooter.

Do you shoot for fun? To become a champion nationally? To become a champion internationally? No matter your goal, we have a plan that is right for you.

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