DT / Combative Instructor Course: November 2026

Location: Ottawa, Ontario
                  Exact location (TBC)

Dates:  9-13 November 2026
              0830 to 1730 daily 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:  
- Shorts, T-shirts
- Mouth piece
- Jock
- May Thai shin pads. 16oz Boxing gloves. MMA gloves.
- Full operational tactical kit & equipment
- 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 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.  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 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:

Day 1
Presentation on mindset / instructional techniques and human connection. 
Striking and Edge weapons defence. 
Footwork, frames and unorthodox striking options.  Defence and offence.
Creating angles and intercept 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.
Active counter measures - subject armed with a knife.
Pistol and carbine retention drills. 
Situational sparring drills (Pressure testing).
Daily teach-backs * Student led guided instruction. 

Day 3
Ground and subject control options.
Ground to feet escapes.
Wall work - Subject control options on and off a wall / around furniture.
Cuffing / Searching / Escorting duties. 
Long gun and rifle sling management.
Situational sparring drills (Pressure testing).
Daily teach-backs * Student led guided instruction. 

Day 4
Hooded Box Drills – Mini flash scenarios to challenge decision-making and lethal or less  lethal options.
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.

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