A group of leading competitors in IPSC in the USA became increasingly frustrated with the deviation from “street-carry” equipment and skills that evolved over time in IPSC. A group of these individuals broke off and established the IDPA and wrote rules that strictly limit and define the type of equipment a competitor can use.  Basically, pistols are limited to stock configurations with minor modifications allowed. Holsters must meet certain criteria for concealability. Furthermore the founders of IDPA specified that each shooter would start a course of fire with their weapon concealed by a garment – just as they would if they were on the street. The targets are humanoid cardboard targets.  And since in the real world you can’t miss fast enough to win a violent encounter, the scoring emphasizes accuracy over pure speed. The stages of fire are designed to mimic real world situations and many clubs get downright ingenious with it. One club local to the Atlanta area, the Greater Atlanta Defensive Pistol Association puts on matches with unprecedented realism with moving targets and targets that pop into and out of view – just like criminals in the real world.  For a taste of a typical GADPA stage, see their demo video on the front page of their web site.

So why should you participate? Since IDPA matches attempt to mimic real world situations, it provides a fairly realistic environment for you to practice and hone your practical pistol skills. Second, -  the variety of scenarios found in the various stages of fire and matches puts your practical skills to the test in ways you could never imagine or practice in an indoor range – ways you might have to use in a violent encounter. Third, it provides stress inoculation training. – training designed to help you focus through the stress of a violent encounter.  Can IDPA matches be stressful? Yeah it can and it is. A violent encounter typically happens suddenly – you don’t’ have time to think about it – you just react according to your training. In an IDPA match not only are you shooting against the clock, you have time to think about that fact. Anticipation builds as your slot comes up in a stage for shooting, your breathing gets quicker as you think about what would be the best strategy for your skill level in shooting that stage. Your responses to friends and fellow competitors become increasingly clipped as you remind yourself how best to exercise safe gun handling during the dynamics of the stage – you don’t want to disqualify yourself from the entire match for doing something stupid and unsafe. Your laughter becomes nervous as you check for the proper loading and orientation of your spare magazines for the 10^th time. 

Speaking of self-imposed stress that is what it is – why? First nobody except the Master Class shooters at sanctioned regional and state matches care what anyone else shoots subsequently it really is just you and the clock – there are no prizes, plaques or ribbons at local matches. Second, you will seldom find a group of more friendly competitors willing to share just about any secret or technique with a new shooter. It’s a very welcoming organization that quickly puts you at ease with regards to your current shooting ability.

You will shoot multiple targets requiring multiple shots. Some targets may require multiple shots to the body and one to the head – others are positioned so only head shots are possible. Some targets have “hostages” place in front of them to make the shot more difficult. You will encounter targets that turn to present themselves , lean out from behind cover,  rise and fall behind a wall or run from one cover to another. You will shoot from cover, on the run, reload from cover, shoot one handed, with your support hand, on your knees, through windows,  through and out of cars, from the prone position, from a sitting position behind a desk, and clear a house of intruders. The variation of experiences is almost endless.