Pinnacle Tactics

Step by step understanding informed answers to questions and friendly staff.

The Teacher Active Killer training was really a good experience - until you try something you dont know if you can do it. I enjoyed practicing on other teachers and feeling more competent about doing the punches and take downs. I feel that I might be able to do some of the skills since I now have them in my brain. (I hope that makes sense). I think the training was great for a staff of varying levels of fear and ability. I will definitely recommend the class to other schools. I have already told a couple of principals that they needed to call you! Thank you for empowering us to feel more comfortable with such a hard subject.

Thanks Tom for my Carry Conceal! It was an awesome class that I would recommend to everyone and I won’t be shy and say I’m a pretty good shot thanks to you!

I have attended Tom Johnsons school for the past 4 years. Tom has showed me, as he shows all of his students, a truly effective self defense approach that is practical, tested, and that can be applied by almost anyone. After nearly 100 class sessions I can say that Ive always left class knowing more than when I came in. Tom’s teaching is constantly evolving because Tom keeps up with what others in the field are doing and continually develops his own innovations that he passes along to others. Pinnacle Tactics is not hide-bound by tradition. The confidence and awareness Ive gained towards my personal safety and that of my family has meant I that I’m able to avoid potentially dangerous situations both domestically and internationally. It is amazing how bullies will quickly back down when they are faced with a confident defender regardless of the culture in which they live. In addition to teaching hand-to-hand self defense Tom teaches students defense against weapons anyone may encounter in todays world including hand guns, knives, and baseball bats. For students who wish to go there, Tom also teaches tactics for using guns, knives and sticks in a defensive mode. Ive been licensed to carry a concealed handgun for many years and have taken many good classes on the subject. But Ive learned more from Tom on practical self defense with a gun than from any other instructor. Finally, no description of Toms classes would be complete without mentioning that Tom is a great instructor and is inclusive of all levels of students - men, women and kids. He teaches with humor and humility and without a hint of macho BS that permeates so many self defense schools.

Re: Don’t Jump the Gun training

The nice thing about this training is its dynamic, and so you learn by doing rather than just having it demonstrated or explained. Lots of reps! It makes you think about the fact that you have to get to a position where you can get to your gun and retain it, instead of risking drawing it only to have it taken from you. There’s more movement than is associated with practicing shooting at the range - even if you can draw and shoot - it’s much more dynamic. Because it’s live action, and just a mad scramble, you run into scenarios that evolve naturally and are unanticipated. Then you learn more things to drill. You have another person trying their hardest to get to the gun. And you’re trying your hardest to retain it and only use it when absolutely necessary.

First, I would say I love taking this class with my kids for so many reasons:

These are practical, applicable, life-saving skills learning in a fun setting and we get a great workout as a family. Working with my kids allows me to challenge them to the degree that we are all comfortable with and leaves us all with a sense of confidence, awareness, and empowerment.

Second, I enjoy sparring with them and they enjoy it as well. I like that I can provide resistance and challenge while they are learning how to escape a choke hold, etc. I also like that I can encourage them to hit me as hard as they can, and give them a good bop in return. I also think that most of the time it would be an adult trying to kidnap the kids or whatnot, so training with me gives them a better sense of the force required to execute the moves. So we…are so grateful we have been allowed to take this class together. Just putting it out there that parents working with kids instead of kids vs kids and adults vs adults holds a ton of incentive, enjoyment, and satisfaction for us as a family...We look forward to class on Saturday, and thank you both immensely for providing this class. To find something we all look forward to doing together has been great!