About Us

We are a family and veteran owned business that started from and continues to build on a sincere passion and love for empowering others through the martial arts. Over the past several decades, we have traveled on this journey of discovery and learning from some of the most respected, credible and well known instructors in the martial arts and self defense industry.

Mark began training as a teenager and after enlisting in the U.S. Army as a young man, continued his never ending pursuit of high quality training in various martial styles with a keen focus in realistic personal protection and has become a highly respected martial arts instructor both in the U.S.A. and internationally. He has been truly blessed with opportunities to travel all around the world to conduct instructional seminars and share his passion and knowledge with others. Amazingly, he does all this while working full time as a health care executive and community leader.

Liz began her martial journey in 2001 when Mark invited her to a class he was teaching. Since then she has found herself training with amazing instructors in various reality based self protection styles while learning to develop and adapt her own instructional style. After many years working in a professional business career, she made the decision to work full time caring for and home educating their two boys and serving others in different volunteer roles. She has discovered a special joy in empowering other women to develop their own life protection skills. As a self described "Mama Bear", she inspires women and girls who have always wanted to learn self defense and safety skills by conducting special "women only" workshops.

Together, Mark and Liz choose to do all this with the pure intent of helping others learn how to protect themselves and those that they love.

Our Instructors

MARK GRIDLEY

Senior Master Instructor

Over 30 years of formal Martial Arts training and teaching experience
Senior Master Instructor Combat Hapkido-(World Ki-Do Federation Certified) 7th Degree black belt
Founder/Director of the "Combat Hapkido- "Tactical Pressure Points" Program (TPP)
Author of the book "Tactical Pressure Points: A Guide to Combative Pressure Points"
Author of the "Combat Hapkido-Tactical Pressure Points" DVD Series
Faculty Instructor and Board member of the International Police Defense Tactics Institute (IPDTI)
6th Degree Black Belt Ryukyu Kempo with "Menkyo" (license) certification
Master Instructor Dillman Karate International and Kyusho Jitsu Kenkyukai
Master Instructor - Self Defense Rescripted Program
4th Degree Black Belt/ Instructor in Israeli Kavanah & World Survival Hisardut (Federation of Israeli Martial Arts (FIMA) Certified)
Black Belt/ Instructor in Tae Kwon Do ( Kukkiwon Certified )
SPEAR Certified Personal Defense Readiness Trainer (Blauer Tactical Systems)
Senior Instructor "Combat Hapkido Ground Survival" Program
Senior Instructor International Disabled Self Defense Association (IDSA)
Instructor Military Combatives Association (MCA)
Instructor TaiJi Qigong (Peng You TaiJi Quan)
Certified Krav Maga Instructor (FIMA)
Associate Instructor with full proficiency in Martial Blade Concepts
Previously certified USCCA defensive firearms instructor and training counselor
International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) member & prior conference instructor in Police Defensive Tactics
Sworn Fire and Police Comissioner (certified member Illinois Fire & Police Commissioners Association)
Chairman City of Freeport Board of Fire & Police Commission
Conducted Military Combatives training for IDF Golani Brigade in Israel
BUDO Master's Council of Directors
Action Magazine International Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee x2
International Martial Arts/European Hall of Fame Inductee
World Karate Union Hall of Fame Inductee
WHFSC International Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee x2
BUDO Magazine International Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
IAMA Hall of Fame Inductee
London International Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
Federation of Israeli Martial Arts (FIMA) “Excellence in teaching” award 2020
Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame 2021
Honorably Served over 7 years active duty as a Medic & NCO U.S. Army
Other In person training completed: Front Sight Firearms Institute Graduate, Caliber 3 Firearms Course, Target Focus Training Course, Russian Systema, Gracie Combatives/JuJitsu, Cane Masters ,Phillipino Stick and Knife, DeThouars Kuntao Silat, Chinese Kempo, American Kenpo, Tiga Tactics, please note I do not claim any proficiency beyond a sincere appreciation of these arts and academies.

LIZ GRIDLEY

Master Instructor

Over 20 years of formal martial arts training and teaching experience
Master Instructor Combat Hapkido (World Ki-Do Federation Certified) 5th degree black belt
Head Instructor of Life Protection for Women by Women program
Instructor Self Defense Rescripted Program
Instructor Tai QiGong (Peng You Taiji Quan)
Action Magazine Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
Front Sight Firearms Institute Graduate
TRU (Trained, Ready, Unafraid) Self Defense Women Certification
Training in Ryukyu Kempo Tode-jitsu (Kyusho Jitsu Kenkyukai)*
Training in Martial Blade Concepts and Counter Blade Concepts*
Training in Israeli martial arts*
Training in Tony Blauer SPEAR system training*
Training in Russian Systema*
Training in Gracie Combatives and Brazilian JuJitsu*
Training in Cane Masters*
Training in Phillipino Stick and Knife*
Training in DeThouars Kuntao Silat*
Training in Tai Chi Chuan*
Training in Qi Gong*

*please note I do not claim instructor level proficiency of these arts and academies.