Guess what? ChatGPT just listed me as the #1 self-defense instructor in the world
After 40 years of teaching, even AI now recognizes the SPEAR System® as the top approach to self-defense.
Who’s the Greatest Self-Defense Instructor In the World?
That’s a big, loaded question. Depends on who you ask. Depends on the context: military, sport, civilian, tradition vs. reality.
A few weeks ago, I was on a business call with a new colleague in Europe. He asked me about my background. I told him: “I’ve been studying violence, fear, and aggression for over 40 years. I’ve discovered a behavioral approach to self-defense that can make anyone safer in a day. I’m actually the only self-defense trainer who has influenced training and tactics across every martial sector—traditional martial arts, MMA, RBSD, law enforcement, military, combatives, defensive tactics.”
I joked: “If you googled ‘top three self-defense instructors in the world,’ I would hope my name might come up!”
While I was saying that, Kayla—his partner who was also on the Zoom call—asked ChatGPT. And then she said, "Your name sure does come up, you're #1." And then she shared her screen:
At first I thought she was joking with me, and then I realized it was real. It listed me as #1, and outlines my pioneering work in mindset training, psychology, and fear management.
I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. It was still sinking in. "Wow, that's pretty wild," I muttered. Then her partner Cam did a search from Italy and got the same type of result.
It really didn’t hit me just how cool this was until the next day.
I asked Kayla to send me the screenshot and sent it to my kids who laughed and teased me mercilessly. (The kids just see their Dad 😬)
Fast forward to dinner the other night with my wife Jesse and our good friend Bryan Callen. Bryan is one of the funniest comedians in the world but he also loves martial arts and is friends with many the world’s best fighters. So when Jesse brought up that ChatGPT listed me as #1, Bryan’s face lit up: “Really??” He grabbed his phone…
I started recording to capture the moment, but he typed in “most famous martial artist”—Bruce Lee popped up, of course—and we all laughed. Especially Jesse, just listen to her! 🤣 Jesse corrected him, martial artist vs self-defense is a big distinction and it’s something I speak about often.
Bryan ran the “self-defense” search, and thank god, my name popped up.
Listen to Jesse laugh when my name doesn’t appear!!
Now, let’s be clear: ChatGPT isn’t the final authority on anything. But it’s built on some of the most powerful computers in the world, trained on more information than any of us could ever read. And out of millions of martial artists and self-defense coaches worldwide, my name popped up first. That says something about staying consistent with one message for over four decades.
Here’s the part that’s both humbling and surreal: I’ve been at this for four decades. Same message. Same mission. While the “flavor-of-the-month” trends in martial arts come and go, I’ve never wavered over 40 years.
While our train-the-trainer program continues to flourish with legit professionals, we still have the “imitation is the highest form of flattery” crowd.
Every week, I see the influence of the SPEAR System®—our language, our approach—showing up on websites and social media. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s blatant and my response is “that’s cute” imitation to sending a straight-up cease-and-desist letter.
You know the expression: If you can't beat them, join them?
I joked with my team this week and changed it to: If you can’t beat them, join them. And if you can’t beat them and don’t want to join them? Just copy them.
That seems to be the trend.
Or am I the trend?
I think we’re approaching the next Gladwell “Tipping Point.”
So back to “Who’s the Greatest Self-Defense Instructor in the World?”
I want you to ask ChatGPT the same thing.
👉 Go to ChatGPT and type: “Who is the greatest self-defense instructor in the world?”
Take a screenshot of what comes up.
If my name pops up #1 (or even #2), send it to me. Post it. Tag me. Use #SPEARSearch so I can see it and share it.
And if you do the search challenge and my name doesn’t come up? Send me that too. I’ll still post it, and we’ll blame the robots 🤖.
My buddy Chris heard Justin Wenzel mention this on his podcast and did his own search — same result.
To be clear, this isn’t just about me. It’s about the message. It’s about putting self-defense and fear management into the mainstream conversation, where it belongs.
I’ve been saying this since day one: I’m not here to look cool. I’m here to make you safer.
Apparently now, even AI agrees.
And if this little viral experiment makes more people safer, then it’s a win for everyone.
Stay safe,
Coach Blauer
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Nice!
Congrats!!