​​I began recreational shooting over 15 years ago. As I transitioned into professional competitive shooting, I discovered something that reshaped my understanding of performance: the highest levels of speed and accuracy are built under measurable stress.

 

Competitive shooting demands discipline, aggression in execution, and mastery of fundamentals. Shooting against the clock exposes weaknesses immediately. There is no guesswork — only performance.

 

That environment taught me something critical: skill must hold under pressure.

 

In a defensive encounter, there are no warm-ups. There is no time to think about mechanics. What remains is your baseline — your true performance floor.

 

My philosophy is simple: raise your ceiling in training, and your floor rises with it.

 

Imagine your skills existing within a skyscraper. The ceiling represents your best performance in a controlled environment. The floor represents your worst performance under stress. As you deliberately train to elevate your ceiling, your floor follows. The goal is not perfection — it is preparedness.

 

Every skill we develop — grip, recoil control, presentation, reloads, movement, decision-making — is trained with intention. Not recklessly, not theatrically, but deliberately.

 

Throughout my career — whether in technical trades, fabrication, mechanical work, or competitive shooting — performance has always been the standard. In performance-based fields, there are no rehearsals. You must be capable on demand.

 

That mindset carries into my instruction.

 

I push my students to their training maximums, but never beyond what is constructive. Growth requires challenge, but it also requires trust. My role is not to intimidate — it is to guide, correct, and elevate.

 

Training is not about fear. It is about confidence built through repetition and measurable improvement.

 

I teach because I care deeply about responsible citizens being capable and prepared. This is not a side hobby for me. It is a calling rooted in discipline, performance, and service.

 

If you choose to train with me, you will be challenged. You will improve. And you will leave with greater confidence in your ability to perform when it matters.

 

—

Don Carroll

Founder & Chief Instructor

DC Training & Tactics