DT / Combative Instructor Course: November 2026

*Updated - 9 July 2026

Location: Ottawa, Ontario
                  1165 Kenaston Street (PPS Training Facility)

Dates:  9-13 November 2026
              1630 to 0030 evening training hours.

Open to MIL / LEA / Security Professionals

Prerequisites:
- Min 3 years in the profession
- Proficient in Pistol and Carbine firearms handling.
- Basic understanding of Use of Force / Combatives.  
- Physically healthy.  Mentally stable. 

Participants will require:  
- Full operational tactical kit & equipment.  Duty pants and shirts.
- Mouth piece.
- Jock/ cup. 
- May Thai shin pads. 16oz Boxing gloves. MMA gloves.
- Shorts & T-shirts.
- Wrestling boots for on the mat

 Tactical clothing
- Plate carrier
- Gun belt
- Sim Pistol and Carbine rifle
- Rifle sling
- Min of 3 magazines per firearm platform
- Sim bolt/barrel for both platforms
- Helmet
- Tactical / Duty pants and T-shirts for on the mat
- Wrestling boots
- Eye and ear protection
- Light pair of shooting gloves
- Wpns mounted white light on both firearms platforms

DA will provide:
- Simuniton ammunition
- Targets and role players
- Training locations and training aids
- Assisting instructor and coaching

What to expect:
Building a positive culture around Combatives / Defensive Tactics training.  Individual skills and technique development (Basics to Advanced applications).  Alternative teaching methods and instructional modalities.  Firearms manipulations while engaged in a physical altercation.  Connecting with adult learning styles.  Safe training approaches to help mitigate the changes of personal injury.  All  material provided will be aligned with Use of Force Ministry standards with respect to the community safety and policing act.  

The History and Philosophy of the Direct Action system will be shared.

Introduction & Purpose

Objective: 
Establish relevance and intent.

Key Points:

• Combatives training is not about sport fighting — it is about performance under pressure, survival, decision-making, and operational effectiveness.
• Defensive tactics must be:
• Simple
• Pressure tested
• Legally and operationally defensible
• Our goal is to create confidence, capability, and trust.

Culture matters more than techniques.
If operators do not believe in the training, they will not use it under stress.

1. Simplicity
Under stress gross-motor quality training repetitions will surface.

2. Adaptability
Violence is chaotic.  A warrior mindset finds methods to pivot and solve problems.

3. Pressure testing
Techniques must work against:

• resistance
• fatigue
• surprise
• environmental factors

4. Integration

• kit & equipment
• communication
• team tactics
• decision making

Key message:

We are not teaching martial arts.
We are building decision-making operators who can function well under pressure  inside chaotic environments.

Rough course curriculum:

*Amended  9 July 2026.

Day 1
Presentation on mindset / instructional techniques and human connection. 
Striking and Edge weapons defence. 
Footwork, framework and unorthodox striking options.  Defence and offence.
Creating angles and intercepting forward movement.
Traditional strike series.   
Edge weapons introduction.
Situational sparring drills (Pressure testing).
Daily teach-backs * Student led guided instruction. 

Day 2
Clinch and blunt object defence.
Underhook vs. Overhook pros and cons.
Head position advantage & control.
Upper body / lower body take-down options. 
Active counter measures - subject armed with a knife.
Situational sparring drills (Pressure testing).
Daily teach-backs * Student led guided instruction. 

Day 3
Ground and subject control options.
Ground to feet escapes. 
Cuffing / Searching / Escorting duties. 
Firearms retention drills.
Rifle sling management.
Situational sparring drills (Pressure testing).
Daily teach-backs * Student led guided instruction. 

Day 4
Wall work - Subject control options on and off a wall / around furniture.
Individual and team take-down options off a wall / confined spaces. 
Active counter measure - subject armed with a blunt object.
Situational sparring drills (Pressure testing).
Daily teach-backs * Student led guided instruction. 
** Team lunch prior to training day commencment.

Day 5
Hooded Box Drills – Mini flash scenarios to challenge decision-making and Use of force possibilities. 
CQB integrated scenarios with live role players offering non-compliant & active resistance behaviours.  Mix shoot / no-shoot reactive paper targets.  Subject control in a dynamic environment. 
Simulation shoot / no-shoot alternatives.  
Working through less-lethal options / de-escalation attempts.

End of course summary, AAR and course critiques

Maximum of 14 participants

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Hotel recommendations:
Downtown core
Elgin St. area
Vanier Blvd area