The Performance Effect

Over a 100 years of tactical training and ‘use of force’ experience & expertise amongst these CERT trainers.

Working with Corrections Officers across NZ to maximise their physical, psychological and professional safety.

An awesome team to work with.

Chris

The last week has been Mental Health Awareness week.

12 years ago a dear friend, colleague and mentor took his own life after an amazing career.

One of the strongest, knowledgeable and giving colleagues I worked with, and someone who was dedicated to the safety of his fellow officers across the globe.

Rest In Peace, my friend.

Police Remembrance Day in NZ.

The feather from the extinct Huia bird represents fallen officers & staff.

Rest In Peace.

Work - Not Work Story!

Cycle Patrols & Work Place Bike Users.

20 years ago I was serving as a police officer in the UK. I had specialised as a PTI and was responsible for a number of different officer safety programmes.

A decision was made at senior management level, that any and all operations required relevant training.
One such programme was to put officers out on bike patrols.
A great initiative which would enable more interaction with the public, break down barriers and assist officers to cover considerable distances through our towns and cities; often faster than the police vehicles.

It became my job to research, design and develop a 2 day police cycle patrol course, which I revelled in...........My hobby and work suddenly combined.

I developed the course and content to include; on-road cycling skills, urban MTB skills, patrol techniques and bike related defensive tactics.

We started with no gear and rubbish bikes (see pics), however we soon procured police bike uniform, a fleet of Marin hard tail MTBs (perfect for urban patrol) and other safety equipment. I even had all the bike tyres lined with Kevlar tape to minimise punctures from broken glass and other objects on the rough city streets.

And built indoor ‘urban’ ramps, steps and obstacles in order to train in a safe environment.

I engaged with a National MTB qualification provider to formalise a certification and subsequently trained dozens of officers and trainers. It was great fun, and had huge benefits on a number of levels.

I also frequently deployed as a cycle patrol myself, to ensure I had operational competency.
Another upside was the local media wrote positive articles about the subject and our patrols. The pic of me in the police branded bike helmet was taken for a press article about the programme.

A consequence of this programme was that other police forces followed suit and the certification became a national requirement. I was very proud of that.

Many years later (2019) a cool thing happened when I was asked to design and deliver a 2 day training course for the New Zealand Police Ebike Trial.
Again another great programme pretty much reflecting the content of 20 years previously, however updated for modern ebikes and modern patrol techniques, gear and equipment.
I delivered training across NZ and up-skilled their (NZP) trainers. This was very well received by the officers involved and a very fulfilling job to do.

I have identified a need for other organisations, who use bikes for professional purposes, to enhance staff safety with relevant training.

Of course some would say “it’s just like riding a bike”, however - it isn’t, as a modicum of skill is required by the user, and the employer has a duty of care to provide relevant and suitable training.

Stemming from this previous work, thought has also been done on the development of a programme for those who may wish to be volunteer cycle patrols out on our trails or bike parks. For these groups or individuals there is so much more to consider than just being a good bike rider.

Watch this space for more on this subject, as a partnership with a national training provider develops; with the intention to create the next iteration of the programme for cycle patrols and work place bike users.

If you want more info then check out The Cycling Uncovered Project

Chris

‘The Quiet Eye’.

I’ve shared this before and believe strongly that sports coaches should break tradition and look for different approaches to their learning and thus how they think in terms of their coaching.

Thinking outside of the box! A great article and very useful information for sports coaches looking for the ‘edge’.

https://www.tierthreetactical.com/gunfighting-and-neuroscience-why-using-your-front-sight-might-kill-you/?fbclid=IwAR2Hg75xyuyU3QPVuBRvkbC0b5J9pxIiicfa5821ISVzrQXWbZ9TdM1suHg

Gunfighting and Neuroscience: Why Using Your Front Sight Might Kill You - Tier Three Tactical Success in a gunfight doesn't depend on how well you shoot. It depends on how well you see. Unfortunately, everyone in the tactical and self defense communities trains endlessly on the mechanics of shooting, while completely ignoring the more important aspects of seeing. In this article we will revi...

‘Unlocking Potential’

The below link to a short documentary was recently shared through the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand.

And here is one of my favourite quotes, believed to be attributed to Albert Einstein:
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

It’s taken 50+ years for me to understand how and why I see the world in the way I do:

Why do I problem solve in the way I do?
Why I find reading long documents and small close print difficult?
Why I love sports and the physical education world?
Why I still get anxious in and around traditional education environments?
Why I can create concepts, ideas and different approaches, and challenge traditional methods of coaching or education?
Why I somehow know how to lead, present, coach and build relationships well?

I wasn’t ‘diagnosed’ at school in the 60s & 70s and struggled academically throughout my school life.
I would pretend to read the books the teachers gave us, and state I had finished without reading a page. 🤭
I covered up stuff and I copied work off my peers when I didn’t understand. 🤫
Maths classes were completely alien to me - just scribbles and nonsense that I couldn’t comprehend (and still can’t). 😳
I hated exam time and left school with zero quals. 😬

There was no support.
However I managed to stay in school until the age of 16 probably due to having a stable family upbringing. I was then fortunate enough to join the police service straight from school as a cadet, which sent me along the right path. It could have been a different path for sure.

However I also nearly didn’t make it through police college due to the exam threshold required to pass the course. If you failed 2 written exams during the 10 week initial course you were sent to a remedial unit. A third fail would mean being removed from the course and losing your job.
I had failed two and was on the edge of failing again, however my trainers fortunately recognised that I excelled in the practical & physical application of policing and somehow I survived.

I had a successful policing career however was always put off taking any promotion exams probably due to my perceived lack of ability to read/write.
Written exams are a nonsense to me because I learn by doing, experience, watching others, reading what excites me and exploring.

I have subsequently succeeded as a sports coach, coach developer and educator without any formal qualifications, and thrive when I’m training or developing others.

I love what Scott ‘Razor’ Robinson does and his ‘way’ resonates with me a lot.

I fully support what this foundation is trying to do and this documentary is excellent. Thank you Elliot Jones and the Dyslexia Foundation of NZ for sharing.

Chris

https://www.facebook.com/100067878769525/posts/387600053512617/

We've all been waiting....

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL by Elliot Jones

is AVAILABLE TO WATCH NOW... LINK TO WATCH IN COMMENTS BELOW