New Shooter

This class is for you if:

• You’ve never shot a handgun in your life.
• It’s been a really long time since you’ve shot one.
• You’re interested in the experience of shooting  a handgun but don’t necessarily want to own one.
• You want to take the TN Enhanced Handgun Permit class but you’d like a class to prepare you for it and to check if you even want to go through with it.

If any of the above statements apply, our How To Shoot A Handgun class is for you.

How To Shoot A Handgun is a 4-hour class that will turn your fear into fun and your concerns into confidence.

Topics include:

• The rules of safe gun handling and how to apply them
• Safe loading, unloading and storage of handguns
• Shooting fundamentals
• How to handle and operate a handgun in a comfortable and robust manner

Each student will receive individual coaching and instructor mentorship in a safe, controlled, comfortable environment conducive to learning.

Course Requirements:

• An open mind
• A positive attitude
• We’ll provide the gun and all safety equipment free of charge, you just pay for the ammo (bring your own gun if you have one but please don’t buy one for the class)

If you’re uncertain, this is definitely the place to start.

Master the Skills to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

Becoming responsibly and proficiently armed is a process, not a class. It’s a journey that involves quality instruction, structured practice and repetition. This is where you start after the TN Enhanced Permit Class.

Enhance your skills, confidence and preparedness with our comprehensive 5-part Defensive Pistol Training Series. This series combines expert instruction, practical skills and scenario-based training to prepare you for the challenges of real-life defensive situations. Each session focuses on essential skills to ensure you’re equipped to protect yourself and your loved ones effectively.

This structured series of classes is designed to build your skills progressively. With our step-by-step approach, each level builds upon the last, allowing for a smooth process developing your competence, confidence, and decision-making skills.

Each course focuses on critical aspects of defensive firearm use while emphasizing mindset and situational awareness. Starting with a strong foundation in safe, effective pistol handling and marksmanship, then progressing into advanced applications. By the end of the series, participants will have the confidence and ability to respond effectively in real-world self-defense scenarios.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to establish a strong foundation, or a seasoned shooter looking to refresh and refine your abilities, this program will prepare you to confidently respond to threats while maintaining safety and control.

Who Should Attend:

This series is perfect for responsible firearm owners, concealed carry permit holders, and anyone committed to enhancing their personal safety and developing safe and proficient firearm handling skills. Whether you complete the entire series or attend individual sessions, you’ll leave better prepared to handle challenging defensive situations with competence, confidence and composure.

What You’ll Gain:

• Increased confidence in your ability to handle a defensive firearm and to make sound decisions rapidly under pressure.
• Practical skills to defend yourself and your loved ones in a variety of challenging circumstances
• A deeper understanding of situational awareness, risk assessment, and defensive mindset
• Peace of mind resulting from the development of technical and mental preparedness

Prerequisites:

Each course builds on the previous one. No prior experience is required for Defensive Pistol 1, but students should complete each class in sequence or demonstrate proficiency to enroll in higher-level classes. Exceptions for equivalent training and/or experience will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Why Choose CSA?

• Experienced Instructors: Learn from certified experts with real world experience
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Professional, structured, skill-based learning and assessments
• Practical Application: Train for practical defensive applications, not just target shooting
• Safe Controlled Training Environment: All courses adhere to strict safety protocols and procedures
• Progress at Your Own Pace: Scheduling and skill assessments ensure you move through the levels as you’re ready
• Small class sizes: Ensure individualized instruction, attention and support with a focus on individual improvement

Take your defensive pistol skills to the next level with this comprehensive series. Enroll today and ensure you’re prepared for any situation!  

Safety, Foundations & Fitting

Not sure where to start your Defensive Pistol journey? Not sure if you even want to? Wondering what equipment is required?

If you have little or no experience, we suggest starting with our How to Shoot a Handgun class. If you don’t have a Handgun Permit (or haven’t taken the class in a while) we highly recommend the TN Enhanced Handgun Permit Class. Why? For if nothing else, to learn proper safe handling and the applicable carry and use of force laws.

If you have a permit, this class is the default starting point. Here we take the time to answer ALL your questions and discuss your options. No question is too elementary.

Don’t have a gun yet? Good…we prefer you NOT to buy one for this class. Come learn how to choose a proper one, be fit for, and even try a few out to see what works best for YOU.

But if you have a gun, feel free to bring it and find out if it’s indeed suitable. If you’re not sure how it works, we’ll show you. The same for your gear. We’ll teach you WHY proper gear is important and how best to source it.

This class will give you a strong foundational understanding of handgun safety, handling and operation.

Prerequisite: None

Cost: $75

Length: 4 hours

Required Equipment: 

If you have the items below, please bring them. If you don’t, we’ll provide them for you. Please do not buy them to attend the class.

• Mid or full-sized pistol or a full-sized revolver
• Eye and ear protection
• 3 magazines for your pistol
• 100 rounds of range ammo

If you have eligibility questions or need equipment recommendations for this class, please contact us.

Defensive Marksmanship

Defensive Pistol 1 introduces you to the core essentials of defensive pistol shooting. Ideal for beginners or as a refresher for experienced shooters. This course lays the foundation for the rest of the series. Topics include how to practice, target selection, defensive mindset, ready positions, defensive marksmanship and tactical anatomy and home defense concepts. This session sets the stage for success by ensuring all students develop a strong foundation Is defensive handgun techniques.

Prerequisite: None

Cost: $125

Length: 4 hours

Required Equipment: 

• Mid or full-sized pistol or a full-sized revolver
• Eye and ear protection
• 3 magazines for your pistol
• 250 rounds of range ammo

If you have eligibility questions or need equipment recommendations for this class, please contact us.

Carry, Presentation & Mitigation

In Defensive Pistol 2 you will learn best practices for carrying and drawing a pistol. You’ll focus on developing speed, efficiency, and consistency while going over each step of the process accurately and safely. You’ll learn rapid and robust stoppage mitigation techniques and how to shoot effectively with one hand. You’ll be much more competent and confident carrying and if needed, deploying your pistol.

Prerequisite: Defensive Pistol 1

Cost: $125

Length: 4 hours

Required Equipment: 

• Mid or full-sized pistol or full-sized revolver
• Quality Kydex holster (one that anchors well to your belt and stays open when the gun is drawn)
• Sturdy belt (to keep your holster in place)
• Eye and ear protection
• 3 pistol magazines
• Magazine pouch(es)
• 250 rounds of range ammo

If you have eligibility questions or need equipment recommendations for this class, please contact us.

Cover, Cognition & Movement

In Defensive Pistol 3 you will develop critical skills for shooting, moving, pivoting, and engaging multiple targets. This class focuses on developing spatial awareness, positioning and quick decision-making.  You’ll learn rapid target identification, discrimination and assessment. You will practice using cover, minimizing exposure, risk assessment, and handling unexpected threats while effectively managing time and maintaining accuracy.

Prerequisite: Defensive Pistol 2

Cost: $125

Length: 4 hours

Required Equipment: 

• Mid or full-sized pistol or full-sized revolver
• Quality Kydex holster (one that anchors well to your belt and stays open when the gun is drawn)
• Sturdy belt (to keep your holster in place)
• Eye and ear protection
• 3 pistol magazines
• Magazine pouch(es)
• 250 rounds of range ammo

If you have eligibility questions or need equipment recommendations for this class, please contact us.

Stress Management & Decision-Making

In Defensive Pistol 4 you’ll train to operate your pistol subconsciously, yet fluently, while your conscious mind makes sound tactical and legal decisions. You’ll learn to pressure-test your skillsets with stress-inoculation drills emphasizing situational awareness and control while making split-second decisions under pressure.

Prerequisite: Defensive Pistol 3

Cost: $125

Length: 4 hours

Required Equipment: 

• Mid or full-sized pistol or full-sized revolver
• Quality Kydex holster (one that anchors well to your belt and stays open when the gun is drawn)
• Sturdy belt (to keep your holster in place)
• Eye and ear protection
• 3 pistol magazines
• Magazine pouch(es)
• 250 rounds of range ammo

If you have eligibility questions or need equipment recommendations for this class, please contact us.

Ok…you’ve completed the Defensive Pistol Series. What’s next?

You’re now ready for Protective Pistol, where we take all the skills developed in previous classes and put them in context. The goal of Protective Pistol is to teach citizens how to apply their defensive handgun skillsets in challenging real-world situations.

Topics covered in Protective Pistol include:

• Review of safe firearms handling and how they apply to self-defense
• Mental preparation for armed confrontation
• Psychological and physiological changes you may experience during an attack and how to deal with them
• Target selection and anatomical factors in shot placement
• Quick, efficient and robust presentation of a pistol during an attack
• Shooting quickly and accurately while under duress
• Fixing the pistol if it malfunctions during an attack
• Reloading the pistol rapidly under stress
• The combative triad

Protective Pistol is offered in two formats: one 8-hour day, or two separate 4-hour sessions (Part 1 and Part 2). Students who complete the full eight hours of coursework will receive a certificate as proof of their training.

Pro-Social Pistol Skills is an intensive two-day course that covers the essential skills needed to successfully defend against a deadly criminal attack, within the rule of law. This course is designed expressly for the armed citizen who carries a concealed handgun, or the plain clothes or off-duty police officer. The goal is to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to dominate and end an inescapable deadly assault, and then successfully defend those actions in court.

Topics include:

• Mental awareness and techniques for gaining advantage in life-threatening confrontations
• Proper defensive mindset and personal tactics
• Concealing a pistol properly and clothing considerations
• Effective gun handling techniques designed to work under stress
• Rapid presentation from concealed carry during an attack (and safely concealing it)
• High speed accuracy at close ranges and precision shooting at mid ranges
• Rapidly and reliably fixing pistol malfunctions and reloading techniques
• Shooting effectively with one hand
• Shooting effectively with a cognitive load
• Tactical anatomy
• Proper skill development practices

Class prerequisites: Completion of a state handgun carry permit class or other comparative pistol shooting class. You should also have some experience safely handling, drawing and holstering a pistol. If you have questions about your suitability of the course, please email us at [email protected] or text us at 615-801-8007.

Students who complete the course will receive a completion certificate.

This is an intensive course learning intermediate skills to successfully defend yourself with a pistol.

This class is intended for true intermediate (or higher) level students. If you have not had formal training in how to work from a holster safely, this coursework may not be safe for you yet.

Topics covered in this course will include:

• Engaging targets at very close ranges
• Shooting with higher decisional and anatomical marksmanship standards
• Drawing and shooting one handed
• Engaging animated threats
• Shooting with a cognitive load
• Understanding and using cover
• Engaging targets beyond “normal” pistol ranges
• Effective movement and shooting
• Effective use of cover
• Drills and practice regimens to take home and continue skill development

Parking Lot Pistol is offered in both one and two day formats. Students who complete the coursework will receive a certificate as proof of their training.