Podcast Summary: The TTPOA Podcast – Episode Featuring Hwansik Kim "Vision FUCKUS"
Release Date: April 9, 2025
Introduction
In this compelling episode of The TTPOA Podcast, hosts Matt and Brandon welcome special guest Hwansik Kim, a renowned shooting instructor and former professional athlete in shooting sports. Kim brings a wealth of experience from his tenure in the South Korean Army and his transition to full-time teaching with the Practical Training Group since 2018. This episode delves deep into the critical role of vision in shooting performance, innovative training techniques, and the distinctions between competitive and law enforcement shooting standards.
Guest Introduction: Hwansik Kim
Hwansik Kim begins by sharing his journey from serving as an infantry Humvee driver in the South Korean Army to becoming a prominent shooting instructor in the United States. Sponsored by Walther as part of their shooting team, Kim shifted his focus entirely to teaching in 2018 alongside Ben Steger. His mission is to "help our first responders improve their shooting efficiency and effectiveness through specialized training."
[03:04] Kim: "I truly believe shooting is not just something that I love to do, but I feel like I can help a lot of people."
The Importance of Vision in Shooting
A significant portion of the discussion centers around vision focus and its paramount importance in shooting accuracy and performance. Kim emphasizes that vision is "the most priority in the class", shaping how shooters process visual information and control their firearm.
[08:21] Kim: "Vision is the most priority in the class. So that when you are out of my class, you understand 100% what vision focus means."
Vision Focus Speed and Drills
Kim introduces two specialized classes:
- Vision Focus Class
- Mastery Class
In the Vision Focus Class, participants engage in exercises designed to maximize their visual processing speed and focus precision. One such drill involves changing focal depth rapidly, which Kim developed after studying the physiological aspects of eye muscles responsible for zooming in and out.
[17:10] Kim: "So I started feeling the changing focal depth happens. And faster, faster it happens, the more strain feel I had in my eyes."
These drills train shooters to "change focal depth within the buzzer timing," enhancing their ability to maintain accuracy under various conditions.
Practical Application: Confirmation Drills
Kim elaborates on his confirmation drills, which are crucial for developing corrective shooting skills. These drills require shooters to confirm their aim before firing, ensuring that every shot is deliberate and precise.
[35:21] Kim: "In my class, within an hour or two, I show them. This is the magic button."
Brandon shares his transformative experience after attending Kim's class, highlighting the immediate improvement in his shooting accuracy and vision focus.
[10:22] Brandon: "So you're definitely right. So the class that we brought to the Region 7, it's vision. Basically, Vision Focus is what the title was."
Interpreting Pack Timers and Metrics
The discussion extends to the effective use of pack timers in training. Kim explains that while pack timers provide valuable data, they should be interpreted beyond mere speed metrics. Understanding the cycle time of a slide and visual response time helps in assessing a shooter's true performance capabilities.
[25:40] Kim: "The pack timer, yes, it shows you a lot... cycle time of a slide, it's 0.06 visual response time."
This approach ensures that shooters focus on improving their vision efficiency rather than merely chasing lower times, which can often lead to compromised accuracy.
Differences Between Competitive and Law Enforcement Shooting
Kim contrasts competitive shooting with law enforcement training, emphasizing that the latter requires a balance between speed and accuracy under real-world pressures. While competitions like USPSA have specific classifications and benchmarks, law enforcement must adapt these principles to fit operational realities.
[42:16] Kim: "One of the known things is the quals are not direct representation of how you're going to be actually using your firearm under situation."
Matt adds that law enforcement cannot rely on competition rigs but must train with their duty gear to ensure practicality and reliability in the field.
[29:10] Brandon: "I do have the Walther PDP5... because you just shoot a Glock... It's not going to change what they're doing."
Teaching Philosophy: Experience Over Knowledge
Kim advocates for a teaching methodology that prioritizes experiential learning over theoretical knowledge. He believes that "experience beats information," asserting that practical performance is essential for true mastery.
[33:21] Brandon: "People want the easy button. They want you to say, kim, give me this one thing that fixes this."
Kim counters by stressing the importance of continuous practice and refinement, highlighting that lasting improvement stems from dedicated effort and application.
[58:07] Kim: "I warn people, to be able to do this on demand, you have to spend about six months to a year dedicated to vision focus."
Influences and Development of Training Techniques
Kim credits his growth to studying top-tier shooters like Eric Carfell, JJ Racaza, and Ben Steger. By analyzing their strengths—Carfell’s volume, Racaza’s athleticism, and Steger’s shooting fundamentals—Kim developed a balanced training regimen that incorporates these elements into his own methods.
[73:28] Kim: "My blessing was study. And that's what I did immediately."
This analytical approach allows Kim to tailor his training to address various aspects of shooting performance, ensuring comprehensive skill development for his students.
Consistency and Terminology in Instruction
Throughout the episode, Kim emphasizes the necessity of clear and consistent terminology in training. By defining terms like "confirmation drills" and "gradual trigger pull," he ensures that all instructors and students have a unified understanding of the techniques being taught.
[71:08] Kim: "That's why I'm teaching gradual trigger pull. Because what does it mean, gradual trigger pull? Pull the trigger gradually."
This clarity prevents misconceptions and ensures that training outcomes are aligned with instructional objectives.
Conclusion
This episode of The TTPOA Podcast with Hwansik Kim offers invaluable insights into the nuanced role of vision in shooting performance. Through detailed discussions on specialized drills, the effective use of metrics, and a philosophy grounded in experiential learning, Kim provides a roadmap for first responders aiming to enhance their shooting proficiency. His emphasis on clarity, consistency, and continuous improvement serves as a guiding principle for both instructors and students in the field of tactical shooting.
[79:25] Kim: "If you want to find me on Instagram, just type my name, Hwansik Kim Shooting. You can also visit my official website at hkimshooting.com."
Notable Quotes:
- Hwansik Kim [03:04]: "I truly believe shooting is not just something that I love to do, but I feel like I can help a lot of people."
- Hwansik Kim [08:21]: "Vision is the most priority in the class. So that when you are out of my class, you understand 100% what vision focus means."
- Brandon [10:22]: "So the class that we brought to the Region 7, it's vision. Basically, Vision Focus is what the title was."
- Hwansik Kim [21:00]: "The red dot must not be near it, but on the molecule spot, not nearby it."
- Hwansik Kim [35:21]: "In my class, within an hour or two, I show them. This is the magic button."
- Hwansik Kim [58:07]: "I warn people, to be able to do this on demand, you have to spend about six months to a year dedicated to vision focus."
Connecting with Hwansik Kim:
- Website: hkimshooting.com
- Instagram: @hkimshooting
- YouTube: Search for "Hwansik Kim" or "Kim Recall Management"
Train Hard. Until next time, stay safe and stay sharp.