On November 15 & 16, 2025, I completed my SPEAR System Level 1 Certification—a decision I made after years of teaching traditional martial arts and personal defense. I have been teaching martial arts and my own version of self defense since 1995. Yes, you read that correctly. I’ve already been doing this for 30 years.
I started following Tony Blauer in 1997. I already had a similar mindset and philosophy to help everyday people become safer, stronger, and more confident in the real world. For some reason, fear, one of the very subjects he covers, was stopping me from moving forward.
What I learned in this weekend seminar challenged, sharpened, and expanded my understanding of how real violence truly unfolds… and more importantly, how people actually respond when it matters most.
This training did not add “more techniques” to my toolbox. Far from that, it reshaped how I look at fear, instinct, perception, and survival itself. My entire package of the Self Defense class was turned around. My sudden realization wasn’t so much that I had been teaching it wrong…just incomplete.
Most self-defense systems focus on what to do after a fight has already started. (I’m previously guilty of this to a certain extent.)
SPEAR focuses on:
- What happens before the fight?
- What your body really does under sudden threat
- How instinct, fear, and movement collide in the first split-second of danger.
After nearly three decades of teaching, I wanted a system that aligned with:
- Human biology
- Human psychology
- Human behavior under real stress
SPEAR does exactly that. It is not based on sport, choreography, fantasy or anything too “martial artsy”. It’s based on how humans are hard-wired to survive, our genetic pre-disposition, if you will.
Those are the reasons why I pursued this certification.
So why does all this matter and what’s in it for you? Well, the truth of the matter is that most people will never become martial artists; they don’t want to train for months or years on end. Good, law-abiding citizens, do not want to “fight.” But everyone wants to go home safely.
The reality is that violence is sudden, chaotic and all too often, up close and personal. It just doesn’t look like what is commonly practiced in a controlled environment.
SPEAR addresses the moment before most people freeze—the moment where instinct takes over.
It’s designed for everyday citizens like you and I, parents, teens, professionals, students, and seniors. No truly exceptional skills are required so don’t even worry about prior experience, superior strength, or years of training. Just have the willingness to learn and you will raise your awareness while also gaining a greater depth of understanding.
Here’s what I’m offering you. I want to share with you EVERYTHING that I learned. Here’s the list of what makes the SPEAR approach unique:
- It works with your natural reflexes, not against them.
- It prepares you for the shock of sudden danger, not just slow, predictable attacks.
- It trains both the mind and body together, not separately.
- It emphasizes decision-making under stress, not memorized movements.
- It teaches you to function in the first critical seconds—where most outcomes are decided.
This is not about “winning fights.” This is about interrupting violence long enough to survive it.
In my eyes you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. When you step into a self-defense class where this material is covered, here is what you truly gain:
- Awareness that Changes How You Move Through the World
You will not become paranoid, you will become clear-headed and confident.
- A New Relationship with Fear
Fear stops being something that freezes you… and starts becoming something you can manage and use.
- Instinctive Protection Instead of Panic
You learn to rely on what your body already knows how to do.
- Realistic Understanding of Violence
Not from movies or fantasy—but from how it actually unfolds.
- Confidence Without False Security
You gain respect for danger without being ruled by it.
- A Personal Safety Strategy
Not just tactics—a lifelong way of thinking about safety.
What you will experience in just 8 classes:
- Thought-provoking discussions about awareness and behavior.
- Carefully structured drills that build confidence.
- Realistic (but controlled) stress exposure.
- Clear boundaries for safety and personal choice.
- A supportive environment where questions are encouraged.
- Training that challenges the mind as much as the body.
- You will not be pushed to “prove toughness.”
You will be guided to build capability.
Getting certified in the SPEAR System did not make me feel invincible. It does, however, make me feel more responsible. More responsible for how I train, how I teach, and how I help others prepare for a world that can be unpredictable.
In the 1980’s when I started my training, beyond Karate Kid and Ninja fantasies, one of the reasons was because I was bullied. I wasn’t an athlete or even extremely physically fit. But I was always questioning myself and my abilities. What would I do? Can I protect myself? Selfishly, I wanted to be safe. Now, I feel as though I have come full circle. This is my why and the reason I chose this path.
Now, I want to help make other good people safe. I want you to be safe.