My short but brilliant Appleseed career

[LDB415]

Reality is fully setting in. I'm old, 69 in April, I'm overweight, lost ~60# but still 25-30 to go, and I'm a totally out of shape couch potato. This morning taking 50-60# of paper to the school recycling bin told me in no uncertain terms my chances of back and forth to prone position shooting are zero. Kneeling not hugely better. I'm a go to the bench guy and a stand with handgun guy. It also suggested the odds of lasting all day long at the range aren't zero but possibly not fully in my favor.

So, I know a lot of Appleseed is good theory and good technique that also applies in upright situations. Realizing I couldn't qualify for a patch, a definitely saddening realization, can one attend and do all the upright portions and just observe the impossible portions learning some but not all that actual doing would impart?

[Mrs. Smith]

Good morning!

I respect your awareness of your limitations.

Your Appleseed journey is just that - yours.  Do what you think you can, and watch for the rest. That said, we have a very flexible set of adaptive guidelines that Shoot Bosses use to help EVERY student get the most they possibly can from the experience, and within their limitations.  I know some of the folks who will be instructing at your Hempstead event. Trust me when I say you're in very good hands.

Your Appleseed career ain't over, brother. Not by a long shot. (pun intended  )

I do, however, HIGHLY recommend you incorporate some basic Yoga and/or Tai Chi into your daily life. It's astonishing the difference it can make in your strength, balance, and mobility. There are many YouTube creators out there who specialize in Yoga for the handicapped, for those of us carrying some extra around the middle, and older folks. Consult your doctor, of course, but I'd be very surprised if they objected.  One of my mentors in this program shared with me that when he stopped doing yoga, his shooting actually suffered. No joke.

I hope to see you on the line, sir. 

In Liberty,
Mrs. Smith

[Aliquippa]

I respect your honest self appraisal. Too bad more people dont practice it as prudently. That being said as someone told me:"whether think you can or you can't, youre right".
Do what you are comfortable with, start by moving a little more, tai chi is wonderful as is yoga and start slowly! The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
Happy and Healthy New Year to you, bro.

[Big John]

Daily stretching helps. I am trying to run again, and I stretch before that, but even the stretching helps by itself.

I should note that, a frequent, and well-accepted alternative is for students to not transition during stage 2 and 3, and, instead, simply begin from the position once someone else begins shooting who did transition. This, along with the opportunity to get into position untimed, allows one to safely and slowly do it.

I have also provided a hard chair for someone to use as a prop to get up and get down.

Neither is disqualifying.

[Zorak]

Reality is fully setting in. I'm old, 69 in April, I'm overweight, lost ~60# but still 25-30 to go

Congratulations on hitting 2/3 of your weight loss goal, LDB415. You clearly have willpower on your side.

[LDB415]

Well, even if I can't do everything my sieve, some people call them brains, can absorb everything and even retain some of it. So, what's to lose?

[TNPatriot]

Yeah. one of the instructors at eh Puryear event was making fun of all of my moaning, groaning and creeking noises while getting up and down from the shooting mat.........

[Bundt Pan]

Well, even if I can't do everything my sieve, some people call them brains, can absorb everything and even retain some of it. So, what's to lose?

Great perspective!

From my time watching the line, some of the biggest smiles come from those who did what they could, and found our they could do more on their terms.

A guy named Rick being one. Rick attended a 25M event and shared what I am guessing are several of the same struggles and concerns. He enjoyed it, but it was when he made it to a Pistol Clinic that he really showed his skill and had the best grin when he qualified.

One thing to consider, the shooting aspect of the program are only a component of what our clinics offer. Even while respecting your personal limits, you can still gain the knowledge of our shooting techniques, which can be adapted somewhat. More importantly in my opinion is the heritage that you will be a part of. Come out and hear our stories, have fun, and do the best you can.

[wingwrench]

  Some years ago, I was an IIT at an event where one of the shooters had suffered at least one (if not more) stroke.

  He had problems, and was a time monkey problem for the shoot boss. I viewed that shooter as a prime example of the persistence of the human spirit with a sense of humor.

  He had a tube fed Marlin from his father. The charge handle would get pushed down, locking the bolt back. He didn't have the manual dexterity to pull the charge handle up / out to free the bolt. He was slow enough at transitions such that time was up before he was even in position.

He didn't get frustrated.

He didn't give up.

He soldiered on. He thanked me at the end of the day for helping him spend some time on the range with his Father's rifle.

  I was humbled, educated, and a little inspired.

  I would say to be the best you that you can be as an instructor on the line for as long as you can do so.

  You will affect people for the better, and never even realize it.

[LDB415]

Yes, my plan is to do what I can the best I can and with (lots of) luck manage enough to get my patch. If not there will be lots of education and experience to take to the next time. Eventually it will come together.

[Fulcrum]

I think you should definitely attend!

When I first heard about Appleseed, I was interested, but I thought I have enough physical limitations, I would not do well, maybe even embarrass myself. My eyesight is bad, like the kind of bad where the DMV makes you do extra steps to get a license, and poor vision makes certain things in daily life more difficult. I'm also not the most coordinated person, I'm kind of clumsy, and I don't have great balance. And I was just getting started shooting at almost 60 years old. I decided to give it a try anyway, and I told myself to just view it as a fun day at the range and a learning opportunity. I decided not to worry about how well I would do and just focus on learning and improving my own shooting and not comparing myself to others.

I did not do very well at my first event, but I still had a great time, and I learned a lot. I had enough fun that I resolved to attend again and try to improve. And I did improve! Through a combination of practicing and honing my skills and upgrading my equipment to compensate for my vision limitations, I did earn my Rifleman patch. I earned it on my sixth Appleseed. That's a long journey. And you know what? If I didn't earn it then, I'd be signing up for number seven now and working on another incremental improvement.

You should go into it hoping to have fun and ready to learn, and you will not be disappointed.

[Zorak]

I think you should definitely attend!

When I first heard about Appleseed, I was interested, but I thought I have enough physical limitations, I would not do well, maybe even embarrass myself. My eyesight is bad, like the kind of bad where the DMV makes you do extra steps to get a license, and poor vision makes certain things in daily life more difficult. I'm also not the most coordinated person, I'm kind of clumsy, and I don't have great balance. And I was just getting started shooting at almost 60 years old. I decided to give it a try anyway, and I told myself to just view it as a fun day at the range and a learning opportunity. I decided not to worry about how well I would do and just focus on learning and improving my own shooting and not comparing myself to others.

I did not do very well at my first event, but I still had a great time, and I learned a lot. I had enough fun that I resolved to attend again and try to improve. And I did improve! Through a combination of practicing and honing my skills and upgrading my equipment to compensate for my vision limitations, I did earn my Rifleman patch. I earned it on my sixth Appleseed. That's a long journey. And you know what? If I didn't earn it then, I'd be signing up for number seven now and working on another incremental improvement.

You should go into it hoping to have fun and ready to learn, and you will not be disappointed.

"A rifleman persists."

You can keep coming to class after you earn your patch, Fulcrum! Don't feel like you have to leave us now.

[Fulcrum]

"A rifleman persists."

You can keep coming to class after you earn your patch, Fulcrum! Don't feel like you have to leave us now.

I'll definitely be attending more events! You will not be done with that easily! I have more to learn, and I also have a new rifle to try out. I'm also interested in the RKD and KD events, so I have a lot more Appleseed ahead of me.

[LDB415]

I think you should definitely attend!

When I first heard about Appleseed, I was interested, but I thought I have enough physical limitations, I would not do well, maybe even embarrass myself. My eyesight is bad, like the kind of bad where the DMV makes you do extra steps to get a license, and poor vision makes certain things in daily life more difficult. I'm also not the most coordinated person, I'm kind of clumsy, and I don't have great balance. And I was just getting started shooting at almost 60 years old. I decided to give it a try anyway, and I told myself to just view it as a fun day at the range and a learning opportunity. I decided not to worry about how well I would do and just focus on learning and improving my own shooting and not comparing myself to others.

I did not do very well at my first event, but I still had a great time, and I learned a lot. I had enough fun that I resolved to attend again and try to improve. And I did improve! Through a combination of practicing and honing my skills and upgrading my equipment to compensate for my vision limitations, I did earn my Rifleman patch. I earned it on my sixth Appleseed. That's a long journey. And you know what? If I didn't earn it then, I'd be signing up for number seven now and working on another incremental improvement.

You should go into it hoping to have fun and ready to learn, and you will not be disappointed.

You are the kind of inspiration people need. And you are right. I'll do the best I can and mostly have fun. Plus shooting lots of .22lr? How does it get a lot better than just that? And if mother nature pulls the plug while I'm down they can throw a blanket over me and after a good nap I'll try up again.