Personal Defense Readiness

TONY BLAUER'S (PDR) PROGRAM
Real World Self Defense and Fear Management Training Program

Developed by Tony Blauer, one of the most sought after military and law enforcement trainers in the world, our Personal Defense Readiness™ programs are designed to dramatically enhance your personal safety!

The very core of our programs are based on one fundamental truth; our most dangerous enemy lives inside us! That enemy is our own uncontrolled fear, doubt and hesitation. Our programs are specifically designed to show you the tools you already possess that can keep you safe in today's world.

Our first focus is on developing an emotional and psychological toolbox - the key ingredient in real world survival training! Then we add physical skills, which emphasize the human body's hard-wired survival reflexes and simple, easy-to-learn movements.

Our PDR program is not a martial art; it is a system that offers no-nonsense self defense, which teach you the emotional, psychological and physical skills required to protect yourself and your loved ones.

We are the only Certified Blauer Tactical Systems Affiliated School in California and the only self-defense/martial arts training center in Santa Clara to have invested in High Gear for our students. Please see The PDR Philosophy.

The PERSONAL DEFENSE READINESS Philosophy:

What makes Tony Blauer's PERSONAL DEFENSE READINESS (PDR) System different?

Research:

The core of the PDR method is based on the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ which is the first genetically & behaviorally inspired self-defense course of it's kind. It is the only self-defense method that fully integrates the body's reflexive responses to fear or violence and instinctive survival mechanisms and then converts these reactions into efficient tactical choices.

Because the system is "Genetically wired and behaviorally inspired™", anybody can learn it and everybody can do it, which makes the S.P.E.A.R.™ the easiest, most natural way to protect yourself.

Most importantly, the PDR/S.P.E.A.R System blends perfectly into our other training programs and will not interfere with your current training, only enhance it. In fact it is most easily used as a bridge to any complex motor skill transition.

The PDR program also includes unique and patented learning models and tools (like Tony’s patented High Gear Impact reduction suits) but most importantly, Tony Blauer has pioneered research on how to manage and overcome fear. Strategically & tactically speaking, this program is based on how real confrontations actually occur! Tony Blauer has been leading the scenario approach to training for over 20 years. The curriculum is based on a 3-Dimensional theory that creates confidence on emotional, psychological and physical levels.

The PDR Teaching Doctrine:

We only teach realistic self-defense skills that are street applicable. Students are exposed to aggressive as well as defensive role playing to simulate encounters and to prepare them to react ethically as well as decisively to real-life aggression. The curriculum covers verbal defusing tactics, choice speech principles and a host of other behaviorally researched strategies.


Other Benefits:

Training in the PDR system engenders personal evolution: This breakthrough research on fear management is the foundation of the PDR program and understanding and directing fear is the key to overcoming any obstacle in life. Many individuals participate in this program and experience transcendent applications in their businesses life and in intra-personal relationships.

The system fosters respect for yourself and others by developing virtues like self discipline, humility, assertiveness and character. Since this program is so focused around the managing of one's fears, it directly works the 'esteem' and 'ego' centers of anyone sincerely working the system; ultimately this process helps lead one to greater self- knowledge and personal evolution.

Committed training also provides an excellent method to acquire overall physical fitness, improved strength, cardiovascular conditioning, weight management and coordination.

While many consider the BTS approach to be modern or eclectic, we prefer to think of Coach Blauer’s PDR team as traditionalists, because originally, the traditional arts were only about winning real fights that could not be avoided. We invite you to explore this powerful approach to personal defense and we look forward to sharing this research with you soon.

Currently our P.D.R. Courses are offered as: Custom Group Sessions, Private Tutorial Sessions or as part of our Seminar Series.

"Personal Defense Readiness", PDR, and "High Gear" are trademarks of Blauer Tactical Systems.

PDR FAQ

  1. What exactly do you mean by train 3-dimensionally?

The 3-Dimensional principle refers to the integration of psychological, emotional and bio-mechanic components to design and inspire training. In other words, my system is inspired by this simple rule: where & how we train must correspond to &where & how we fight.

Unwittingly, most of us train in a one-dimensional arena; we call the ‘sport model’ (lets spar to the body/let’s grapple/lets box/let’s go shoot on the range at a stationary target). The ‘sport model’ always involves consent, awareness, focus on good form and proper technique. However, real fights rarely include consent, awareness, good form or proper technique! This is the greatest paradox of modern self-defense training and one of the reasons ‘experts’ misunderstand our research. Real confrontations occur in the three Dimensional world and all fights involve the dimensions of the body/mind system (emotional, psychological & physical). Therefore, all our principles and drills are based on emotional/psychological support or interference with a specific tactic (as would be the case in real life).

Remember; in a real incident, sensory overload accounts for more fear, doubt and hesitation than the actual attack. The punch, tackle, shove is a one-dimensional obstacle that, in a vacuum, is fairly easy to defeat, but overload the intended recipient with emotions and thoughts outside the dojo, the ring, the tournament and many feel the pressure.

This reality has inspired Tony Blauer’s research for over two decades and it’s why we have been doing simulations and controlled and scientific force-on-force training evolutions for the past 20 years.

  1. How does the P.D.R. training program differ from most of the other "reality" schools? Do you guys just spar more, or go harder usingÜHIGH GEAR™?

In the P.D.R. program we do not spar. Sparring is a sport-training model and while it has great benefits, many of those skills do not readily transfer to street confidence or personal defense skills. So where we differ is our focus on evolutionary drills that do include contact, pain management principles, verbal assault drills, fear management sessions and so on. The P.D.R. program is specifically geared towards YOUR personal ability and what you must focus on to DETECT, DEFUSE or DEFEND yourself in a credible confrontation.

Once the 3-Dimensional tools are in place, the HIGH GEAR™ suits are used in various contact training evolutions (simulations, replications, Ballistic Micro-Fights™) where we inject more speed and contact to help simulate assaultive behaviors while keeping our role-players more protected.

  1. I understand that Tony Blauer changed his scenario-based training system from the original Panic Attack™ concept to the Ballistic Micro-Fight™. Can you describe the differences and why he changed?

The change occurred over two decades really. When you’re doing thousands of hours of drills and evolutions, evolution had better take place!! While we always intuitively knew to include scenario location and dialogue, our original sessions were really hard-core force-on-force confrontations; over time Tony started to inject moral and legal parameters to the drills. He would tell the defender ‘escape’ was the only option (as an example) and this suddenly forced a stun & run application. In another evolution he would have the aggressor ‘be;’ a family member and this again totally changed the verbal phase and subsequent degree of physical tactics. In time we created a catalogue of characters, locations and scenarios. Fights became very focused and strategic and therefore shorter because a directive was introduced. There’s a lot more to it, but this presents a Reader’s Digest explanation. Our program is a thinking person's course – you must be into strategy, mind-set, tactics appreciate the research.

  1. As a long-time martial artist I don’t worry too much about my ability to handle myself in a confrontation. However, I have a wife and two daughters who aren’t interested in hard-core training but would like to know some self-defense. Would your system be a good fit for them?

Absolutely. The tactics are simple and based on common actions. If you’ve read about the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ you know that the program is based on instincts, intuition and natural movement triggered by behavior. Even the actual tactics we teach during a ‘stun & run’ choice are demystified to mirror common movement so that the connection between muscle-memory and reactive response is bridged. This all sounds like Latin to some, but the system is simple to learn and with the right fear management and simulation training, people learn it very quickly.

  1. Why do you use the term Personal Defense Readiness?

Much of Tony’s research and work is with professional warriors: police officers, soldiers, and protective specialists. These men and women move towards the danger at great risk to protect our way of life.

The term ‘readiness’ is inspired from the military principle of ‘readiness’; a state of preparedness proportional to threat and the time it would take to mobilize to address that threat. While pondering the logistics of say getting a battalion ready to move Tony thought about ‘personal’ readiness and how the principle should/must apply to those interested in self-defense. Then looking at how most trained he realized that the idea of evaluating readiness and recognizing the components that affect the formula for stimulus (gap time) response were quantifiable and could easily be put into a system…and so, Personal Defense Readiness™ was born.

  1. I really enjoy my school and present style, but I'm very interested in the Blauer System, I'm concerned about possible conflicts.

Whether you are a freestyle martial artist, an instructor, novice or member of any organization - you are welcome and invited to train with Tony Blauer and his team.

  1. I'm a police officer and martial artist, will I be able to use this system?

Martial artists, special forces personnel, police officers and many self-defense instructors around the world use our drills, psychology and research. You can too.

  1. I have a lot of respect and loyalty for my instructor, but I feel that we don't cover many of the emotional and psychological areas your research covers. I am eager to learn, but I sort of feel guilty that I'm considering studying your research.

Any serious martial artist knows there is no place for ego or politics in combat. You can effectively cross-train with us while studying another system. As the world gets more violent, Mr. Blauer's extensive research into real-life confrontations becomes even more valuable.

  1. I'm pretty happy at my school, but I really want to feel more confident for an actual 'street altercation', I'm just concerned that your approach will conflict with my style.

Tony Blauer's system is not a "style", therefore, it cannot interfere with your training or your school's approach. You can stay loyal to your style , and still 'cross-train' for street survival using our research. Get an injection of inspiration. You'll learn:

- Advanced training concepts (ALL for the street)
- CQC stances, footwork, close quarter skills, punches & strikes, kicks,
- Advanced groundfighting
- Interceptions & jams
- Street skills, emotional climate drills, training drills, psychology and even a suggested reading list!

Spear FAQ

How difficult is it to learn the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™?

Initially learning the basic mechanics and application of the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ is easier than learning any self-defense or martial art because the research and science of the mechanics are based on what the body really wants to do PRIOR to any training. Think about that for a moment; the nucleus of our system is already organically ingrained within you. Your instinctual survival system already has built in moves and in times of sudden surprise these natural moves actually override muscle-memory skills. Your natural reactions are lightning fast and nonperishable. We have spent over a decade creating drills and tactics around this physiological research.

While I have read about the SPEAR in several magazine articles, I'm still a bit confused. Is it a new type of technique or the modification of something else?

All of the above! The S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ has two elemental components: first its relationship to primal/protective responses (referred to as startle/flinch response) already hardwired into our survival system and secondly, the tactical conversions of key flinch positions identified by our research.

The idea of using natural motion is not new to martial arts but when closely analyzed, the arts that proclaim use of this also integrate a complex motor skill conduit, in other words there is a muscle-memory core and the natural motion mention refers more to physics and dynamics of energy, NOT instinctual or primal conversions of human behavior.

Therein lies the difference. The S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ is based on several dynamics of behavior and THEN motion, mechanics and tactics are devised. The emphasis of which moves are used, the timing of the tactics and the method they are used are inspired by physiology, dynamics of fear and relationship between predator and prey. The S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ is purely a personal defense method, not a sport or conventional ART.

In your website and other articles, you state that the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ is very easy to learn and also easy to retain. Why is that?

It's easy to learn because the nucleus of the system is already a part of your natural survival. That means the instinctive gestures that form the core of the tactical conversions already exist. It's easy to retain for the very same reason: the foundation of the system and tactics we have designed are built around primal responses that are nonperishable, that's why the system is so reliable.

Will learning the SPEAR System interfere with my other training?

Honestly, that depends on you and your system and specifically why you train. Its crucial to note that the vast majority of martial arts require space, distance, awareness and of course some skill for a technique to function, but real fights happen quickly and in very close quarters (in other words: little space, almost no distance, and generally, they are a surprise too!) So for those of you who recognize this truth and already have a strong interest in another style or a good foundation, the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ can be embraced as a 'bridge' to get to their style of choice. (Remember, styles are made up of complex motor skills based on muscle-memory & stimulus-response evolutions - the SPEAR 'tactic' is not based on this learning model.)

The age-old question, what's the best art or style is as popular today as it was centuries ago...but frankly, self-defense is not about style, its about results. If you're looking for a pure, spontaneous method to develop greater confidence in a close quarter fight, the SPEAR System will be an asset.

I understand that the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ is based around the 'flinch response'. What is this and why is it not taught in other systems?

Any sudden surprise movement can cause what we refer to as the 'startle/flinch' response. Sudden movement startles the emotional controls in our brain and causes the body's inherent protective mechanism to recoil from the danger (physiologists have termed this the withdrawal reflex). This action is evident in anyone (even trained warriors) and varies proportionally to levels of awareness or preparedness. But what is most important is to note that the startle/flinch moment is natural and human, it has nothing to do with skill or lack of; it is a behavioral response.

Why its not taught in other styles is simple. Virtually all martial arts of today including most of the modern eclectic systems are based on ancient and/or conventional styles. While many of these systems are very effective and well researched, their arsenals are generally based on complex motor movement. Further, most training evolutions are based on an ancient SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) where training and fighting was based on codes and ritual and specific rules of engagements dictated when, where and how fights took place. This explains why battles became duels, duels became challenges, and challenges became competition.

This process creates consent, awareness and preparedness, therefore the combatants are able to adopt stances and create space prior to the proverbial trumpet call.

There has also always been an emphasis placed on winning with good form and using techniques from within the style. Putting this perspective puzzle together, one can appreciate why modern drills and training are still very structured.

Consider this: A boxer doesn't shuffle in a ready stance at an ATM machine to withdraw money. A Ju Jitsu player doesn't walk his dog lying on his back, A Tae Kwon Do player doesn't order Big Macs from a side stance, is this making sense? Real attacks occur when you are out of your arena. And all people flinch. The magic of the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™is that we show you how to make that work for you.

Is the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ only a defensive tool or can it also be used offensively?

Actually it's not defensive at all. It's protective and the distinction is far more reaching than 'semantics'. Firstly, 'defense' is a subordinate position, it implies that the opponent is all over you, whereas 'protective' is neither defensive nor offensive, it implies a necessary action; interestingly, the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ is not an offensive tool either.

Anytime you use the S.P.E.A.R. SYSTEM™ or tactic, it was because you were required to use it, In other words, you were being attacked. In both cases you were acting in self-defense. This protective mindset conjures up the virtue, value and importance of the 'bodyguard' and this moral and professional imperative is directly linked to one of our most important and powerful concepts the 'Be Your Own Bodyguard' principle.