Tim Muehlhoff
Professor of Communication
Co-director, Winsome Conviction Project
Biola University
+
Join the global
N.D.D.T community of coaches!
Head instructors and affiliates
Tim Muehlhoff (Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) teaches classes on conflict resolution, listening, and verbal self-defense at Biola University in La Mirada, CA. He’s an author whose books have focused on conflict resolution strategies and have won several national awards. He is the co-director of the Winsome Conviction Project (http://winsomeconviction.com/) which seeks to instill compassion and empathy into our public disagreements.
He has a black belt in Kung Fu and teaches self-defense seminars to health care providers, university administrators and staff, and women at domestic violence shelters. Tim is on the board of Graceful Warrior Project (https://thegracefulwarriorproject.com/) where he trains at-risk women in verbal and physical self-defense in dangerous parts of the world such as Tanzania and Congo. He is a level-two instructor with Defensive Tactics
Helen Stranzl
Helen Stranzl has been a stuntwoman since 1996, working in TV, movies and commercials.
She was a self defense instructor, teaching seminars in the US, UK and Canada, and was published as a contributing writer for UK’s Combat magazine.
She has also worked private events, along with a few clubs as bouncer within the Montreal, QC scene. And has been training and working with Nick Drossos, for +20years.
She can be reach for seminars or private instruction, as well for hypnosis. www.HelensHypnosis.com
Level 2 instructors
Holly Reese
Holly Reese is a founder of Warrior Defenders and certified tactical self defense instructor with Nick Drossos.
She specializes in women's self defense because she is a domestic violence survivor. As a survivor her classes focus on rebuilding and empowering women with effective practical ways to be more prepared and protected in today's world. She has been training in uses of non lethal weapons combat since 2017.
Adding Nick Drossos hand-to-hand combat defensive and offensive training she helps impact lives in her community. Holly's classes are for women and are a safe environment to express feelings and ask questions to address concerns about personal safety and self defense.
Along with being an instructor Holly shares her story as a women's empowerment speaker to help others understand domestic violence and give survivors hope. They can learn today to have a safer tomorrow.
How to be prepared, not paranoid and to survive and thrive. Techniques and Drillsto Build Survival Skills: www.warriordefenders.com
John Retsinas
John Retsinas, has completed both level 1 and 2 and has trained privately with Nick Drossos for several years. With over 25 years, of experience in combat training, that includes, Expandable baton, Handcuffing, Pressure Points (R.I.S.K.)Rapid Integrated,
Trained in Executive Protection, and, Anti-Terrorism. Military background:
Royal 22nd Regiment cadet, Canadian armed forces
Traditional martial arts background, primarily Karate, and Kung-fu.
Level 1 instructors
Loren Lew
Brothers Loren and Roland Lew started their journey in Krav Maga in 2013 due to that Loren was responsible for campus security at his church since 1999 and realized that he needed training in hand to hand combat techniques.
After 4 years in Krav Maga and questioning then pressure testing many of the techniques, the brothers began searching for like minded security professionals. The conversations with Nick Drossos ensued and the opportunity to be certified as trainers by Nick became reality.
Loren and Roland run a non profit corporation called Empwrme2 that focuses on training girls and women on practical self defense techniques since 2017 and have trained over 300 women. Empwrme2 also does hard target consulting for churches, schools and businesses and conducts seminars on the realities of mass casualty events.
You can reach them at their Instagram Page @empwrme2fightlivedream
Jose Alfonso
Jose Alfonso is a retired 30-year veteran of the Boston Police Department and is the owner and founder of Empower Communications Group.
Mr. Alfonso is a highly respected retired law enforcement officer holding state and nationally recognized certifications as a police trainer with a dedication to excellence that is acknowledged by his peers in law enforcement. Mr. Alfonso completed his career as a Boston Police Officer assigned to the Boston Police Academy from August 10th, 2004 to June 4th, 2021. While assigned as an academy trainer, he participated in several committees for the Municipal Police Training Committee in Massachusetts researching and developing training curriculum for both recruit and veteran officer in-service training. As a law enforcement trainer, he holds several instructor certifications in disciplines such as use of force/defensive tactics, patrol response to active shooter events and S.P.E.A.R (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response). Mr. Alfonso is also a certified Tactical Edge Instructor under Nick Drosso
In early 2021, as a response to the increased number of unruly passenger incidents that were occurring in the airline industry, “Communication Strategies for Airline Professionals” was created by Jose Alfonso and Darryl Owens. The course was taught to Spirit Airlines flight attendants and guest service agents from September of 2021 through June 2022.
For more information on de-escalation training and tactical edge training please visit www.empowercommunicationsgroup.com
Kelly Kelly
Kelly Kelly, Founder
Kelly dreamed about being a missionary since she was a child. She traveled the world extensively for many years and then in 2016, moved to Eastern Congo as an overseas missionary! She has a background in boxing and jiu jitsu, and so was asked to teach self-defense to the men and women at the Congolese organization that she worked for, (UJN).
God continued to grow her and expand her, calling her to start www.thegracefulwarriorproject.com , a 501c3 non profit focused on empowering women throughout the world through local and indigenous leadership. She believes in taking a holistic approach to building women up through GWP’s four pillars of self defense: spiritually, physically, intellectually and economically.
Carmen Theobald
Carmen Theobald is the founder and director of Horse Sense North, offering personal growth, leadership development, and trauma recovery that empowers us to be who we were meant to become. Empowerment comes in many shapes and forms, one of which is learning how to defend ourselves physically. When we stop underestimating what we're capable of, and embody the knowledge that we can fight our way to survival if necessary, we're able to walk taller and stronger in every area of life.
Carmen trained intensively with self-defence instructor, Helen Stranzl, for 4 years in her youth. When their training came to an end, they lost touch for nearly 17 years. Even though they were not in contact, the lessons learned in self-defence were part of Carmen's awareness every single day. When they reconnected in 2021, it became clear that Carmen was ready to step into the next chapter of self-defence training: becoming an instructor. Carmen offers self-defence coaching and workshops at her beautiful farm in Muskoka North, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Anishinabek and Mississauga Nations: https://horsesensenorth.com/selfdefence.