This week on Force Multiplier we talk with Johnny Lee Smith, 5th Degree BJJ black belt and founder of Strategic Self- Defense and Gunfighting Tactics, about defensive tactics training.  We discuss mindset and why an effective defensive tactics program is important.

LAW ENFORCEMENT & SECURITY RELATED QUALIFICATIONS:
• 2020 – Retained by Nationwide Law Firm as an expert consultant on the use of force
• 2016 – Johnny Lee Smith developed the SSGT OnGuard Program for The Home Depot’s Corporate Security Division. Approximately 200 Home Depot Corporate Security Officers receive SSGT OnGuard training annually.
• 2015 – Served as an expert witness in two use-of-force trials in United States District Court Northern District of Alabama
• January, 2014 – all police academies in the State of Alabama are required to teach 24 hours of SSGT Vanguard Level One and 24 hours of SSGT Vanguard Level Two.
• 2014 – Certified Police Instructor by the Alaska Police Standards Council
• 2013 – Adjunct Instructor at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy in Meridian, MS
• 2010 – Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor by the Mississippi Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission
• 2008 – Completed Firearms Instructor Course at TLETA in Nashville
• 2007 – SSGT was the first defensive tactics program ever offered at Action Target’s Law Enforcement Training Camp (LETC) held in Provo, UT
• 2005 – In the State of Georgia, the successful completion of SSGT Vanguard One & Two Instructor Courses, along with showing proof of OC training, qualifies an officer as a Defensive Tactics Instructor Trainer.
• 2005 – present — Founded the “Equalizer” Women’s Self Defense Program. Johnny has certified criminal justice officers as instructors in the Equalizer Women’s Self-defense Program in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
• 2003 – SSGT became a mandated portion of the basic curriculum for all State and Regional Law Enforcement Academies in the State of Alabama-mandated by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards In Training Commission.
• 2003 – Certified Specialized Instructor by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission
• 1998 – present — Founded the “Strategic Self-defense and Grappling Tactics” (SSGT) Program for criminal justice officers.

MARTIAL ARTS QUALIFICATIONS:
• 2014 – 5th Degree Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt under Carlos Machado
• 1997-present – Studied Gracie Jiu-jitsu directly under Carlos Machado
• 1996 – Founder and President of Triad Martial Arts, Inc
• 1994-present — Studied Gracie Jiu-jitsu directly under Rickson Gracie
• 1993-present — Began Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
• 1987-2004 — Kobayashi Shorin Ryu 4th Degree Black Belt
• 1979-1993 — Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan 3rd Degree Black Belt
• Johnny Lee Smith was the first person in the State of Alabama to achieve Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
• Johnny Lee Smith was the first person from the State of Alabama to achieve 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He is the highest ranking BJJ Black Belt in Alabama and among the highest ranked Americans in the United States.
• His Triad Martial Arts Academy has the largest number BJJ Black Belts in the State of Alabama.
• He is the only person in the state that has trained extensively with Rickson Gracie.
• He has been Instructor for numerous Pan American, Kakuto, NAGA and NASKA champions.

Connect  with Johnny Lee Smith and SSGT: Website, Gear Store

Connect with Lorenzo Valdivia: Facebook, Email: forcemultiplierDS@gmail.com 

This week we talk to Ari Knazan. We went beyond the typical “why cops should train”. We discuss some of the systemic problems in law enforcement in regard to training, types of training available and our pet peeves we see in our profession. 

Ari Knazan co-founded Invictus with Jason Rebsch in an effort to educate police officers and departments on the importance of Jiu Jitsu for law enforcement personnel. Ari has over 35 years experience in the martial arts and is a 1st degree black belt under Keith Owen (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and a 5th degree Black Belt under Steve Hiscoe (Japanese Jiu Jitsu), both which Ari credits to saving his life on a number of occasions.  

Ari is a Level 5 C4C-PJJ certified adjunct instructor under Chad Lyman. In addition to being a proud member of his city’s police force, he also operates the Invictus North HQ Jiu Jitsu academy and several online businesses which all revolve around personal safety, combative training and tactical awareness. Ari also is the host of Torvus Podcast, which aims at exploring the lighter side of life and is also the owner of Chaos (www.enterchaos.com), which creates websites, logos as well as sells tactical watches as well as www.vikingjiujitsu.com brand.

This weeks episode is brought to you by Stop Resisting by Dr. Jeremy Butler. In Stop Resisting, Dr. Butler draws from years of martial arts training, law enforcement experience, and research to ensure you understand:

• The best martial arts for law enforcement officers
• How to adapt martial arts training to fit the unique needs of law enforcement
• How to mentally prepare for use of force encounters to maximize performance
• Tips on what to look for in a “LEO-friendly” martial arts school
• Specific techniques and tactics recommended by officers who actively train in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Connect with Lorenzo Valdivia:
Facebook: Click Here
Email: Click Here

Veteran Crisis: Dial 988 then press 1
Cop Line: 800-267-5463

This week we talk to Daniel Spychalski. We discuss decision and resistive based police training, inadequate training, perfect outcome expectations.

Daniel is a Multiple Martial art black belts, mixed martial arts, Police Instructor certified in defensive tactics, firearms, rifle, multiple ballistic shields. He has Patents in shoot back target systems (resistive firearms training), shield and firearm one handed reloaders.

360 Gun Grappling System 

Connect with Lorenzo Valdivia:
Facebook: Click Here
Email: Click Here

Veteran Crisis: Dial 988 then press 1
Cop Line: 800-267-5463