Who Am I

I didn’t start out as an expert. I started as a kid who was bullied and afraid. Like a lot of people, I turned to martial arts looking for answers and for years, I believed technique alone would keep me safe. But the more I trained and the more I worked in the real world, the more I saw how limited that mindset was.

My journey took me from being that bullied kid to running a successful adult martial arts gym, working nightclub security, and eventually managing high-risk security operations and VIP protection across Alberta. Those experiences taught me what most training misses: violence doesn’t start when someone throws a punch. It starts long before.

Over time, I began developing and teaching programs that focused on prevention, situational awareness, and communication as the first lines of defense and physical skills as the last resort. That approach resonated far beyond the martial arts world.

I’ve spent the last two decades delivering training and speaking in 14 countries and more than 80 cities, working with First Nations communities, corporations, law enforcement, and thousands of everyday people. My models, including the Timeline of Self-Defense, have been adapted into programs worldwide.

As a published author and recognized thought leader, I’ve been featured in leading publications, cited by experts in the field, and trusted by organizations looking for training that balances empathy, clarity, and real-world practicality.

Today, my mission is simple: help people build safer lives without fear-based tactics, without ego, and without hype; just honest, effective strategies anyone can use.

Why My Approach is Different

Most self-defense training stops at technique. We call this fight-first training. My approach starts with mindset, awareness, and prevention — and only then covers physical skills. That shift isn’t theoretical for me. It came from seeing traditional methods fail me and others when it mattered most.

Early in my career, I had experiences where all the drills and rehearsed techniques collapsed under real pressure. I learned the hard way that violence doesn’t care about your rank, your trophies, or how many hours you’ve spent sparring — it cares whether you can recognize it early and respond effectively.

Those hard lessons pushed me to rethink everything I believed about self-defense. That’s why my programs are built on real experience, research, and field-tested strategies — not fear-mongering, ego, or outdated dogma. They’re designed to help you prepare for, survive, and recover from violence with practical tools that work when you actually need them.

If you’re tired of training that looks good on paper but falls apart under stress, you’re in the right place.

AS SEEN ON

Trusted by Organizations, Schools, and Trainers Across Canada and Beyond

Available Now: Selling Out to Your Level of Comfort

My first book isn’t about self-defense — it’s about building and growing a martial arts business.
Selling Out to Your Level of Comfort is a practical guide for school owners and instructors who want to run successful programs without compromising their values.