Following The Path Less Traveled
Some journeys are planned. Others unfold one step at a time.
What began as a fascination with martial arts became a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, capability, personal growth, and service to others. This is not simply the story of a martial artist. It is the story of a lifelong student walking the path of the warrior, the scholar, and the teacher.
The Story
Following The Path Less Traveled
Some journeys are planned. Others unfold one step at a time.
What began as a fascination with martial arts became a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, capability, personal growth, and service to others. Over the decades, that journey would lead through martial arts schools, military training environments, instructor certifications, international seminars, business ventures, personal challenges, and countless hours spent studying how people learn, adapt, and evolve.
Along the way, there were successes, failures, setbacks, mentors, students, lessons, and opportunities that shaped not only the systems taught today, but the philosophy behind them.
This is not simply the story of a martial artist.
It is the story of a lifelong student pursuing the path of the warrior, the scholar, and the teacher.
The Journey
A Life Built Through Training, Study & Service
Explore the major chapters, mentors, turning points, systems, and experiences that shaped Alan Baker’s path as a martial artist, teacher, author, speaker, and defensive tactics specialist.
The Beginning
The First Step Onto The Path
As a child, Alan was full of energy and was diagnosed with ADHD. Instead of turning immediately to medication, his mother introduced him to martial arts as a positive outlet.
Just shy of turning eleven, around 1981, Alan began training at a local Isshin-Ryu Karate dojo. Martial arts quickly became more than an activity. It became the beginning of a lifelong search for discipline, skill, knowledge, and personal transformation.
Adventure & Capability
Training Beyond The Dojo
As Alan’s interests expanded, one of his mentors introduced him to mountaineering, orienteering, climbing, rigging, rappelling, SCUBA diving, and wilderness survival.
These disciplines helped shape Alan’s understanding of capability beyond martial arts. They taught preparation, risk management, adaptability, problem-solving, and calm under pressure.
The Turning Point
When The Path Was Almost Taken Away
In 1989, Alan was involved in a devastating head-on collision with a large construction vehicle. The accident caused catastrophic facial injuries, serious damage to his hands, and a traumatic brain injury.
Doctors told him he would never return to the ring and warned him to avoid further head trauma. For someone whose life had become centered around martial arts, it felt as if the foundation had been ripped away.
But the warrior spirit is not only found in the fight. It is found in the decision to rise again.
Teaching & Expansion
Chattanooga, Chinese Martial Arts & Deeper Study
Alan eventually secured a full-time teaching position at a Kung Fu studio in Chattanooga. There, he trained under Grandmaster Dana Miller and Master Paul Olivas through the U.S. Chuan Fa Association.
This period included study in Zu Wei Shu, Shaolin Kenpo, Qigong, Traditional Chinese Healing, Chen-style Tai Chi, Judo, Snow Tiger, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, and Wing Chun.
The Grappling Revolution
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, CSW & The Ground Game
After UFC 1 introduced the world to a new era of martial arts, Alan began a deeper study of grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission wrestling, and catch wrestling.
This journey led him to Professor Pedro Sauer and Coach Erik Paulson. Alan currently holds the rank of 4th Degree Black Belt under Master Pedro Sauer in the lineage of Helio Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Pedro Sauer, and Alan Baker.
Major Lineage Training
Atlanta, Wing Chun, JKD, Kali & Muay Thai
Relocating to Atlanta opened the door to deeper training with Sifu Francis Fong and the legendary Sifu/Guro Dan Inosanto.
Through this chapter, Alan immersed himself in Wing Chun, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Inosanto/Lacoste Kali, Majapahit Silat, Muay Thai under Ajarn Chai Sirisute, and continued training with Coach Erik Paulson.
Progressive Fighting Systems
Paul Vunak & Rapid Assault Tactics
Alan later met Sifu Paul Vunak and studied Progressive Fighting Systems and Rapid Assault Tactics, eventually progressing to full instructor status under Vunak’s guidance.
This added another important layer to Alan’s understanding of practical combatives, pressure, aggression management, and functional self-protection.
Building An Academy
Atlanta Martial Arts Center & Association Leadership
In 2002, Alan founded the Atlanta Martial Arts Center, offering a full schedule in Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, Wing Chun, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Combat Submission Wrestling, Muay Thai, and Shaolin Kung Fu.
By 2010, Alan became Association Director for the Combat Submission Wrestling Association founded by Coach Erik Paulson, deepening his connection to CSW, MMA, Shoot Boxing, and STX Kickboxing.
Chinese Boxing & Pekiti-Tirsia
Deeper Layers Of Striking, Weapons & Structure
During this period, Alan studied Chinese Boxing under Professor James Cravens and trained privately under Tuhon Tim Waid in the Pekiti-Tirsia Filipino Kali system.
These experiences continued to shape Alan’s understanding of movement, structure, weapons, timing, and close-range fighting.
Protection Professionals
Executive Protection & Protection Response Tactics®
Around 2010, Alan was introduced to the Executive Protection Institute and Vehicle Dynamics Institute. He earned certification as an Armed Personal Protection Specialist and began designing training for protection agents.
This work led to the development of Protection Response Tactics® and Vehicle Centric Defensive Tactics, specialized programs designed for the realities of executive protection, security, and client safety.
Tactical Training
Baker Tactical Training & Design Group
Alan founded Baker Tactical Training & Design Group to support security teams, law enforcement, protection professionals, and tactical organizations with advanced defensive tactics, firearms integration, edged weapons, and countermeasure training.
This work included specialized curriculum design for professional teams and organizations across the United States.
Civilian Training
The Birth Of C-Tac®
In 2014, Alan responded to growing civilian demand for practical defensive tactics by founding the Civilian Tactical Training Association, now known through the C-Tac® program.
C-Tac® was created to help everyday citizens, instructors, and professionals develop real-world self-protection skills through organized curriculum and instructor training.
The Author Chapter
The Warrior’s Path & The Writing Journey
In 2020, during the pandemic, Alan temporarily closed the school and retreated to the mountains of Virginia. There, he wrote his debut book, The Warrior’s Path.
That first book opened the door to additional works including The Universal Principles of Change and Morning Mastery, expanding Alan’s work beyond physical training into personal development, mindset, and self-mastery.
Speaking & Coaching
Overcome & Survive, Roger Up & The Speaking Path
At the end of 2021, Alan was introduced to former Navy SEAL Lt. Jason Redman. This relationship led to defensive tactics program development, involvement with the Overcome & Survive program, and participation in the Roger Up personal development event.
These opportunities opened the door to speaking, coaching, leadership development, and high-performance work beyond the martial arts academy.
Tactical 21
Defensive Tactics Instructor & Specialized Training
Alan’s connection with Lt. Redman led to meeting Edgar and Patricia Gonzalez of Tactical 21. Through that relationship, Alan stepped into the role of Defensive Tactics Instructor at Tactical 21.
This expanded Alan’s tactical teaching into another professional training environment focused on meaningful, practical, and high-impact skill development.
Warrior Poet Society
Designing Defensive Tactics For A Modern World
Toward the end of 2023, Alan began working on a comprehensive defensive tactics program for Warrior Poet Society.
The project focused on verbal tactics, de-escalation, appropriate responses to low and high-level threats, and integration of fixed blades and firearms for an increasingly unpredictable world.
A.L.I.V.E.
Active Shooter Survival Training Collaboration
In early 2024, Alan collaborated with Michael Julian, founder of A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training, to develop defensive tactics and firearm disarmament material for instructor development.
The work combined Alan’s defensive tactics background with Julian’s active shooter survival methodology to help instructors better prepare others for high-risk situations.
Instructor Recognition
Full Instructor Promotions
In 2025, Alan was promoted to Full Instructor in Filipino Martial Arts, Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu, and Jeet Kune Do under Tuhon/Sifu Dan Inosanto.
He was also promoted to Full Instructor in Combat Submission Wrestling under Master Erik Paulson, marking another major milestone in decades of study, service, and instructor development.
The Mission Continues
Teaching The Warrior, Scholar & Protector
Today, Alan continues to teach, write, speak, coach, and develop programs for students, instructors, protection professionals, and leaders.
His mission is to pass on the skills, knowledge, lessons, and mindset earned through decades of study while helping others become more capable, disciplined, prepared, and resilient.
The Mission Continues
The Path Is Still Being Written
Alan Baker’s journey continues through teaching, writing, speaking, instructor development, and helping good people become more capable in their training, leadership, mindset, and personal protection.