Michael Craig, President & General Manager
As founder of Personal Defense Systems, Michael drives the business end and curriculum design of all of our educational and training programs by bringing nearly 30 years of strong organizational skills and training expertise from his professional production & staging career. During this same time period he's been intensely involved with firearm instruction and training for the last 25+ years with an emphasis on personal defense and competitive shooting. In 2009, Michael formed Ohio Shooting Sports, Ltd and merged it into Personal Defense Systems in 2014. He is now is our business manager and lead instructor.
In order to keep up with the most current defense oriented training methodologies, he regularly seeks self-defense oriented training and instructor development courses. Some of these courses have included studying under the direction of John Benner at Tactical Defense Institute (TDI) by attending 12 different training courses from that ranged from 1 day to 3 days, "Extreme Close Quarters Gunfighting" course & "Tactical First Aid" and “System Collapse” Medicine course from Greg Ellifritz at Active Response Training, "Advanced Defensive Pistol Craft" a 2 day course from nationally known firearms instructor John Farnam, attended a "Close Quarters Combatives - Advanced Pistol Fighting - Level 2 course offered by Brian LaMaster at Innovative Tactical Concepts, 20 hours per year of intensive training in the elements of Martial Blade Concepts, Counter-Blade Concepts, Damithurt Silat and Sobadiwan Eskima under the direction of Michael Janich in 2011 & 2012 - successfully completed Range Master's 3 day Instructor Development Course Handgun Instructor course with Tom Givens, August 2013 and is now a Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Certified Handgun Instructor. Attended author and trainer, Sgt. Rory Miller's 2 day "Facing Violence" Training Seminar March 2014. He became an Affiliate Handgun Instructor for the United States Concealed Carry Association, USCCA in 2013 and then became a fully Certified Handgun Instructor & Training Councilor in 2016.
Michael is 1 of 3 International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Safety Officer Instructors in Ohio, Certified IDPA Safety Officer, Certified United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Range Officer, IDPA Match Director at Pickaway County Sportsman’s Range 2005-2007, Co-Match Director for a Practical Shotgun Division at PCSI in 2007, Match Director for the 2008 Ohio State IDPA Championship and was the Match Director for the USPSA MultiGun Division at PCSI from 2008-2011. Attended competition training courses with Grand Master Robert Vogel in 2010, 2012 & trained with Author & USPSA Grand Master Steve Anderson in October 2013. He has attained the level of Expert in the Stock Service Pistol Division of IDPA.
In order to keep up with the most current defense oriented training methodologies, he regularly seeks self-defense oriented training and instructor development courses. Some of these courses have included studying under the direction of John Benner at Tactical Defense Institute (TDI) by attending 12 different training courses from that ranged from 1 day to 3 days, "Extreme Close Quarters Gunfighting" course & "Tactical First Aid" and “System Collapse” Medicine course from Greg Ellifritz at Active Response Training, "Advanced Defensive Pistol Craft" a 2 day course from nationally known firearms instructor John Farnam, attended a "Close Quarters Combatives - Advanced Pistol Fighting - Level 2 course offered by Brian LaMaster at Innovative Tactical Concepts, 20 hours per year of intensive training in the elements of Martial Blade Concepts, Counter-Blade Concepts, Damithurt Silat and Sobadiwan Eskima under the direction of Michael Janich in 2011 & 2012 - successfully completed Range Master's 3 day Instructor Development Course Handgun Instructor course with Tom Givens, August 2013 and is now a Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Certified Handgun Instructor. Attended author and trainer, Sgt. Rory Miller's 2 day "Facing Violence" Training Seminar March 2014. He became an Affiliate Handgun Instructor for the United States Concealed Carry Association, USCCA in 2013 and then became a fully Certified Handgun Instructor & Training Councilor in 2016.
Michael is 1 of 3 International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Safety Officer Instructors in Ohio, Certified IDPA Safety Officer, Certified United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Range Officer, IDPA Match Director at Pickaway County Sportsman’s Range 2005-2007, Co-Match Director for a Practical Shotgun Division at PCSI in 2007, Match Director for the 2008 Ohio State IDPA Championship and was the Match Director for the USPSA MultiGun Division at PCSI from 2008-2011. Attended competition training courses with Grand Master Robert Vogel in 2010, 2012 & trained with Author & USPSA Grand Master Steve Anderson in October 2013. He has attained the level of Expert in the Stock Service Pistol Division of IDPA.
Bryan McKean - Survival Operating Systems & Martial Blade Concepts Columbus
Bryan began studying under Dave Holloway, Grove City Karate, Ltd. at the age of 16 earning the rank of Nidan (2nd-degree black belt), Fugitanahi-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate. In February of 1999, he concurrently began studying Kwanmukan Karate, earning the rank of Nidan (2nd-degree black belt). In addition to karate, Bryan has studied Kashima Shito-Ryu Iaido, Yamani -Ryu Kobudo, Tai-Chi, Tai-Chi sword and Hung Gar Gung Fu. Bryan also holds the rank of Shodan in Yamanaka Koju Te-Ju-Jitsu. Currently, Bryan is the Lead Instructor for Survival Operating Systems with Dave Holloway.
In addition to the traditional martial arts, Bryan is trained in the Martial Blade Concepts system with Michael Janich and is currently an Certified Instructor (one of only six). He has also served as an assistant instructor to Mr. Janich on numerous occasions and is one of the most accomplished MBC practitioners in the nation. Martial Blade Concepts(MBC) is an edged-weapons training program specifically designed to meet the needs of today's concerned citizen and armed professional. The goal of MBC is the development of "all purpose" defensive skills rather than learning a large number of specific techniques and learning how to apply them to literally hundreds of different defensive situations. Through this easy-to-learn method, students develop defensive proficiency very quickly and have both the ability and the confidence to employ their skills after only a brief period of training.
Other Training and awards include: Completed James Yeager's Tactical Pistol course. Certified Adult and Infant CPR. Dave Grossman "Bulletproof Mind: Mental Preparation for Combat" seminar. Surveillance Detection Seminar. Terrorism First Responders course. Ohio CCW course, Ohio Law Enforcement Training Center. Executive and Dignitary Protection Course, Legion Protective Services. Principles of concealment, CQC. NRA Certified Instructor. TDI Tactical Pistol Levels 1-3, Named Instructor of the year 2004 by Kwanmukan International.
Bryan is a full time police officer for a agency located in Central Ohio.
In addition to the traditional martial arts, Bryan is trained in the Martial Blade Concepts system with Michael Janich and is currently an Certified Instructor (one of only six). He has also served as an assistant instructor to Mr. Janich on numerous occasions and is one of the most accomplished MBC practitioners in the nation. Martial Blade Concepts(MBC) is an edged-weapons training program specifically designed to meet the needs of today's concerned citizen and armed professional. The goal of MBC is the development of "all purpose" defensive skills rather than learning a large number of specific techniques and learning how to apply them to literally hundreds of different defensive situations. Through this easy-to-learn method, students develop defensive proficiency very quickly and have both the ability and the confidence to employ their skills after only a brief period of training.
Other Training and awards include: Completed James Yeager's Tactical Pistol course. Certified Adult and Infant CPR. Dave Grossman "Bulletproof Mind: Mental Preparation for Combat" seminar. Surveillance Detection Seminar. Terrorism First Responders course. Ohio CCW course, Ohio Law Enforcement Training Center. Executive and Dignitary Protection Course, Legion Protective Services. Principles of concealment, CQC. NRA Certified Instructor. TDI Tactical Pistol Levels 1-3, Named Instructor of the year 2004 by Kwanmukan International.
Bryan is a full time police officer for a agency located in Central Ohio.
Greg Ellifritz - Active Response Training
Greg Ellifritz is Active Response Training’s President and Primary Instructor. He is a veteran police officer, spending 13 years as the full time tactical training officer for his central Ohio agency. In that position, he was responsible for developing and instructing all of the in-service training for a 54-officer police department. Prior to his training position, he worked as a patrol officer, bike patrol officer, bike patrol coordinator, and field training officer for his agency. He currently serves as a patrol officer, firearms instructor, armorer, and precision marksman.
He has been an active instructor for the Tactical Defense Institute since 2001 and a lead instructor for TDI’s ground fighting, knife fighting, active shooter, impact weapons, and extreme close quarters shooting classes.
Greg holds instructor, master instructor, or armorer certifications in more than 75 different weapons systems, defensive tactics programs, and law enforcement specialty areas. In addition to these instructor certifications, Greg has trained with many of the leading firearms and edged weapons instructors in the country.
Greg has been an adjunct instructor for the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy, teaching firearms, defensive tactics, bike patrol, knife defense, and physical fitness topics. He has taught firearms and self defense classes at the national and international level through the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, The American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers and Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
He has a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management and has written for several publications and websites including: ‘The Firearms Instructor”, “Ohio Police Chief”, “Combat Handguns”, Survivalblog.com, “Concealed Carry Magazine”, Primedia’s “Personal & Home Defense Annual”, and “American Handgunner”.
He has been an active instructor for the Tactical Defense Institute since 2001 and a lead instructor for TDI’s ground fighting, knife fighting, active shooter, impact weapons, and extreme close quarters shooting classes.
Greg holds instructor, master instructor, or armorer certifications in more than 75 different weapons systems, defensive tactics programs, and law enforcement specialty areas. In addition to these instructor certifications, Greg has trained with many of the leading firearms and edged weapons instructors in the country.
Greg has been an adjunct instructor for the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy, teaching firearms, defensive tactics, bike patrol, knife defense, and physical fitness topics. He has taught firearms and self defense classes at the national and international level through the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, The American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers and Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
He has a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management and has written for several publications and websites including: ‘The Firearms Instructor”, “Ohio Police Chief”, “Combat Handguns”, Survivalblog.com, “Concealed Carry Magazine”, Primedia’s “Personal & Home Defense Annual”, and “American Handgunner”.
Steve Ormeroid - Lead Instructor - Ohio Concealed Handgun Training and Certification Program
As a Master Electrician, Extreme Underwater Cave Explorer, Distinguished Graduate at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute and Certified IDPA Safety Officer, Steve brings a wealth of unique experience to the classroom and range training programs. Currently, as a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor Steve heads up the Ohio Concealed Handgun Training and Certification Program at Ohio Shooting Sports and assists with many of the other firearm classes at OSS. As assistant match director at PCSI from 2008-2012 Steve has designed and managed years of local matches and brought hundreds of new and experience shooters to the competitive field. As a Ohio Concealed Handgun Licensee since its inception in 2004 Steve brings his unique blend of experiences to each and every student that participates in our Ohio CHL program. His professional electrical contracting business and his extreme underwater diving exploration experience solidify his understanding of the need to follow safety protocols and his perfect record shows his dedication in his personal and profession life. Personal defense practice and theory play a large part in Steve's life and his desire to share this with like minded students brings a welcome addition to our teaching staff.
Robert G. Vogel- VogelDynamics.com
Robert was born and raised on a farm in rural Ohio and was brought up to have a healthy respect for hard work and discipline. From a very young age shooting and hunting also became a big part of his life. Always being somewhat of a thrill-seeker, the Law Enforcement profession sparked his interest while in high school. After graduation he went immediately into a 2 year Police Academy Program. He excelled at this and graduated as valedictorian of his class. It was while Robert was in the Academy that he began shooting competitively in IDPA. Since finishing 1st out of 19 shooters at his first ever pistol match in September of 2001 he has never looked back. At present Robert is a 2-time World and 13-time US National Champion across 3 separate shooting disciplines. He holds the distinction of being the only Law Enforcement Officer of any kind to have achieved much of what he has in the practical shooting realm.
Always intensely driven to be the best he can be Robert continues to maintain the dedication & discipline required to be a top competitive shooter. As of May 2012 Robert has went from full-time Law Enforcement to part-time in order to focus more on his shooting/instructing career.
Always intensely driven to be the best he can be Robert continues to maintain the dedication & discipline required to be a top competitive shooter. As of May 2012 Robert has went from full-time Law Enforcement to part-time in order to focus more on his shooting/instructing career.
