About – The Self Defense Company

WHO IS THE SELF DEFENSE COMPANY?

The Self Defense Company
The Self Defense Company Team

“People Don’t Join The Self Defense Company Because We’re Different…They Join Us Because They Are…”

The Self Defense Company provides practical and realistic personal protection solutions through live and online tactical training and military grade body armor for every day wear.
Founded in 2007 by lifelong martial artist, coach, bodyguard and defensive tactics instructor Damian Ross with the motto “You don’t need a black belt”, The Self Defense Company provides its members essential self defense skills through the cornerstone program The Self Defense Training System (SDTS).

The Self Defense Training System (SDTS) is based on over a century of research and development of modern warfare conducted by the British and United States military and law enforcement beginning in China and Japan in the early 1900’s and reaching its peak during World War 2, Korea and Vietnam when close quarter combat was a part of warfare, espionage and civilian resistance.
The Self Defense Company and its instructors provide this elite training through on demand video courseware and live instruction both online and in person.
Below are a few of our Instructors, for an up to date list please use the INSTRUCTOR LOCATOR.

Damian Ross

Founder The Self Defense Company
  • Author of the Official “Self Defense for Dummies”
  • Inventor and Patent Holder – Bodyguard Armored Backpacks and Jackets
  • 4th Degree Black Belt Tekken Ryu Jujutsu and Combatives under Carl Cestari
  • 2nd Degree Black Belt Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
  • 2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do
  • Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University under Coach Thad Turner
  • 2x National Runner Up Judo – Black Belt Masters
  • 3rd Place Bando Nationals Kick Boxing – Black Belt Division
  • New Jersey State Champion Judo – Black Belt Division
  • New Jersey State Champion Karate – Black Belt Division
  • Former Bouncer and Bodyguard with NJ Conceal Carry Permit
  • Certified Coach and Trainer
  • Varsity Wrestling Coach – Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, New Jersey
  • Ridgewood High School Hall of Fame – Football and Wrestling
  • Bachelor of Arts – Lehigh University
  • Certified Range Safety Officer
  • Fire Fighter
  • Cancer Survivor

MEET SOME OF OUR EXPERTS…

Dennis Daroczy

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 5
  • Former SEAL Trainer and Operator
  • Counter Terrorism Instructor
  • Commercial Pilot

Steve Drake

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 5
  • Black Belts in Jujitsu and Karate
  • Instructor Punishment and Correction Centre in Abu Dhabi
  • Instructor Security Industry Authority United Kingdom

Mario Karam

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 4
  • Former U.S. Department of State contractor (DSS)
  • Former AUB (American University of Beirut) Coach
  • Former LAU CE (Lebanese American University Continuing Education)  Instructor

Bry Galgansky

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 3
  • Former Law Enforcement
  • Defensive Tactics Instructor

George Hutchings

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 5
  • Head of Self Defense Company Instructor development
  • Black Belt and Krav Maga Certified Instructor
  • Muay Thai Instructor

Kip Marsh

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 5
  • U.S. Marine
  • Paramedic
  • Black Belt Kenpo

Oral "OK" Neal

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 3
  • Law Enforcement Officer 36 years (ret)
  • Defensive Tactics Instructor

Jim Nichols

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 5
  • U.S. Army Combat Veteran
  • Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu
  • 10 Years in Ohio Army Reserves

Darren Poesel

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 5
  • Lt. Col. U.S. Marines
  • Senior Advisor Blackwater
  • Senior Intelligence Officer
  • Infantry Intelligence Officer

K. Wayne Neal

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 1
  • Firearms Instructor
  • Professional Bodyguard
  • Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) Certified

Nick Palumbo

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 5
  • Law Enforcement Officer (Retired)
  • Black Belt Aikido
  • Defensive Tactics Instructor

Delmus Pinkston

Instructor

  • Self Defense Company Instructor Level 1
  • ​U.S. Army Infantry
  • Head of Nightclub Security – Switzerland
  • Head of Campus Security – Switzerland