Combatives are close-quarter fighting techniques that include hand-to-hand combat, short range weapons usage (knives, batons, improvised tools), and also firearm point shooting methodology. 

My coaching and instructing career began in the summer of 1990 as a summer strength coach at a local high school. In 1995, I was hired for the position of assistant varsity high school wrestling coach and, within 2 years, took over the head varsity coach position.  After 3 years in this position, I chose to step down and dedicate my time to raising my daughters.

During the early years of my coaching career, I devoted much time to studying and practicing street fighting martial arts and self-defense systems through manuals, videos, books, DVDs, and seminars to augment my grappling base. In the late 1990's, I also personally participated in several submission grappling tournaments, a time long before most people had even learned about or were exposed to the world of submission grappling, BJJ, MMA, and the UFC. I had the opportunity to take a handful of students and teach them self-defense, which allowed me to refine my practical abilities as well as my skills as an instructor.

As a history major, I was drawn primarily to the WWII era combatives and hand-to-hand combat systems that were used with ruthless efficiency and results during that conflict.

As a result of my passion for wrestling and combat sports, in the early 2000s, I returned as an assistant wrestling coach for the next 2 decades.