COURSES & FACILITIES

To schedule a course or check availability, please email us
at learnguns@weaponstraining.com or call (662) 781 - 1112 for more information.

John SHaw

1975 Graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in banking and finance. John started shooting professionally in 1979 and is a self-taught shooter who recognized that the lessons he learned could be taught to others and formulated the basis for the course of instruction at the Mid-South Institute of Self-Defense Shooting (MISS).

Through 15 years of teaching and competing in national and international events, he has honed and refined what he has learned into the most comprehensive combat firearms training program available. John Shaw has won, or was runner-up in every major combat competition in the world including:

Mid-South INSTITUTE of Self Defense Shooting (MISS)

MISS originated in 1982 in the middle of a bean field 20 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The first year, six classes with an average of six students per class were taught. The students were competition shooters, businessmen and police officers. During succeeding years, both the number of classes and number of students per class increased.

In 1987, all MISS classes were devoted exclusively to training military, police and government agencies. The demand for increased facilities dictated the addition of three new ranges, a 360-degree shoot house and a military drop zone to accommodate the nearly 900 students and 48 weeks of training MISS was providing by 1988.

By 1990 a second lodging house, and a multi-room 360-degree shoot house and two more ranges were added to meet the unique training needs being demanded by various elite military and law enforcement units. To this day, the shooting principles and tactics taught at Mid-South Institute of Self Defense Shooting have become the operational doctrines for numerous Special Operation Forces as well as Federal and State Level Law Enforcement.  In 1997, John retired and moved his family to Southern Idaho.   

Houston Shaw

John’s son, Houston Shaw grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho and started competing in National and World level shooting matches as early as 11 years of age, finishing 6th at the SASS End of Trail World Championships (12-18 Year Olds). Upon graduation from Wood River High School in 2006, Houston attended the University of Nevada and graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management.  

Directly after college, he had the opportunity to return to Memphis and begin an internship at Mid-South.  By the age of 22, he was a successful competitive shooter at a National and World class level. That success granted Houston the avenue he needed to gain a small amount of reputable credibility amongst some of the clients training there.  

• 2-time Production Steel Challenge National Champion (2011-2012)

• Limited Man VS Man Grand Nationals Master Champion (2011)

• Limited & Production Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships Runner-Up (2014)

• Steel Master Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships Runner-Up (2014)

• 2-time Limited Man VS Man Grand Nationals Grand Master Runner-Up (2012-2013)

• 3rd Place Limited Pro Division Pro/Am Steel Shoot (2012)

• 3rd Place Production Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships (2011)

Competing in only a dozen matches throughout his life, Houston’s drive to compete was not fueled by a desire to become a professional competitive shooter.  Constantly traveling around the country trying to win gold ribbons with the same crew of other high level competition shooters was not appealing to him. His motivation to compete at a world class level was driven by the students that he had the rare opportunity to teach. 

Shaw Shooting

Houston returned to Idaho in 2012 and with the support of his family, started Shaw Shooting to embark on his own professional instructing career.  The goal was to create a school where he was free to teach his own classes using the structure and content of his choice, thereby reinstating the Shaw fundamentals that had been diluted over time. 

In his first three years the calendar filled with businessmen, competitive shooters, concealed weapon permit holders, and the general public. In the fourth year, the local 124th Air Support Operations Squadron from the Idaho National Guard completed 2 weeks of training. Their decision to train there is what first established Shaw Shooting as a creditable training option for the U. S. Military.  With continual improvements to the range facilities and overall operation, the large majority of business is now U.S. Military, and Federal, State and Local Level Law Enforcement.  Houston’s passion is to continue to grow and operate Shaw Shooting, sharpening the firearms skills of the best war fighters this country has to offer.

Marketing

Other than this website and a couple short videos from years past, the only marketing we have is "word of mouth".  Like many of our clients, we believe in being quiet, hardworking professionals.  In a firearms industry filled with constant media posts from companies/individuals promoting themselves, we let the success of our clients speak for Mid-South Institute of Self Defense Shooting.  No pictures or videos are allowed at Mid-South Institute of Self Defense Shooting.      

Our overall goal is to help sharpen a simple, yet important aspect of defense for our war fighters when they find themselves in the company of hostile combatants.  Firearms proficiency is an essential part of their job and it is a great honor to help them hone their shooting technique, so they can come home to their families, protect their brothers in arm, and defend our country from terrorists who wish harm upon the United States of America.

Thank you for considering Mid-South Institute of Self Defense Shooting (MISS).   

Sincerely,

John Shaw