Best Day Training
2026 Events:
Red Dot Revolution: Q1 Quarterly Focus Kickoff Saturday Jan 31
For Q1 (Jan-Mar), we're all about Pistol-Mounted Optics (Red Dots) – mastering these game-changers for faster, more accurate shooting in real-world scenarios.
Join us for the first session on Saturday, January 31st at Briar Rabbit Shooting Sports in Zanesville, OH!
Sponsored seat $0 - nobody is going to ask for money at our events. If you need a gun to train with and ammunition, just ask.
Standard seat $40 - our costs include $150 to rent the bay, we pay for insurance, targets, and other expenses to provide this training.
Patron / “Pay-it-forward” seat $65–$75 - this would help us keep the training as it is, help to keep the costs covered and make it easy to help people that need the training and can't afford it.
Click the link above for the Facebook event or email [email protected] to register.
Just Get Home! Citizen Defender - John Murphy June 13 and 14
We're welcoming John Murphy back to host "Just Get Home!". Empowering people to be successful and effective in their own self-defense, citizens need a wide variety of skills beyond shooting.
Just Get Home! is named after your ultimate mission and fills the dangerous knowledge and experience gaps that are present in both basic permit classes and advanced shooting courses.
Students will be equipped with a suite of cross-spectrum skills via a highly effective combination of: pre-class video
sequential task learning
followed by scenario-based training
Students will be mentally prepared and physically equipped for prompt decisive action to Just Get Home!
THE CITIZEN-DEFENDER DIFFERENCE!
Situational ACTION!
Time and Timing
Skill Cycling
The Mouth Game
Pepper Spray
Stop Hemorrhaging and REAL Speed
Stop-decisions
Pre-Assault Indicators
Pre-decisions and Boundary Enforcement
Conflicts and Boundary Enforcement
[email protected]
Call us at (703) 609-6350
WWW.CITIZEN-DEFENDER.COM
Cougar Mountain Solutions Shotgun September 5 and 6
We are hosting Erick Gelhaus of Cougar Mountain Solutions Saturday September 5 and 6 at Briar Rabbit. Link above
About Best Day Training
We teach regular people how to protect the people they love. We do it to the glory of God, we do it with excellence, and we never turn away someone who can’t pay.Meet John and Sue Burton:Founders of Best Day Training
At Best Day Training, we're dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality firearms and self-defense instruction tailored for newer shooters, women, and anyone looking to build real-world confidence and competence. As a husband-and-wife duo with over 30 years of combined expertise, John and Sue Burton bring a unique blend of professional certifications, practical experience, and a passion for empowering individuals to protect themselves and their loved ones.Our Expertise in Firearms Training
We're both proud holders of the elite Professional Pistolcraft Instructor certification from Rangemaster Firearms Training Services, founded by renowned expert Tom Givens. This top-tier credential, built on our prior Rangemaster Master Instructor statuses (John achieved Top Gun distinction in June 2024), equips us to deliver data-driven, reality-based defensive pistol training.
Rangemaster's programs emphasize safe gun handling, legal considerations, and proven tactics from actual armed encounters—backed by an unmatched track record of student success in real-life scenarios.Additional certifications include:
Rangemaster:
Basic Instructor, Advanced Instructor.
NRA:
Certified Pistol Instructors and Range Safety Officers.
Pistol Mounted Optics (PMO):
Instructors via Cougar Mountain Solutions (Erick Gelhaus) and Modern Samurai (Scott Jedlinski).
Active Shooter Instructor:
John certified with Top Gun honors from Last Resort Firearms (Ed Monk).
Gateway Instructor:
Sue via Citizens Safety Academy (Tiffany Johnson & Aqil Qadir).We've honed our skills through rigorous training at institutions like Tactical Defense Institute (Levels 1-6, Active Shooter, Extreme Close Quarters, Partner Tactics), Active Response Training (Defensive Shotgun, Close Quarters Gunfighting, Tactical First Aid), Go Ruck (Active Shooter Intervention, Counter Ambush), and Street Encounters Skills & Tactics (de-escalation, pepper spray, medical response).
Sue is an active "A Team" member with A Girl & A Gun, coaching local chapters and teaching self-defense, range protocols, and communication skills.
We also regularly attend specialized seminars at Rangemaster TacCon and Instructor Reunions, learning from icons like John Farnam, Tim Kelly, Greg Ellifritz, Chuck Haggard, and Rob Haught.Hand-to-Hand Self-Defense Roots
Our foundation in self-defense extends beyond firearms. We both hold first- and second-degree black belts in Krav Maga (from the United States Krav Maga Association and Foundation Krav Maga) and taught classes from 2005-2015. We've cross-trained in boxing (including with Olympic medalist Jerry Page), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and MMA under experts like Jeff Jimmo and Ryan Hoover. This holistic approach informs our non-lethal training, including de-escalation, escape techniques, and integrated medical responses.
Medical and Preparedness Training
Safety isn't just about shooting—it's about survival. We've completed multiple courses in Real World Trauma (Gunset Training), Tactical First Aid and "System Collapse" Medicine (Active Response Training), Stop the Bleed, AED/CPR, and Go Ruck Self-Responder First Aid. These skills ensure our programs cover comprehensive preparedness, from wound care to opioid overdose response.What We Offer
Through Best Day Training, we provide:
Classroom Instruction: Fundamentals, legal aspects, and mindset development.
Live-Fire Range Sessions: Safe, progressive shooting drills focused on accuracy, speed, and decision-making.
Private Training:
Customized one-on-one or small-group lessons for all skill levels.
Specialized Focus:
Women's self-defense, red dot sights, holster training, and beginner programs to make learning approachable and enjoyable.Whether you're a first-time shooter or seeking advanced tactics, Best Day Training is here to guide you with patience, professionalism, and proven methods. Contact us today to schedule a session and take the first step toward confident self-reliance.[email protected]
[email protected]
614 522 9366
