Stop Punching Paper: My Journey to Holistic Self-Defense with Massad Ayoob Group (Part 3 of 3)

MAG120: Achieving Mastery

I never imagined stepping onto a dojo mat in midlife, but the new skills I gained in MAG80 and my desire for a truly holistic approach to self-defense led me to explore martial arts. Although students can master MAG80 and MAG120 retention and disarming techniques without a formal martial arts background, I knew I needed more practice in these areas for MAG120. That search brought me to Brian and Gigi Simmons, owners of Urban Defense Academy in Liberty Hill, Texas, whose combined expertise in martial arts and firearms was exactly what I needed.

Entering the dojo for the first time, I felt determined yet unsure if I could manage physically demanding martial arts at this stage of my life. Brian and Gigi’s patient guidance helped me build a foundation which enabled me to learn techniques that once seemed beyond my reach. I gained a renewed sense of confidence and realized that true self-defense goes well beyond marksmanship. It requires resilience, awareness, and practical skills that translate into daily life.

In addition to martial arts, I refined my practical shooting skills with coaching from my mentors and competing at my first national-level IDPA and USPSA matches. These competitions augmented the accuracy and speed I would also need for MAG120. I also revisited my notes from MAG40 and MAG80 and practiced the Massad Ayoob Group (MAG) qualification strings at three times (3x) the normal speed.

Have you ever shot a qualification mirror image? This unique challenge introduced in MAG120 involves running the full qualification at normal (1x) speed with the pistol holstered on your non-dominant side. To prepare, I purchased a left-handed Comp-Tac holster and repeated my training drills in mirror image isosceles, Weaver, and Chapman stances.

I found shooting mirror image significantly more difficult than simply shooting one-handed with my non-dominant hand. Mirror image required me to fully develop my shooting fundamentals using my non-dominant side. Power stance, crush grip, smooth draw, and good sight alignment all felt slow and inefficient, similar to how it felt when I first learned to shoot. For me, it induced shooting with a cross-dominant eye. To reduce the awkwardness, I shot a local IDPA match holstered on my left side which forced me to work through my inefficiency while running a stage. I’m pleased with the results of preparing for the mirror image qualification. Learning to shoot mirror image not only stretched my own skill set, but it also made me a better instructor when working with left-handed and cross-dominant eye students.

My MAG80 staff coach recommended Mike “Ox” Ochsner’s neurological based training drills at VisionTraining.com, which helped me increase efficiency by acquiring the target sooner. Meanwhile, my equipment preparation proved a year-long challenge as I juggled national competitions and the upcoming MAG120. One such frustration involved my match-grade barrels not feeding ammo reliably, so I switched back to the stock barrels knowing I would sacrifice group tightness for reliability.

MAG120 in Action

When I first entered MAG80, I felt like a complete fish out of water—unsure and very much out of my element. However, MAG120 presented a strikingly different experience, feeling much more like an eagerly anticipated class reunion. My MAG80 classmates returned, joined by two students from another recent MAG80. We tackled several pistol and shotgun qualifications, and I passed the MAG qualifier at three times (3x) and four times (4x) the normal speed using my trusty stock barrel. I attempted the notoriously tough Air Marshal (FAMS) qualification, missing a passing score by just one point but still meeting all the individual string times. I felt proud at how far I'd come since those initial days of uncertainty, now feeling right at home among peers and friends.

MAG120 included a significant teaching component. Each of us prepared a short presentation on a self-defense topic we cared about, covering subjects like emergency first aid, identity theft prevention, and drones. I spoke about how my apparel brand encourages women to take responsibility for their personal safety. At the range, we each taught a first firearms lesson to a student who had never fired a pistol before.

My hours of martial arts training at Urban Defense Academy provided the foundation I needed for the retention and disarming drills in MAG120. In MAG120 we revisited and refined those techniques, then took our hand-to-hand skills further by learning how to use the Kubotan. In the end, we earned MAG certification in these self-defense methods—an accomplishment that felt especially rewarding after the focused preparation I had under Brian and Gigi’s guidance.

MAG120 wrapped up with a final range session, class photo, and the presentation of our certificates. In his closing remarks for the December 2024 MAG120, Mas likened our achievement to attaining a “MAG black belt,” urging us to pass on our knowledge just as he had done for us.

Am I Prepared Yet?

Looking back on my Massad Ayoob Group journey, I see how these courses have transformed my life. I’ve gained a more informed mindset, heightened preparedness, and a commitment to expanding my self-defense skill set. I also cherish the friendships formed with classmates, the thrill of tackling challenging qualifications, and the moments captured in photos with Mas and the MAG staff as we earned our credentials.

The MAG holistic approach to defense goes beyond shooting fundamentals. It covers citizens’ rules of engagement, threat mitigation, situational awareness, recognizing precursors to violence, and developing non-deadly force options. I’ve come to value fitness, martial arts training, and tools like the Kubotan as vital pieces of my personal defense strategy.

However, even after MAG120 I still catch myself asking, “When will I be prepared?” Though I began this journey an unlikely candidate, the truth I learned with my MAG training still holds; true preparedness is always a work in progress. Every new skill or qualification reveals more areas for self-improvement. By sharing my experiences, I hope to encourage you to evaluate your own self-defense preparedness from a holistic perspective, ensuring you have the skills and mindset to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Resources

Take a class! Massad Ayoob Group Upcoming Events

Read Karl Rehn & John Daub’s book Strategies and Standards for Defensive Handgun Training (2023 Update)

MAG training host Eric Lamberson of Sensible Self Defense Academy in San Antonio, TX

Check out Spicetac.com blog with comprehensive MAG class reviews—veteran-owned & MAG-grad backed

Online training by neurology-based firearms instructor Mike “Ox” Ochsner available at https://VisionTraining.com

Fusing firearms training & traditional martial arts - Instructors Brian and Gigi Simmons of Urban Defense Academy in Liberty Hill, Texas

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

About the Author

Nicole Early is the founder and designer of Make Ready Range Wear, a brand reshaping what’s possible in women’s apparel for training, competition, and concealed carry. With industry-first designs and American manufacturing at its core, her line is built to remove the barriers women face when it comes to training—offering apparel that fits right, enhances efficiency, and boosts performance.

She’s an enthusiastic practical shooting sports competitor in IDPA and USPSA, holds multiple instructor certifications, and is a graduate of Massad Ayoob’s MAG 120 program. Nicole is also a military Veteran spouse, mother, and entrepreneur who understands the demands of real life. Her designs reflect that—created for women who want apparel that fits seamlessly into everyday life.