# How to Apply to Combat Club Austin: A Members-Only Tactical Training Community > Combat Club isn’t a gym, a CrossFit affiliate, or a generic firearms course. It’s a 30-member-cap, qualification-required, Saturday-mornings-only tactical training community in Austin. Here’s what it actually is, who it’s for, and how to apply. > > By Ron, Tactical Fitness Austin Founder Last updated: May 2026 ## TL;DR Combat Club is invite-only weekly training (Saturdays, 8am, private outdoor range in Austin) that pairs combat conditioning with live-fire integration. Capped at 30 members across three tiers: Advanced ($699/12-weeks or $2,599/year), Elite ($899/12-weeks or $3,389/year), or Ultimate ($3,899/12-weeks or $12,989/year). Must pass a qualification test to join. This is for experienced shooters who want to compound their skill in a small training community — not for beginners, not for casual hobbyists. --- ![Combat Club prone rifle line Austin](https://tacticalfitnessaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cc-prone-rifle-line.jpg) ## What Combat Club actually is In one sentence: it’s the only program in Austin that systematically pairs physical conditioning with firearms training, every Saturday, with the same instructors and the same 30 members. ### What that means in practice **Every Saturday, 8am.** Same time. Same place. Same instructors. The consistency matters — skill compounds with reps, and reps require showing up. **2 hours of programming.** A different tactical topic each month — pistol drills, rifle drills, CQB, low-light, home defense, Krav Maga. The curriculum rotates so you build breadth across every major skill domain. **Private outdoor range, members only.** No public lanes. No tourists. Same 30 people who know the curriculum and the standards. **Curriculum rotates monthly.** Pistol drills → rifle drills → CQB → low-light → home defense → Krav Maga integration. Over a year you cover every major skill domain. **Members get more than the Saturday session.** Open range access before class (Advanced tier+), instructor track development for Elite tier members, private lessons included, exclusive courses, free gear, referral bonuses, and direct mentorship at the Ultimate tier. --- ![Combat Club members after Saturday morning session at the private outdoor range](https://tacticalfitnessaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cc-group-cohort-range.jpg) ## Who Combat Club is for **This is for you if:** - You already train consistently (firearms, gym, or both) and want a structured weekly program that makes you better at both - You’re a serious shooter who’s frustrated by public ranges (lanes, time limits, beginners, no real instruction) - You want to train with people who take it seriously — competitive but not elitist - You can commit to most Saturdays (we accommodate 1-month freezes per year, but if you can only show up monthly, this isn’t the right fit) - You can pass the qualification test (more on that below) **This is NOT for you if:** - You’ve never fired a gun before. Start with private training first; come back when you have the fundamentals. - You’re looking for a “fitness program with guns” as novelty. Combat Club is serious training. - You want to train when you feel like it. Combat Club requires Saturday consistency. - You’re focused only on competitive shooting. Combat Club isn’t a 3-gun or USPSA prep program. - You’re under 21. Members must be 21+. The reason for the strict fit criteria: with 30 members and 52 Saturday sessions a year, every spot matters. We’d rather have the right 30 than 100 inconsistent. --- ## The Qualification Test ### What the qualification looks like - Runs every **Saturday at 7am** — before the regular Combat Club session starts - **Gear check first:** pistol with night sights or red dot, quality IWB/OWB holster (no leather), 5+ magazines, eye and ear protection. Rifle adds: illuminated optic, weapon-mounted light, sling, 3 magazines. - **Pistol standard:** 40 rounds (4 × 10-round mags), IDPA target — 160/200 to pass (80%) - **Rifle standard:** 45 rounds (3 × 15-round mags), IDPA target — 180/225 to pass (80%) - No fitness test ### After the qualification - **Pass** → both sides confirm it’s a fit; you start the following Saturday at your chosen tier - **Below standard** → specific feedback on what to work on; come back when ready --- ## How to Apply ### Step 1: Read the requirements above carefully Combat Club has a tight fit profile. Half of our application work is helping people self-select OUT — saving them and us the test session if they’re not the right fit. ### Step 2: Confirm you can commit - Saturday 8am, ~2 hours, most weeks - 21+ years old - Comfortable with firearms (or have prior training) - Live in or regularly travel to Austin - Budget at Advanced tier minimum ($699/12-weeks or $2,599/year) If you check all five, proceed. ### Step 3: Apply **Go directly to the Combat Club page:** [tacticalfitnessaustin.com/training/combat-club/ →](/training/combat-club/) If you have questions first, text or call **(512) 815-9101** or email **info@tacticalfitnessaustin.com**. ### Step 4: Show up for the qualification test Qualification runs every **Saturday at 7am**, before Combat Club starts. Show up with your required gear (listed above under “The Qualification Test”), run through the marksmanship standard, and if it’s a fit on both sides you’ll start the following Saturday. ### Step 5: Test, accept, start If you pass, you’ll be invited to start at the next Saturday session. Most new members join mid-month — the curriculum is cyclical, you’ll be brought up to speed in your first 2-3 sessions. --- ![Combat Club group at range Austin](https://tacticalfitnessaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cc-group-cohort-range.jpg) ## What current members say (Real member feedback from the past 6 months — names withheld at member request) > “I’d been training alone for years. Combat Club gave me a peer group that actually pushed me. I’m a different shooter than I was 6 months ago, and it’s not subtle.” — Member, Elite tier, 8 months in > > “Worth every dollar of the Ultimate tier just for the monthly private session. The 1-on-1 made me 10x more capable than any group class would have.” — Member, Ultimate tier, 2 years in > > “I was nervous about the qualification test. Wasted energy. Everyone here was once nervous about the qualification test. The culture is supportive — nobody’s trying to make you feel small.” — Member, Advanced tier, 4 months in --- ## Common questions ### How long is the waitlist? It varies. We move quickly when a current member freezes or doesn’t renew. Most applicants who pass the qualification test start within 30-90 days. If we’re at full 30, we’ll be honest about the timeline at your test session. ### Do you offer trial sessions before committing? The qualification test IS the trial session. You get a 2-hour look at the program and the people before deciding to pay. We don’t offer “drop-in” trials — the format requires a committed group. ### What if I freeze my membership and lose my spot? Members in good standing can freeze up to 1-2 months per year (depending on tier) without losing their slot. Beyond that, you may move to a temporary waitlist if we have applicants ready. ### Can I just pay for one Saturday to try it? No. Combat Club is membership-only. The reason: a one-off attendee dilutes the cohort experience for the committed 30. We’ve tried it both ways; the current approach makes the program work. ### Do you train women? Yes. About 20% of current members are women. Same curriculum, same standards, same qualification test. The “tactical fitness” framing sometimes makes women self-select out — don’t. ### What if I have a service background (military, law enforcement, security)? Tell us in your application. We often work with service-background members on advanced curriculum and instructor track opportunities at the Elite/Ultimate tier. ### Is there a corporate / team membership? Not as a structure, but we’ll sometimes accept 3-4 members from the same company simultaneously if they fit individually. For team-only programming, our corporate offerings are a better fit ([Team Building Experiences](/private-events/team-building-experiences/)). ### How does this compare to other Austin firearms training programs? Most Austin firearms training is: – One-off classes (foundation, CCW, etc.) – Public range time + occasional instructed sessions – Competitive shooting clubs (3-gun, USPSA) Combat Club is the only program in Austin offering: weekly, members-only, instructor-led, tactical-fitness-integrated training with a curriculum that progresses over time. If you’re looking for one-off classes or competitive shooting, we have other offerings that fit better. If you want to compound skill weekly with a small training community, Combat Club is the right program. --- ## Next step If you’ve read this far and Combat Club sounds like the right fit: - **Email**: info@tacticalfitnessaustin.com (subject: “Combat Club application — \[your name\]”) - **Text**: (512) 815-9101 - **Web form**: [Apply on the Combat Club page →](/training/combat-club/) Personal note from me: I read every Combat Club application. If you’re on the fence about whether you’re “ready enough” — apply anyway. The qualification test will give you a clear answer, and either way you’ll know more about whether tactical fitness is something you want to pursue seriously. — Ron, Tactical Fitness Austin Founder --- ![Combat Club prone rifle drill at private outdoor range Austin](https://tacticalfitnessaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cc-prone-rifle-line.jpg) ## Get the 7-Day Combat Conditioning Plan Ready to apply? The qualification test runs every Saturday at 7am — show up with your gear and find out where you stand: [Apply to Combat Club →](/training/combat-club/) --- _Tactical Fitness Austin — Austin’s private outdoor tactical training operator. Combat Club, private firearms training, corporate events, bachelor experiences._ _tacticalfitnessaustin.com · (512) 815-9101_ ## Membership tiers ### Advanced Combat Club — $699 / 12-weeks or $2,599 / year Weekly Combat Club training · 1 free exclusive course/year · 1 free private lesson/year (after 4 months) · Open range access before class · Free merch at signup · 50% off Vortex Optics · Freeze 1 month/year ### Elite Combat Club — $899 / 12-weeks or $3,389 / year Everything in Advanced, plus: Instructor Track access · Unlimited online instructionals · 2 free exclusive courses/year · 2 free private lessons/year · Extra hour of Advanced training monthly · Quarterly virtual technique reviews · Freeze 2 months/year ### Ultimate Combat Club — $3,899 / 12-weeks or $12,989 / year Everything in Elite, plus: Monthly 4-hour private with elite instructor · Custom training plan + mentorship · VIP event priority ### Related Guides - [the tactical training community overview](/tactical-firearms-training-community-austin/) --- Source: https://tacticalfitnessaustin.com/how-to-apply-to-combat-club-austin-a-members-only-tactical-training-community/ Last updated: 2026-05-26