FAQ
Firearms
No! Firearms, for us, is a non-political topic. Firearms are inanimate objects with great potential for good or harm depending on how they are used. Our first, middle and final objective is safety through knowledge, skills, and attitude.
We are trained and experienced firearms instructors with military and law enforcement expertise. Additionally, we hold NRA Instructor certifications for Basic Pistol and Rifle, Defensive Pistol, Range Safety, Personal Protection Inside the Home, and the NRA's highest technical instructor rating, Personal Protection Outside the Home.
Absolutely! Our teaching is aimed at absolute beginners as well as novice-to-intermediate users. It is done in a round-the-table setting so you can see exactly what makes up a pistol or rifle, i.e. how its pieces work and go together, how a cartridge (what is commonly called a bullet) is put together and works, and progress as far as you desire.
Yes! We have a collection of pistols and rifles. Our pistols range from small .22 caliber to larger .40 caliber, and our rifles range from .22 caliber to 7.62 mm semi-automatic.
Yes, we are fully insured through the NRA's affiliated Lockton Affinity.
What we can do is discuss your intended use and current experience level to figure out the ideal category of a firearm for you, and follow that up with hands-on practice so you can choose what feels best. Making your selection a collaborative process, but with the final decision being yours, is the best way to choose the "perfect" gun for you.
Perfect! We can go down to the range and let you shoot to see where you are skills-wise. From there, if needed, we can coach you in techniques for improvement. You’re almost guaranteed to improve your accuracy within an hour.
That is an excellent consideration and one where we are prepared to help. We would go to an outdoor range and observe how you shoot. Then you would practice various techniques of shooting so that you could improve your ability to draw (deploy) and shoot while keeping in mind the important factors a real-world use of your firearm entails.
Yes! We don’t profess to know it all or be equipped for every client’s needs or desires, but our goal is your safety and success. If a situation arises where you need expertise or resources beyond our capacity, we will happily refer you to any number of other reputable trainers/organizations.
Medical Education
I am a currently working Paramedic with additional training and experience as a Navy Corpsman and Army Combat Medic. I am also a Paramedic and EMT instructor at a major regional EMS training institution, and am certified in numerous areas of Emergency Medicine including Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support, American Red Cross 1st AID & CPR, Wilderness 1st Aid, Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Combat Life Saver, Advanced Medical Life Support, and Advanced Burn Life Support among others (too many to list here).
Currently, American Red Cross classes are limited to ten (10) students at a time. Ditto for the Range Emergency Care (REC) courses.
The REC course is focused on immediate life-saving care that can be provided by anyone. The course focuses on recognizing what true life-saving emergencies look like and includes footage of CPR being performed on cardiac arrest victims, as well as victims of life-threatening hemorrhage, chest wounds, and other types of injuries. Students learn and practice the application of tourniquets along with other various types of dressings and bandages, and practice throughout the class to reinforce the skills so that when they leave, they are confident and capable to provide select emergency care if needed. What makes it different is the amount of realism (real graphic footage is used) as well as the actual application of tourniquets and dressings on each other and in various ways. Additionally, the instructor’s background knowledge is far more extensive than the vast majority of instructors of other programs.
Other courses are available depending on demand and are focused on emergency medicine. Examples of specific areas I specialize in include respiratory physiology & pathology, environmental medicine, cardiac function, theory & care, sports medicine, and pharmacology.
Yes, we are insured through Lockton Affinity.
Personal Fitness & Health
I am a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) with sub-certifications in Performance Enhancement and Corrective Exercise. Additionally, my training includes Barefoot Training, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, Instrument Assisted Massage & Trigger Point Therapy, Russian Kettlebell Certification (Hardstyle), and many hours of training across the disciplines, culminating with my Master’s Degree in Kinesiology. It may also help that, over a long life full of high-intensity training in strength, martial arts, and endurance, I’ve suffered many injuries from acute and overuse causes. These injuries have driven me to understand, correct and, ideally, prevent the same problems for others.
Self-Defense
My martial arts background extends back to the late 1970s when I began in Judo, progressed to wrestling, and in the 1980s became completely involved in Karate/Tae Kwon Do. I competed at the regional, state and national levels, achieving the rank of 1st Dan (Black Belt). My experience in fighting kept me aware that a strong knowledge of ground/grappling techniques are necessary for any martial artist, and in the 1990s I began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) under various schools including the original Gracie Family (Torrance), Gracie Barra, Gracie Humaita, Ribeiro BJJ, and now back again at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, CA. I have taught individual and small group classes, and continue teaching basic BJJ every Wednesday in a group setting, but offer individualized training as well.
Excellent question! In my opinion, the key word is Awareness. Awareness of your capabilities. Awareness of your environment. Awareness of how the ‘bad guy’ thinks, including his fears. By being aware, you can usually avoid confrontation.
We all have had our first day, and you would be no different. As far as “weak” goes, strength and weakness are relative. The “secret” to martial arts is how to increase your relative strength while making the other side weaker.
It depends on you, your knowledge, your physical abilities, and your attitude. Once I know more about you (and you know more about me), a specific approach will be formulated that fits your needs and abilities.
Yes, we are insured through Philadelphia Insurance Companies.