Training with Stephen in being a Sheepdog: Class all the way

[Technoslaughter]

As a dating coach I got good at the game, but felt something was missing from being a well-rounded man. I was told I was too nice in the past, and having some verbal ninja skills with the game helped, but I just did not have the energy of someone who could back up the “Protector of loved ones” vibe. In fact, one of my original mentors said i had to portray more badass if I wanted more success. I got by pretty well without too much badass.

Many years ago I had some defense training by taking Dang Soo Do from a national Karate champion who was a colleague of Billy Blanks (who started the whole Tae Bo craze). Needless to say I learned some good self-defense techniques, but a lot of it just didn’t seem practical in real-life situations.

Fast forward to me meeting Stephen Grosch/Bravo at the PUA conventions that we both presented at. His talks on defense, firearms and tactics intrigued me and made sense. I got my concealed carry permit following his advice and started paying attention to his teachings and reading “Emergency” from Neil Strauss. My training in protecting myself, my women, and my kids was beginning from a better foundation.

Fast forward to a dinner I had with him last year and Stephen showing me what he was able to do with an LED flashlight to subdue an attacker. Just that brief lesson alone increased my abilities and awareness about ways to stay safe that I wanted even more. I was lucky to get his call that he was putting together a training in VIP Executive protection with a VIP instructor... one of the top instructors in the world... for some small group training with info never before taught to civilians. Fully trusting Stephen’s opinion on all things tactical I was an automatic yes and made plans immediately to travel to Phoenix with the few precious days off I have.

I got there the day before and had a few drinks with the other participants. It’s apparent Stephen picked the participants meticulously because not one guy was “That guy” that asks questions just to look smart, or “That guy” that thinks they are an mma fighting expert and knows more than the instructors and wants to test them, nor was there “That guy” too timid to participate. Right off the bat the group was ready to get to business and be open books for the training at hand and I have to thank Stephen for doing a great job choosing the group.

Day one’s talk was alone worth the price of admission. But right off the bat we went into hands-on training. The rest of the days we had lots of hands-on edged weapons, improvised weapons, and training I cannot discuss further than just being glad I was given the very opportunity to learn things only a select few get to learn.

Stephen’s and the VIP instructor’s experience showed. No nonsense. To the point. Directly from guys who have faced death in the eye and helped many others avoid it with their proven, yet simple techniques. The whole training was full of practical, simplified advice from guys who have seen what works, and unfortunately seen what doesn’t first hand. That experience alone made our training that much more practical and yet so advanced that we rapidly learned it as well.

I judge teachers by how well they simplify the processes they teach. The worst teachers complicate things, the best simplify. Stephen and his instructors taught the foundations and principles of protection from a mental as well as physical standpoint so well and simply that I was almost flabbergasted how simple the systems were compared to the martial arts systems i was exposed to in the past that complicated the same principles. More importantly we were also advised on what other training we could do to further enhance and refine the training we were getting.

After 3 days, our forearms were bruised. Some of us were scraped by the edge weapons trainers we used. (Stephen is a freakin’ training equipment expert too and got us the best of the best to use during our training). But on day 4, our awareness was put to the ultimate test protecting VIP’s in a real live public location and scenario. It was quite the eye opening, yet once again practical and most importantly, helpful experience in knowing we could protect vips, our loved ones, and ourselves with our new knowledge.

Stephen Grosch is obviously a well-respected member of the firearms and self protection world based on what he was able to arrange for us during the training. Top notch experts were available to us including Phil Roux who taught us the latest in firearms technique and knowledge. It’s no wonder how he became a top notch dating and relationship coach as well if he could garner this respect from a crowd where respect is tough to come by. I can’t thank him enough for the invite and VIP training experience. Cross your fingers he will do this again some time in the future. I will certainly be there. But if he doesn't get training directly from Stephen as part of your journey to manhood.

If you can arrange training with Stephen on tactical, defense, firearms, or edge weapons, it comes with my highest recommendation, you will not regret it, and I stake my reputation on it.

Tech