Real questions asked by you and real answers by us! Use the links to jump to an answer, use your browsers back button to jump back to the top!

  1. Does SCARS require a training partner?
  2. Why do so many marketers claim their fighters have trained the SEALs?
  3. How can past employees of SCARS claim to develop a better training system?
  4. What martial arts is SCARS derived from?
  5. Other SEALs have come out with videos claiming to be official instructors with their systems. How can this be?
  6. How does SCARS handle ground-fighting?
  7. What is the best way to train in the SCARS System using the Videos?
  8. What is the best way to train with my partner?
  9. Why does SCARS point out all the lethal targets on the human body?
  10. Why does SCARS seem to constantly show techniques off of strikes?
  11. Why don’t you recommend using protective training gear for workouts?
  12. What should replace stretching as part of our training?
  13. Why do you demonstrate hitting so many targets? Also what if your opponent strikes at you more than once?
  14. The vagus nerve that is pinched by a broken jaw, producing the knockout, should I be careful about doing jaw shots in sequence with the side of the neck or the heart?
  15. What exactly is the Peterson Gestalt method? And how can I apply it to my training?
  16. Why doesn’t SCARS use headbutts?
  17. What do you do when an extremely low kick is aimed at your shin or even ankle?
  18. How can develop the SCARS offensive mindset for everyday life as well as in workout? Do you offer any products centering only on the offensive mindset?
  19. In the standard fist diagram it appears that the impact occurs first with the fingers folded at the second joint, not with the top two knuckles. Is this correct?
  20. Recently, I was involved in an incident with another motorist. Fortunately, I did not have to deal with the guy physically, but I had a very pronounced adrenaline dump. Is there a way to prevent the adrenaline dump?
  21. If you encounter a low roundhouse bearing down on your thigh, late in it’s arch. Would you fold your foot under you and strike the attacking leg with your knee?
  22. How effective are the strikes on a large attacker?
  23. What is SCARS “Neural Offensive Linguistics”? Is this the same as the offensive mindset? Or is it something completely different?
  24. Do you recommend kicking to the shin? Is this a good target to hit?
  25. I’m older and overweight. What do I need? How do I start?
  26. Is there any other way to have someone let go of a hold aside from striking the radial?
1) Does SCARS require a training partner?

Working with another human is the optimum way to maximize your SCARS training. You should not view your training partner as a competitor but as a tool, which you can learn Autokinematic reactions from. It can be a spouse, friend or someone who wants to learn SCARS. All you need is someone who will give you the proper reactions so you correctly code your brain and body for correct targeting and proper reactions.
If you absolutely cannot find a training partner, than you can learn SCARS by watching the techniques at least twice, then imagine yourself as the Instructor and mimic the strikes and visualize your attackers Autokinematic Reactions. I know it is hard to believe but empirical studies conducted by the SCARS Institute have shown this improves targeting by 25%.

2) Why do so many marketers claim their fighters have trained the SEALs?

Because the acronym SEAL is generic. It is like Cop or Fireman. Marketers can safely use SEALs in their advertisements without having to worry about being sued. If any SEAL has wandered into any of these phony’s studios or if they were contracted for some short term training by the SEALs for evaluation purposes these guys can use it in their ads. SCARS is very specific in its claims. We say Naval Special Warfare Community (the official government name for the SEALs) and give our official course numbers in our ads. At the beginning of each DVD we show clips of actual training of real military units from our personal archives. We are who we say we are.

3) How can past employees of SCARS claim to develop a better training system?

They cannot. Since SCARS is based on human physiology, physics, and geometry; it cannot be improved. The best that can be done is to duplicate it. SCARS has not been successfully duplicated. In fact, it has been degraded by those who have spent but a brief moment at the SCARS Institute of Combat Science. Linking bits and pieces of SCARS together to form a “complete system” will result in a suspect system that is less than a 100% life saving. Do not be misled by those who claim or insinuate to have developed a fighting system for the US NAVSPECWARCOM (SEAL TEAMS). All SCARS training was solely developed by Jerry L. Peterson.  No others, outside of the US NAVSPECWARCOM (SEAL TEAMS) SCARS Force Multiplier Train the Trainer Program, trained the Navy SEALs. No others had a hand in the development of the SCARS combat fighting program. The SCARS Institute of Combat Sciences was not founded until the mid 1990’s. Therefore, it is fact that past employees of SCARS are misleading the public and developing less effective training. Click here to listen to a live example of exactly what we mean.

4) What martial arts is SCARS derived from?

SCARS is 100% based totally on scientific principles and is 100% effective. The best martial arts have approximately 15% scientific principles behind it, the balance is made up of stylistic and artistic movements. Therefore the best martial arts are merely 15% effective and 85% stylistic or artistic interpretations. The best fighters in the world are 35% accurate in targeting the system they study. Ask yourself do I want to be 35% effective in an art or style that is 15% accurate or 100% accurate?

5) Other SEALs have come out with videos claiming to be official instructors with their systems. How can this be?

These people have tried to confuse the public and make some money hoping you’ll take the bait. They figure that if the public sees the word SEAL in an ad they’ll believe it and buy the videos. Again ask for credentials, they don’t have them! Compare their hodgepodge systems with SCARS and you’ll see the lie for what it is. We cant’ keep others from trying to make a buck but it would be nice if it was not so easy for them to get away with outright lies!

6) How does SCARS handle ground-fighting?

Grappling has become quite popular in the last few years because of the UFC and other extreme events. But it must be remembered that these events are not No-Holds Barred and have many rules. It is competitive sport-fighting and should be viewed as such. SCARS teaches you to fight regardless of whether you are vertical or horizontal. The idea is to strike your targets and take out your attacker. A knowledgeable fighter will view a Ju Jitsu match and see that each competitor misses many opportunities to end the conflict if they were not in a sport competition. The dangerous fact of practicing sport-fighting is that YOU FIGHT LIKE YOU TRAIN! If you train with rules, than you fight with rules, regardless of whether your attacker plays by the same rules. This is a serious disadvantage in a life threatening situation.

Because of the interest in this area the SCARS Institute has created a video series dedicated to answering questions about ground fighting, “shoot-ins” and “the wrestlers rush”. Check out the DVD series here or get a membership and learn the secrets to get out of any grappling attack.

7) What is the best way to train SCARS using the Videos?

View the videos as much as you like for your personal interest. When you want to learn a particular technique, view it from all the angles provided then work out with your partner the technique at half speed. Insure you strike the target with the correct body weapon and that your opponent gives the proper reaction. Learn the techniques exactly as shown then do them using the opposite side. If a technique starts with a right down strike use a left down strike. This will make you a complete and balanced fighter.

8. What is the best way to train with my partner?

Learn a series of techniques, say ten, then when you are comfortable with all the targets and the Autokinematic reactions, start to free fight. To free fight your attacker attacks, first at half speed, and you strike the first target you see. Then using your targeting knowledge start to strike various targets on the body until you have taken out your attacker. Each person should get 2 turns then switch, you should rest no more than 5 seconds between attacks. Try to build up to 45 minutes straight of working out at this pace and try not to repeat a sequence.

9 ) Why does SCARS point out all the lethal targets on the human body?

Because there are many and you need to be able to identify them if you are to become a proficient fighter. Many martial arts teach techniques which strike these targets without identifying them this is a serious liability to you as a student.

10) Why does SCARS seem to constantly show techniques off of strikes?

Because we see all techniques as a fight in progress and assume a multi-fight scenario (more than one attacker) so we show most techniques off someone attacking you with the idea you just finished off another attacker and this guy is trying to blindside you or catch you unawares. It makes you a much better fighter to train in this manner and mindset.

11) Why don’t you recommend using protective training gear for workouts?

Because SCARS teaches you to attack the vital targets of the human body. Often protective gear covers these very open targets. Since your training partner is allowing you to use his body to learn targeting there is no competition. Therefore the idea is to learn and get true reactions to properly code your brain for violent conflict. Full Contact sparring involves padding up and striking protected areas of the body to build a false sense of confidence in the competitors. Nothing confounds a ju jistu artist more that a simple eye gouge with the thumb when they try to shoot at your body. This is real versus sport fighting.

12) I’ve heard that you don’t recommend stretching – what should be done instead?

Range of motion is the only safe way to prepare for any type of physical training. It is a sequence of techniques developed by Dr. Bob Gadja from the university of Chicago. This system takes the body through it’s dynamic range of motion without hyperflexation which most traditional stretching programs do. Hyperflexation takes a joint or ligament past its dynamic range of motion and actually weakens the joint. Dynamic Range of Motion training actually strengthens and resets the body.

On a related training note: Power Balance Training is our instructors leading you through the eight floor moves the proper way which is an incredible leg workout with the other benefit of producing superior balance skills which greatly enhances your strikes and fighting power.

Videos covering training in both these subjects are available in the SCARS Ground Fighting Series.

13) Why do you demonstrate hitting so many targets? Also what if your opponent strikes at you more than once?

We show so many strikes because the best fighters, under stress, hit their targets only 35% of the time.

That reasoning “worrying that your opponent is going to keep hitting you” is defensive in application. Stop worrying about what the attacker does and hit your target; if you do then hit your next target until you taken him out. We teach you multiple strikes to get you to focus on taking out your attacker and to compensate for missing. You progress as you successfully hit each target. A correct hit on a target is one that causes an Autokinematic reaction and has your attacker reacting to the strike and temporarily unable to hit you. You then take advantage of that time to hit your next target causing another reaction and continue this until he is out.

14) Since the vagus nerve that is pinched by a broken jaw, producing the knockout, should I be careful about doing jaw shots in sequence with the side of the neck or the heart?

The possibility to pinch the vagus exists with a jaw shot but it is determined by the angle of the blow. Sequenced strikes when properly applied put a tremendous amount of trauma on the human body. The sequences you describe could very well be fatal in an of the fact you are simultaneously attacking the heart or vagus with a jaw shot. This all attacks the central nervous system.

15) What exactly is the Peterson Gestalt method? And how can I apply it to my training?

The Peterson Gestalt method is a training technique designed to overload the conscious mind with more information than it can possibly memorize. To apply this to your training you must learn technique after technique and not memorize the techniques themselves. The number of strikes in each technique eventually would make it impossible for you to memorize a significant number of techniques anyway. You then must rely on your free fight time to develop your fighting skills. The physical coding employed when you learn a strike in a technique seemingly becomes available to you “automatically” or “without thought”. That is the result of the overload principle of the Peterson Gestalt method. SCARS training bypasses the conscious mind and implants the necessary info in the subconscious mind which is far more powerful and valuable under stress.

16) Why doesn’t SCARS use headbutts?

With the myriad of body weapons available to you SCARS feels that the use of the head as a weapon is an extremely poor choice. Notice we say it is a poor choice not that it won’t inflict damage. SCARS feels the trade off is not worth using a headbutt. You are rattling your central nervous system using a headbutt as well as creating “eye jerk” against yourself. (eye jerk being the temporary loss of vision due to the throwing forward of your head to deliver the strike not to mention the impact of the strike) Many times this temporary incapacitation you inflict on yourself leaves you vulnerable to an attack especially if you face multiple attackers. SCARS uses only body weapons which inflict damage on the attacker not the fighter.

17) I observe that you show the proper strikes to use on a kick that is coming for your groin, center-line or higher,but that you do not show what to do when an extremely low kick is aimed at your shin or even ankle.

Low kicks like that are handled when you properly close distance and strike your targets. If you watch a kicker kick you will get kicked. If you close distance and stay focused on your targets then you take him out prior to his kick doing any real damage. In a proper low stance the windmill strike handle all strikes from the floor to the top of your head. If you are not low in your stance then you leave a gap for a kick to sneak in . Stay Low.

18) How can develop the SCARS offensive mindset for everyday life as well as in my workout? Do you offer any products centering only on the offensive mindset?

Currently offer the Building Blocks of a Fearless life dealing exclusively with the offensive mindset. The way to get the most complete program on the offensive mindset is to come to our civilian training camps. There you receive 2 lectures on the mindset and the complete physical and mental application via the training.

You can get practical use of the offensive mindset by eliminating any defensive terminology from your internal (thoughts) and external (actual spoken words) communication. The best place to start is the word “block”. Substitute the word “Strike” wherever you would use block. This small change in terminology starts a very positive, powerful process in your mind.

Just start to be aware of how you communicate with yourself and others. See how you phrase questions. Do your terms create doubt ( ie “Get down from the ledge, you might fall!” ) or confidence (ie “Wow, you have great balance now come on down from the ledge.”) Awareness of how you think and speak is the first start.

When training SCARS your focus should be on striking your attacker’s targets not trying to counter his strikes. When training make sure you always hit a target don’t block it. This will reinforce the offensive mindset and eventually change your outlook on life.

19) In the standard fist diagram, with the direction of force aligned with the radius and ulna, it appears that the impact occurs first with the fingers folded at the second joint, not with the top two knuckles. Is this correct? It seems like instead, you would want to (while retaining proper had and wrist position) line the bones of the knuckles up perpendicularly with the target.

The contact points you describe are optimum striking points for your fists. To alter them in any way to achieve your incorrect perpendicular strike weakens the wrist and exposes the fighter to injury. Review the manual and try the fist against the human target. If you follow the body structures outlined in the manual ( see proper body locks) the fist perfectly attacks the human body with kinetic, not static, force. The knuckles in this structure can easily handle the impact point and deliver a blow that will shatter ribs or joints. The boxer fist you describe is inherently weak and is not used by SCARS.

20) During the camp we were fortunate enough to have Jerry spend some time with us. During his lecture he explained the idea of short circuiting the hesitation that accompanies the fight or flight response. I need a refresher. Recently I was involved in an incident with another motorist. Fortunately, I did not have to deal with the guy physically, but I had a very pronounced adrenaline dump. Is there a way to prevent the adrenaline dump?

Adrenaline is not the problem–it is that you perceive the situation as a greater threat than it obviously was at that time. If you are talking about a driving incident then you need to learn more about the true capabilities of you car. The mind set helps reduce the adrenaline flow only if you stay in a pro-active thought state. You need to pay attention to your ‘ self-talk ‘ during the day and practice handling the unknown.

Say the following statements during the day and just before you doze off at night:
1. “I am always in a pro-active state every waking moment.”
2. “My body and mind are always in perfect chemical balance under any physical or mental condition.”

Those simple statements can help you achieve the state of mind discussed in the training course.

21) When striking a roundhouse kick if I saw the kick being chambered or early in it’s arch, I imagine that I could step right in and strike to the central core, breaking the circle. But, what if you’re in the middle of a multi-fight and you turn around to a low roundhouse bearing down on your thigh, late in it’s arch. Would you fold your foot under you and strike the attacking leg with your knee?

You could easily strike down on the top of the calf and strike the nerve target. This could be accomplish while rotating into his core and missing the full force of the kick.

22) I understand the concept of the offensive mind set. However I still don’t know if my strikes would be effective on a large opponent. Can I really hit a big guy (like a pro football player) hard enough to take him out? Would is large muscle development make it difficult to cause him to react like a normal sized individual?

Unfortunately you are incorrect when you state you understand the concept of the Offensive Mindset. The questions you pose right after your statement are purely defensive. There are over 170+ targets on the human body that can maim, cripple, or kill. No weight training can protect the targets we train you to strike. Many of the targets require less that 20lbs of pressure to do severe damage. The more mass on an individual the less dramatic the reaction to the strike, merely due to the fact the person’s body mass runs into itself.

Proper understanding of the Offensive Mindset and it’s use focuses on what damage you are inflicting on your attacker recognizing that target selection bypasses any strength, speed or agility advantages your opponent may have in other endeavors.

23) The other day I came across a SCARS ad, in the ad I saw a term called “Neural Offensive Linguistics”. It said that it was a mindset that eliminates all defensive thinking, Now is this the same as the offensive mindset? Or is it something completely different?

Neural Offensive Linguistics works in conjunction with the Offensive mindset. We teach a more in depth course in NOLS for people who attend our training camps. The main thing you need to be aware of is your self talk. You must be aware of any defensive terminology you use either verbally or silently in your head. Words such as block, defense, defend. Give yourself clear offensive statements. Do not ‘ what if ‘ a potential attacker; meaning trying to figure out whether he is going to punch, kick, grapple… just tell yourself you will strike the first thing that moves on his body and the rest will take care of itself.

24) Do you recommend kicking to the shin? Is this a good target to hit?

The shin is no better or worse than any other target. You are kicking bone with some nerves but it is not a Central Nervous System target it won’t knock out your attacker, and it may or may or may not take his balance. Refer to the target chart for striking targets we outlined. Don’t get caught up in specific targets being good or bad just utilize the principles you have learned in your training.

25) I’m 57 years-old and 50 pounds overweight. The last fight I had was in high school. I’ve been faking them out ever since. What do I need? How do I start?

You should start with the Original SCARS 40 hr. Combat Fighting Course. This will provide you with the manual and tapes to really get a good overview of the system and relevant information you may use now to better protect yourself. Being overweight and/or out of shape; it is even more important you have this information because you don’t want to rely on your size, speed, and strength against attackers whom most likely will possess more of each of those traits. I would also join the website to keep up to date on relevant information in the world of violent conflicts. If you are attacked you want to make sure the first move you make is effective and takes out your attacker(s). SCARS provides you with this information in a clear, concise manner you can use immediately since it is based on natural body movements and teaches you how to use those everyday movements to destroy your attacker via his nervous system.

26) Is there any other way to have someone let go of a hold aside from striking the radial or is this the best way?

The radial nerve is extremely effective but you must insure to strike it rather than press it. Pain compliance via pressure points is worthless in most intense conflict circumstances.