I took the Dynamic Focus Shooting (DFS)/ Combat Focus Shooting (CFS) two day (16 hr) course with Evan in early August 2014 and I had a very good experience. The course was professionally run at a shooting range in PA . This was my fourth defensive firearm class and it was the best in teaching me how to effectively defend myself and also how to train to improve my ability to do so after class is over. This class was better than that famous one advertised on super cool DVD's that I took about one year earlier focusing on carbines. This class did not discuss much of the legal side of defensive firearm use but it doesn't advertise to do so either. There were no surprises as I was familiar with Rob Pincus's philosophy and had read his book Combat Focus Shooting (CFS) in advance. I thought Evan did an excellent job bringing the concepts to life on the range and I left with a better to ability to defend myself, heaven forbid. If one isn't familiar with the idea behind CFS the idea is to focus on training for what you need a firearm for - to defend your life or those that you love. This means training in scenarios you are likely to face most often (close distance, surprise attack) and in a way that encourages consistent responses based on physiology including the position you stand in and the way you react to a threat. Evan, through teaching CFS, provided me with much better defensive training than other classes I have taken including using both handguns or carbines. Balancing speed and precision is a focus of CFS and should be taught in all classes teaching defensive firearm use (but it is not). The class was run smoothly and with a good balance of group and individual instruction. It also had a good balance of "go go go" stress induction and positive reinforcement to help a student grow without feeling defeated when one screwed up. The instructions/gear recommendations were clear and fit the class also contrasting sharply with the Magpul class I took last year which required me to buy expensive equipment they never had us use in class. The one area of improvement would be starting late on the second day and Evan could have been more enthusiastic though these are small compared to all the positives. read more

Every shooter knows that all you need to shoot is WEATHER; and we had weather. It was cold and windy all day Saturday, then Sunday brought the rain--it was a great weekend for shooting! Evan Carson and Deryck Poole are very good instructors and coaches. They provided a safe, realistic and stressful shooting environment that allowed each student the opportunity to quickly identify their strong points and, more importantly, the things each of us needed to improve on. I highly recommend "Combat Focus Shooting" (CFS) to all shooters, regardless of skill level, as it is the only shooting course I've taken that, in my view, truly emulates what I believe would be a real-world shooting event. The figure eight drill, by itself, was well worth the experience as it took away any pretense that shooting techniques alone will give you the advantage needed in a real-world, unexpected, life and death encounter. Having to recognize that there may be a threat; then orienting your body towards what you believe is the threat; then positively identifying that there really is a threat; then mentally convincing yourself that you should draw your concealed handgun and try to accurately shoot the threat, is way more difficult than you might think. Every concealed carry permit holder should go through the figure eight drill--while being observed by many other skilled shooters--as it will drive home the need for real-world firearms training. I highly recommend the two day CFS course taught by Innovative Defensive Solutions, LLC. read more

With a special offer found through LivingSocial, I finally had the opportunity to take a concealed carry course through Innovative Defensive Solutions to attain my concealed carry permit. These guys are extremely knowledgeable and are very attuned to the real world that we live in. They don't spit out a bunch of standard regulation book crap at you in attempt to meet certain guidelines and criteria. They give you the level headed teachings and examples in the real world that any average/ordinary person with the least bit of interest in the course can understand. For the concealed carry course I took, the length at which it took place was just long enough to not be tiresome, but enough to get as much information as possible and a clear understanding of all the rules/regulations, and real world do's and don'ts when handling firearms especially with the intent for a conceal carry situation. Originally I would've have kept putting off my conceal carry course due to pricing and hassle of process, but due to the pricing on LivingSocial I couldn't pass it up, and in the end the process was super simple and clear with the help of these guys that I wouldn't think twice of taking another course with them. read more

IDS presented an informative and essential class that every eligible American should take advantage of, whether for self defense, gun safety, or to embrace your're Second Amendment Rights. The course was presented in a Safe, Professional manor, without being mundane or monotone. Evan and Scott are very knowledgeable, well spoken, and straight to the point, while keeping an orderly and even paced program. I have been around all types of weapons for over fifty years and I gained new information as well renewed appreciation for gun safety and proper concealed carry requirements. I appreciated the outline of rules prior to class commencement, and the consistency in which rules were followed. Learning about concealed carry in different states and an appreciation of locating, retaining, rules and regulations related to weapons carry and ownership in the United States of America was clear and concise. Not only did I leave with expanded knowledge, I was enticed by by their presentation to procure more knowledge and skills from their passion and appreciation of weapons. The staff was kind, organized, and efficient with our paper work and fingerprinting. Thank you all for a job well done.. read more

I was unsure of what to expect by four men teaching a four hour course which would enable me to carry a concealed weapon. Being a woman with plenty of past experiences of being demeaned when I hunted or practiced on a shooting range, I was mentally prepared to melt into the wall. I have to write with all truthfulness that this was the most positive experience I have had in any course of any kind. These gentlemen were a wealth of knowledge and experience. The instructors were wise and delivered the material with common sense, respect for all levels of expertise and experience. The four hours were more than bearable with the short humorous videos shared through the morning. The instructors were professional, humble and yet they projected the confidence and position of an instructor. I do appreciate the respect for all participants and their responses. I look forward to enrolling in additional courses with Innovative Defensive Solutions in the future- There is so much I still want to learn and I look forward to enrolling in more courses in the future.This is serious material and I trust Innovative Defensive Solutions to be the company best equipped and trained to teach it. read more

My friend and I took the concealed firearm course. We found the course very helpful and were quite pleased with the course. The course started at around 3 pm and ended around 8 pm. It was very obvious that our instructors Evan and Scott were very experienced and had spent a lot of time preparing for the course. The course is well worth the price. Over the last 40 years, I have attended many such courses in both the military and public arenas. I cannot recall any course that was presented as enthusiastically and as thoroughly as the concealed firearm course. Virtually every aspect of the topics discussed was well supported by literature or research. I would recommend that anyone, male or female, who has entertained the prospect of handgun use or ownership should attend the course. The knowledge imparted by the instructors went far beyond simply obtaining a concealed firearm license and invariably focused on the safety of the procedures discussed. You will be pleased no matter whether you decide to obtain the license or simply want to learn about handguns. read more

Hello Everyone I like I am sure many others have been contemplating a course such as this one for many years. It covered the basics but it left me with a bit of a hollow feeling because if what was not part of the course, and that was the hands on competence training. Today, with the debates raging all around us, I want to be part of the solution, not just a legal problem. OK, I already have formal training, but I am still planning to take the hands on training next spring. The instructors were very knowledgeable but I really think that a competency requirement is needed. Maybe this is a compromise that could be offered in the upcoming 2nd amendment debates The world is crazy right now and I guess I was hoping for more answers then questions. An unrealistic expectation I guess, but I have unrealistic expectations for most people, especially for myself. My hope is to be effective and efficient if I have to draw a weapon, and knowing the Law is a first step but only the first step. I left the course hoping that everyone else felt the same way. read more

I took the NRA First Steps Pistol course and Intro to Concealed Carry Class and loved it! I had never held a gun prior to this class and came away feeling knowledgeable about the use and the law pertaining to guns. Evan and Lynn were both very professional and obviously well trained and dedicated to the handling and use of firearms. I would recommend this course for anyone that needs the basics! I was also very impressed with the hands on treatment of the students, both in the classroom setting and also in the follow-up at the NRA Range. I walked away feeling confident and enthused about my ability to handle a firearm but more importantly, the need to further my knowledge and skills about using a firearm safely. I intend to take the NRA course for Home Safety. Another positive about this 1st Steps Course is that I took away with me all the printed information I need to apply for a Carry Permit and multiple resources for online information to help in the process. Great group of people at IDS! I now have a new passion!!! read more

I recently attended the 2 day Dynamic/Combat Focus Shooting course presented by IDS. Prior the course, I had minimal/no experience with drawing from a holster. I was nervous. Evan and his staff did an excellent job in presenting the course and progressively building the drills which enabled the attendees to gain confidence and apply the learned drill. I have gained unfathomable confidence and efficiency in the use of my defensive firearm, specifically in the context of a dynamic critical incident. Of course, it is not a "required" course for anyone who chooses to conceal carry, however, it should be strongly recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the exhilarating two days. As Evan says "It is not another tool for your toolbox", it is information and training for what could be the most critical few seconds of your life. After 1,200+ rounds of reloaded magazines and blistered hands, I would do it again....and again in a heartbeat. Excellent course....excellent instructors.....thank you IDS. read more

My GF and I attended the IDS multi-state concealed carry course this weekend. It was very informative and these guys are knowledgeable and passionate about the curriculum and ensuring student comprehension. I even had a follow up question (via email) the next day and Evan was quick to respond. Their experienced classroom instruction allowed for questions and participation, knowing when to steer the "what if" wormhole back on course. Personally, I wish there was a little more hands on or some range time experience for the newbies like my GF (but there are other classes for that and it would surely impact the affordability factor). Finally, we found these guys through a Groupon offer and it plain sucks that other law abiding citizens may not find the motivation and affordable opportunities like this for a quality armed self defense education with experts. Shame on Groupon for turning their back on the Constitution and the individual right to bear arms. read more

Let me start by saying, I am a former US Marine combat veteran, I did executive protection, and former US Secret Service on PPD, so I have no short-comings when it comes to firearms, shooting, knowledge, or training. With that said, IDS has some of the best firearms instruction out there. Their instructors I learned from (Dave and Evan) were some of the best, most knowledgeable, and best shooters out there! I went to them for my NRA certifications, and they well exceeded my expectations. It's not everyday that I am able to learn from someone else; however, this was one of those instances. I always recommend IDS to all of my colleagues for training and certification! I have my girlfriend attending their Women's Self-Defense course which really opened her eyes to the "real world" and gave her invaluable knowledge. Couldn't recommend enough! If you are looking for firearms instruction, IDS is the place you need to call! Thanks!! Nick, Woodbridge, VA read more

I recently took the multi-state concealed firearm course through Innovative Devensive Solutions and I was very impressed with the overall quality of the class. Scott and Evan were knowledgeable and professional and I felt confident in their competence as firearm instructors. I appreciated that the course covered more than just gun safety and basic gun laws; we were also given extremely helpful information on the different types of concealed weapons and how these different weapons each has positives and negatives depending on the individual shooter. I found the portion about the different holsters especially helpful, as I have never carried on my person before and, as a woman and mother of young children, I had been very concerned as to how I would be able to carry practically and safely. After attending this course, I now plan on taking more courses from IDS to continue improving my firearm safety and handling knowledge. Excellent work! read more

IF YOU'RE A SKEPTIC ... DON'T BE WITH INNOVATIVE DEFENSIVE SOLUTIONS!! I am a female business owner, and my business partner (another female) and I have been strongly feeling the need to be able to further protect ourselves with a concealed weapon. Thankfully, we read about IDS!! We both attended the IDS: 4 hour multistate concealed firearm course for Virginia certification. This course also covered Utah certification (for good reasons). Let me begin by saying that this course was powerful!!! The instructors are so smart and passionate about what they do. They enjoyed sharing their exceptional knowledge-base with the class, and their demos were interactive. Everything was organized, so it ran very smoothly and the accommodations were perfect! We will be going back to IDS again and taking at least two more of their courses. Thanks IDS... We're feeling better already!! read more

I recently took the 2 day Combat Focus Shooting course from IDS. I've only been pistol shooting for about 2 years, and was apprehensive about taking the course due to watching the online videos on CFS and seeing the movement and drawing from a holster, which I had not done before. Evan and his instructors are dedicated to the safety of their students and it is evident that Evan not only knows the content, but lives by it also. After going through some of the exercises on the first day I was completely at ease with the program, they will push your limits, but not to the point of being unsafe. Had a blast and left with confidence that I can concealed carry and protect myself and my family in a dynamic critical incident. I would recommend this course to anyone who has or plans on having a pistol for self defense or concealed carry. read more

I recently completed the 16-hour Dynamic Focus Shooting course from IDS Training and I was thoroughly impressed with both the instructors and the course. The instruction that Evan and James provided was professional, but they also kept the atmosphere light, which helped the learning process. The drills and simulations that Evan and James ran us through improved both my shooting and threat recognition skills. I have been shooting for more than 25 years including 4 years of competition shooting and several advanced classes, and I learned more and improved my shooting skills during the DFS course than any other training course I have taken. If you are serious about learning and want to improve your skills, I highly recommend contacting Evan and taking one of his courses. I will be taking another course from him soon. read more

I sat in on the First Steps class when my fiancee took it last spring. I found the presentation of information to be exactly on-point. Evan Carson delivered all the necessary knowledge for a beginning shooter without getting into extraneous things that might be confusing to one just starting out. By contrast, I took the Utah course & observed that the presentation of knowledge was much more detailed, as Evan & his assistant instructor were dealing with a more sophisticated group of experienced CCW shooters. I heartily recommend IDS, llc for all your instructional needs in the areas of handguns, rifles, shotguns, concealed carry & associated self-defense topics. Keep your eyes peeled for Groupon deals by this exciting company, IDS llc. read more

I took the Multi-State Concealed Carry class on 10/27 and it was great. Scott and Evan are the epitome of professionalism and were more than willing to answer questions about anything. They keep things lighthearted, but are very serious about laws and safety. If you are interested in Conceal Carry, but aren't quite sure about all the intricacies of the laws, please take this course. I am not a novice shooter, nor am I an expert, but I definitely learned a lot in this course. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be taking the Combat Focus Shooting course. If it is half as good as this class was, I know I will become a much better shooter and will learn practical, real life skills. Thanks again gentlemen!! read more

I recently attended the Fundamentals of Defensive Carry Course - which was probably the most productive day of instruction I have ever attended. You hear a lot of differing opinions on the topic of defensive carry, I was particularly impressed in the way that the theory Evan described directly correlated to what we experienced during the range exercises. As a self taught range shooter my results had been pretty inconsistent. Evan and the team build from fundamentals and in pretty short order I was shooting far more consistently and faster than I could of imagined. In summary a great confidence builder for anyone considering concealed carry or just wanting a more engaging shooting experience. read more

I went through the Combat Focus Shooting Course this last weekend. The curriculum is different from most courses in that it doesn't emphasize focusing on the front sight as much as other courses. You'll still use them at greater distances but up close you learn to essentially point shoot. This is done by using what the body will do naturally to get effective hits on target. For the experienced shooter and especially a new shooter this will build their confidence to get good effective hits when needed. The instructors Evan and Derek explained the course principles very well and were willing to answer any questions we had. If your thinking about this course, go for it. You'll be glad you did. read more