Sensorimotor Skills

Blasts have been used in war for centuries. In fact, there is evidence of gunpowder bombs that date back to the Tang dynasty (circa 618-907 AD). [1] Though warfare and weapons have evolved since the Tang dynasty, blasts have remained a consistent variable of war. Sensorimotor skills are also a consistent variable of war, the… Continue reading Sensorimotor Skills

Target Training: Breacher

I’ve been building out a 12-week program on Teambuildr that develops situational awareness capabilities specific to the demands Breachers face. No matter the position, situational awareness, target focus and acquisition, and ownership of movement can all be broken down to loading the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. We can just load in different ways. Here… Continue reading Target Training: Breacher

Speed and Accuracy

Capability Development: speed and accuracy of divided focus eye movements without losing control of your footwork. Key Goals: Loss of speed and precision of movement is common with increased visual demands. As we are loading the demands on your visual system, we are increasing the demands on two other sensory systems that are important for… Continue reading Speed and Accuracy

Readiness and Lethality

A study done on operators in elite Military units who had served between 10-15 years and had repeated exposures to low-level blasts (LLB) showed impaired speed and accuracy with divided focus and target following eye movements compared to controls without repeated LLB exposures. [1] These elite operators showed impaired speed and accuracy with divided focus… Continue reading Readiness and Lethality

Training Speed and Precision with Divided Focus

A foundational capability for you as a tactical athlete is the ability to execute with a divided focus. I strip training this into two parts, where I isolate and then integrate. Isolating the eye movements of a divided focus while stationary is the first step. I train speed of the eyes moving target to target… Continue reading Training Speed and Precision with Divided Focus

Identify the Consistent Variables

When preparing for the unpredictable, we must identify the consistent variables. But there will always be unforeseeables. Because of this, we focus on what skills will translate across scenarios. We build the strongest foundation from which to execute. In the gym you optimize foundational movements – push, pull, squat, lunge, hinge, and carry. You put… Continue reading Identify the Consistent Variables

Training The Sensory Systems With Specificity

Unique to tactical athletes is the level of performance the sensory systems for situational awareness must perform at. No other athlete or professional relies on their sensory systems to the extent that tactical athletes do. There are 4 primary sensory systems for situational awareness- visual, auditory, vestibular, and somatosensory. Each system has an important role… Continue reading Training The Sensory Systems With Specificity

Why You Should Know Your Max Speed With Divided Focus

You should know your max speed with a divided focus. You know your max deadlift, your best mile time, and your squat PR. Objectively measuring and improving your speed with a divided focus is important to know too. Why? Because your performance relies heavily on the ability to move with speed and precision under conditions… Continue reading Why You Should Know Your Max Speed With Divided Focus

Execution With Divided Focus

As a tactical operator you often encounter situations where you have a divided focus. A divided focus requires quick, accurate eye movements between multiple targets. This utilizes a part of the visual system called saccades. To execute at a high level in a condition of divided focus your saccadic eye movements will need the following:… Continue reading Execution With Divided Focus