Lee Morrison
In 2019, I started looking into self defense as a new side hustle. Earlier in my adult life I had studied and practiced Pai Lum, a mix of kung fu and kenpo.
Thus, self defense seemed like a good direction to go.
In my research and associations with Damian Ross and George Hutchings of The Self Defense Company, I learned about combatives as a better approach to dealing with street violence.
It was then I discovered the work of Lee Morrison, founder of Urban Combatives in the UK.
Lee is the primary inspiration for this website, as he has made it his life’s work to cultivate Tier 1 Civilians.
Lee essentially defines a Tier 1 Civilian as someone who possesses many of the skills of special operators who work in the military, particularly those who are part of Delta Force or Seal Team Six in the US military.
In other words, his idea of the Tier 1 Civilian is rooted in their proficiency in empty hand fighting and use of weapons.
Morrison cites the need for Tier 1 Civilians in western countries given the breakdown in law and order we are witnessing throughout western society.
He has noted the increase in violence in the UK, where there are no 2nd Amendment rights and civilians are not even allowed to carry pepper spray.
Much of this has occurred since 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic changed how governments interacted with their citizens.
Governments throughout the western world have made it clear that citizens are effectively on their own in regard to protecting themselves and their homes.
I created this website to provide a resource for anyone interested in learning how to defend themselves and how to make a positive impact on their own community by teaching others.
However, I have noted that in the US, the primary focus is on firearms training, and not enough attention is paid to other aspects of self protection.
I have noted that many people within the fitness community who focus primarily on training average people to help them get strong are also involved in martial arts and self-defense.
Therefore, strength training and legitimate fitness training are included as another discipline under the umbrella of Tier 1 Civilian.
My goal is to expand awareness of the need for people to become more responsible for their own safety, and to help promote the Tier 1 Civilians among us to get training.
