Brooks Brinson

Brooks Brinson

Profile

I grew up in the Texas panhandle and received my first gun on Christmas when I was 6 years old.  It was a Winchester junior 20 gauge shotgun.  Since we lived several miles from our nearest neighbor, I occupied myself in the field with my shotgun, airgun and bow.  I spent most of my time behind my bow and usually won most Boy Scout archery matches and trap shoots.  I dreamed of being in the Olympics from that early age, however, in archery or downhill skiing.  I moved to the Dallas area in 1984 and just shot recreationally till the late 80’s at which time I competed in Hunter class Bench rest and then shot in an indoor bullseye league.

Over the years I found that I enjoyed teaching people and did so through my work and recreational activities.  I taught people to shoot, fly remote control airplanes and even skydive.  I made up my mind to get good at Olympic style pistol during the 2004 Olympics and picked up my old Russian air pistol that I had shot for a decade or so.

I set a training schedule of almost daily and got to work.  I found a very small program of 3 or 4 people at a local club.  Shortly after I joined that club in late ‘04, I started to help the coach there till he retired.  In that time I was Texas State Air Pistol Champion in 2007 and 2008, Regional Champion in Air Pistol, Free Pistol and Standard Pistol in 2007 and 2008.  I also was Senior National Champion in International Standard Pistol in 2008.

In the mean time I helped coach two junior shooters to the US National Junior Team and have helped several junior and adult shooters to a level very close to National Team level.

I am a Texas State Rifle Association Director and a Level 1 Rifle and Pistol coach through NRA/CMP/USA Shooting.  I also work with the National coaches and have a close relationship with the US Army Marksmanship Unit.  One of our members, Greg Markowski, is currently an elite member of that Unit.  I have observed that the level of dedication and concentration that a shooting athlete has at a high level makes a marked difference in all aspects of their life.  I love to see someone achieve a level higher than they thought possible by getting in touch with a part deep within.

I have a simple philosophy about coaching: The Teacher and the Taught create the Teaching

– Brooks Brinson