PUBLIC BETAExplore the curriculum, create a free student account, and check current Founding Membership enrollment.
SELF-DEFENSE · ONLINE TRAINING

Self-defense starts
before the fight.

Recognize trouble early. Manage contact. Develop the skills to protect yourself when you have no safer option. The goal is to get home safely.

Explore the curriculum

Public beta · Current membership availability is shown below

FOUR PILLARS COMBATIVESONLINE TRAINING
4SECTIONS.
ONE PURPOSE.
AWARENESS • CONTACT MANAGEMENT • RESPOND • GET HOME SAFE
THE APPROACH

More than knowing how to fight.

Combat sports develop valuable fighting skills. Self-defense also requires knowing what to look for, when to leave, and what to do when a confrontation becomes physical.

01Recognize

Notice potential problems before you're forced to react.

02Manage

Use awareness, distance, movement, and clear boundaries.

03Respond & escape

Develop practical skills for getting away when avoidance fails.

THE SELF-DEFENSE CURRICULUM

What you'll learn.

Four connected sections, from awareness and contact management to physical skills and fitness.

The complete Four Pillars Combatives self-defense curriculum is organized into four sections. Members receive each lesson as it is released during beta.

SECTION 01

Situational Awareness

Recognize, avoid, and manage threats before a physical confrontation.

Environmental Awareness
Notice changes in your surroundings, assess situations, and identify safer options.
Contact Awareness & Management
Set verbal boundaries, maintain space, and choose an exit before a situation escalates.
Taking the Initiative
Understand appropriate decisions when an immediate threat leaves no safe alternative.
Responding When the Attacker Strikes First
Learn to protect yourself and look for a safe opportunity to escape when someone initiates a physical attack.
SECTION 02

Empty-Hand Fighting in a Weapons Environment

Train empty-handed against an empty-handed attacker using striking, clinch control, wrestling, and ground-survival skills. Even when neither person is using a weapon, one could be carried or accessed. Recognize that risk and escape as soon as safely possible. Armed-attacker situations belong in Section 3.

Striking for Self-Defense
Use combat-sport fundamentals with an emphasis on creating opportunities to escape.
Clinch and Standing Grappling
Understand balance, positioning, and disengagement in close contact.
Wrestling in a Weapons Environment
Apply wrestling awareness to empty-hand confrontations where either person could be carrying or access a weapon. Emphasize mobility, awareness, and safe disengagement.
Ground Survival
Prioritize protecting yourself and safely returning to your feet.
Multiple-Attacker Awareness & Disengagement
Use positioning and movement to recognize danger, avoid becoming surrounded, and prioritize getting away.
SECTION 03

Weapons Fighting

Study recognition of armed threats, defensive weapon awareness, responsible access and retention, and decision-making in close-range encounters.

Armed-Threat Awareness
Learn to recognize the risks of an armed confrontation and prioritize avoidance.
Weapon Access and Retention
Study the safety and judgment considerations surrounding defensive equipment.
Weapon Control Concepts
Understand why distance, position, and awareness matter when weapons may be present.
Weapons-Based Entanglement (WBE)
Account for weapon-related risks when grappling or defending at close range.
Defensive Weapons Decisions
Emphasize lawful conduct, responsibility, and safe training practices.
SECTION 04

Fitness & Attributes Training

Develop the physical qualities that support self-defense and fighting.

Strength & Power
Train general strength and practical physical capability.
Cardiovascular Conditioning
Build sustainable endurance for training and everyday activity.
Mobility & Resilience
Support movement quality and long-term training consistency.
Combative Attributes
Develop timing, distance judgment, balance, and coordinated movement.

The training library also includes Eskrima and MMA learning tracks as material is released.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Experience behind the training.

Mark has trained in martial arts since 1996. His background includes MMA, boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, submission grappling, and Eskrima. He served in the U.S. Army and Navy and has worked as a bouncer, security guard, and corrections officer.

Four Pillars Combatives brings these experiences together in a self-defense curriculum focused on making sound decisions, developing practical skills, and getting home safely.

About our in-person training
HOW ONLINE TRAINING WORKS

Learn. Practice. Review.

Work through organized lessons, practice appropriate drills safely, and revisit material whenever you need a refresher.

01Watch

Follow instruction in the training library.

02Practice

Work on suitable drills within your ability and environment.

03Track

Mark lessons complete and follow your progress.

MEMBER COMMUNITY · PUBLIC BETA

More than videos. A place to train together.

Every paid Founding Membership includes access to the private community on this website. VIP Founding Members also have exclusive VIP discussion spaces and written Q&A benefits.

Discussions & forums

Share training experiences, ask questions, comment, react, and browse discussions covering awareness, empty-hand skills, weapons safety, and fitness.

Private member groups

Join conversations for Eskrima, MMA and combat sports, training partners, and other member interests.

Member profiles & photos

Choose a display name and optional profile photo, share photos with discussions, and opt in to the member directory.

Opt-in private messages

Connect directly with members who choose to receive messages. Member blocking and private reporting help keep the community respectful.

Training challenges

Join optional instructor-created challenges, check in, and stay consistent with practice.

Events & seminars

View instructor announcements and RSVP your interest. Actual tickets, bookings, and in-person instruction are separate when applicable.

Video feedback requests

Submit a private YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive training-video link and a question for possible instructor feedback. Responses depend on availability and are not guaranteed coaching sessions.

Member safety & moderation

Report inappropriate posts or messages. The instructor can review reports and moderate community discussions.

VIP FOUNDING MEMBERS ONLY

VIP Lounge & quarterly written Q&A

VIP access includes exclusive discussions, a permanent VIP Founding Member badge, and quarterly instructor-led written Q&A threads for 24 months after purchase. VIP coaching and discounts are described below.

Access is based on your account. Visitors can browse this public overview. Free registered students can view lessons specifically marked free and track their progress. Paying members unlock the full core training library and standard member community. VIP members receive those benefits plus VIP-only features. Nothing requires purchasing both paid memberships.

Compare access options
BEYOND THE CORE LIBRARY

What we're building next.

The online platform remains in public beta. These are planned additions, not a list of lessons already available or a guaranteed release calendar.

Expanding lessons & resources

New curriculum lessons, supporting PDFs, and guided practice concepts as they are produced.

Eskrima & MMA collections

Additional learning tracks that complement the four-section self-defense curriculum.

Community enhancements

Additional improvements to group discussions, challenges, and events as the community grows.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Before you join.

What is Four Pillars Online Training?

A private online training library built around the Four Pillars Combatives self-defense curriculum. Members can follow lessons and track their progress.

What does my membership include?

Access to the four-section core curriculum, the Eskrima and MMA collections, and future core lessons. Private lessons, seminars, and in-person training are separate.

What does beta mean?

Founding Members join during the early development of the platform. Courses and features will be added over time. Specific release dates are not guaranteed.

Is there a monthly fee?

Founding Lifetime Membership is a one-time purchase with no recurring fees. The price rises at each successive founding tier. Once lifetime enrollment ends, a $35/month subscription is planned for new students. Existing lifetime members never need to subscribe to keep their access.

Is a private member community included?

Yes. Your paid Online Training membership includes our members-only community on this website, with forums, member groups, challenges, and discussion features. An optional Facebook group may also be offered separately.

What does lifetime access mean?

Access to the core online library, including future core updates, for as long as Four Pillars Combatives operates the platform.

When do I get access?

After your one-time purchase is confirmed, you can sign in to your student dashboard. Your membership also covers new core lessons as they are released.

What does VIP Founding Membership include?

VIP includes everything in the standard lifetime core training membership plus four 60-minute online coaching sessions (to be used within 12 months of purchase), personalized training guidance, quarterly VIP written Q&A discussion threads for 24 months, priority booking subject to availability, a 10% discount on eligible in-person seminars and a permanent VIP Founding Member badge and access to the members-only VIP Lounge and VIP Written Q&A forum. Sessions are requested through our contact page and scheduled by mutual availability. VIP founding enrollment is limited and prices increase at later VIP tiers.

How does VIP-only written Q&A work?

Verified VIP members can use the exclusive VIP Written Q&A forum in their online member community. Quarterly text-based question threads and the instructor's written answers remain available to members. No camera, live video, or Zoom call is required. The written Q&A submission benefit lasts 24 months after VIP enrollment.

Is this training beginner-friendly?

Yes. Four Pillars Combatives Online Training is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Lessons start with fundamental concepts and progressively build toward more advanced skills. No prior martial arts, self-defense, or firearms experience is required.

How do I get started?

Explore the curriculum and create a free student account. Creating an account does not reserve a paid membership or unlock paid lessons; any lessons marked free for registered students will be available to you. Founding Lifetime Membership purchases are available when enrollment is open, at the current tier price. Prices increase with later tiers.

Are purchases refundable?

The Founding Membership is a one-time purchase that provides lifetime access to the core online training library, including future additions. All purchases are final. If you have questions about the membership or what is included during beta access, please contact us before purchasing.

FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP

Founding Member
lifetime access.

Pay once for access to the core online training library, including new core lessons added in the future.

BETA FREE REGISTRATION

Free Student Account

FREE No payment required
  • Create your personal student account
  • Explore the four-section self-defense curriculum
  • Access introductory lessons marked free as they are released
  • Track completion of the free lessons available to you
  • Opt in or out of the community training-partner finder; share only a general training area
Only lessons marked free are included. The optional training-partner finder and messaging are available when enabled by the administrator and opted into by members. Paid lessons, standard discussion forums and VIP-only areas remain restricted unless you receive the appropriate access.
BETA TIER 1 · FOUNDING MEMBER

Founding Member

$199.99 one-time payment
  • All four self-defense curriculum sections
  • Eskrima and MMA lesson collections
  • Personal student dashboard and progress tracking
  • All future additions to the core paid library during public beta

Choose one paid membership. VIP already includes all standard Founding Member benefits. You do not need both.

Price increases with each founding tier.
TIER 1 · FOUNDING PRICING
Checking registration status…
BETA

VIP Founding Member

$449.99one-time payment
  • All standard Founding Member benefits
  • Four private 60-minute online coaching sessions · valid 12 months
  • VIP Lounge, exclusive groups, and quarterly written Q&A for 24 months
  • Personalized training plan and guidance
  • Priority booking for available private lessons and seminars
  • 10% discount on eligible in-person seminars
  • Permanent VIP Founding Member badge in the dashboard and community
The VIP price increases with each new founding tier.
VIP TIER 1 · FOUNDING PRICING
Checking VIP enrollment status…
FOUR PILLARS COMBATIVES

Awareness. Contact Management.
Respond. Get Home Safe.

See Founding Membership