If you are told that a normal person can learn skills like John Wick in just 21 days, will you believe it? I too would probably not have believed it… until I took the challenge myself.
I grew up in Europe and the exposure to g*ns there was almost zero. But I have 20 years of experience in martial arts. Thought, why not take up a challenge in which both shooting and hand-to-hand combat skills are combined – John Wick style.
And at the end of this journey, I performed a full action scene – a one-take sequence, absolutely film style! This is the complete journey – from clueless to action-ready in 21 days!
Day 1: The Humbling Beginning
My training started at the shooting range, where my instructors were two German soldiers with real combat experience and a Lithuanian special forces soldier. Training with these guys was a serious business.
First of all, I was taught the basics – how to lift the g*n, how to load it, and how to keep it safely. I thought this would be easy… but as soon as the real bull*t came in my hand, my adrenaline shot through.
I made my first mistake right then – I was wearing sweatpants. When I drew the g*n, the entire holster came out! Then I understood why John Wick wears a suit – it has a belt that keeps the holster tight.
First Time Shooting a Real Bull*t
As soon as the first live round was fired, the entire perception changed. It was not just a metal object, it could take a life. Responsibility and focus both went to an extreme level.
I was taught how to change the magazine, how to safe the g*n when it becomes empty, and how to handle recoil. All these things look cool to watch in movies, but in real life their technical depth is of a different level.
First Taste of Live Am*o
First of all, I was taught the failure-to-feed malfunction. When the clip is not properly fitted or the slide is not cocked, the g*n does not fire. Then came failure-to-eject – when the bull*t gets stuck in the casing slide.
These malfunctions are shown in a realistic way in the John Wick movies – all of this is not just style, it is part of actual firearm training.
I was drilled repeatedly – reload, clear the malfunction, shoot again. My hands also got bruised, but the passion for learning did not diminish.
Day 2 – Tactical Belt And Automatic Weapon
Now I was given a tactical belt, and the next step was to use an automatic Air G*n. Honestly, I was a bit scared but kept my focus.
I was given a challenge – switching g*ns, changing positions, and shooting from multiple angles. It seemed a bit confusing initially, but gradually, all the steps started getting set in my mind.
I was also taught how to blend shooting with hand-to-hand combat – just like John Wick does.
Week 2: Back to the range – new belt, new techniques
I went back to the shooting range, this time with the proper belt. But there was one issue – I got a bit confused learning different method. The earlier drills were not working properly.
But with practice everything came back to mind – muscle memory was developing.
This time I was taught:
- Walk and shoot simultaneously
- Center Axis Relock technique (a.k.a. C.A.R.) – in which the g*n is kept close to the body for situational awareness
- Rapid reaction and quick target acquisition in close combat
This technique especially helps in close quarters – where attackers are coming from multiple directions, like in John Wick scenes.
C.A.R. Technique’s Magic
The main benefit of C.A.R. is – to keep the g*n close and shoot with both eyes open. This maintains situational awareness.
When I practiced this technique on an airsoft g*n, initially the posture and movement seemed awkward. I got advice to tuck the elbow and slowly the form started to improve. Then I practiced with live rounds and all the bull*ts hit the target – confidence level got boosted!
Malfunction Drills Under Pressure
The next test was to do malfunction drills under pressure. I was told to switch the mag without warning, shoot at multiple targets, and do everything in sequence.
I was ready. All focus was brought to one place. There was a malfunction in the middle of shooting, but I cleared it, reloaded, and hit the final target.
The instructors were impressed. I also started feeling – “Now I am comfortable with the g*n.”
Recovery and Sleep Game On
Along with 21 days of intense training, there was another challenge – recovery and sleep. I remain busy in editing and work on the computer late at night, due to which I could not sleep.
Then I tried a natural sleep supplement. At first I thought it might be fake, but when I tried it, I fell asleep within 1 hour and woke up fresh in the morning.
This is completely non-addictive and is becoming popular in the gaming community. If you too are not able to take proper rest after late night work, then you can definitely try it.
Day 21: The Final Test – Full John Wick Action Scene
Finally, the day came. I was ready – in the proper John Wick suit, concealed carry, and with the bad guys who were going to appear in the scene.
We planned a full-fledged action scene, in which I had to do everything:
- Draw from concealed carry
- Shoot with C.A.R. technique
- Reload on the move
- Mix martial arts and takedowns
- Clear a malfunction under pressure
The scene started – and everything happened in flow. The camera rolled, the whole scene was shot in one take.
From Clueless to John Wick
When we saw the final video, everyone was shocked. Such a good sequence in just 21 days?
My martial arts experience definitely helped, but the biggest factor was my instructors – who were real-life soldiers. Their discipline and drill-based training transformed me mentally and physically.
What I learned in this Challenge? *
- G*n handling is a skill – which develops from the basics
- Discipline matters – it is possible to make a real-life action movie, if you try to become a little better every day
- Fear is real – but that reduces with consistency
- Training under pressure is the key – because pressure is the real test in both real life and scene
Final Thought: Should you try??
If you want to transform into an action hero, start with martial arts or self-defense training. Then you can gradually explore tactical skills.
And if you feel that nothing can be done in 21 days, read this journey again.
