The Self Defense Company is a global organization of defensive tactic instructors, civilian advisors, active and inactive military and law enforcement officers dedicated to the education and training of crime prevention and conflict resolution.

How The Self Defense Training System (SDTS) Was Developed

The Self Defense Training System (SDTS) was developed by Master Instructor Damian Ross, CEO of The Self Defense Company. A life long competitive athlete, martial artist, instructor, club security, bodyguard and coach, The SDTS is the only self defense course that combines real world self defense with modern training techniques. Mr. Ross is known as the ?trainer?s trainer?. He has served as an expert consultant and instructor to The United States Secret Service, The United States Federal Marshals, The United Stated Postal Inspectors. The Self Defense Training System is currently being implemented by instructors and commanders in The United States Marine Corps, United States Homeland Security, The United States Army Combatives Training Centers. The Self Defense Training System (SDTS) has proven itself in the field from Afghanistan, Nigeria and ?Small Town? USA. Even civilian defense forces like the Guardian Angels have adopted the SDTS as their defensive tactics curriculum because of it?s extreme effectiveness.

The Technique
The roots of the SDTS came out of sheer necessity. Mr. Ross discovered that what he learned in the dojo was not applicable to what he faced in a real life situation. In the real world he found himself relying on his grappling and kick boxing training not the self defense training he learned in the martial arts studio. He thought, like most martial artists, that sport training was what self defense training was all about. But that was all about to change. In 1989 he met his instructor and mentor at a self defense seminar that would set the foundation for The Self Defense Training System, Carl Cestari.

That meeting led Mr. Ross to the hand to hand combat studies conducted by the United States, British and Allied Forces from the early 1900's to the Viet Nam Era. These super powers did exhaustive research into all aspects of martial arts and close combat to discover simply what worked. The result of these studies revealed techniques that were combat specific. Individually these techniques can be found in a wide variety of martial arts. But each technique is hand picked for self defense effectiveness. Any technique that was sport oriented, too complicated or took too long to learn was eliminated so that only the most effective remained.

The secret to the SDTS: the Perfect Combination of Tactics, Technique and Training

In 1992 Damian Ross began teaching these methods. Over the next decade and a thousand students later, a complete program was developed to implement these proven techniques and tactics. This system was based on his decades of coaching, competing and instructing. Mr Ross's experience with elite coaches and athletes led to a program that worked on core learning principles that coaches use to teach athletes how to analyze and execute under high stress conditions.

What was discovered was that - the most effective methods were often the SIMPLEST and EASIEST to learn. This breakthrough enabled a wide variety of people, men and women, soldier and civilian alike, to use these methods in the real world in the shortest amount of time possible. In The Self Defense Training System shows you how to get the maximum effect from a minimum time in training.

The Self Defense Company
Strikes Fear in The Heart of Terror Worldwide

Because there is no defense to the SDTS

The war in the Middle East is escalating and North Africa is growing worse and worse as tribal factions fight for land and access to its rich resources. At home, the level of violence intensifies, and the need for more effective methods of personal protection and close quarters combat has never been more important. With this growing need for proven self defense, people must be trained and "good to go" as quickly as possible. Today people need to know what to do NOW. The solution more and more professionals and experts turn to meet these demands is The Self Defense Company's Self Defense Training System or SDTS. The SDTS delivers swift and accurate training that makes its practitioners combat effective in only a fraction of the time when compared to other methods of self defense.

The Self Defense Training System in the War against Terror

"One of the most often asked questions I receive while teaching Hand to Hand Combat here in Afghanistan to our brave US and Coalition Service Members is which system is more effective: the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) or the US Army Combatives Program? While I could give a lengthy and detailed essay on the pros and cons of each system, I will offer the following response...which ever gets the job done quickly and violently. The Self Defense Training System is that system and that's why I chose to teach it to our troops over everything else I've seen"

LtCol Darren C Poesel USMC
Blackwater International Adviser
Self Defense Company Professional Instructor
(Photo: Self Defense Company Instructor LtCol Poesel on Patrol in Kabul)

You can fight a style, but you can't fight The SDTS

Styles, by nature have specific characteristics that make it a style. Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Kick Boxing are known for striking. Brazilian Jujitsu, Judo, Sambo and Wrestling are known for grappling and submissions. Even Mixed Martial Arts has its rules and regulations that any good street fighter will take advantage of faster than you can say "UFC". But the SDTS is a system that trains you to take the greatest tactical advantage not matter what the situation. In your first module you will discover how you can exploit any attacker's weakness. As you continue your training you will see how simple it is to gain the advantage from any position in any situation imaginable. Since the SDTS isn't confined by rules or cultural etiquette, you will be trained not to hesitate when other systems teach you to hold back or pull your technique.

The Self Defense Training System shows you how to "win the fight" even before a single punch is thrown! And you will be able to do this, with out a partner, an instructor or even attending a single class.

Self Defense Training System:
Under Fire in Nigeria

Hey Damian,
I just wanted to drop you a line, I've been working with the Nigerian Police Force (NFP) out here in Nigeria and I have to say, these guys are eating this stuff up!! After the SDTS basic we got to Modules 8, 9 and 12 they are going crazy, they haven't seen anything like the SDTS. Needless to say, these guys see action on a regular basis, last night our convoy was shot at and a few of our team took rounds and didn't make it out.

Thanks again, it's a pleasure to help people who really need it.

Clint Bodungen
Self Defense Company Professional Instructor Houston, TX. USA

The 8 Cardinal Rules of The Self Defense Training System: The reason these methods were hand picked fot the SDTS.

The Self Defense Training System is not a martial art or a competitive sport, it is a science that is exact in its method and purpose. It short, it shows you how to be resourceful by using any means at your disposal. It allows you to end the conflict as fast and efficiently as possible. The choice is yours: leave the scene or completely annihilate the unfortunate soul who messes with you - its up to you to decide.

The Self Defense Training System meets the 8 Cardinal rules of self defense. The rules were developed as a method of testing technique. The criteria specifically left technique or style out of the equation. You will notice that phrases like: you need a method of striking or grappling are not included. It didn?t matter what system or style the methods came from. As long as a method or strategy met the "Cardinal 8" it was kept, if it didn't it was eliminated.

The 8 Cardinal Rules of The Self Defense Training System

1. It must work on an assailant that is much larger and stronger than you.
2. It must work against both armed and unarmed assailants at the same time.
3. It must work against multiple and single assailants at the same time.
4. It must work against determined and capable assailants.
5. It must work when you are distracted, older or injured and appear to be a good target of opportunity.
6. It can't have specific defense for each individual situation.
7. It must work in every possible environment (the same method must work in snow, sand, parking lot, woods, jungle, your living room, etc.).
8. It must become instinctive and convulsive as quickly as possible.

If you want to fight in the UFC, break boards or watch yourself do flipping jumping, spinning kicks in the mirror then this is not the system for you, but if you want to know how to rip any ultimate cage fighter and martial arts "master" a part, in only a fraction of the time it takes to learn a traditional martial art (and for less than a fraction of the cost) then The SDTS is what you want.