Steve Aryan, Owner of Greyfox Incorporated, one of my instructors and I recently made a trip to Topeka, KS to teach a class. During our four-hour drive I asked Steve to tell me more about his newest venture, 2A Athletics. His answer about the motivation that lead to 2A was inspirational and
2A Athletics shirt, this one represents the “athletes” overseas.
spot on. From the horse himself:
Fans vs Athletes
You go to a major game. You buy the shirt with your team’s name on it. You paint your face. Your scream and yell to support your team. You are a fan. Maybe even the number one fan! But then it happens. The camera zooms in on you. They grab you and say “your team needs you. Get down there and suit up.” Your heart stops. You panic. Sure you own a football, the jersey, and some cool gloves. You play catch with your buddies, you know the rules. You even have over 100,000 posts on the ESPN sports blogs. But this, this is real life. You’re not trained for this. The pressure and reality of what’s at stake sinks in. You are seconds away from representing all the other supporters and your team. Everyone will know your performance and how you did. They will watch or read about your successes and failures the next day in the news. You think if you had only known this would happen how much more you would have trained in every aspect. But you didn’t know. Who would have?! They have never called anyone out before? Do they know that you’re just fan and not an athlete?! I am going to be humiliated out there or even seriously hurt!! I am not an athlete I am a fan!
Fan or Athlete? This guy is a competitive shooter, do you put the same effort into your defensive training?
Everyday as 2nd amendment supporters we strap a gun on our side. We leave the house. We travel with our families and our friends. Most all of them know we are 2A supporters. But when that moment comes that you get in an altercation that requires the use of a rifle, handgun or shotgun you need to ask yourself this. Am I a fan or an athlete? Do you just go to the range to plink or really train? If you knew you would get in a gunfight next week no matter what you did to prevent it or avoid it, what would you do different in your training? Maybe really work your concealed carry draw? Maybe some combative’s? Some physical fitness would probably help too. What’s the most likely place for this to happen? What has been trending in the criminal world? It would be great to have these warnings. But we don’t. We are all in
An individual carrying openly recently had his gun taken from him. What if someone grabs yours? Have you prepared for that? Are you a fan, or an athlete?
that stadium. But it’s not a stadium. It’s a coliseum. The game is for keeps. We don’t get to be bystanders. At any moment we, and possibly our families, could be called down.
This is what caused me to create the brand 2A Athletics. It’s not about being the most fit guy in the room or a world-class shooter.
It’s saying “I’m not just a fan or a supporter. I’m an athlete. I go far beyond what most will ever do to ensure my success if I ever am forced to use it.”
Steve Aryan,
2A Athletics (www.2aathletics.com)
