HIGH GEAR System Q & A’s from Blauer Tactical Systems
The next generation in training equipment is here. Tony Blauer’s revolutionary HIGH GEAR Impact Reduction suit allows you to create role-playing scenarios, jump into MMA & NHB style training, stick fight or simply spar with greater mobility, flexibility and confidence. Our company has been teaching force-on-force and contact simulations since 1982. We can help you and your colleagues experience greater confidence and endurance with our breakthrough HIGH GEAR™ Impact Reduction Suit.
Q and A’s:
What if We Already Practice Self-Defense?
- If you’re not using gear when you train for the street...you’re practicing ‘PULLING’ your shots. If you teach real-life self-defense, you can’t afford not to use HIGH GEAR™ with your students.
Aren’t You Just Sparring Harder with Gear?
- No. Training for the street is not a sport. And sparring will not give you the emotional insight you need for total confidence. You need to ‘do it’ - but safely. And that’s where our gear comes in. Tony Blauer developed scenario based self-defense training back in 1982. With this system and our gear youcan work on realistic tactics in realistic environments. Create scenarios at ATM machines, analyze and work out options for a Car-Jacking. Evaluate and analyze ‘over & over’ just what you might do in practically any situation. Work full speed on how to defeat tackles, sucker punches, how to ground-fight safely on concrete, how to disengage from multiple assailants and so on.
Is HIGH GEAR™ Only for Street Defense?
- No, that’s the amazing thing about this investment. It is the most versatile piece of gear you’ll own. You can spar, stick-fight, isolate difficult moves, work scenarios and more. Competitive fighters can even use the gear to protect some types injuries while preparing for important fights (please consult your doctor!).Working full-speed isolation drills will vastly improve your strength, timing and over-all confidence. Imagine having partners shooting in at you full speed while you fine tuned evasion skills, sprawling, jamming and more.
Why is HIGH GEAR™ So Unique?
- HIGH GEAR™ took over 7 years to complete and went through five generations of testing. Over $60,000 went into the prototypes. Also, it’s the first time a line of protective gear has been designed by a renowned Combatives expert. From sketches to finished product, Tony Blauer was involved. This means that the types of padding, the articulation, movement and flexibility built into the suit is the result of hundreds of hours of research and innovation (and many years of blood, sweat and tears).
FAQ’s:
1. I train for MMA style fighting, how can you really prepare for that level of contact if you’re wearing gear?
- Firstly, HIGH GEAR is ‘impact reduction gear’ we’ve designed it so that it does transfer energy [i.e. PAIN!]. You can get knocked out, winded, submitted and more with our gear and that is part of the design. Secondly, the original sweet science, boxing, has used padding to help protect and prepare fighters for over 100 years. Boxers wear 16 ozs. gloves and headgear to train but remove the additional padding to fight. Think of HIGH GEAR as ‘boxing gear’ but for the entire body. Remember, the gear is used in conjunction with other impact and conditioning drills. If you’re an MMA fighter, you do need to train without gear. Check out the Mixed Martial Arts directory for more on its uses for this sport.
2. Can you use weapons with HIGH GEAR?
- ONLY if they are practice ‘replica’ weapons. HIGH GEAR is NOT constructed with any type of Kevlar or ballistic fabric, so you cannot shoot or stab it. It has been used extensively with F/x rounds such as Simunitions and paint ball, [If you plan on using the gear for force-on-force training with F/x rounds some modification is required near the visor to completely seal the mask from Murphy Rounds.]
3. Can you use Duty Impact gear, like batons?
- There is an important tradeoff between providing realistic stimuli [mobility, speed, realistic movement] and protection. If the added protection DOES NOT enhance the tactical confidence of the defender, then the training was irrelevant. With HIGH GEAR, we opted to create the realistic stimuli in order to practice ‘real’ action/reaction. Remember, bad-guys who resist move in real time at real speeds, so developing power on a slower, bigger target is an overrated skill that ultimately has little application in a real world fight.
4. Is the gear easy to clean?
- HIGH GEAR is pretty much constructed like hockey equipment. After an serious workout, simply sponge wash it and hang it to dry. The fabrics are all polyester and nylon, and wipe down easily and dry pretty quickly.
5. How long does a suit last?
- We still use HIGH GEAR suits and components that are 5 & 6 years old at our school for our MMA and simulation training and the gear is still alive & kicking. The construction is heavy duty and if you follow our trainer guidelines [supplied with each order] the gear will last & last. Naturally, like any piece of equipment placed under stress, [and depending on who’s banging on it, tugging on it etc.] there are a few stress points that might require some work - often a 10 minute job at a tailor/shoemaker.
6. How portable is it?
- Two complete HIGH GEAR suits will fit in a regular size duffle bag [we do offer custom embroidered bags if you need] or suit case. So bringing the gear to a martial art camp or class is simple and mobile training teams can always have the gear packed.
7. How does sizing work?
- The HIGH GEAR suit should fit snugly. Sizing suggestions can be found in the ‘Specifications’ directory.
8. Can it take a full impact shot?
- Yes, but you can’t! HIGH GEAR transfers energy and you will feel good, clean strikes. Power is an overrated concept. [Being powerful at the right time is key, but that is very different]. For those of you who do not understand the importance of a spontaneous mobility suit vs. the Michelin Man type model, consider this observable fact: boxers never miss the heavy bag, but in real fights, they miss their opponents often.
9. How long does it take to receive once I order the gear?
- Most gear is shipped within 3 - 4 weeks, but because HIGH GEAR is hand-crafted, we like a 6 - 8 week window.
10. How does your gear compare with other suits on the market?
- Honestly, there’s nothing like HIGH GEAR on the market. It was designed so that you could train in it and fight in it. No gear allows you to replicate your tactics like the HIGH GEAR suit does and this is a training breakthrough in both safety and confidence building. Where most companies emphasize the impact resistance of the gear, we went completely the other way [read the ‘Evolution/Revolution’ section for complete details on this]. Remember, HIGH GEAR was deigned by Tony Blauer after 10 years of doing simulations, so the gear was designed for the event - it was designed to assist in development real-life skills rather than just offering padded protection.
11. Can I use it for other types of training other than scenario work?
- Absolutely, aside from simulations and scenario drills, you can use HIGH GEAR for isolation training, sparring, to protect against injuries, for sparring partners and if you have the appropriate training gear you can use it for kali & escrima work.
At-a-Glance:
- HIGH GEAR™ weighs only 7.5 lbs."Head to toe”
- The lightest full-body protective suit on the market
- Run, walk, sit, somersault, jump a fence, high kick...
- Incorporate dialogue -- with our head gear, you can still talk! Wear street clothes over the gear to simulate real-life aggressors.
For more information, please visit Blauer Tactical Systems at www.TonyBlauer.com
