COVENANT DEFENSE
Thank you for your interest in wanting to train with us. In order to ensure that we are working with like-minded people, we have an integration process that gives us a chance to get to know you a little better. Due to the subject matter that we cover, we feel it is absolutely imperative that those receiving training go through this process. The process involves the following steps:
1) Read and sign the Expectations for Participants below
2) Background check done at the expense of the participant ($20)
3) Complete the Training Application
4) Six week introductory training class
5) Integration into regular class
What we do is not based in sport or marketing. We are focused on teaching people to effectively defend themselves and others. Our intent is to avoid confrontations when at all possible and this is the first level of self-defense that we train in. We do not advocate violence and take every step within our means to avoid it. If these principles are followed and one still finds themselves in a defensive situation, chances are it could be serious. With your own life and the lives of others at stake, the response needs to be as serious as the threat you are facing. This is how we train, and this is why it is so important that we are working with the appropriate target audience.
1) Ego
If an individual is found to be acting in a manner that is unsafe or rude out of a desire to prove something to others or themselves, this will be found unacceptable. There is no competition in the training environment. We are all on the same team and here to help one another. If you are better at a particular technique or skill, then it is expected that you help your partner improve as you have.
2) Being too rough
Though we are training in self-defense, it can be done in a manner that is safe and does not yield injury. “Too rough” would be based on the determination made by your partner, not you. I am well aware that there are other martial arts that train full contact, but that does not have a place with us unless we have declared that we are engaging in force on force training with appropriate gear.
3) Re-teaching from your perspective
This is really more about attitude than anything else. We are very open to other effective techniques and will gladly abandon what we are doing in favor of something else if it is a better approach. However, it can be very confusing when for newcomers when we present something one way only to have the method criticized and replaced by “your way.” If you are not sure how to do something, just ask.
4) Making disrespectful comments about others
We are here to train, learn, grow, and help each other. This is not the time to talk bad about others.
5) When firearms are used in class, the four cardinal gun rules will be obeyed.
We often use fake training guns in training and recognize that in order to train appropriately the above rules will be violated. This only happens with training guns. No real firearms are to be exposed or presented in class unless approved by instructor. When a real firearm is presented, it will be announced when you have the attention of all participants. Furthermore, it will be verified by two witnesses that the firearm is not loaded. If you have a concealed pistol license and carry to and from class, it is expected that you never have your gun on your person when training. It is also expected that you store your gun in a safe manner during class.
6) If you carry a knife, it must be removed from your person during training. Knives need to be treated with the same type of respect as firearms in a class environment. It should go without saying that no training with edged weapons will ever happen with anything except a safe and approved training knife.
7) Respect the anonymity of the group
Please don’t talk about what others do, what they have, or their training. Many of our students appreciate their privacy and do not wish others to know information that you may hear in class. If they want people to know they are training, they can tell them themselves. From time to time, participants may share about gear that they have such as firearms or other expensive items. This is information that stays in class. Revealing that someone has items that could attract the wrong kind of attention is unacceptable. This includes gear that will often be shown or offered for use by the instructing staff.
8) Maintain control and don’t lose your temper
If in the course of training you become frustrated and lose control, this is absolutely not tolerated. From time to time training in new activities can become frustrating. We further understand that it can also be frustrating to be training with a partner who may be more skilled in a technique. These are opportunities for learning and not the time to lose control. If something is not working for you, stop, ask questions, slow it down and/or ask for help. If you’re doing something that is not working and you adjust by getting mad, you are likely to hurt yourself or others.
9) If you ever use any of the skills that you have learned in training with us to volitionally engage in a fight, you will automatically be excluded from the privilege to continue training. We are training people to be part of a community of people that uphold righteous principles. We are training protectors, not bullies. If you don’t have the character to responsibly utilize the skillset we equip you with, you will have no part with us.
If you are in agreement with the above expectations for training and will abide by them,