Who we are
Meet Your Instructors: Brian and Johanna Williams
Johanna and Brian Williams bring a unique blend of deep training, real-world experience, and shared passion to personal safety instruction. High school sweethearts who have been together ever since, their journey into the martial arts began in 2001 and has evolved into a lifelong commitment to empowering others.
Training Background: Combat Kuntao Experts
Johanna and Brian are highly accomplished martial artists who began their training under Grand Master Samuel Scott in the Combat Kuntao system. Combat Kuntao is a powerful, Filipino-based reality self-defense system focused on practical and immediate protection.
Both Johanna and Brian currently hold the rank of 4th Degree Black Belt and serve as Senior Instructors. Their comprehensive training covers all critical aspects of self-defense, including:
Empty Hand Combat
Edged Weapon Defense
Impact Weapon Techniques
Flexible Weapons (whip, rope, etc.)
Pressure Point Application
Over 15 Years of Empowering Others
With over 15 years of active teaching experience, Johanna and Brian have made personal safety instruction their mission. They have taught in a wide variety of settings, ranging from focused personal safety workshops to extensive corporate training programs.
Their passion is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to know how to protect themselves and their loved ones. They are dedicated to translating their advanced, practical training into accessible, confidence-building skills for every one of their students.
At Guardian Compass, we don't just teach techniques—we instill the mindset and skills necessary for true personal protection. We understand that taking the step toward personal safety training is a profound act of self-reliance, and we are honored to be your guide.
Brian Williams
Brian Williams, Lead Instructor
Brian Williams is a highly decorated professional dedicated to providing practical, real-world personal safety training. His expertise is forged through decades of instruction in martial arts, international security operations, and frontline law enforcement leadership.
Executive Protection Expertise
Brian Williams possesses specialized training and practical experience in providing close personal security and dignitary protection.
Certification: He received his specialized training certification through At-Risk Protective Training.
Experience: His operational experience includes working in dignitary protection.
Role: He has performed the duties of both a detail team member and executed protection as an individual close protection agent.
Expert Instructor & Trainer
Brian's commitment to instruction began with a rigorous background in reality-based self-defense:
Martial Arts & Defensive Tactics: In 2007, he began instructing Combat Kuntao under Grandmaster Samuel Scott, establishing his foundation in close-quarters personal safety. He later became a Defensive Tactics Instructor with Elite Training Group LLC.
Firearms Expertise: Brian has been a certified NRA Pistol Instructor since 2013 and is an expert in the safe and effective use of firearms.
International Operations: For 18 months, Brian served as the Director of Operations in the UAE, where he was responsible for teaching Use of Force, Defensive Tactics, and Firearms to the Abu Dhabi Police Force.
Law Enforcement Leadership & Tactical Experience
Brian's instructional depth is reinforced by a distinguished career in law enforcement with the Anne Arundel Sheriff’s Office (beginning in 2016):
Frontline Operations: After graduating from the police academy, he served on the Warrant Apprehension Team, responsible for serving arrest warrants and apprehending wanted offenders. He rose quickly through the ranks, achieving the position of Warrant Team Sergeant and later being promoted to Lieutenant of Operations in 2022.
Instructor Cadre: Brian was a key member of the agency's Emergency Response Team (ERT) and a primary instructor for the training cadre, certifying officers in:
Firearms
Taser
OC (Oleoresin Capsicum)
Defensive Tactics (DT)
Active Shooter Response
Tactical Medical (Care Under Fire)
CPR
A Commitment Forged in Crisis
Brian’s deep commitment to safety and his expertise in immediate, decisive action were solidified during a critical event:
Active Shooter Response: On June 28, 2018, Brian was the fourth officer on scene and the second to enter the building and the room containing the active shooter in Annapolis, Maryland.
Honors and Recognition: For his actions, he was awarded the Metal of Valor and Deputy of the Year, among other community honors. Since this event, he has become a leading resource for teaching specialized Active Shooter Response courses to both law enforcement and the public private industry.
Brian Williams brings this wealth of experience—from the tactical mat to the front line of crisis response—directly into every course taught by Guardian Compass.
johanna Williams
Johanna Williams, Assistant Instructor
Johanna Williams is a Senior Instructor at Guardian Compass, combining two decades of elite martial arts discipline with a passion for real-world personal safety and firearms training. She is the embodiment of our mission: empowering individuals, especially women and teens, to confidently take control of their own defense.
A Foundation in Empowerment
A Senior Instructor in Combat Kuntao, Johanna is driven by the belief that empowerment starts with preparedness. She has been instrumental in training hundreds of women in self-protection as a Senior Instructor for the Woman's Personal Safety Network. Her commitment extends to the community, where she regularly leads free personal safety workshops and hosts effective corporate trainings.
Johanna specializes in building mindset and awareness alongside physical skills. She conducts focused woman-only workshops and provides specialized training for teen girls heading off to college. This dedication to practical defense is further highlighted by her certification as a "Defender" key chain weapon Instructor.
Expertise in Firearms & Tactics
Beyond hand-to-hand defense, Johanna brings nearly 20 years of experience as an avid shooter. She maintains her edge by continually seeking out and attending multiple advanced firearms training courses. Her expertise has reached a global level, including significant work assisting in the training of the UAE police force.
At Guardian Compass, Johanna leverages her diverse background—from martial arts mastery to advanced shooting—to provide training that is comprehensive, effective, and tailored to the modern need for self-protection.
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