Owner/Primary Instructor of Force Operations Group

Richard Ashkar, a Subject matter Expert (SME) for Law Enforcement Use of Force has been training and instructing Law Enforcement and Military for over 15 years. He has instructed members of the FBI, NYPD, Camden County Police Department, New Jersey State Police, the NJSP TEAMS Unit, and countless local police officers on self-defense, control and de-escalation.  His intensive seminars and classes are informational and exciting.  His law enforcement experience, along with being the primary self-defense instructor for one of the largest agencies on the east coast,  gives him a uniquely realistic perspective. Having worked in law enforcement for over 10 years along with working in some of the most dangerous cities in the country he knows how force options work in real time, as well as how dynamic situations can evolve in dangerous environments. 

In Ashkar’s courses participants typically:

·    Develop an understanding for natural body function.

·    Recognize pre-attack/flight indicators.

·    Understand how to actually control a subject.

·    Gain an in-depth understanding of “Forced Resistance”.

·    Learn techniques to properly de-escalate situations.

·   Obtain an understanding of when to apply necessary force.  

Richard Ashkar has over 21 years training in various martial arts and has competed at the highest level, having fought professionally for over 6 years in Mixed Martial Arts. Competing at that level has allowed him to develop a system of techniques that work real time while remaining in the lowest level of force options.  It is proven that basics work at the highest level of sport and self-defense and that is why Ashkar teaches brilliance in the basics.

Ashkar’s accomplishments:

·     Wrestled at the Division 1 level for West Virginia University

·     Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2003

·      Gold Medalist at the Pan American Games in 2012

·     Obtained the rank of Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2013

·     Fought professionally in MMA for over 6 years

·     Professional record of 6 wins and 2 losses

·     Gracie Survival Tactics Instructor

·      Firearms instructor

·      Monadnock Expandable Baton instructor

·      Saber OC instructor

·      Bachelor of Arts Degree

·      Master of Science Degree