The Missing Link in Firearm Training: Blending Startle Response with Tactical Skills
Coach B here with a quick pivot from our usual empty-hand talk.
I’ve covered gun safety, weapon protection, and specifically, our Concealed Carry Combatives program before—but today, I’ve got something different to share.
Over a decade ago, at the International Law Enforcement Trainers Conference, my friend Mike Hughes—creator of the SIRT pistol—pulled me aside for a conversation about how the SPEAR System® applies to gunfighting.
What started as a quick chat turned into a series of videos that are still just as relevant today. (Can’t believe they’re 13 years old!)
Here’s the kicker: universal truths never change, and the lessons from these videos will help you stay safer, even if you don’t carry a firearm for self-defense.
Think about it: most people who train with firearms don’t focus on sudden, real-world gunfighting scenarios. They practice on static ranges, shooting at stationary targets, and that’s if they train at all. And unfortunately, many others just buy a firearm and keep it at home without ever practicing.
Whether you’re already carrying, thinking about it, or focusing on empty-hand defense, these videos will help. They’re all about preparing for sudden violence, managing fear, and understanding how your body reacts under stress—whether you’re armed or unarmed, the principles are the same.
And here’s why that matters: if you ever face the worst day of your life—the kind where seconds count and danger is real—your body and brain will need to work together, instinctively. The SPEAR System® integrates neurobiology and psychology, turning your natural flinch into a tactical response, helping you manage fear, stay in the fight, and, ultimately, protect yourself or your loved ones.
Because on that day, your training won’t just be about skill—it’ll be about survival.
Check out the full series on Mike Hughes’ blog (below), where we dive deep into the SPEAR System® and the Startle Flinch Response, showing how it all connects to close-quarter gunfighting.
This knowledge could completely change how you train and think about personal safety.
Coach B
If You’re Interested in Hosting Our Concealed Carry Combatives Course or Attending One, Let Us Know.
The Concealed Carry Combatives course is not a live-fire event; it’s an extreme close-quarter training course that focuses on weaponizing your body’s startle response and managing sudden fear spikes at extreme close quarters with drills designed to help you transition to your firearm under pressure when space and time are against you.
Reach out for more information, and let’s make sure you’re ready for the unexpected.
Click here or email ask@blauertactical.com.
Deepen Your Understanding of the SPEAR System® and How the Startle Flinch Response Applies to Close-Quarter Gunfighting.
These videos dive into critical concepts such as primal, protective, and tactical responses, as well as the SPEAR System® ASAP Model (Awareness, Suddenness, Aggression, and Proximity).
Whether you’re in law enforcement, studying self-defense, or tactical training, these insights are designed to help you refine your skills.
Check out all four videos on Mike’s blog now. Watch them here.
Please share this with your 2A family and friends.