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WHAT is best defense concepts?

Best Defense Concepts, founded by Peter Honigmann, is a forward thinking company focused on providing effective self-defense training and products to law enforcement and civilians.

Peter Honigmann

– Awarded 1st Degree Black Belt from JP Wood Martial Arts

– Certified Advanced Fundamentals Instructor through Jared Wihongi/Survival Edge Tactical Systems Inc.
 
– Master Instructor for The G.L.O.V.E. (a conducted electrical weapon) through Compliant Technologies
 
– Certified O.C.(Pepper Spray) Instructor through Use of Force Training, Inc.
– Certified Instructor for the Impact Edge Weapon through Use of Force Training, Inc.
 
– Certified in Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED through the American Red Cross
 

In 1984, Peter Honigmann started his journey in martial arts in Kenpo Karate under Grandmaster John McSweeney, a pioneer in reality-based self-defense.  John served in multiple branches of the military, was one of Ed Parker’s first black belts, introduced Kenpo Karate to Ireland, worked as a bodyguard for the Kennedy family, and opened a martial arts studio in Elmhurst, Illinois (which is still teaching his style of Kenpo).  Peter was drawn to John’s powerful style of teaching, which focused on simple and effective self-defense.  Peter trained in Kenpo for 12 years under John, John’s student Tom Saviano, and Mr. Saviano’s student Steve Rigitano.

While Peter enjoyed the focus that Kenpo placed on powerful strikes, low kicks, and practical self-defense techniques, he was in search of techniques that would better address attacks with clubs, guns and knives, as well as arts that would provide more focus on joint locks and control holds to complement his striking skills.  This search lead him to a number of other styles, including: Krav Maga, Kali/Escrima, Hapkido/Aikido, and Michael Janich’s Martial Blade Concepts.

In 2012, after studying martial arts and self-defense for 28 years, Peter decided it was time to start teaching, so he created Best Defense Concepts.  Peter’s goal was to create a way for people to study practical self-defense without worrying about the “art”, uniforms and testing.  Looking back at his time with John McSweeney, Peter took what he learned through the years, found what he believed were the simplest and most effective strikes, and focused on teaching students how to deal with the most common street attacks.  Peter also addressed two failings he saw in many other schools and systems: 1) providing students with a range of options (from de-escalation, to joint locks, strikes, and the use of simple self-defense tools), and 2) making sure that students have a basic understanding of the law of self-defense.

Then in 2019, Peter met Jeff Niklaus, founder of Compliant Technologies, at the 2019 GSX Security Expo in Chicago, and experienced The G.L.O.V.E. (“Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter”) for the first time.  After feeling the effect of the GLOVE personally, Peter was convinced this easy to use, and very effective product, needed to be made available to all law enforcement agencies, and soon thereafter he became a Master Instructor and Distributor for Compliant Technologies.  Peter is now traveling to law enforcement and security conferences, meeting with law enforcement agencies and officers throughout the Midwest, and introducing them to CT’s new line of conducted electrical weapons, designed to help law enforcement and security officers quickly bring suspects into compliance.  Because of the reduced amount of force required to gain compliance while using The G.L.O.V.E., officers and suspects suffer fewer, if any, injuries.

SOME OF BDC’S RECENT SEMINARS AND CLASSES

Held at Martial Arts Schools

American Tiger Karate Academy, Elk Grove Village – Self-Defense Classes and Seminars
JP Wood Martial Arts, Palatine – Home Intruder Self-Defense Seminar
Spider Gym, Wheeling – Self-Defense Classes

Presented at Organizations and Businesses

Food Executive Women’s organization, Oak Brook – seminar
Lulafit – seminar
Univ. of Illinois-Chicago, Perinatal Center – seminar
Hinsdale/Oakbrook Rotary Club – seminar
Loyola University’s Eta Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma
On Your Toes Academy of Dance, Buffalo Grove – self-defense seminar for students and parents
Hoffman Smiles Dental Group – self-defense trainings for two locations
Reviewtracker, Chicago  – seminar
Lawrence House, Chicago – seminar
Redline Athletics in Buffalo Grove – self-defense training for students and parents
Racine Cub Scouts (WI) – Seminar
Strive Consulting, Chicago – Seminar
14 Chairs Art Gallery, Chicago  – self-defense trainings
C.I.T.Y Gym, Chicago – self-defense training for students and parents
Orland Park Library – in-house self-defense training for 90 library staff members
CRU – training missionaries in basic self-defense for 1- year overseas trips
American Women’s Self Defense Association – seminar on the law of self-defense

Focused on Adults and Teens

Mount Prospect Library – Adult Self-Defense Seminars
Indian Trails Library – Teen Self-Defense Seminars
Summer Institute for the Gifted – University of Chicago – 3 week teen self-defense class
Sandwich Public Library – Teen and Adult self-defense seminar
Lisle Public Library – Teen and Adults self-defense seminar 
Aurora Public Library – Teen and Adults self-defense seminar
Maywood Public Library – Teen and Adults self-defense seminar

Tailored to Seniors

Vernon Township – recurring self-defense short courses
Arlington Heights Senior Center – several self-defense short courses
Schaumburg Friendship Village – seminars
Garlands of Barrington – Self-Defense trainings
Frisbie Senior Center– Seminars and self-defense trainings
Elmhurst Park District –Seminar
Arbor Place of Lisle – Seminar
Wood Dale Public Library – seminar
Franklin Park Public Library – seminar
Glenview Public Library – seminar
Poplar Creek Public Library – seminar
Carriage Oaks Senior Center, St. Charles – seminar
WOW (Widows and Widowers), Elmhurst – presentation
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