I have been a gun owner for many years, but the classes I took with Sparrow Defense were the first professional instruction I have ever received. I learned everything I wanted to and more and I cannot recommend these classes highly enough. Mr. Sparrow and his elderly teaching assistant, Mr. Ben Ewing, were wonderful instructors and brought their many years of prior experience in both military and public safety positions with them. Not once did I feel threatened by the environment they created, as is sometimes the case when students are presented with stressful training. The instructional techniques and drills were extremely effective and served to expand upon topics presented in lecture and led to a capstone drill at the end of class that seriously pushed my limits while also imparting a significant sense of confidence with the material that I had learned. I never felt as though my time on the range was being wasted and I was able to learn something from every single drill. Other shooters in the classes with me of all levels of experience expressed that they felt the same way. I plan on taking as many classes with Sparrow Defense as I can in the future, especially since their course list is extremely varied and caters to shooters of all levels. Whether you are a new gun owner or an experienced operator, Sparrow Defense has something to offer you! read more

My wife and I took a private lesson with Clark and I have to say that this course exceeded my expectations (which is not easy to do)! My wife had never in her life fired a weapon and it had been many years since I had. I explained this to Clark and that set the foundation for our instruction. Clark conveyed this information to us in an easy to understand manner and it wasn't intimidating at all for my wife and shortly into the classroom session, I watched my her really lose any apprehension she may have had and was focused on every word of instruction that Clark provided. Once on the range, we started with .22 revolver, semi-auto & competition target (NICE GUN) and my wife did particularly well. We then shot our Smith & Wesson M&P 9 EZ 9mm and she wasn't really prepared for the power of this pistol, but Clark talked with her (and me) the entire time and kept her calm and on task. I am looking forward to some practice range time and then other classes with Clark, as it can only help us to be more educated and proficient. I would highly recommend Sparrow Defense for beginners all the way up to experts looking to work on specific areas of improvement! read more

For me to take a class with Sparrow Defense, I have to travel well over 3 hours away. When I took my first class with Clark I did not know what to expect, except I knew I wanted a great, safe, and knowledge bombs. With that being said, I as of today, have taken about 5 classes with SD and I have always left learning more and more. Clark and his staff are very welcoming and they are not the type of instructors that just stand around and brag about their own accomplishments. Clark has always ran a safe range, even during a raining pistol defense class, which was fun shooting in that weather. I have taken other instructor classes and they do not give you as much as one on one time as Clark does. If you are within driving distance and can make it to any of his classes, it is well worth the time and travel. For what its worth, classes he has taught me personally are: Tac Rifle 1 & 2 Defensive Pistol 1 Low Light Structures I repeated a few classes to attend with friends that has never been there, so he knew that and adjusted my trainer a little so it was a little different. read more

Clark is AWESOME! My husband and I took a private lesson with Clark. Prior to our lesson, I had never even held a gun. I wanted to learn how to shoot a gun for self-defense but was nervous about shooting. My husband has limited experience shooting rifles but had never shot with a hand gun. Clark was very patient and made me feel comfortable prior to shooting by teaching us with a laser pointed gun and by giving clear instructions and pointers that made it easy to remember hand positioning and where to look when shooting. Additionally, Clark provided other self-defense instruction that I found very helpful for my day to day life. After providing instruction and answering all our questions (we had quite a few!), we shot with multiple types of guns and brands. Clark explained the differences in each of the guns and what we should consider when making a gun purchase. He gave us feedback throughout the class and we improved significantly from start to finish. We had a great time and are so glad we took a lesson from Clark! read more

Clark Sparrow is an excellent firearms instructor. He offers an array of firearms courses that are suitable for all skill levels. I've had the pleasure of training both with him in courses offered by other instructors and under his instruction in his courses. He is very personable on and off the range whether training with you as a fellow student or providing training to you as an instructor. I have attended several of his courses and recently attended his Defensive Pistol 2 course. He is a very effective communicator when providing instruction. His method of training is very functional, each new point growing off of the last. This allowed him to completely and efficiently cover the basics while moving toward advanced material at a rate suitable for the skill level of our class. I've been very pleased with the instruction I've received from Clark and am looking forward to training with him in more classes later this year. read more

If you are looking for an outstanding fire arms instructor, Clark Sparrow is your guy. He comes from a strong background in law enforcement (many years as a police officer and as an instructor in weapons training). Perhaps most importantly, he understands the art of teaching. Yes, as you would expect, I learned how to safely handle and fire a weapon, but what I didn't expect was how much I learned in his classroom. For example, he thoughtfully takes his students, step by step, on how to deal with a home invasion. He discusses the "law" and how it pertains to you. His classroom session is entertaining with real-life, personal stories he experienced as a police officer. Oh, one last thing: he loves what he does. His enthusiasm for instructing is real. He genuinely enjoys watching his students gain confidence and skill level as they progress through the course. Clark is the "real deal." read more

This is the 3rd course that I have taken from Sparrow Defense. There are several other courses on the course list that I plan to take. I have also had both my brother and daughter take courses because of the content and professionalism of the instruction. The course is a technical, skills oriented course. Most of the courses that I have attended have had police officers in the courses, or emergency medical people as attendees. The training is realistic, each exercise is designed and thought out to prepare you for the next skills set that is to be learned. The instruction is well paced with a lot of hands on instruction and over sight. Again, all the courses that I have taken have been very professional.. I am 70 years old, in moderate shape. When I finish the course I am usually tired, but I have always had a smile on my face. Thanks guys read more

Owning a firearm is a serious decision. Responsibility and training matter! Clark Sparrow is a professional, experienced, and expert safety instructor beyond compare. He is a former law officer and school teacher; what better combination to provide responsible, professional firearm safety. Training is thorough and delivered using advanced teaching techniques and practice exercises. Clark Sparrow is patient and focused on the student at all times. He is such an expert that he can tell which of your eyes is the dominant eye; and right there on the spot, tailor your training to your individuality. Sparrow goes beyond the techniques of firearm operation; he addresses state and local laws along with your responsibilities. I highly recommend Sparrow Defense. Be safe, be responsible, and get trained. read more

Clark, Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed taking the Defensive Pistol 1 Course this past Saturday. For me the information and instruction you provided was extremely well structured and thought out. This is a course I would recommend to anyone who owns a pistol he or she has for personal defense in or outside the home. I learned a great deal about how to effectively and safely use a pistol. Any questions I had were addressed. At 72 years of age I also learned what my personal skill level is and what I need to practice. I appreciated your individual instruction and advice. When I needed correction, you gave it in a straight forward and professional manner. Thanks again for a job well done. Jim Garofalo read more

Last Saturday I took an outdoor range course with Sparrow Defense. It was fun and informative. Once we passed classes and went to the range itself, it became extremely enlightening. Doing is the best form of learning. And the informed, patient, expert guidance I received (and witnessed others receiving) were so beneficial! Never felt judged, even though I fumbled and bungled a lot. Since then, I have been practicing dry fire with my home defense weapon and I've noticed how my speed and accuracy have improved. Thanks to Clark and the team! Highly recommend! read more

I really had a good time with Clark's class - he was very informative and made it comfortable and fun. I gained confidence and understanding with my firearm and was intrigued to learn more about other firearms that are out there to choose from. Will take further classes as they are offered! Excellent instruction! This is a wonderful class for women to take that may feel at a disadvantage in any way - you will leave knowing how to use your weapon of choice! read more

I had the pleasure of meeting Clark with a one on one lesson a few days ago. That was my first lesson with him but it will not be my last. It was an awesome and enlightening experience. He was very professional, informative, patient, had great communication, easy going and is very passionate about what he does. I look forward to have many more classes with him in the future. I highly recommend Sparrow Defense for many different types of defense training. read more

Very professional and thorough review of gun safety and use. Mr. Sparrow is very knowledgeable and more importantly, he is a gifted teacher. Our lesson included general safety, familiarization with weapons, and range practice with several different pistols, including our own. I cannot recommend this class enough if you are deciding to purchase a weapon. read more

Received valuable knowledge regarding the use of force, proper technique for holding and shooting as well as resources to continue practicing on my own. Class size was small and allowed individual attention to correct technique before it becomes a habit. Never fired a weapon prior to class and feel I would be prepared on all fronts. read more

My adult son and I took the 3-hour introductory class and we had a great time. Clark is a patient and knowledgeable instructor and we came away with a good understanding of how to properly and safely handle a firearm. I highly recommend Clark and this course, and we will be scheduling additional training sessions in the near future. read more

I am a person who feared the thought of guns. After taking the course I felt relieved and more confident handling a gun. I learned so much from my session! The class was very informative. I will continue to practice and hope to make it back to another class soon. I live 2 hours away but it is definitely worth the drive back for sure! read more

I took a course with Clark and loved it. He was a great instructor. The class was informative and tons of fun. I left with a good understanding of all the fundamentals, while also having a clear idea of what I can do to improve on my own. I highly recommend Sparrow Defense and will be taking more classes with them in the future. read more

The lesson was extremely informative and Clark was understanding of our individual limitations and challenges, and helped us to learn and improve. I recommend the training, especially for women who want to feel secure and confident about being able to defend themselves. I intend to take some of other courses in the future. read more

I can't believe I never posted this review! I meant to write it forever ago. Clark was a really great instructor. He taught a private session for my family and me. He was patient in answering our questions, kept the course interesting, and really made us feel comfortable, which was my goal. read more