Abstract: A training simulation depicts an assailant presenting a weapon to engage a trainee to simulate a deadly force encounter. The simulation has a recognition portion that is representative of the assailant presenting the weapon to engage the trainee. In accordance with a step of the method, the trainee is instructed by presenting the recognition portion to the trainee at least three times: a first time weapon pattern recognition presentation being the presentation of the recognition portion of the simulation at first speed corresponding to real time, a second time weapon pattern recognition presentation being the presentation of the recognition portion of the simulation at a second speed that is less than the first speed, and a third time weapon pattern recognition presentation being the presentation of the recognition portion of the simulation at a third speed that is less than the first speed but greater than the second speed.