The Personal Defense Institute was founded in 1990 to provide high quality,
affordable defensive firearms training to civilians. The founders, Jeff Dissell and
Bud Fisher, are both certified by the Natinal Rifle Association as instructors and as
range officers by the State of Florida.
After teaching basic NRA programs such as Basic Pistol and Personal Protection
for four years, Jeff and Bud realized that there was little training available
between the good, but very fundamental NRA firearms programs and the more
advanced training as offered by Massad Ayoobs Lethal Force Institute or
the Gunsite facility in Pauldin, Arizona.
Further, Jeff and Bud noticed that most of the firearms training available
beyond the basic level involved techniques that had been adapted
from military or police training. There was little or no training having purely
cilvilian needs specifically in mind.
After becoming involved in assisting both the Lethal Force Institute and
Gunsite in
bringing classes to Florida, Bud and Jeff began to study personal protection from
the civilian point of view. Everything that could be tried was tried.
From different shooting positions to reloading techniques, from equipment
to concealed
carry law and from deadly force to courtroom tactics, Bud and Jeff
assembled what they considered to be those proven training techniques
that would
help a law-abiding citizen survive the justified use of deadly force, both
on the street and in the courtroom.
In 1990, PDI was born. After separating the wheat from the chaff, four Personal
Defense Institute classes evolved. PDI-1, Basic Handgun Defense, is taught with
those wishing to apply for a Florida Concealed Weapons License in mind. A four hour lecture on
the Florida statutes regarding deadly force, post-shooting trauma, interaction with
law enforcement, what constitutes a justifiable shoot, the defensive mindset and
much more is the core of PDI-1. A four hour range session provides instruction in
recoil reduction, defensive sight usage, reloading techniques and much
more.
PDI-2, Nightfire, is an evening class designed to acclimate the student to shooting in low light. Students will learn flashlight techniques, low light target acquisition/identification and shot placement, the effects of muzzle flash on the eyes and much more.
In PDI-3, Defensive Shooting Techniques, students fire 300+ rounds of
ammunition.
Tactics for civilians, practical reloading techniques, shooting from behind solid
obstacles and varied positions, the draw from concealment, and many other
topics are covered in PDI-3. The students all fire a qualifying course,
which
is timed and scored, in order to pass this course.
PDI-4, Defensive Shotgun, is designed to show students the proper usage of the
shotgun as a defensive tool. Discussions include the advantages and
disadvantages of various action types , accessory selection, ammunition selection,
firing from the weak position, recoil reduction techniques, shotgun retention, rapid
target aquisition, positive reloading and many other topics are discussed in PDI-4.
Students fire 75 rounds of 00 Buck and 10 slug rounds.
By telephone, we can be reached at (352) 378-6425. This number can also
be used to send us a fax.
By mail, our address is;
PDI
2603 NW 13th St.,#205
Gainesville, FL 32609
By E-mail, we can be contacted at; afn01182@afn.org
We encourage questions and/or suggestions for improving personal protection
training. Bud and I look forward to hearing from you.
-Jeff Dissell, President