| Integrated Combative
Systems, LLC
TRAINING CENTER
 The Spartan Training Center is a training and conditioning center
that aims at increasing functional combative performance. The emphasis
is both on physical conditioning and close-combat skills training
that reflects the definition of what is spartan.
 On
the physical conditioning side, we stress "combat conditioning." This
is physical training that is aimed at real world capability as
opposed to the pop approach to fitness. While we use some weight
training and aerobic type equipment, the emphasis is on exercises
that are intended to maximize functional movement capability, particularly
as it relates to high stress real world conditions. This is a direction
that the United States Marine Corps is also looking at right now,
due to the tremendous amount of feedback coming from the urban
combat.
 In
combat, all three factors of aerobic endurance, muscular endurance,
and explosive power are vital. Further, it is even more important
to develop that endurance and power in a manner that applies directly
to functional use. It is the real world of demands police officers,
firefighters and military personnel that the Spartan Training Center
focuses on. While this type of training has limited appeal to the
general public, it can be of definite benefit to those whose professions
deal with the stress of conflict or risk. To that end, the physical
conditioning training we do is very flexible. The ability to press
a weight stack on an exercise machine has little application to
real world demands. So rather than working on big pecs or a heavy
bench press, a we utilize a wide variety of movements to develop
a more all around warrior type strength and endurance.
 Likewise,
the combat skills portion of our training is aimed at developing
the flexible functionality that is demanded by combat. On the
combat skills/performance side, the ICS personnel have been working
in combat training with law enforcement and the Marine Corps
for the past 10 years. As with Marine Corps close combat training,
this has been an evolving process. As most professionals are
aware, the general institutional approach to combat skills training
is compartmentalization, meaning that specific skills are generally
isolated and taught outside the context of their likely application.
Typically, shooting skills are taught on a static range at regulated
distance; defensive tactics or "empty
hands" skills
are taught separately while wearing protective equipment on padded
floors; and arrest and control are with compliant subjects in comfortable
environments. Unfortunately, little of the real world resembles
those training conditions, and all too often a "defensive
tactics" situation
can quickly turn into firearm confrontation. These combat skills
need to be addressed in as realistic and integrated manner as possible.
This approach is the basis of training at the Spartan Training
Center.
 Unlike the typical institution, the human nervous system generally
views the various aspects of confrontation as one thing-high stress
conflict. The weapons will vary depending upon the context, but
the physical and, more importantly, the nervous system's ability
to deal with a situation is the foundation of success (or failure)
in high stress confrontation. Training at the Spartan Training
Center is both aimed at improving personal combat skills, but even
more importantly, at training the mindset that allows the individual
to function as effectively as possible in the high stress of a
conflict situation. The overriding aim of the Spartan Training
Center is to combine these types of training as much as possible.
The less compartmentalized and the more integrated the training
is-physical conditioning, skills, and mindset-the better an individual's
capabilities will transfer to real world situations.
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