How would you teach a beginner their first boxing jab/cross using the CLA? From jabs to arrests, from TGfU to full scenarios: Rob Gray breaks it all wide open. “What if ‘realistic training’ isn’t what makes training real — but representativeness is? And throughout the episode, Rob responds directly to questions from my students, and colleague police instructors and operators — turning their real-world challenges into immediately usable insights. And for the true motor-learning geeks: we also unpack how TGfU and differential learning compare to CLA.
So, if you want to see how Rob answers real questions from my students, fellow police instructors and operators with clear, practical solutions… the full episode is right here and these are the topics:
Questions from the field and the real world
How would you teach a beginner their first boxing jab/cross using the CLA?
What if mistakes happen — should a coach intervene?
Is it acceptable within CLA to give feedback like “keep your hands up”?
What is the underlying idea of CLA for first-year students?
What is the practical difference between CLA and Differential Learning?
Are both approaches aimed at adaptability and problem-solving?
What is the difference between TGfU and CLA?
How would you train a 2-on-1 arrest using CLA?
What is the difference between realistic training and representative training?
What is the minimal level of representativeness needed in arrest training?
Is the OODA-loop useful within ecological dynamics?
Where does linear, isolated drill-based teaching historically come from?
How do you train team procedures (special operations) using CLA?
How do you approach slicing the pie: instruct it or let people discover it?
What are the non-negotiables for instructor intervention?
What does a pre-arrest briefing look like within CLA?
What does a debriefing look like within CLA?
Can reflection be linked to the briefing (“what were you paying attention to?”)?
Can mental rehearsal/visualization be used?
How does CLA view shared mental models?
What does shared-affordance reflection look like?
Does Wendy Dorrestijn’s “realistic problems/realistic solutions” model align with CLA?
Are there CLA-based firearms programs, like gunsparring?
What does the difference between range shooting and scenario shooting mean?
What is the best book Rob read in 2025?
Best scientific article in 2025?
Most interesting podcast Rob recorded himself?
Dream guest/trainer/researcher?
Why does Rob make his own podcast?
Video