Modern Technique of The Pistol - Combat Masters

Combat Masters

Over several years the "Bear Valley Gunslingers" evolved into the South Western Combat Pistol League (SWCPL), known officially as the South West Pistol League ("SWPL") as the word "Combat" offended then California Secretary of State, Frank M. Jordan. The objective of the SWCPL was to inject realism into pistol-shooting competition, thus developing the best methods of using a pistol for self-defense. The later competitions held at the Big Bear were designed to represent situations that had occurred or would occur in real life, including shootings that some of the police officers attending the SWCPL had experienced. During the competitions at Big Bear, six competitors consistently dominated competition, and these men became known as the Combat Masters: Jack Weaver, Ray Chapman, Elden Carl, Thell Reed, John Plähn and Jeff Cooper. The Combat Masters were given this title because if they competed, they would take the first six places. If only one of them competed, ordinarily, he would be the winner. These competitions included highly accomplished world-class point shooters, such as Thell Reed and Bob Munden, who competed using what would become the Modern Technique.

Those members of the SWCPL instrumental in developing the Modern Technique were:

Jack Weaver, who invented the new two-handed "Weaver stance;" Elden Carl and Ray Chapman, who refined the stance in competition; and John Plähn, who codified it. It was Jeff Cooper who then promulgated the new technique. Combat Master John Plähn (John Plahn), who possessed a Ph.D. in Physical Education, filmed the Combat Masters in action to analyze what their winning techniques had in common. This resulted in the most efficient methods of motion used during shooting, being selected and designed into the Modern Technique of the Pistol.

The Combat Masters were:

• Jack Weaver – a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy.
• John Plähn who possessed a Ph.D in Physical Education.
• Elden Carl – A San Diego County Sheriff's Department Deputy and their rangemaster who went on to become involved in off-road motorcycling.
• Ray Chapman – the rangemaster at Los Alamitos, California police department who won the annual SWCPL Championship in 1964, 1967 and 1970, and in 1975 won the first IPSC World Shoot. He provided instruction in the Modern Technique and other shooting techniques at the Chapman Academy, at the Green Valley Club, Columbia, Missouri, which he founded in 1979. He also became a consultant to the movie industry.
• Thell Reed – became a consultant to the movie industry, as well as armorer, stunt man, and movie extra.
• Jeff Cooper

Others significant in the SWCPL were:

• Leonard Knight finished second in the first IPSC U.S. National Championship in 1977.
• Bob Munden finished in second place in 1958 SWCPL at age 17 and went on become the world's fastest gun. He developed a career performing, competing, teaching fast draw as well as specialist gunsmithing and has appeared on television shows in many countries.
• Al Nichols
• Jim Hoag
• Bruce Nelson, designer of the "Summer Special" holster and an LEO in Southern California working in narcotics. He was present at the formation of IPSC and formed the Holster Committee along with Michael Harries.
• Michael Harries, a former US Marine, who invented the "Harries Technique" of flashlight manipulation for use with a pistol, as well as becoming an instructor at Gunsite and consultant to police departments and the movie industry.
• Jim Zubiena, who appeared in the episode "Calderone's Return Part 1" of the television program Miami Vice. Jim Zubiena's appearance in this movie is a good example of the employment of the Modern Technique and the Mozambique Drill.