Automated Response Tactics (ART) System Overview

Foundational Principles:

1. FOCUS ON A MINIMUM OF RESPONSES TO ALL TYPES OF ATTACKS.

REASONING: Research in the area of psychomotor skills has shown that too many options actually slow down responses an individual will make during a physical confrontation.

2. DRILL IN NUMEROUS REPETITIONS 10,000 TO 20,000 REPS FOR EACH TECHNIQUE.

REASONING: Research in the area of psychomotor skills some studies have shown that for a physical response to become automatic, a minimum of 3000 to 5000 repetitions must be practiced. Personally, I think that figure is on the low side and I have doubled that figure for the ART system.

3. REALISTIC STRIKING AND KICKING DRILLS MUST BE PRACTICED.

REASONING: Though all striking techniques should initially be learned in the air for form; however, in order to really develop practical street defense skills, practice against actual targets from hanging bags, focus mitts, and Universal training bags will be used in training.  When possible, a suited up attacker will also be used to stimulate street attacks and counters.

4. STRESS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE OF CHANGING FROM THE PASSIVE MIND-SET TO THE OFFENSIVE MIND-SET.

REASONING: Research in the area of sport psychology in physical contact activities has shown that the ability to develop an offensive mind-set is what makes winners. In officer survival training, as well as self defense, the ability to from a defensive response to an offensive has shown to be essential to win a physical confrontation.

5. FOCUS ON DEVELOPING A SMALL NUMBER OF TECHNIQUES WHICH CAN BE USED IN MULTIPLE TYPES OF SELF DEFENSE SITUATIONS.

REASONING: Research in the area of police tactics, with and without weapons, has shown that teaching a few basic techniques will more likely be retained and used by officers in a confrontation. We did this with the Monadnock Defensive Tactics System(MDTS), the PR-24 Baton and the Expandable (Straight) baton programs with superb results. The same basic principles are applied in the ART system.