The C-Tac® Training philosophy
Introducing the C-Tac® System: Empowering You with Effective Self-Defense Skills
Are you searching for a comprehensive self-defense system that goes beyond physical techniques? Look no further than the C-Tac® System. Designed to equip individuals with practical self-defense skills, the C-Tac® System goes above and beyond by addressing various crucial aspects of personal protection. Let’s explore what sets the C-Tac® System apart and why it’s the right choice for those seeking a holistic approach to self-defense.
What Makes C-TAC So Different From Other Self-Defense Programs?
De-Escalation & Soft Control Techniques so fighting is an absolute last resort.
Legal Knowledge & Considerations so you can protect yourself legally in case of an altercation
Shielding Methods From the Keysi Fighting Method to protect yourself under stress
Non-Verbal Cues For Avoiding Attackers and dangerous situations before they arise
Defensive Tactics: In And Around A Vehicle or confined spaces, against a wall or seated
Integration with your Everyday Carry tools to blend seamlessly with your empty hand.
The Problem: The Industry Is Failing You
One of the biggest problems in this industry is not the student. It is the instructor.
You have undertrained coaches who have only studied three or four martial arts systems at best. In today’s world, that is not enough. Real violence does not live inside one style. To be a truly capable instructor, you need years of cross-training in multiple arts, environments, and problem sets just to have the foundation to answer the unique questions that show up in real-world conflict.
Shallow Backgrounds
Instructors who have never worked in actual protective environments, never built programs for law enforcement or protective teams, and have no track record outside their own school or social media channel.
Confusing information and bad programs
YouTube clips, social media “experts,” and random seminar tricks that never connect into a real system. You get fantasy drills, sterile dojo scenarios, and gym tactics that fall apart the moment weapons, walls, vehicles, or multiple attackers show up. There are plenty of cool moves, but very little that survives stress, fatigue, and fear.
No legal or social filter
Techniques that might work in a gym but get you arrested, sued, or fired in the real world. Almost no discussion of use of force, articulation, or how your actions will look on video or in court.
Join The C-Tac Team
Whether you are protecting your family or protecting clients, C-Tac gives you a clear path, a real blueprint, and training that holds up under pressure. Commit to training with us.
Train For The World As It Is, not as a system defines it.
The Founder
Professor Alan Baker is a high-performance coach and an internationally recognized martial arts & self-defense expert. He has over 45 years of continuous experience in the arts. He has been training continuously in the fitness and Martial Arts field since 1981 and has been teaching professionally since 1990. Baker founded the Civilian Tactical Training Association in 2015 and continues establishing C-Tac® instructors today.
In the course of his career, he has attained the level of black belt or higher in multiple disciplines of martial arts as well as numerous instructor-level certifications in other systems under some of the industry’s most renowned teachers such as Tuhon Dan Inosanto, Master Pedro Sauer, Sifu Francis Fong, Master Erik Paulson, Ajarn Chai Sirisute, Ajarn Greg Nelson, Tuhon Tim Waid, and Coach Justo Dieguez.
In the tactical training field, Sifu Baker has taught countermeasures, defensive tactics, firearms, and edged-weapon programs to Fortune 500 corporate security teams and law enforcement/SWAT teams throughout the United States. He has been privileged to work with and design training programs for the Department of Defense and other specialized government and military organizations.
Sifu Baker is a certified Personal Protection Specialist and the Defensive Tactics Instructor for The Executive Protection Institute in Clarke County, Virginia. Alan also teaches a specialized defensive tactics program, called Vehicle Centric Defensive Tactics, for the Vehicle Dynamics Institute in New Jersey. VDI & EPI are considered the top schools for teaching Executive Protection (Bodyguards) and tactical / security driving globally.
Our Why
Our country is at its best when good men and women are capable of protecting what they love. What bothers me about the current state of training is how many honest people are being sold fantasy skills that will fail them when their family needs them most. My purpose with C-Tac is to close that gap and give responsible citizens and protectors the tools they can trust in the worst moments, so they can still come home with their freedom and their conscience intact.
world-class online training with 24/7 on-demand access.
There are two ways to train in C-Tac through the association. The first is the student level, focused on personal development, where you can work with a certified instructor, train through the online Video Training Academy, and attend seminars Coach Baker teaches across the U.S. The second is for professional martial artists who want to add C-Tac to their academy, done through the Instructor Training Program, which prepares you to teach the system.
Learn in the comfort of your home.
Gain access to training and information that typically requires travel to obtain.
Multiple Training Options
Access drills you can practice solo or with a training partner at your convenience
Get Answers Fast
Ask questions in the Online Forum and get real-time answers from the C-Tac team.
The C-Tac Combat Blueprint
The Combat Blueprint helps the student see what he is training in a big-picture format, keeps him focused on what the primal human will do in a stressful situation, and allows us to organize our training in a more intelligent manner so we may achieve more in less time. The Blueprint also helps keep us focused on the high percentage answers and techniques that will be successful in a violent exchange.
Be A Capable Protector.
If your goal is not a trophy or a belt stripe. It is knowing you can walk through the world as a capable protector. You understand how violence really works, you have simple tools that hold up under pressure, and you know how to act decisively without losing your freedom or your integrity. Your family trusts you. Your team can depend on you. You are calmer in public, more confident under stress, and clear on what you will do if the worst day ever shows up. That is what C-Tac is designed to build. If that is who you want to become, start training with us and step onto this path with intention.
🔥 1000’s of videos, updates & Extras.
Practical Grappling for the Street
Ground fighting and grappling can be crucial in real-life altercations. The C-Tac® System strongly emphasizes practical grappling techniques specifically tailored for self-defense situations. Our training provides you with the necessary skills to defend yourself both standing up and on the ground, preparing you for a range of scenarios. In Tac, we study 6 areas of training on the ground.
EDC Grappling, Anti-Grappling, Dog Boxing, Ground Fighting, and more.
A Few Videos On C-Tac
The C-Tac Combat Blueprint Principle
Warriors Path Podcast On The C-Tac Blueprint
Fun With The Warrior Poet Team
C-Tac Counter Grappling With The WPS Team
tactical medicine and disaster preparedness
The C-Tac® System goes beyond self-defense by integrating tactical medicine and disaster preparedness into your training. You will learn essential skills for handling everyday and large-scale emergencies, from basic wound care, recognizing shock, and immediate life-saving interventions to building a family emergency plan, assembling a disaster kit, and applying core survival skills like fire building, water purification, and practical first aid. The goal is simple: give you the confidence and capability to protect yourself, your family, and your community when things go bad.
Two Training Options
You can train as a student or become an instructor!
The C-Tac® System seamlessly integrates Everyday Carry (EDC)
Integrating EDC principles into all of its training ensures that the tools and gear you carry daily are effectively utilized in self-defense scenarios. Our approach emphasizes the importance of being prepared with the right EDC items—whether it’s a knife, flashlight, or firearm—and knowing how to deploy them efficiently under stress. Throughout our training, you’ll learn how to incorporate your EDC into various defensive tactics, blending these tools with your skills to maximize your protection. By making EDC an integral part of your training, the C-Tac® System empowers you to be ready for any situation, using the gear you have on hand every day.
Situational Awareness
in the C-Tac® System, situational awareness is a fundamental component. Understanding your surroundings and being able to assess potential threats is crucial for personal safety. Our training focuses on honing your observation skills, enhancing your ability to identify and assess potential dangers, and developing a proactive mindset. We don’t just talk about situational awareness—we actively teach and practice techniques and drills designed to embed these critical skills into your nervous system.
Legal Compliance
Self-defense should always operate within the confines of the law. With the C-Tac® System, you’ll learn self-defense techniques that are not only effective but also legal. Our training emphasizes the importance of understanding the legal framework surrounding self-defense, ensuring that you are equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions in high-stress situations.
Pre-Fight Social Exchange
Recognizing the signs of a potential confrontation before it escalates is essential. The C-Tac® System teaches you how to navigate pre-fight social exchanges, diffusing conflicts and de-escalating situations whenever possible. By mastering effective communication and conflict resolution skills, you can mitigate the need for physical confrontation. We ensure that everything we do remains within a framework that is both visually appropriate and socially acceptable.
Reasonable Force Continuum
Understanding the concept of reasonable force is vital for self-defense. The C-Tac® System follows a carefully structured force continuum, guiding you through appropriate responses based on the level of threat. By adhering to this continuum, you will learn to apply force proportionately and ethically, ensuring your actions are justified in the eyes of the law.
Integrated Firearms and Empty Hand Techniques
The C-Tac® System recognizes the role firearms play in personal protection. Our training not only covers empty hand techniques but also integrates firearm skills seamlessly. You will learn how to effectively combine the use of firearms with empty hand techniques, empowering you to handle diverse self-defense scenarios with confidence.
Family Protection
Your family’s safety is a top priority. The C-Tac® System goes beyond individual self-defense by teaching you strategies and techniques to protect your loved ones. Whether it’s implementing effective home security measures or developing family-oriented defense plans, our training ensures you are equipped to safeguard your family in various settings.
Defensive Tactics in and Around a Vehicle
The C-Tac® System recognizes that personal safety extends beyond the confines of your home. We provide comprehensive training on defensive tactics specifically tailored for situations in and around vehicles. From carjackings to road rage incidents, our training equips you with the skills to protect yourself effectively in these environments.
Learn C-Tac Through The Online Student Video Academy
Interested in learning the C-Tac material as a student? The Video Academy is the ideal option for you!
C-Tac® strives to bring real-world tactical training to the civilian world.
Turn on any TV, watch the news, and you will see how changes in today’s world and our culture are creating the need for information and training that exceeds what a regular martial art school or Karate program has to offer.
The many benefits of martial arts in our culture have been proven over time and are more than mentioned here. Still, today’s martial arts community does not offer the experience, background, or knowledge needed to effectively meet the needs of industries that need more narrow, specialized applications.
Today, many “self-defense” instructors received their certification to teach by attending a three-day weekend seminar. Many groups in the martial arts that call themselves “martial arts practitioners” claim to offer solutions for today’s needs. Still, when you peel back the layers of the so-called “realistic programs,” they generally turn out to be just well-marketed nonsense that was pieced together to have something to sell to the unknowing civilian.
C-Tac will give you a well-rounded, effective personal protection plan that will cover intelligent threat assessment and planning, essential firearm use and close-quarter manipulation (Disarms, Weapon Retention), a practical and realistic defensive tactic (Self-Defense) that will work in multiple environments, including hallways, doorways, ground fighting, and in and around motor vehicles – to name a few.
The C-Tac system was developed to mentally and physically prepare you for dangerous situations by teaching you pre-fight conflict-resolution techniques and situational awareness. Both beginners and advanced students can train and become proficient in C-Tac.
You will study the urban weapons that allow you to take everyday objects and use them as tools in a threatening encounter. Also, as part of the urban weapons program, we show you how to use a bladed weapon or how to defend against the bladed weapon if someone attempts to use one on you.
C-Tac Has Three Phases Of Training Up To The Black Level
Phase 1 “The Basics”
This phase marks the beginning of the student’s journey with C-Tac, introducing the foundational elements of our empty-hand defensive tactics system while emphasizing the application of techniques within a socially acceptable force continuum. Students also begin learning the principles of disarming guns and knives, building a solid foundation for practical self-defense. At C-Tac, we focus on principle-based education, a cornerstone of our unique training approach that sets us apart in the field and ensures a deeper understanding and greater adaptability in real-world scenarios. Additionally, students develop critical thinking skills for tactical awareness and environmental positioning, essential for effective situational readiness and self-protection.
Phase 2 “The Car Phase”
The C-Tac vehicle phase is an exciting next step in the training process, where students apply the foundational elements learned in Phase One to scenarios involving motor vehicles. This includes fighting and handling firearms in vehicle environments while also incorporating tactical environmental placement to construct professional-grade driving routes between work and home. Students learn to address challenges such as choke points, roadblocks, and emergency driving, and to implement counter-surveillance methods. Additionally, all firearm training at this stage focuses on concealed carry.
Phase 3 “The War Phase”
The third phase of the system is a step up in Senecio training. The study introduces the fundamentals of the dog boxing program. The student will learn to apply previous material under increased stress. Along with this, the offensive use of knives and blunt urban weapons is introduced into the mix. We also begin a deeper dive into the counter-grappling and ground-fighting program. The student also begins studying the methodology of fighting from an undesired position.
Self-Protection: Be Your Own Bodyguard
In C-Tac, we train Self-Protection the way a professional protection specialist would protect a client, except we teach you how to do it for yourself and the people you are responsible for. This bridges the gap between traditional martial arts and real-world personal security by building trained eyes, smarter awareness, and a protector mindset. You learn to spot risk early through body language and pre-attack indicators, manage proximity and positioning, and move with intention instead of drifting into bad situations.
We run everything through a simple framework: Prevention, Preparation, Response. Prevention encompasses risk assessment and risk-reduction habits. Preparation builds your plans, resources, and on-the-spot “advance work” for everyday life (routes, exits, hard rooms, meet-ups, check-ins). Response focuses on de-escalation, disengagement, evacuation, and, when no other option is available, lawful action.
