The rear of the grip of your handgun is called the backstrap.  This must be inserted into the center of the web of your hand between the thumb and index finger.  Once you press the backstrap into the center of the web of your hand, close your fingers around the grip.  The top of your middle finger should also be in contact with the bottom of the trigger guard.

Looking down from above (top view) when gripping the handgun, an imaginary line through the center of the barrel should extend down the middle of your wrist and forearm.  This aligns the forces of recoil with the skeletal structure of your arm, and you thereby use the natural structure of your arm to support the recoil.

Conversely, if the barrel of the handgun is lined up against your thumb rather than the center of your hand, wrist, and forearm, your thumb will be taking the brunt of the recoil.  It will be hurting after shooting only a few rounds.  This is a common result when the trigger reach is too long for your hand and trigger finger.  In order to reach the trigger, you rotate your hand around the grip.  This aligns the barrel against your thumb rather than with your wrist and forearm, and a sore thumb is the predictable result.

You also want your hand to be as high up on the grip as is possible to minimize muzzle flip when you fire your handgun.  Muzzle flip is caused by the barrel being located above your hand.  The force of recoil is in the center of the barrel.  The higher the barrel is above your hand, the longer is the lever arm that cause muzzle flip.  By placing your hand as high up on the grip as is possible, you are minimizing the length of this lever arm and thereby minimizing muzzle flip.

Once you have acquired a proper grip, place the middle of the first pad of your trigger finger on the trigger.  If you can reach the trigger comfortably, the gun fits your hand.  If you cannot reach the trigger properly, either trigger reach is too long or the grip is too large.

If the trigger reach is too short for you to place your trigger finger comfortably, you need a larger grip or a handgun with a longer trigger reach.

You will find photos illustrating the above on pages 38-41 in Martial Art of the Gun.  Click on the photo of the book cover in our website for more information: www.TurnipseedTechnique.com

Here is what has been added to page 55 of the 2nd Edition:

Buddha Belly

When shooting a 12 gauge shotgun while standing and balancing on one foot (which is considered to be impossible), a key concept is what Kent calls “Buddha belly.” It is performed as an integral part of the Turnipseed Basic Stance. High-level martial artists will recognize that we are shooting with chi.

In traditional Chinese culture chi is a term that means “life-force” or “energy flow.” In Asian martial arts chi, ch’i, qi, or ki, is a somewhat esoteric term associated with one’s internal power and ability to perform remarkable feats of physical prowess. The Turnipseed Technique alternatively explains the use of one aspect of chi by means of body mechanics, by the use of the structure and function of the human body.

Kent will instruct a student to “Let your belly drop.” Further elaboration would be to mentally think of your relaxed belly (lower abdominal area) as being heavy and allow gravity to pull it downward. Visualize a statue of the serene Buddha with his belly hanging out, and relax your body as much as possible. No muscle tension is involved other than the minimum necessary to stay standing and balanced, and to shoulder your shotgun. By letting your belly drop, you thereby lower your center of gravity and increase your stability.

Your support knee should be slightly bent just as it would be while you are walking and maneuvering, and you will be an inch or two shorter than when standing at attention. Some martial artists refer to this as low balance or lowering your center (of balance). When you become proficient with Buddha belly, integrating it with your Turnipseed Basic Stance will enable you to remain balanced on one foot while shooting a 12 gauge shotgun. This is unparalleled recoil management.

The Turnipseed Basic Stance is the sum of eight Constants which define specific positions of the body or body parts. Chunking makes it easier to remember the eight Constants by “chunking” them into smaller sub-groups just as your phone number is divided or “chunked” into an area code plus three numbers plus four numbers (3 + 3 + 4).

Here is what has been added to page 33 of the 2nd Edition:

Chunking*

An effective way to organize and remember the 8 Constants is to group them into three chunks of 3 + 2 + 3.

1:00 – Posture – 2%

Indexing – Cut-In-Half

Reach – Thumbs – Straighten

The first chunk of 3 Constants positions your body by defining your posture and by orienting that posture to the target. Summarize it as proper Walking Posture.

The second chunk of 2 Constants fine-tunes your personal indexing angle to the target between 1:00 and 1:10 by alternating between an internal and external focus. It refines and personalizes the natural angle of orientation that you were born with. Summarize it as Indexing.

The third chunk of 3 Constants defines the position of your non-shooting shoulder, hands, and arms. Summarize it as your Shoulder and Arm Position.

The sum of the three chunks is the Turnipseed Basic Stance which establishes your foundation, your stable shooting platform. Becoming proficient in the Basic Stance is by far your most important step in the process of becoming an excellent and dependably consistent shooter.

*Kent and I learned about “Chunking” in Bob Pike’s outstanding two-day Train-the-Trainer Bootcamp. Bob is a leader in his field, and we were fortunate that Bob himself taught this excellent class.