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Matt Bloodgood will present Training Scars: Ninjas, Zombies, and Smart Watches at the 2026 ILEETA Conference & Expo in St. Louis, 16–21 March 2026.
👉 https://www.ileeta.org/conference/

A NOTE FROM THE LEARNING LAB

ILEETA Deputy Executive Director Joe Willis sat down with Matt Bloodgood for a powerful Learning Lab conversation centered on one uncomfortable but necessary question:

Are we unintentionally harming performance through our training?
Drawing from emerging international research, real-world case analysis, and decades of experience in firearms, use of force, and instructor development, Matt challenges instructors to examine whether policies, traditions, habits, and even technology are creating unintended consequences.

This conversation provides value whether you are attending the conference or not. It will challenge how you think about training design, realism, safety, and instructor responsibility.

COURSE CONTEXT
Course Title: Training Scars: Ninjas, Zombies, and Smart Watches
Instructor: Matt Bloodgood
Course Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Event: 2026 ILEETA Conference & Expo
Location: St. Louis, Missouri | 16–21 March 2026
🗓️ Find this course on the conference schedule:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AwYa8qRDeQpIwOmxsQkeTTLf_sgketxc/edit

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
Training scars are not just bad habits. They are unintended behaviors built through unrealistic training, administrative pressure, cultural traditions, poor instructional design, and even self-directed behaviors.
In this Learning Lab interview, Matt discusses:

** The evolving research effort to define “training scars” across disciplines
** Why over 30 definitions currently exist and why clarity matters
** Real-world video examples, including officers adjusting smartwatches mid-event
** How administrative culture can create dangerous behaviors
** Why unrealistic “ninja” or “zombie” scenarios distort decision-making
** The problem with overemphasis on static range training
** The illusion of knowledge and confidence in instructor development
** Why “Are we training to reality within the confines of safety?” should guide everything

Matt also poses a powerful question for instructors:
If you knew with 100 percent certainty your student would be in a fight for their life tonight, would you train them differently?
If the answer is yes, then why aren’t you doing it now?

TOPICS DISCUSSED
Defining training scars through international research
Administrative vs instructor-driven problems
Outdated firearms methodologies and range constraints
Decision-making vs marksmanship emphasis
Ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches
Instructional design failures
Self-directed habits and unintended behaviors
Never stop learning as an instructor

CONNECT WITH MATT BLOODGOOD
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bloodgood-msc-hrd-inci-6b695348/
Website:
https://www.police-trainer.com/
Company:
Matt Bloodgood Training & Consulting

WATCH OR LISTEN
🎥 YouTube – Full Learning Lab Interview
https://youtu.be/ApQSqSyVzws
🎧 Podcast – ILEETA Learning Lab
https://www.ileeta.org/learning-lab/
Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and major platforms.

ABOUT THE ILEETA LEARNING LAB
The ILEETA Learning Lab features conversations with conference instructors and training leaders to share insight, experience, and practical ideas that inspire excellence in law enforcement training.
These conversations are designed to complement conference courses, support instructors, and extend learning beyond the classroom.
#InspireExcellence #TribeOfTrainers #ILEETA2026 #TribeArchangers #Inspirati