Who is T1C?
My name is Abner Miranda, and I'm a former cop of six years. Ok, now that that's out of the way, allow me to say that being a former cop has no bearing on who I am as an instructor. Don't get me wrong, I served our nation with distinction and I miss it. Being a cop is a calling, you're certainly not there for the money. However, I know that there is precious little that law enforcement taught me that has any real-world application to self defense. And that is the primary reason I chose to leave law enforcement.
I recognized that law enforcement, as an institution, wasn't training us to survive the one thing that was most likely to take our lives. Armed altercations are violently fast, and LE does a poor job of training cops to dominate in a fight.
By the time I walked away from law enforcement I had put myself through several training courses that had awakened a growing knowledge that I needed to learn more - a lot more. The acquisition of knowledge, by its very nature, awakens a desire for more knowledge. My deep desire to learn is the reason that I don't fear standing before anyone and saying "I know what I know, and I even know a little bit of what I don't know." That's the sign of an excellent instructor.
My knowledge is based on the fact that since 2004 I've attended 60 courses (and counting) in varying disciplines to include weapons employment, CQC, dignitary protection, team tactics, structure clearing, reactive shooting, and tactical medicine.
As a firearms instructor it's incumbent upon me to take in as much knowledge as possible and distill it in a way that is easily understood by all. If at the end of a class you can look at yourself and say "that worked" then I've done my job. This profession is nothing more than taking gained knowledge, honing it a bit, and passing it forward to our posterity.
As a student you want to have an instructor who knows what it is to be a student. Few instructors in this industry can show you a truly comprehensive training file. Note: When I say "Training File" I'm referring to class certificates that demonstrate that one has parked their ego, listened to an instructor, and tried it their way. I'm not referring to running around the industry collecting "Instructor Certificates."
My training file spans 14 years and is diverse in the disciplines it covers. Over the years I've made it a point to check my ego, and listen to instructors. In the process of doing so I've learned multiple ways to get things done. That's a good thing, because in a gunfight, you want options.
So what's in my training file? Here, have a look.
A.P.O.S.T.C.: Tactical Operator Training - Tac Firearms II
Costa Ludus: Vehicle Elements Theory
Executive Resources International: Dignitary & Executive Protection
FBI: Basic Crisis Negotiations
FBI: Crisis Negotiations - Specialty Topics
Handgun Combatives: Advanced Combative Pistol
Handgun Combatives: Critical Space Pistol
Handgun Combatives: Adaptive Combat Pistol 1
Handgun Combatives: Adaptive Combat Pistol 2
Handgun Combatives: Combative Pistol
High Caliber Training: Remington Rifle 1
High Caliber Training: Roger’s Range
Sentinel Concepts & Centrifuge Training: Vehicle Low Light CQB
Talon Defense: Defensive Carbine
Talon Defense: Low Light Carbine 1
Talon Defense: Low Light Carbine 2
Talon Defense: Low Light Carbine 3
Talon Defense: Carbine Skill Builder 1
Talon Defense: Carbine Skill Builder 2
Talon Defense: Carbine Tactics 1
Talon Defense: Carbine Tactics 2
Talon Defense & Ditch Medicine: Combat Casualty Care / Handgun
Talon Defense & Ditch Medicine: Combat Casualty Care Advanced Handgun / Carbine
Talon Defense: Concealed Carry Handgun
Talon Defense: Defensive Handgun
Talon Defense: Low Light Handgun 1
Talon Defense: Low Light Handgun 2
Talon Defense: Low Light Handgun 3
Talon Defense: Street Defense Handgun
Talon Defense: Handgun Tactics 1
Talon Defense: Handgun Tactics 2
Talon Defense: Handgun Vehicle Defense
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Counter Ambush & Vehicle Defense Low Light
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Injured Shooter 2-Day
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Injured Shooter 1-Day
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Injured Shooter 1-Day
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Injured Shooter Low Light
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Vehicle Defense
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Vehicle Defense & Counter Ambush 1
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Vehicle Defense & Counter Ambush 2
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Vehicle Defense & Counter Ambush 3
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Vehicle Defense & Counter Ambush Low Light 1
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Vehicle Defense & Counter Ambush Low Light 2
Talon Defense: Handgun/Carbine Vehicle Defense Low Light
Tactical Defense Institute: Tactical Rifle 1
Tactical Defense Institute: Tactical Rifle 2
Tactical Defense Institute: Tactical Rifle 2
Tactical Defense Institute: Tactical Rifle 3
Tactical Defense Institute: Pistol 1-3
Tactical Defense Institute: Pistol 1-3
Tactical Defense Institute: Pistol 4-5
Tactical Defense Institute: Handgun Active Killer
Tactical Defense Institute: Shotgun Tactical
Tactical Response: Fighting Rifle
Tactical Response: Immediate Action Medical
Tactical Response: Fighting Pistol
Vickers Tactical: LE/MIL CQB
Way of the Gun: Performance Carbine & Pistol
Wartac CQC: Close Quarter Pistol
Wartac CQC: Arm's Length Gunfighting