RC201-
First off, I think might be confused as to what the main players in the fight or flight scenario are... Cortisol is not one of the key players in what effects your physical reactions. Epinephrine (adrenaline in laymen's terms) is the main player. It is almost completely responsible for most of the reactions that NDD described.
Secondly, the point of my post and somewhat the others was to point out that if trained properly, an individual can actually develop a brainstem level TRUE REFLEX response similar to the automatic ducking that a normal individual will do when he/she hears a loud bang. A well trained individual may draw his CCW at that same bang, even before his mind has processed the fact that he has even heard a loud bang and then decide to do something about it. This happens way before (relatively) his Epi is dumped in his system to cause the fight or flight response systems.
What it seems NDD, Bill, Ambush Master, etc were focusing on is the next phase of the process where the fight or flight mechanism is evident and the person has had time to Comprehend that he is in danger- even if just in a very simple and quick realization that the stimulus is dangerous
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This coincides with what NDD and Bill H. were referencing from the Kill or be Kilt techniques. Ex. The natural reflex is to crouch down when in danger, so one should practice shooting techniques that encompass this body position as it is likely to be your "natural" position if faced with an extremely dangerous situation. The same goes for grip on pistol, target focus patterns when in danger, etc.
I think the idea of being at condition yellow is really a slightly different point/process, yet probably more important to personal safety overall than ANY response you can make after an incident has occurred.
Standing by for correction by experienced guru's....
