Semiautos must fit into the IDPA "box." Major manufacturers have taken this into consideration when designing new models like this Glock 35.

Tests have clocked a fit person accomplishing this task in less than 1.5 seconds. Why is this important? Because it starts getting you thinking about what you can do with your 1.5 seconds to counter the attack. If you cannot draw and hit a stationary target at 21 feet in less than 1.5 seconds, you'll have to have a Plan B. These situations also put you under a certain amount of pressure, and learning how to function under pressure is a good thing. Therefore, time is a dynamic aspect of the defensive mindset, and IDPA helps you experience it. (An important tool that I recommend is the electronic timer. It should have a delayed-start capability and a par-time mode.)

7. DEVELOP SPEED-SHOOTING SKILLS
I define speed shooting as the ability to shoot fast and accurately (I view with suspicion anyone who says that these skills are irrelevant). IDPA provides its participants with a format that enhances the development of these skills.

More than 40 years ago Jeff Cooper published his own list entitled The 10 Principles of Combat Shooting, which included the following: "A combat pistol must go into action with great speed, and no standard is fast enough. The faster, the better." IDPA shooting is a direct return to the kind of equipment and matches Cooper used to revolutionize combat shooting. If you think of defensive pistol shooting or combat shooting as a martial art, the ability to shoot fast and accurately is akin to the ability to deliver fast and accurate punches or kicks.

For instance, in "Volume 5: Winning IDPA Techniques" of his excellent Practical Shooting DVD series, IDPA National Champion Matt Burkett demonstrates his speed-shooting ability. At 21 feet, starting with his hands at his sides and his gun in a holster, he is shown engaging an IDPA silhouette target with two shots to the body and one shot to the head (a Mozambique Drill) in 1.48 seconds. By the way, he also gets perfect hits at that speed.

(Left Photo) Custom Defensive Pistols in .45 ACP: Kimber Eclipse Target II (top), Springfield Armory GSP (middle) and Colt C.C.O. (Right photo) IDPA revolvers: S&W .45 ACP Mountain Gun (top), Ruger GP-100 .357 Mag (middle) and S&W 65 .357 Mag.

8. INTERESTING COURSES OF FIRE
The Mozambique Drill described above is an example of a Speed Shoot, designed to improve your ability to shoot fast and accurately. IDPA uses two other categories in its courses of fire, namely Standards and Scenarios. Standards are rudimentary exercises that test a wide range of handgun skills. The IDPA Classification Course that I mentioned earlier is a perfect example of a Standards Match.

Last but not least, we have scenarios, the heart and soul of IDPA shooting. Scenarios are used to simulate various life-threatening encounters. Avoidance has failed; you are given the choice of either defending yourself and your family or suffering great bodily harm. A scenario stage could be built around a car jacking, home invasion or finding yourself caught in the middle of a convenience-store holdup, to name a few.

9. THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUB SHOULDERS WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST
Earlier I compared IDPA shooting to the game of golf. If you do play golf, how would you like to play 18 holes with Tiger Woods? Sure, you'd get your tail kicked, but wouldn't it be fun? Maybe you could come close to equaling his score on one of the holes. Well, I'll let you in on a little secret: You can have that experience at an IDPA match.

Top trainers are encouraging their students to participate in IDPA competition. Massad Ayoob (center) shows off the awards his advanced class won at the New England Defensive Pistol Championships.

That's right, you can enter and shoot in the same match with legends like Rob Leatham, Dave Sevigny, Jerry Miculek and Todd Jarrett. There's more. These guys are really nice gentlemen who are always glad to meet new shooters and answer a question (just don't bother them in the middle of their backswing).

10. FRIENDSHIP AND FUN
While you're taking in all of this cool stuff, you'll be simultaneously making friends and memories that last a lifetime. Over the past 17 years of competitive shooting, I've made many new friends, and the reason why is exemplified by the atmosphere of fellowship and camaraderie that surrounds the IDPA experience.

Bottom line: It's a hell of a lot of fun. If you've been sitting on the fence, not sure if you want to get involved in IDPA, I hope this list is enough to nudge you into giving it a try.