S.P.E.A.R. – MEANINGS BEHIND THE ACRONYM

 
 

        What is the S.P.E.A.R. as an acronym? (Psychological)
        What is the S.P.E.A.R. as an icon? (Emotional)
        What is the S.P.E.A.R. as a tool? (Bio-mechanical)  
 
The survival System has hard-wired us for close quarter survival. The physiological system’s ‘withdrawal reflex’ and the classic startle-flinch response are the fastest instinctive reaction we have. Imagine if we built a personal defense and combative system around our natural reflexes…this system would be virtually non-perishable, extremely intuitive and would interface intelligently between all brain systems (Primal, Reactive, Cognitive).
 
Well, that’s what we did.
 
This system is called S.P.E.A.R., a behaviorally inspired, genetically wired personal defense system. The acronym S.P.E.A.R. stands for: Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response. We analyzed flinches and evaluated their positions (pushing away, covering & leaning away, shielding and turning)and proximity to the threat that caused them (the bad-guy), and then we contemplated if they had any tactical applications (they did). So began the humble beginnings of the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ in 1988. Some of the problems conventional hand-to-hand styles have, like loading-up, telegraphing, and an emphasis on power, were immediately solved with this research for two important reasons: firstly, we’re building tactics using the kinetic energy created during the startle/flinch moment; the flinch is lightening fast, intuitive, it ‘locks & loads’ your close quarter tools as well as forces an inhalation, all at the same time. Secondly, the speed with which we flinch is proportional to the speed of the attack. Our opponent triggers it. That means we are ‘inside’ his attack. Learning the ‘SPEAR Tactic’ requires understanding just a small part of the system. All that’s required is an open-mind. And most importantly for the fighter and the trainer, this system demands far less practice- time to become skilled at than any other hand-to-hand system.
 
Let’s break it down into its synergistic phases: Spontaneous (Refers to the immediacy of our survival system) Protection (Our survival system launches a message to Flinch and protect the command center: your head; this is a behavioral tactical imperative) Enabling Accelerated Response (Here’s where 14+ years of research kicks in with ALIVE drills and patented training evolutions -we turn the flinch into a trigger to cognitive applications by using the “flinch’s” generic reactive positions [there are three]. Cognitively trained evolutions convert the speed & energy of the flinch; what was once reactive is now converted into a tactic!)
 
The ultimate objective in any tactical situation is to decrease the reaction time when there is a threat. Objective evaluation of most real fights shows that when there is sudden resistance, there is almost always a flinch present (either micro or major), therefore moving from the flinch is the fastest and closest you can be!). The S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ is like the fascia that connects all your muscles, without it you wouldn’t move, therefore, think of S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ as the connective tissue that allows you to access the complex motor skills you have trained.