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The Self Defense Company at a Glance

Founded October, 2007, The Self Defense Company is a global organization of defensive tactic instructors, civilian advisors, active and inactive military and law enforcement officers dedicated to the education and training of crime prevention and conflict resolution. Founded in 2007 by life long martial artist, coach and defensive tactics instructor Damian Ross with the motto "You Don't Need a Black Belt" the company provides essential skill training on various levels from citizen to soldier.

Damian Ross
CEO

Mr. Ross is a lifelong martial artist and competitive athlete. Because of his skill and expertise he was tapped to work in the private security sector at a relatively young age. During his tenure in various protection details he discovered that the self defense he learned as a martial artist was ineffective. While he could fall back on a life of training and competition, he became uncomfortable when he realized he wasn’t practicing what he was teaching. This kept him up at night. Rather than force a life of training on his students, he began to search for real solutions that would deliver results in the shortest amount of time.

As he conducted his research, he discovered that expert after expert was locked into the same “years of dedication” mentality. This was unacceptable because the criminals he faced in the street had no formal training and had a high degree of success.  He realized for the solution he had to look outside the martial arts world to modern police and military. Unfortunately, the martial arts mentality had found its way into law enforcement and combat training curriculums because martial arts had become the trusted resource for defensive tactics training. This forced him to look deeper into before martial arts became controlled by liability lawsuits and turned into popular pastimes. Before strip mall martial arts, black belt clubs and the UFC. He soon found exactly what he was looking for. He began to teach and develop this curriculum immediately. The result of his efforts, research and training since 1989 are revealed in The Self Defense Training System and reverberate through out all of the Self Defense Company Programs.

Below are a list of some of Mr. Ross’s degrees and accreditations

• Developer of The Self Defense Training System
• 4th Degree Black Belt Tekkenryu Jujutsu Under Carl Cestari
• 2nd Degree Black Belt Kodokan Judo Under Yoshisada Yonezuka 9th dan
• 2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do Under Phil Ross
• Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University Under Thad Turner
• Founder ZenShin Premium Martial Arts, Pompton Lakes, NJ
• Former Varsity Wrestling Coach Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, NJ
• Ridgewood High School Hall of Fame Wrestling Inducted 2008
• Ridgewood High School Hall of Fame Football Inducted 2008
• Graduate Bachelor of Arts 1990, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa
• Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Foreign Policy, Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA

Michael Archangel, Vice President
Director of Instructor Development and Program Coordinator

Being shy and reserved, Michael's parents enrolled him into a local martial arts school at the age of seven.  He earned his first black belt before high school graduation, and enlisted directly into the United States Marine Corps.  During his tour he was taught the LINE (Linear Infighting Neural-Override Engagement) system and the MCMAP as well as studying in various styles and systems throughout the world when he was off-duty.

After his tour was completed, Mr. Archangel continued on with college and let all his physical training fall between schedules and professional obligations.  It was during 60 hour work weeks, Michael found himself needing a healthy outlet, and wanted to resume his training.  It had been nearly three years since he had practiced, and he sought the private instruction of a long term martial artist with over 40 years of competitive and instructional experience. 

Realizing he wasn't looking for a long term and involved rentry into martial arts.  Michael started asking for specific defenses against grabs and holds, and was surprised to his instructor taking offense to his request.  "A man that chases two rabbits catches none,' the seasoned instructor calmly stated.  Michael said, "thank you, for your time." His instructor asked, "where are you going?' and Mike said, "to get a dog."

Recalling elements of the LINE system and the various martial arts styles, Archangel started researching and seeking out a self defense system that provided immediate results.  That's when Mike found Damian Ross of the self defense company and began his training.  He enjoyed the effectiveness of the program so much that he signed on to become an instructor. 

Now Michael leads in the Development of the various applications for the self defense company training system into the crime prevention sectors, and spearheads global initiates to elevate self defense to a necessary life skill for men, women, children, teens, seniors, families and friends alike to live happier healthier safer lives.

Below are a list of some of Mr. Archangel’s degrees and accreditations

United States Marine Corps (Honorable discharge)

• Navy and Marine Corp Intelligence Training Center Analyst
• United States Air Force Special Operations School: Dynamics of International Terrorism Analyst
• Marine Corps Leadership Academy: Graduated with Honors
• International Academy of Design: Visual Communication: Honors
• Received Meritorious Promotion to NCO at age 19
• 5 Personal Awards from Commands for Contributions and Achievement
• 2 Certificates of Commendation: Professional Achievement and Superior Performance of Duties
• 1 Meritorious Mast: Outstanding Service of Duty
• Certificate of Good Conduct

Civilian Sector

• Public Relations Consultant
• Corporate Quality Trainer /Developer
• Black Belt Shotokan Karate under Okazaki
• Level 4 Self Defense Training System Defensive Tactics Instructor

Angela Ross Vice President
Director of Marketing and Brand Management
Ms. Ross is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design. Through the years she has done work with Sony, Dansk International Design and a wide range of clients including food, restaurants, hotels and musical groups in New York and New Jersey.

• Degree Bachelor of Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design
• Art Directors Club of New Jersey Bronze Award
• Art Directors Club of New Jersey Design Excellence Award (Two Times)
• Print’s Regional Design Annual Design Excellence, Published (Two Times)
• Summit Awards for Package Design
• Creativity – Design Excellence, Published
• American Corporate Identity Published (Two Times)
• Brown Belt Tekkenryu Jujutsu and Military Combatives

Michael Mitchell

Director of Military and Corporate Affairs

Mike Mitchell earned his bachelor’s degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point.  He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army’s Armor branch following graduation.  While on active duty, he served as an armor platoon leader on peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, as a tank company executive officer in Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo, as a headquarters company executive officer, a rear detachment company commander, and as a staff officer at U.S. Army Europe Headquarters.  After attaining the rank of captain and receiving an honorable discharge from active duty, Mike deployed to the Kuwait/Iraq border as a military contractor to train the lead tank and infantry platoons for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  After returning to the United States, he was employed at Johnson & Johnson where he gained sales and recruiting experience, and then decided to attend law school.  While preparing to attend law school, Mike served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at the Arizona State University Army ROTC Department.  He began law school at the University of Arizona, but graduated from Arizona State University.  While at the University of Arizona, Mike was selected by U.S. Senator and former GOP presidential nominee John McCain to work as a legal fellow in his Capitol Hill office during the spring of 2008.  At Arizona State University, Mike was selected as the Truman Young Fellow for Prosecution, which gave him the opportunity to serve as a law clerk at the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’ Office, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office.  Mike currently resides in Arizona.

• Graduate Bachelor’s Degree United States Military Academy at West Point
• Graduate University of Arizona Law School
• Honorably Discharged at the rank of Captain.
• While on active duty he served as
  • Armor Platoon Leader in Bosnia
  • Tank Company Executive Officer in Albania
  • Rear Detachment Company Commander and Staff Officer United States Army Headquarters
• Private Contractor – Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Assistant Professor Military Science, University of Arizona ROTC Department
• Legal Fellow for US Senator John McCain
• Law Clerk, City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office
• Law Clerk, County of Maricopa’s Attorney Office
• Law Clerk Arizona Attorney General’s Office
• Law Clerk US Attorney’s Office
• District 1 Wrestling Champion for Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, NJ

Saddle River, New Jersey- September 18th, 2009. The Self Defense Company announced today the appointment of Michael Mitchell as the Director of Military Affairs. As director Mr. Mitchell will oversee operations between Self Defense Company Resources and Military and Large Corporations. According to Mr. Mitchell, this is something he's passionate about. "Survival in the face of violence is a priority to every living soul on the planet. The success in the face of violence for citizen and soldier alike is training. The Self Defense Company provides this training like no other organization."

The Self Defense Company provides resources for all aspects of conflict resolution, prevention, contact and cure."Most people think of Self Defense as violence on violence or fighting. What attracted me to the Self Defense Company is its complete approach to conflict: prevention, solution and cure."

Part of Mr. Mitchell's responsibilities will be informing the public of what resources are available. "There are a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to use of force laws, victims rights and prevention resources. We are working on a comprehensive public overview on these topics to be released in the next several weeks."