Controlled Breath. Controlled Response.
their Split-second decisions mean the difference between life & death — not just for the public, for themselves as well.
Every day, first responders are asked to perform at their best in situations where everything is at its worst. The unrelenting pressure, adrenaline spikes, and constant exposure to trauma take a silent, undeniable toll:
eroded decision-making
long-term health issues
and burnout that pulls great officers off the streets before their time.
Traditional training often overlooks the human nervous system — the very foundation of controlled composure under threat. The time is now to bring much-needed peace back to our high-performing emergency responders.
Restore clarity & strength before stress threatens it.
A Little History
Rooted in Systema, a Russian martial art used by elite special forces across the world, Tactical Calm equips officers with battle-tested breathing techniques designed to manage adrenaline in real time. These techniques are far from wellness tips or stress-reduction theories—they are tactical tools that sharpen focus, steady hands, and keep judgment clear during chaos. We believe officers must be first to respond, never forced to merely react. Tactical Calm ensures that even in life-or-death moments, they remain calm, deliberate, and fully in command of their actions
The Mission
Our mission is simple: To help protect those who protect us.
Tactical Calm gives officers the ability to lower their heart rate on command, recover rapidly from high-stress encounters, and build resilience that lasts an entire career — not by adding another layer of complexity to an already overwhelming workload, by teaching them to harness the most powerful tool they already carry: their breath.
Meet Your instructor:
Click the drop down arrow to read about your instructor.
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SGT (R) US Army
Manny “Rod” Rodriguez is the founder of Tactical Calm, a specialized training program that equips peace officers with the tools to stay sharp, steady, and in control when the stakes are highest. A U.S. Army combat veteran, Manny served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he sustained life-threatening injuries during a 2007 deployment to Baghdad. His nearly two-decade recovery—marked by multiple surgeries, traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, and learning to walk and speak again—taught him firsthand the critical role of the human nervous system in performance under pressure.
Through that journey, Manny discovered the power of controlled breathing and nervous system regulation, training extensively in Systema, a Russian martial art used by elite special forces. He adapted these methods to create Tactical Calm: practical, field-ready techniques that help officers manage adrenaline, maintain clarity, and recover quickly after high-stress incidents. Manny’s approach is grounded in real-world, life-or-death experience, designed for the realities of modern policing.
Today, Manny works with law enforcement agencies to give officers an edge that goes beyond tactics and equipment. His mission is simple: to help protect those who protect us, by restoring much-needed peace to our high-performing peace officers.
SCHEDULE A seminar
Create a controlled response with every controlled breath.
“In a fight, proper breathing can keep you focused on the next threat, instead of collapsing into yourself.”
- Vladimir Vasiliev, Master Systema Instructor & Former Russian Special Operations Unit Member
