JC and Naomi

Q: Congratulations on your EHC 2010 win, I am sure it feels very good. Take us through your preparation for the match from the early days of the season.
I’m very happy. It’s been a tough year but fortunately it has been very rewarding. Season training started in February, Shooting twice a week, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also he combined with three sessions of dry firing. In late April, early May got one more session per week, provided the rest of my duties would permit me. I have formal training, and I like to go to the range having previously prepared the training that I do every day. With 20 days to the European Championships, I took a vacation from work to go to the range and practice everyday, thus completing the last phase of my preparation for the European. I have been gradually increasing the intensity of the sessions and increased round count to 500 per session.

Q: How did you celebrate your EHC 2010 win?
With a big party LOL. Just kidding. I am very discreet, and it’s hard enough to express my emotions in public, but this time I have to admit that once I made aware of the outcome, which by the way my wife Naomi was the first to tell me, I got so excited and we hugged. Hugs followed for a long time with the rest of the Spanish national team shooters, Ralf, Gregory, Angi, and many other known and unknown shooters who came to congratulate me.

Q: How many hours have you spent on the range in the weeks leading to the match?
It depends. I do not do the same drills every week. But normally I train for about 3 ½ hours per session on the range.

Q: Take us through your stage preparation process, from start to finish.
I try to learn the stage before receiving the briefing. I take this opportunity to see how the shooters in the squad ahead of us shoot it, memorized the positions and the number of shots from each position, where I will make a mag change etc. After the briefing, with the rest of my squad, I asses how to shoot the stage from a technical standpoint and how can I maximize performance according to my skills. Ass the possibilities to shoot on the move, the exact area to which I will shoot at each target if you have no shoots. I try to memorize the rates of fire, depending on the distance to each target etc. Finally when the time briefing ends, I withdraw from the stage and start my mental views and rehearsals.
Just before the shooter in front of me is on the line, I run the drill in my head again, get up and do some exercises to activate my body and mind, I try to take the appropriate stress level. Then you just have to wait for the beep!, And let it all out instinctively.

Juan Carlos

Q: Setting goals is important – have you set a new goal for yourself yet?
Haha, I agree! Actually I have several, but if you ask me the most important is to win the next World Championship. For that, I will make an effort next season far more than the efforts leading up to this Europeans.

Q: When things go bad in a match, who do you talk to or how do you get back in the game?
I try to downplay my mistakes and forget about them. Everyone make mistakes, I know that! I try to keep in mind all the hard training I have done in the months and weeks leading to the match and keep fighting had until the end of the match.

Q: Name three things you hate at IPSC matches?
Traps.
The problems with the ammunition at airports.
The intense cold.

Q: Which stage did you shoot best at the EHC?
Stage 21 of the European Championship. Shot 32 alphas in 18.79 seconds.

Q: Have you ever been DQed? Why?
Fortunately not. But at the end EURO OPEN CZ, the ROs warned me twice, for muzzle angle. In this competition there were more than 40 DQ’s. I’ve worked hard since I came back from that match so I will not repeat these mistakes again.

Q: Do you feel you have more room to improve?
I have never shot a perfect match! I always demand more. I think a shooter who believes he shoots perfect will not grow as a shooter.

Q: How important is the mental game in IPSC?
For me the mental preparation is 80% of my results. Need:
Positive attitude.
Encourage you to have fun.
Confidence.
A good level of relaxation / activation.
Concentration and control of distractions.

Juan Carlos

Q: Do you have a “day job”? What is your profession?
Police (EOD)

Q: What is your favorite way to relax?
A good dinner with my wife Naomi, on the terrace of our house.

I would also like to thank the STI EURO TEAM for having me on board for two years now, and the great times Naomi and I are having with all of you.
And of course big thanks to my sponsors for the help they give me, without them we could not have achieved this dream.