American Small Arms Academy

Chuck Taylor – Director

For over three decades ASAA has been an acknowledged leader in the field of small arms weaponcraft. Its superior techniques and instructional methods have been credited with saving the lives of hundreds of law enforcement officers, military personnel and civilians alike. ASAA's success is primarily due to the expertise, innovations and uncompromising nature of its founder and director Chuck Taylor.

Chuck is the author of four books and several thousand magazine articles, was the first Four Weapon Combat Master and creator of the Speed Rock, Tactical Reload and Ready Position. A decorated Vietnam Veteran, he's been involved in multiple wars, over a dozen pistol fights, the training of numerous police departments, military and police special operations units, tactical response teams for the Olympics, and thousands of civilians. In addition, his techniques have been adopted by the military of a number of European countries. His unique background, analytical ability and unflinching commitment to results have permitted him to develop an instructional program second to none.

Students attending an ASAA class will not find the latest "trendy and must do" techniques currently in vogue with a large number trainers and magazine writers. Many of these techniques are based on theory or competitive concepts, or even worse were devised to keep students entertained with slick looking, but irrelevant, drills or by the expending of large quantities of ammunition. What they will find is a training regiment that has been refined over the last 30 years with only one goal in mind - keeping our students alive and uninjured. Our techniques have been developed from Taylor's personal combat experience and his study of thousands of military and civilian shootings. They have been proven successful by the several hundred of his students, both civilian and military, who have been victorious in gunfights around the world. In today's society, to truly be the winner of a potentially deadly encounter, more than shooting and weapon handling skills are needed so ASAA courses also include appropriate reviews of the legal requirements to use deadly force, tactics, de-escalation, mental conditioning and much more.

ASAA's "system" approach to weaponcraft eliminates the need for students to remember different concepts for different weapons and greatly enhances their efficiency under stress. Its unique training methods consistently produce exceptional levels of performance from their students, both on the range and in actual gunfights. ASAA courses are taught in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, no boot camp attitudes, no overblown egos. Whether you're a novice shooter or have 30 years experience, male or female, armed civilian or police officer you'll find an ASAA class to fulfill your training needs. For more about ASAA's approach to fighting with firearms vs. some current trends see our "Myths and More" page.

Classes are not listed in the order they occur during the year (2012).

Three-Day Defensive Handgun Course - ASAA offers four levels of standard handgun training with Combat Master (CM) being the highest, a course so demanding it is not unusual for a class to have no graduates (see FAQ page). Our 3 Day course is a prerequisite for all other ASAA handgun classes and the foundation on which all advanced training is built, right up to the CM level. Originally taught in four days, this highly condensed course provides the student with a complete overview of the subject of combat handgunning and an introduction to the ASAA integrated approach to small arms usage. The class is suitable for shooters of all experience levels and employs techniques and tactics that were developed to be the most effective way to fight, not to excel in competition. Includes: when you can and cannot use deadly force for self defense, the myth of firepower, weapon and equipment selection and modification, ammunition selection, tactics, sight picture and alignment, evaluation of the currently popular grips and stances, the "Ready" position and why only one, presentation from the ready and holster, close range high speed shooting, pivots and turns, malfunction clearances, failure to stop drills, tactical and speed loading and why both are usually taught/used incorrectly. Live fire is from 3 to 15 meters. Includes approximately 6 hours of classroom and 18 hours range. All the classes listed below run Friday thru Sunday. A special class for those attending this year's MAG40 or past LFI1 graduates is described at the end of the "Ayoob" page. 

Instruction by ASAA Staff   Tuition $495   May 11 - 13    June 8 - 10    July 20 - 22    Sept 7 - 9    Oct 19 - 21

Intermediate Handgun Seminar - This two day class not only takes graduates of the "Three Day" course to a higher skill level but also prepares them for ASAA's Advanced Defensive Handgun Course. Because of the short time frame, there is neither classroom lecture nor a formal test. The student's presentation and weapon handling techniques from the 3 Day are honed so they can be performed in shorter time frames. Longer range shooting is introduced with targets shot out to 50 meters and new techniques are introduced including the step back, speed rock, 180-degree pivot and dealing with multiple targets. While the class is too short for those attending to improve their skills to the same level they would in a full four day course, and to be tested against that level, a self-scored exam is conducted at the end of the class to help the student determine what areas need the most work.

Instruction by ASAA Staff   Tuition $320   June 23 - 24

Handgun Clinics - Limited to ASAA handgun course graduates - a full day of review and instruction at a minimal cost. Staff instructors tune the student's techniques while conducting ASAA drills at entry level through Master's time frames. Multiple targets, long range shooting, advanced techniques and weapon-handling drills are all addressed. Clinics held in non-daylight savings months include low light/night shooting. Instruction by ASAA Staff   Tuition $95    May 5    June 2    July 7    Sept 1    Oct 6    Nov 3     Advanced Defensive Handgun Course - Limited to ASAA handgun training graduates, this class is sufficiently challenging to successfully complete that we are running it as the full four day program it was designed as. While this requires a higher expenditure of time and money for the student than an abbreviated 3 day version, the end result is a much higher "pass" rate, higher scores and more importantly much higher skilled students for not all that much more money. The course focuses both on increasing your efficient in performing the techniques learned in the previous classes (i.e. make you faster) and increasing your accuracy both at longer ranges and up close when a quick precision shot is required. Considerable time is also spent on dealing with multiple targets. By the end of the course you should be able to perform, from the holster: 2 shot speed rocks & step backs in 1.2 sec, 2 body shots @ 3 meters in 1.2 sec, 2 body shots @ 25 meters in 3 seconds, 2 shot responses left & right @ 5 meters in 1.5 sec, 5 meter head shots in 1.5 sec, 1 shot on each of 4 targets @ 5 meters in 2 seconds, type 3 clearance & tactical reloads in 4 sec each, etc.     Instruction by Chuck Taylor & Staff   Tuition $800    Aug 2 - 5

Defensive Shotgun Seminar - Probably the most misunderstood of all the small arms, this one day seminar presents an overview of the practical application of the shotgun for personal and home defense. Includes pattern, penetration and accuracy testing with birdshot, buckshot and slugs. Field positions (standing, kneeling, sitting and prone) are covered along with engaging both single and multiple targets, partially obscured targets and more.

Instruction by ASAA Staff   Tuition $150    Aug 18

When considering the following rifle training be aware CT has an Assault Rifle law - possession of an unregistered assault rifle is a felony. See our link page for a list of banned rifles.

 Tactical Rifle/Carbine Seminar - A convenient weekend format that covers the techniques required to become both an effective rifle marksman and to master its use for urban self-defense (or hunting). Includes weapon handling, ready and field positions, single and multiple target engagement from 7 to 50+ yards, failures to stop, responses left, right & rear, hostage situations, targets at odd angles, precision shooting, malfunction drills, shooting on the move, use of and shooting from cover, etc. Most center fire rifles, semi auto, bolt or lever action are suitable. 

Please note - although we will be using the same shooting techniques Chuck was contracted to teach to Special Forces units in 2011, the class is intended for those who wish to be prepared in the rare case of a legitimate need to use a rifle/carbine for self-defense. It is not a high count (500 rounds for the two days is probably sufficient) class with team tactics for those who want to play soldier without the dangers of being one, or for those without an understanding of the legal limitations and responsibilities of using deadly force.

Instruction by ASAA Staff    Tuition $320   Sept 22 - 23  


Rifle Clinic - Limited to ASAA rifle course graduates - a full day of review and instruction at a minimal cost. Format includes dealing with both "tactical" and "precision" scenarios. Weather dependent.

Instruction by ASAA Staff    Tuition $100    May 26

ASAA classes being held at other locations around the country can be found by going to their web site.

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