In this adrenaline-fueled late-night episode of the Taking Aim podcast—hosted by Richard Nance and recorded at in an Airbnb right after crushing the 2025 Tactical Games National Championships—guests Josh and Michelle “Karate Hottie” Waterson Gomez are joined by Team Aimpoint stars Katie (a physical therapist who started shooting just three years ago and took 5th in Women’s Intermediate) and Ivan Cortez (4th in Men’s Tactical) for a raw, hilarious breakdown of the weekend’s brutality. The crew dives into their wildly diverse backgrounds (UFC legend Michelle transitioning from 18 years of pro fighting to firearms, Katie’s rapid rise in the sport, Ivan’s law-enforcement roots and love for “stress shooting” with a gun in hand, and Josh’s Air Force/boxing-turned-competitive path), gear choices (Staccato and Walther pistols topped with Aimpoint Acro/C2 red dots), and the insane reality of combining CrossFit-level suffering with live-fire precision while wearing plate carriers and hauling 80–200 lb objects. From wind-ripped targets and rope climbs that wreck your grip to the mental trick of “you get to do this” that keeps smiles on faces through the pain, the conversation captures the addictive mix of camaraderie, problem-solving, and sheer exhaustion that makes the Tactical Games one of the most punishing—and rewarding—sports out there.

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PRODUCED BY IRONCLAD