PULSE Magazine | November/December 2018 Issue

weaponizes the flinch response to push away danger. Tony Blauer often describes this as an organic airbag deploying! In fact the Spear thesis statement is, “What does the body want to do naturally prior any training? Does this response have a combative application? If so, why aren't we integrating it? This sums up the use of the startle flinch response as a self defense mechanism very well. Another aspect of the Spear training that I found invaluable is the Cycle of Human Behavior, or The Neuro-Circuitry of Fear which is a schematic that Blauer came up with that will actually help you understand not only how and where you are in the fear loop but gives you a better understanding on how to get out of it. Further, there are five basic tenets of Spear and these explain very well why the Spear System is such an excellent program for not only First Responders, but anyone wanting to be safer! First, science . The Spear System is the only behaviorally based self protection method based entirely on physiology, kinesiology, physics, and psychology. Second, its simple . All the Spear movements are based on how humans actually move. Spear does not teach memorized patterns or any compli- cated techniques. Third, the legal issue. In real world confron- tations force must parallel danger. The Spear Sys- tem is in line with all moral, ethical, and legal di- rectives. This is exceptionally important as a First Responder where the line between a patient and an assailant must be defined and is often a grey area. More on this later. Fourth, Totality. The Spear methodology is a holistic approach to self defense. It is based on emotional awareness, intelligence, modern psy- chology, as well as practical and functional move- ment. It also teaches how to avoid, deescalate, BEHAVIORALLY BASED SELF PROTECTION

Series of SPEAR program movements

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