About Alan Baker

Alan Baker is a globally renowned martial arts and self-defense expert, an esteemed instructor, coach, author, and motivational speaker. Widely known as the “Agent of Change,” Alan has dedicated his career to empowering individuals through teaching defensive tactics, martial arts, and the Warriors Path Self-Leadership Program. This transformative approach cultivates a warrior mindset for positive and profound life changes. With his unparalleled expertise, Sifu Baker has played a pivotal role in shaping numerous successful businesses and associations within the defensive tactics and martial arts industry. His passion for personal growth and empowering and preparing others has made him a highly sought-after figure.

Alan has been teaching professionally since 1990 and is widely respected for his relentless dedication to growth and mastery. Guided by the mindset of a “perpetual white belt,” he remains a lifelong student, constantly exploring systems and methods unfamiliar to him in order to close gaps in knowledge and deepen his understanding. Even after decades of experience, he actively seeks out mentors, teachers and perspectives that challenge him, always striving to learn what he does not yet know. His mission is clear: to empower good people with the skills, awareness, and mindset needed to navigate an increasingly unpredictable world, and to inspire others to embrace the path of the warrior in both body and spirit.

Alan does not believe that any single martial arts system holds all the answers when it comes to real-world combat. The reality of a violent encounter is far too complex. It can involve firearms, edged weapons, blunt objects, striking, hand fighting, pummeling, clinch work, and the multiple modes of fighting on the ground. That complexity, and his deep love for the combative arts, led him to dedicate his life to studying multiple martial systems, self-defense methodologies, and modern combatives. Many traditional martial arts were not designed with today’s culture, legal framework, or levels of social force in mind. Real confrontations don’t always begin with an all-out fight. Often, they escalate through stages of force, and knowing how to manage those stages without overcommitting force is critical. That’s a gap in most systems and one Alan has worked to fill over the course of his career.

In the realm of firearms, Alan recognized early on that many martial arts simply don’t address the complexities of modern weapons. To bridge that gap, he sought out and continues to train with some of the most respected firearms instructors in the world. He’s also worked closely with mentors to develop and refine solutions for close-quarter weapon manipulation and integration, ensuring that his students are equipped not just with techniques but with the right decision-making tools for high-stress environments.

With over 46 years of study and training, Sifu Alan Baker has cultivated a level of martial arts expertise that is rare. He holds advanced rank and/or instructor certifications in multiple distinct martial arts systems, including Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Combat Submission Wrestling, Catch Wrestling, Jeet Kune Do, Chinese Boxing, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Zu Wei Shu Kung Fu, U.S. Chuan Fa, Jing Mo Kuen, Muay Thai Boxing, STX Kickboxing, Burmese Bando (Lethwei), Snow Tiger, the Keysi Fighting Method (KFM), Madjapahit Silat, Inosanto/Lacoste Filipino Kali, Pekiti-Tirsia SMF Kali, and Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT).

Throughout his journey, Sifu Baker has studied under many of the world’s most esteemed martial arts masters, including Sifu/Guro Dan Inosanto, Ajarn Chai Sirisute, Sifu Francis Fong, Master Erik Paulson, Master Pedro Sauer, Sijo Dana Miller, Sijo Paul Olivas, Ajarn Greg Nelson, Master Bob Byrd, Professor James Cravens, Tuhon Tim Waid, Professor Justo Dieguez, Saya Mike Jolley, Saya David Croft, Saya Doug Boring, and Sifu/Guro Paul Vunak. This lineage of mentorship has played a key role in shaping his integrated approach to martial arts. In 2023 Alan was promoted to Senior Full Instructor Wing Chun Kung Fu Under Sifu Francis Fong, In 2025 Alan was was promoted to Full Instructor in Filipino Martial Arts and in Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do under Tuhon/Sifu Dan Inosanto. Aditionally he was also promoted to Full Instructor in Combat Submission Wrestling inder Master Erik Paulson.

Sifu Baker has impacted thousands internationally through Baker Defensive Tactics (BDT), formerly AMAC Tactical Group. He has built programs for and taught countermeasures and cutting edge defensive tactics, firearms, and edged weapon programs to Fortune 500 corporate security teams, law enforcement departments, and SWAT teams, and has been privileged to work with specialized government and military groups such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Alan actively participates in force on force scenarios, as well as active shooter and SWAT training exercises for a variety of law enforcement, security, and protection agencies and departments across the United States.

His professional credentials include Ballistic Edge Firearms Instructor under Bob Allen and Greg Lee, completing SWAT Level 2 training with the Marietta, Georgia Police Department, and holding certifications as an NRA Pistol Instructor and NRA Chief Range Safety Officer. He is a Tactical Arrest & Control Instructor under Master Pedro Sauer, a long standing faculty member and instructor with the Executive Protection Institute, and faculty and lead combatives and executive protection instructor with Tactical 21. Alan is also a Certified Private Investigator under Michael J. Makropoulos.

Sifu Baker founded and is the principal trainer for the Civilian Tactical Training Association, C-Tac, to bridge the gap between martial arts and “self-protection.” He continues establishing C-Tac instructors to the present day. He later went on to develop specialized defensive tactics programs for the Executive Protection Institute called Protection Response Tactics for Protection Agents (Bodyguards), Vehicle Centric Defensive Tactics (VCDT) for the Vehicle Dynamics Institute and contributed to Joseph Autera’s highly rated, The Professional’s Guide to Planning, Managing, and Providing Secure Transportation. To this day Alan still acts as the Defensive Tactics Instructor for the both Executive Protection Institute and Vehicle Dynamics Institute, two of the top training academys in the US. Additionally, Alan serves as the Defensive Tactics Instructor for Tactical 21, a premier tactical training team based out of Virginia Beach and recognized as one of the top units in the United States for advanced tactical instruction. As a certified Armed Personal Protection Specialist, an NRA Firearms Instructor, and NRA Chief Range Safety Officer (CRSO), Sifu Baker became an elite Instructor for the Defensive Tactics at The Executive Protection Institute, the Association Director for Erik Paulson’s Combat Submission Wrestling Association, and correspondingly sits on the board of the Resilient Warrior Foundation.

Sifu Baker’s highly respected thought leadership led to the authoring of three books on this distinctive personal and professional development approach, “The Warriors Path,” “The Universal Principles of Change,” and “Morning Mastery.” He will be releasing his next book, “The Scholar Code,” in 2026; more on that book HERE
A trailblazer from a young age, Alan was introduced to Mountaineering, Orienteering, Climbing, Repelling, and SCUBA diving by one of his mentors that owned an expedition company. He became a certified cave diver, a National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), SCUBA Instructor & Divemaster, and a rappel master instructor. Alan stays active in teaching, guiding, and running expeditions in these areas.
Today, Sifu Alan Baker speaks nationally to audiences on The Warrior’s Path Philosophy —how to implement action and positive change in their lives.

“I can honestly say that Sifu Alan has over the years consistently impressed my students and myself with expansion of concepts that forever improved and positively changed our skillset and abilities on the mat and the real world.”

— Coach Chris Mize Founder of Heroes Academy and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Birmingham

“Sifu Alan Baker has boiled down many of these life enhancing perspectives into a source that shares the knowledge without the life threatening consequences of attending the warrior’s alma mater of combat. Sifu Baker’s extraction of the lessons of a warrior’s quest through his own unique journey provides a map through the hazardous minefield of true warrior education. True wisdom has the insight to learn from others, especially in an arena where mistakes can be deadly. Enjoy the reward with far less risk. An old soldier’s purpose is to teach young soldiers how to become successful OLD soldiers. The lessons in his book are part of a study guide to that end.”

– MSG (Retired) Randy McElwee, US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

I have a personal and professional relationship of more than 17 years with Alan Baker in this Method’s development, growth, and evolution. Alan Baker has shown being a person of honor, values, principles, and respect, aware of the responsibility of teaching, and with a high content of information and experience with the rank of Master Black Grade 3rd level.  He knows how to practice his profession and pass on his knowledge and experience in teaching students and training future instructors. I am proud to have Alan Baker as a member of my International Team, “Guardian of the Method.” and exponent of the Keysi Fighting Method in the U.S.

– Justo Diéguez (Creator and Founder of Keysi Fighting Method)

It is a pleasure and honor to recommend Coach Alan Baker for his exceptional teaching skills in many martial arts fields. With over four decades of continuous training & experience in martial arts, Sifu Baker has obtained advanced standing in over 20 martial arts systems, including a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu & Judo Black Belt, Combat Submission Wrestling, a Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Muay Thai Boxing & Filipino Kal. I have had the privilege to witness Coach Baker’s expertise and his skill in engaging with students of various levels firsthand. His proficiency in any martial arts field and his commitment to high-quality instruction make him an invaluable asset to any training or seminar environment. He is also an expert in developing successful businesses from martial arts associations and schools, adapting them to the necessities of the current society. I wholeheartedly recommend Coach Baker to anyone seeking to host a seminar in martial arts. His presence is enlightening and adds significant value to any martial arts training program.

Bogdan Suciu, KFM Senior Instructor

Alan Baker’s reputation as a world class designer, developer, and instructor of leading edge training is not only well deserved, it is reflected in every facet of the work he and his team at Baker Tactical Training and Design perform with the hallmark of true professionals – they make even the most complex tasks look easy! Case-in-point is the Vehicle Centric Defensive Tactics (VCDT) program he and his team designed, developed, and have continued to evolve over the course of more than a decade. From the very first time we introduced the program to one of our military clients to this very day, and regardless of whether we are delivering a VCDT course to military special operations and special mission units, law enforcement tactical teams, or private sector executive protection practitioners, the response is virtually identical. To a one, our students are impressed with not just how simple, straightforward, and effective the philosophies, tactics, and techniques that form the foundation of the program are, but just how applicable they are to the realities of their work.   

Joe Autera, President & CEO, Vehicle Dynamics Institute