By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of On Main Street.

What if a few minutes of patterned visual exercises could make your brain work faster, letting you react to a 100‑mph fastball as if it were 89 mph? That promise sits at the heart of Combat Brain Training, a program that Tim Stewart says can boost processing speed by roughly a quarter of a second.

From Nebraska Fields to the Battlefield

Stewart opens the conversation by tracing his own journey. A farm‑boy from western Nebraska, he was a three‑time state champion in football and track, even helping his high school set a two‑mile relay record in 1973 that still stands 53 years later. After 21 years of military service, including a stint as a company commander, he left the Army on September 11, 2001, to become a stockbroker, then a novelist, and eventually a speaker mentored by Zig Ziglar. Those varied experiences, he says, shaped the discipline behind his brain‑training system.

Combat Brain Training now serves a wide spectrum of clients: senior citizens battling early‑onset dementia, athletes seeking a competitive edge, and military personnel coping with PTSD or traumatic brain injury. Stewart emphasizes that the method works for both “problems and those without problems looking to the next level.”

The Science of a Quarter‑Second

The core of the program is a simple analog exercise using a sheet of colored arrows—red, blue, green, and yellow—pointing left, right, up, or down. Participants first read the pattern, timing how long it takes. Over a 20‑minute session, they move through five steps that introduce color‑coded objects (apples, bananas, blueberries) to train anticipation, pattern recognition, and creativity. Stewart claims this routine can make the brain process information 15‑20 % faster, effectively shaving about 250 milliseconds off reaction time.

“A major‑league batter’s reaction time improves so much, he’s seeing a 100‑mile‑an‑hour fastball like an 89‑mile‑an‑hour one,” Stewart explains. He links this speed boost to faster communication between the brain’s left (logical) and right (emotional) hemispheres via the corpus callosum, arguing that quicker inter‑hemispheric exchange leads to more confident decision‑making.

Real‑World Impact: Athletes, Veterans, and Seniors

Stewart shares several vivid anecdotes. One veteran, Bob, had not moved his fingers independently for three years. After just one session, his fingers began to twitch; after three sessions, he could flip a fishing bail, cast, and reel—abilities a neurologist had said were unlikely to return. Similar progress has been noted in patients with Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain‑Barré syndrome.

On the sports side, the program lists several low‑handicap (LGPA) golfers and two PGA players among its trainees, noting improved tournament finishes and higher earnings. Stewart also cites a senior with early‑onset dementia who, after six sessions, went from “pan‑faced” and frustrated to “bubbly and happy,” recalling happy memories like a wedding at Lake Tahoe to trigger dopamine release and clear cortisol.

Neuroplasticity, Motivation and the Role of Dopamine

Stewart grounds his claims in research from MIT and the work of Dr. Akira Yoshi, who hypothesized that robust stimulation can instantly reshape the brain. He also references Dr. Christine Greinberger of Brandeis University, who studies the “neural plateau”—the point where learning slows. By pushing past this plateau, Stewart argues, the brain rebuilds itself, creating new pathways that enhance performance in any field.

Motivation, he says, is a key ingredient. “Zig used to say motivational speaking won’t allow you to do anything, but it will allow you to do whatever you do better,” Stewart notes, drawing a parallel between brain training and the dopamine surge athletes feel after a solid workout. The implication is that regular mental drills, like physical exercise, can foster a healthy, sustainable dopamine response.

Looking Ahead: Broader Applications and Accessibility

While Stewart’s claims are ambitious, the program’s simplicity makes it accessible. A sheet of arrows, a timer, and a few minutes a day are all that’s needed, and the training can be delivered remotely via video calls—a factor that proved useful when a client’s wife helped him stay on track during a virtual session.

Stewart concludes with a call to action: “If you really want to get a little bit better, check us out, set an appointment, and let’s have a conversation.” He positions Combat Brain Training as the only organization offering this specific blend of rapid‑fire neuro‑stimulation and real‑world performance metrics.

As the conversation wraps, the broader significance becomes clear. Whether you’re a high‑school athlete chasing a state record, a senior yearning for mental clarity, or a veteran seeking recovery, the promise of a faster, more resilient brain resonates across generations. The discussion underscores a growing cultural focus on mental fitness as a complement to physical health, suggesting that the next frontier in personal development may be as simple as a colored‑arrow worksheet.

The full episode of On Main Street is available on OBBM Network TV.