Combat Brain Training Testimonials

““I can anticipate the ball much better and react faster”. – Jeff Ritchie, Major Indoor Soccer League single game record 45 saves, and 1st in the league with 471.Personally, speaking CBT has truly helped my hobby – surfing. Surfing is tough to describe anyway, but factor in the change CBT has brought is even tougher. What I notice the most is my ability to read the wave. Anticipate the wave and react to it is much, much better.” –Tony Small., surfer

“On the slalom I noticed that I was able to “see ahead” much further which is critical to reading upcoming snow conditions. I was also able to break out of the ruts that have been holding me back – I can recover quickly from errors without getting stressed. ..I just noticed a difference in my free skiing too....I was able to plan my next turn while I was still in one. Thank you SO much! This has really helped!”  –Danielle Hemsley., World Class Skier trying out for Olympic Team

“I had a GREAT work out today (after CBT).  I upped the incline level on the treadmill and increased the mph rate.  And I felt good and not struggling to finish - AT ALL.  If I had more time, I would have extended the jog for 40 minutes instead of 30.  Coincidence?  I think not.” –Kasey Jensen., Hub Insurance Operations Director

“John, I played tennis last night for a couple of hours, after doing 15 minutes of CBT in the car, and it felt like I was seeing the ball a bit easier and was concentrating better too. I’m a believer!” –Scott Blim., Executive, Amateur Tennis Player

“After only a couple weeks practicing the exercises, I’ve noticed a big improvement in my focus and reaction time.” His coach concurred, adding noticeable improvements in learning and communication ability. –Ollie Bailey., Pro Basketball player, first Rookie in League (S. America) to be named MVP

“Personally, speaking CBT has truly helped my hobby – surfing. Surfing is tough to describe anyway, but factor in the change CBT has brought is even tougher. What I notice the most is my ability to read the wave. Anticipate the wave and react to it is much, much better.”-Mark M., surfer

“The results are amazing! A 3-point increase in ACT scores from your program!” –Mark Hamstra., Inner City Class Advisor 

“My team (that was in the CBT program) are learning faster and remembering better.” –Dennis Pauls., Hub Insurance CEO 

“I can read faster and really tackle my assignments in class by focusing more effectively on the tasks at hand. It is improving hand eye coordination in the cockpit and memorizing where key instruments/switches are.”  –Adam Knox., Ensign USN, Vance AFB Air Force Flight School 

“John, I'm a believer. Our current lean class requires intensive memorization. 3000 words and the answers have to be VERBATIM. I mean not a single letter can be wrong or the whole answer is wrong.  30 question test (10 pages) and I missed 1 letter. I do my mental training in the morning and start to learn my material.  It allows me to focus at a different level AND I retain the material faster so I spend less time going over and over the material. Thanks again!” –Wes Wells., Corporate Executive studying for Six Sigma certification

“I recognized immediately the immense possibility the CBT program would have for new leaders. CBT provides the individuals trained with enhanced focus, decision making abilities and confidence at a minimum. The process allows a team to share in a system that transcends itself and can easily become an efficient structure for meetings, conversations and projects. I highly recommend this innovative program - because not only is it good, it’s fun!” –Natalie G., Leadership Development Consultant 

“These exercises really helped me with improving as a leader. They helped me better read people so I know when they're holding back those criticisms. I see instant feedback on my leadership style in people's faces and body language whether it is one-on-one, in a meeting, or in town hall. I had little difficulty reading people before, but I couldn't do it while I was talking in front of a crowd… they’ve really helped me multi-task by talking and reading at the same time”… As a leader, your credibility hinges on how well you can articulate your position and relates your position to the group. This is very challenging when the group spans all of operations. With different priorities and personalities, you must stay firm and get your position instilled in group on your first shot. The exercises help me articulate my position and show how my position is relevant to the group. I can now visualize the groups and how these groups react to my message and how these groups interact with each other. I now notice early indicators for issues; especially ones that I need to stamp out immediately. .” –Chris B., Sr. Operations Manager

Right after class  

“Where do I start? Focus. I previously tended towards short intense bursts of attention and work. I can now focus for longer periods of time without feeling like I need a break – very useful for prolonged design sessions where creativity is interrupted by stalled focus. Thanks for the experience and this life-tool!

Several weeks later

“Keeping up with the exercises, and my ability to focus on tasks longer is more than I ever could have expected - all the distractions go away and I'm not so inclined to be pulled away by a 'shiny object'.  Really amazing stuff...as you can tell, I'm pretty enthusiastic about CBT and really believe in it - makes it easy to evangelize.” –Tony Swan., Facilitator, Industrial Designer 

“I think it really helps you to re-focus on the whole as well as the sum of the parts. Reconnects you with the patterns and you begin to make connections much quicker – this also increases confidence in those aspects and you can focus on the gaps – where most mistakes happen – it is a mental integration strategy – sharpens the saw!” –Mary Vander., CEO

"I absolutely love the exercises and see a huge difference. CBT has enabled me to slow my mind down which has given me better focus. I’m not as anxious as I used to be when it comes to completing tasks because I know that I will be able to accomplish the task in a more efficient way.” – Shayna Cline, Executive Assistant 

“I used to lose my focus after 10 shot’s; the mental strain was too great. Now I can keep focused for all 15 after 6 hours of CBT. For the first time ever, my last 5 shots are better than my first 5...it was like “point and shoot”. Mike Braun –Marine Competition Team shooter after Palma Match (800, 900, 1000 yds iron sights, no scope) 

“Just got back from the Combat Brain Training workshop. Terrific! Yes, you really do see results by the end of the session. I am now brilliant (and much younger as well)... OK. I lied about the brilliant and younger ;-) But definitely more focused and quicker to work through complex tasks.”  –Ricky Gold., Media Consultant, Entrepreneur

“I can really feel my attention ability improving. Not only can I stay focused longer, but when my mind starts to wander I can bring it back to attention much faster.” and “I definitely notice my short term memory has improved.” and “After I got blown up my neuro-psych score was 35. I was afraid I’d never get out of the hospital. My CBT games had been in my BDU’s when they cut them off of me and they sent them to my wife. She brought them to me in the hospital and I started doing them just as you taught us in class. My test score went up to 97, they released me and now I’m Battalion Plans Officer” –GySgt. Tom L., Wounded Warrior diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury

“I can really feel my attention ability improving. Not only can I stay focused longer, but when my mind starts to wander I can bring it back to attention much faster.” and “I definitely notice my short term memory has improved.” –Cpl Matthew B., TBI/PTSD Wounded Warrior

“I was always irritated, and it felt like my brain was bouncing around in my head like a ping pong ball. After just 2 hours of CBT it felt like a buffer around my head and I felt noticeably calmer.” –Pamela L., TBI sufferer from 2005, Day Trader

“Our daughter was diagnosed with an unusual eye disorder. After two weeks practicing the CBT exercises we brought her to her checkup with the specialist. He was amazed at her progress and said “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up! …She was also diagnosed with ADHD which added to her learning struggles. To our surprise we watched her really come to life. She was having fun and she was able to concentrate while becoming more proficient in manipulating the games. The best part was that CBT wasn’t “therapy”. This was a little girl playing games but benefiting from having fun and not even knowing that she was strengthening those areas of deficiency. The more she played the better she did in school. Finally, we incorporated this into our bedtime routine with the whole family and found that we were all benefiting from the techniques but also it was a way to have fun communication time with all of our kids.. John made a huge believer out of me and what a fun way to have fun with the whole family!” –Kevin A., Wealth Manager

“My daughter really struggled in school and had a measured IQ of only 70 due to the crowding from the tumors. John showed us how to practice the exercises and we saw considerable progress in her school work. I really believe in the program.” –Trish G., mother of daughter with 14 non-cancerous brain tumors

"It has been a very long time since my mind has been so calm. I credit your training to this. I truly was able to process more and do more without the extreme anxiety." –Lennie R., Media Consultant

"My head is feeling great. Much more organized actually and have noticed a huge difference from that point on. I had really been beating myself up lately about managing my time better and being more efficient, especially now because I'm embarking on an entrepreneurial journey. So you invited me to the brain training at the perfect time :)-. I am now thinking ahead much more quickly, even for things like planning out my day or what I need to bring with so I don't have to buy something... so its saved me money as well!" – Tonya S., Entrepreneur, Consultant

“I think it really helps you to re-focus on the whole as well as the sum of the parts. Reconnects you with the patterns and you begin to make connections much quicker – this also increases confidence in those aspects and you can focus on the gaps – where most mistakes happen – it is a mental integration strategy – sharpens the saw!” –Joe B., CEO

“ I found it not only mentally stimulating but it also helps me to both see the big picture in any problem and pay attention to the details. Doing the exercises on a regular basis helped me to focus better and block out distractions to whatever activity I'm working on. I found using them before giving presentations better preparation than reviewing my deck because it greatly improved my ability to think on my feet, anticipate and respond to needs of the audience. –Doug N., Operations Director

“It used to take me several calls to resolve an issue, mostly because I just wanted the customer to get off the phone so I could try to concentrate on the problem and find the relevant information. Now I resolve almost all of my calls on the first call.” –Stan H., Customer Service Representative

Teamwork

“We had our quarterly budget meeting today, which usually runs several hours and everyone hates each other by the time we finish. Today we were done in 90 minutes and everyone was singing Kumbayah! Dennis (CEO) said it must have been the training so we’d like you to come back and train our customer service and sales departments.” –Sarah G., Assistant to CEO

“These men move better and differently than any I have seen.” –Max G., Marine Battalion Commander

“This was the best performance I have ever seen, after over 300 runs” –Marine Instructor after performance at Mojave Viper, 29 Palms pre-deployment training exercise

The Chicago Soul Professional MISL Team had a 4 game losing streak. 2 days after the first CBT they beat the only undefeated team in the league. 3 games later they had their first shutout 11-0 and the goalie set an MISL record with 45 saves on their way to the playoffs as a first year expansion team.

“Monday (after CBT) was a great trading day for me, the volatility had kicked in in the markets and I was moving fast. It was the Neuroplasticity training…the arrows and bricks work, they are simple stuff but they are amazing. I was able to see ahead of the market turns and I was amazed at my performance.” –Vadna P., Denver Trader

“I run through one set for 5 minutes every day before I begin trading. If I make mistakes, I know I’m not mentally ready to trade, so I run through them again. I am faster and more focused than ever. This program has paid for itself many times over.” –Craig B., Chicago Trader

“I believe the arrows been successfully helping me process information more quickly but also helping me to anticipate the next series of information to come, especially in my field of work as an electronic trader, where we have to recognize patterns and information in real time and make split second decisions”. –Ron S., Chicago Trader

“Our family started to play the exercises and find it highly addictive, so I think you're onto something important for unifying the family around these games. Keep up the worthwhile effort and we'll see you at the TOP” –Doug N., Operations Director

We incorporated this into our bedtime routine with the whole family and found that we were all benefiting from the techniques but also it was a way to have fun communication time with all of our kids..John made a huge believer out of me and what a fun way to have fun with the whole family!” –Kevin A., Wealth Manager

“The Marine Corps boasts a long legacy of encouraging mental agilities of our Marines. We encourage our Marines to "Think Fast"; "Improvise, Adapt and Overcome"; "Get inside the enemy's OODA loop"; etc. After going through your training I am convinced that CBT can increase our fitness for Warfighting through improved cognition.” –Maj. Paul B, MAGTF Instructor, Former Regiment Intel Officer

“Marine Scout Sniper course is the toughest in the military (typical 40-60% drop rate). For the two classes with CBT drops from the stalking portion averaged only 1 per class with some of the highest marksmanship scores ever.” –GySgt Mike S., Marine Scout Sniper Officer in Charge

“Mental Performance Training is the first innovation in military training since WWII. CBT may actually improve cognitive ability to Observe, Orient, Decide and Act better and faster than their opponent and offer a concrete training solution to those who freeze or get over excited under high stress.” –LTC Matt T., Marine Corps Leftwich Award for Leadership Recipient, Regimental Schools Officer in Charge

“Decision making is one of the most important skills in Stalking since they have to constantly reassess and refocus in order toaccomplish the objective. The youngest Marine in the class practiced the most and scored highest scores in the school in Stalking, Marksmanship and Overall” and “100% for both known and unknown Marksmanship. The scores will blow your mind! We had one with a 100% hit ratio!”. –GySgt Mike S., Marine Scout Sniper Officer in Charge

“CBT will make us stronger as individuals and also make us a safer group as a whole with a heightened sense of situational awareness and processing efficiency.” –Adam K., Ensign USN, Vance AFB Air Force Flight School

“Usually 40%-50% of the class fails LandNav the first time and then some have to retest several times. “This time they aced the test! 44 out of 48 passed on the first try, the remaining four on second try. Best performance by far we have ever had at the school.” and “Highest overall average scores in the history of the School. Normal range is low 80’s, the two CBT classes were 93 and 94!” –Marine Infantry Squad Leaders Course Chief Instructor, Regimental Schools

“I had not picked up a rifle for several years before my qualification this year. I worked with John for two weeks and shot expert. This was my first time with an M-4 and RCO…Shooting is the most mentally draining activity I have performed since flying a helicopter at night with instruments. CBT helped with the shooting, I wish I’d had it when I was flying.” –Maj. Paul B, MAGTF Instructor, Former Regiment Intel Officer

“We had our quarterly budget meeting today, which usually runs several hours and everyone hates each other by the time we finish. Today we were done in 90 minutes and everyone was singing Kumbayah! Dennis (CEO) said it must have been the training so we’d like you to come back and train our customer service and sales departments.” –Sarah G., Assistant to CEO

“These men move better and differently than any I have seen.” –Max G., Marine Battalion Commander

“This was the best performance I have ever seen, after over 300 runs” –Marine Instructor after performance at Mojave Viper, 29 Palms pre-deployment training exercise

The Chicago Soul Professional MISL Team had a 4 game losing streak. 2 days after the first CBT they beat the only undefeated team in the league. 3 games later they had their first shutout 11-0 and the goalie set an MISL record with 45 saves on their way to the playoffs as a first year expansion team.