IGNITION
If you’re a long time reader of my newsletter, then you know the story of my mom asking me what I wanted to do when I was older…
Here’s a short recap: The year was 1975, I was sitting on the floor working on the splits, gazing at pictures of Bruce Lee. With all the conviction of a 15-year-old dreamer, I looked up at her and declared, "Mom, I'm gonna be a famous martial artist like Bruce Lee!"
She smiled, patted me on the head, and said, "OK, dear, we'll talk about this when you're older."
Well, I'm older now.
When my mom passed away a couple of years ago, she told me how proud she was of me and that she remembered that conversation.
That was about 49 years ago, I was a 15-year-old kid with a dream and an unwavering determination.
I trained like a fiend for years, pouring my heart and soul into my practice. I had a few students who were more like guinea pigs for my wild imagination. My classes resembled laboratories more than dojos, as we experimented with every technique and concept I could think of.
In 1980, I ran my first scenario training event. I knew it was the future. (You can read about the fight that inspired it here.)
For over a decade, we conducted force-on-force scenario training...
It was like 'Fight Club' before the movie was out!
During that time, I noticed how psychological fear impacted everyone's performance, mine included. Fear wasn't just an enemy; it was a puzzle to be solved.
Fascinated by this, I used these experiences to define and refine a new way to use fear as a tool and as fuel. I was on a mission to turn fear from a hindrance into a powerful ally.
I created graphics showing how fear affected mind speed, which eventually turned into the Cycle of Behavior® & Cerebral Self-Defense program. This program evolved into what we now know as KNOW FEAR®.
Back then, the SPEAR System® hadn't been created yet!
And the High Gear® Suit? It wouldn't be sketched on a napkin in Nashville for another five years!
The '80s was my incubator decade, a time of relentless experimentation and discovery.
Over three decades later, I'm still busting my butt and kicking butt around the world. Now, we have affiliates and representatives across the globe, with lead trainers in Australia, the Netherlands, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
From a dreamer on the floor to a global network of trainers, my journey has been fueled by a relentless pursuit of understanding and mastering fear. And the best part? The journey is far from over.
Coach B
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We thank you Tony!