Shaykhet Training L.L.C. Scientific Theories and Principles For Core Training Program

1)	The affect of stress on brain function
			
•	When an officer experiences a high stress situation such as a physical confrontation, he or she will automatically revert back to whatever their instinct is in that situation. The officer in all cases finds it impossible to execute a series of complicated steps, while trying to physically restrain or subdue a subject. As proven by scientific research, the "fight or flight" response is the body's way of preparing itself to face a threat. This is also known as a survival instinct. 

•	According to the research of Dr. Fred Luskin and Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier in Stress Free for Good "When you experience the stress response several things occur. Among them, "Your heart pumps faster to get more blood to your muscles. Your breathing becomes faster to move more oxygen to your blood. Your muscles tense up to get ready for action. Your blood flow to the PREFRONTAL CORTEX (or higher reasoning center) of the brain DIMINISHES as more blood flows to the limbic (or more primitive) part of the brain. Your pupils gets bigger and your senses of smell and hearing become stronger, to be sure you have the best heightened senses to perform." All of these proven facts help to show that when there is any physical struggle, the officer PHYSICALLY CAN NOT process any complicated step. INSTEAD, he or she will only be able to apply an instinctive approach that works well under stress and requires NO complex execution.

2)	Classical and operant conditioning

•	The conditioning of an officer in training, is crucial to developing their ability to respond to emergency situations. This refers to PRECISE REPLICATION of the stimulus they will face and then extensive shaping of the desired 
			response to that stimulus. According to the book On Killing, by Westpoint instructor and Psychology expert Lt. Col. Dave Grossman "That is what is used when training firemen and airline pilots to react to emergency situations." In other words, the officer reaches the point where he or she does not respond with a checklist of things to do, but rather a conditioned reaction that is immediate. 

•	When a scenario presents itself where the officer is faced with a subject who disobeys or becomes vilolent, the officer DOES NOT have to think about which step to follow. Instead, the officer is automatically prepared to apply SIMPLE and BASIC TECHNIQUES that result in immediate control of the situation. He or she responds INSTINCTIVELY, with a basic technique. He or she is taught to attack the situation proactively, quickly, and with no injury to either the officer or the subject. In reality, the subject will not have any time to fight with the officer, because the confrontation will be over within a matter of seconds.

3)	Psychological and Physiological Responses

•	Research done on brain function and the brain's involvement in certain behaviors is vital to training done for law enforcement. Trouble in specific parts of your brain, tends to cause certain behavior problems. All of these problems that often result in an officer being injured, CAN be avoided through a better understanding of how action is mentally percieved. According to Daniel G. Amen M.D. in his book Change Your Brain Change Your Body, "Think of the PFC (Prefrontal Cortex) as the CEO of your brain. Situated at the front third of your brain, it acts like a supervisor for the rest of your brain and body. It is involved with ATTENTION, JUDGEMENT, PLANNING, IMPULSE-CONTROL, FOLLOW THROUGH and EMPATHY. For example, alcohol lowers activity in the PFC, which is why people do such stupid things when they get drunk."

•	Based on that proven scientific principle, it is then possible to understand why it is necessary to train instinctively. Simply put, if the part of the brain that deals in complicated thought doesn't function properly in a "fight or flight" scenario due to reduced blood flow, then the officer must be prepared to deal with a dangerous and threatening situation with more simple training. The conditioning that provides them with a BASIC approch that can be adapted to ANY type of confrontation. 

•	More research done by Daniel G. Amen M.D. in his book Change Your Brain Change Your Body, says "When stress hits, the brain tells your body to start pumping out adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol, two hormones released by the adrenal glands (located above the kidneys). Within seconds your heart starts to pound faster, your mind feels like it is on heightened alert." All of these symptoms, create a boost of energy for someone who is faced with danger. In those few seconds the officer's training kicks in. He or she has a simple, conditioned answer for the threat they are facing from an uncooperative subject. 

4)	Quick Action Physical Response To Threat

•	Research done by Daniel G. Amen M.D. in his book Change Your Brain Change Your Body, says "The brain is the most complex organ in the universe. Respect it. To protect your soft brain, it is housed in a really hard skull filled with fluid." That scientific concept is fundamental to the instinctive approach used by Shaykhet Training L.L.C. In other words, officers are trained to respond quickly to a threat in order to prevent a situation from getting out of control. 

•	The fundamental tactic used in gaining compliance over the subject, is the technique of closing distance and applying an "open handed" stun. The "open handed" stun used by the officer is an effective way to easily and quickly gain control. This works, by temporarily disorienting the subject to the extent they are unable to "fight" back. To the untrained eye it resembles a slap to the head, however in reality it serves a scientific purpose for gaining control. The subject is temporarily stunned, and can be taken down to the ground to be handcuffed. 

			There is no injury. There are no marks or bruises. A punch is never thrown and neither party is hurt. 

•	Finally, the officer gains an immediate advantage over the subject becuase this scientific concept is NOT dependent upon size or muscle. The principle of temporarily stunning a subject by employing a simple, safe tactic, ELIMINATES the chance for struggle or worse yet a fight where someone is hurt. In addition, the instinctive tactics learned in training and used by the officer, look extremely professional to any eye witness. In the age of cell phone video and youtube, it is imperative the officer has the training, to completely PREVENT a potentially threatening situation from getting out of control.