There is an expression, "If all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail." This is referring to if you only have one skill, then you are likely to try and solve each problem in the same way, with your hammer. For self-defense of yourself, your family, and friends don't only study gunfighting.
In your day to day activities you are more likely to need to solve problems that can be solved with lesser force than a firearm. Try to take as many different classes as you can in order to be a well rounded problem solver. It would only make sense that one should prioritize the skills that they might use more often than the ones they are less likely to need. Another good way to prioritize which classes and skills to work on next is to start chipping away at your weaknesses. If you don't have much experience in hand to hand fighting, you might check out some gyms and decide which fighting style is best for you and seems like they would be the most effective in a situation in which someone would have ill intentions against you. Other less lethal classes that might be a great benefit to you would be CS Spray courses. Sabre puts on traveling courses as local ranges host them, Chuck Haggard is a great instructor that specializes in CS Spray classes, also John Murphy puts on classes in which the students get a chance to practice with Inert CS Sprays. CS Sprays are a great tool because there is less liability on you for using it instead of a firearm if you have the opportunity and time to go through this deescalation step. If you are charged criminally over the use of CS Spray whether it is a wrongful conviction, an accident on your part, or just that you misread the situation you will not be charged with a felony. Whereas if you use your firearm wrongfully, accidentally or are charged wrongfully then you will be charged with a much greater offense of a felony. Also, in John Murphy's Concealed Carry: Street Encounter Skills and Tactics Class, students will cover Emergency Trauma Skills and wear an IFAK for the remainder of class. Students will get the opportunity to practice applying their medical knowledge during role play throughout the rest of class. This is also a great skill to have because you are more likely to need these skills in your day to day activities such as the instances where someone breaks a bone, gets a deep cut, you encounter a bad car wreck before first responders arrive on scene. Also, in the instance of a shooting medical personnel cannot aid the wounded until law enforcement has deemed the scene safe. For instances such as the Las Vegas shooting at the music festival in 2017, medical personal were not allowed to enter the scene and render aid until it was deemed safe which took a very long time. People that were on scene and had medical skills were of much value as they could stop the bleeding and assist with evacuating casualties out of the danger zone. Other good medical classes to check out are Stop the Bleed classes and Dark Angel Medical classes. Also, if you have the opportunity to attend some force on force classes that is a good place to test your theoretical techniques in a real world environment. Craig Douglas puts on an ECQC Class that students get plenty of practice in their force on force skills. Hope this helps and Happy Training!
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