Youth Defense Curriculum

At Greenville Combatives Academy, our Youth Defense Curriculum “YDC” for ages 6+ is a practical, minimal, and proven counter violence system designed specifically for kids that was founded by Zane Forrest. It combines standing and ground techniques that are taught and trained with pressure testing alongside purpose built fitness drills and soft skills such as awareness priming and threat recognition. Students learn not just how to protect themselves, but also when it’s appropriate to use what they’ve learned all while cultivating confidence, character and discipline through our Christian values and resilient mentality lessons.

The Stratos Combatives Program “SCP” at GCA prepares teens for real world threats using the Vital Pyramid Training Model starting with MINDSET to build awareness and confidence, followed by TACTICS for positioning and deescalation, then SKILLS for striking, clinch, and ground technique, with KIT last covering concepts such as using a backpack for self protection and tourniquet application. Training covers situational and environmental awareness, verbal deescalation, pre fight contact cues, reasonable defense, combat fitness, preemptive striking, simulation training, multiple opponents, improvised weapons, and ground fighting. With stress testing this develops the ability to detect, avoid, and, if necessary, neutralize threats ensuring that our teen students are never a victim but always a victor.

American Goshin Jutsu “AGJ” is a well rounded self protection system that has been tested through real encounters. Classes for this art at GCA are taught and lead by Sensei James King, a 5th Degree Black Belt, AGJ blends Kempo Jujutsu, Close Quarters Combat, and Ground Survival Tactics with weapons counters, stress inoculation drills and much more. Students develop resilience and effective self defense skills, mastering vital techniques quickly. These classes primarily prepare adults to evade and prevail in ambush attacks, vicious assaults, and intense confrontations. Learn to effectively protect yourself and others. Forge your mind and body into a weapon with us.