Empower Training Systems

Self Defense

Welcome to the Empower Training Systems’ (ETS) personal safety / self defense training program. Information for our self defense products and services is divided up according to:

• Self Defense Instructor training, continuing education & certification (national, regional and local training available)
• General public (individuals, private groups, public groups, corporations, organizations, etc) self defense training

Program History

ETS founder Tim Rochford began teaching self defense to the general public in 1982. The program was initially named Dynamic Personal Defense Systems. The name ‘Dynamic’ was used because Rochford recognized that each new training group required a program that could dynamically change or be custom-designed to meet their specific needs. Thus, the philosophy behind the core program was ‘born’ and has continued to evolve with each new training experience.

The ETS self defense training programs continue to evolve in order to meet new demands, needs and challenges as dictated by today’s and tomorrow’s ever-changing environment!

Program Philosophy

The current Empower Self Defense program is offered under the name ‘Proactive Personal Security’ (PPS). The word “Proactive” is the key to our self defense philosophy: “The best defense is a prepared offense.”