Meet Dave Jenkins, Founder
Meet Ian Scott, Instructor
Meet Dave Jenkins
I started Rochester Personal Defense in 2003 after discovering that there is a need for someone
versatile to fill the gap between the small, feel good seminars and the martial arts dojos.
History
My interest in self defense started in 1993 when I was 'introduced' to the world of firearms by my father, who was the organizer of a pistol match at one of our local gun clubs. Right from the beginning, I felt I wanted to learn everything and anything about how to shoot my best and the legal rights and responsibilities of carrying a firearm. Under my Dad's watchful eyes, I quickly worked my way up from the most basic levels to an intermediate point where I felt confident and secure with my skills. I started developing the mindset for carrying a firearm for self defense fairly early and it has since expanded as my skills have grown.
It did not take long to figure out that I was learning one solution of a wider set of problems. I started looking into other forms of self defense, such as hand to hand, sprays, impact type weapons, etc. I found myself attending many different schools as I learned. I went through a police academy and received a New York State Police Certification. I went to training facilities around the East Coast and took classes in personal combatives, tactical operations, SWAT training, baton, pepper spray, edged weapons, firearms, and evasive driving. All of the training and experience that I received from those classes has been whittled down and separated into what I offer in the classes I teach.
Philosophy
The basic idea that I believe in is simple: I want to be able to live my life without the threat or fear of something bad happening to me. I have taken steps to ensure that I will have a better than average chance of prevailing in any encounter or situation I run into. I will win and I will go home every night, no matter what the odds, no matter what the situation. This statement may sound aggressive or harsh, but it is true and it is the attitude that you should have or should start developing in your life.
I believe in the "why" behind the "what" in my training. For instance: when I am attending a class, I learn better and faster by knowing WHY I am doing a skill or tactic, WHY it will make me safe and WHAT that skill or tactic will do to get me my end result. I can translate this into my teachings. For instance: when I am showing a student how to counter a punch, I also show them how to set yourself up to counter a secondary attack as well as set up your own defensive attack. As the skill (the 'what') is explained, I also add in the 'why' which puts the skill into the proper context thus the student actually will learn faster and better.
Women and Self Defense
I have been teaching shooting skills and combative skills since 1998, and in the past three years have started to gravitate towards working with more and more women that are looking for self defense and protection training. In my teaching experience, I have found that it is difficult for women to even begin looking for an instructor or even somewhere to go to learn self defense.
Most women are restricted by society's view that they should not have to protect themselves so they do not actively seek any training. They tend to face a multitude of barriers or hurdles; the biggest one is actually locating a facility for quality, common sense training, and then finding a competent, easy going, professional trainer that knows what to present and how to present it to the female student without seeming demeaning or pompous. The latter condition is the most important.
Training Experience:
Teaching Experience:
Community Involvement:
Meet Ian Scott
My interest in shooting sports started in 1966 when my father, a local law enforcement officer, introduced me to shooting and hunting. My interest in shooting sports with all types of firearms and archery equipment grew very rapidly from there. From these sports I learned discipline, self motivation, and the reward of training. Not mention I had a lot of fun!
When my two children became old enough to hunt and shoot, I discovered that being a boy in a rural community with a father who was an active shooter gave me opportunities to learn marksmanship skills no longer available to many. It was at this time of my life I decided to give back to the sport which had given me so much. In 1994 I became a NFAA Archery Instructor and in 1996, I became an NRA Firearms Instructor. I then set out to my share my love of shooting sports with as many people, young and old, as I could.
Teaching has been a very rewarding experience. I get so much enjoyment from seeing the success of my students. The beaming smile on a new shooter’s face when they succeed is the greatest reward an instructor can get. I meet many wonderful people, and oftentimes I learn as much from them as I teach them. My teaching style blends the seriousness necessary for the subject, humor to gain my student’s attention, and enthusiasm to affect my students in a positive way.
My Philosophy of Self Defense
As I became more proficient as defensive shooter, I began to realize that the only solution I had was the firearm, and it often wasn’t the best solution. They say timing is everything and this is when I met Dave. Dave offered me opportunities for training and shared philosophies that have made me a better prepared instructor and individual.
We should be alert and aware enough to see potential problems ahead and either avoid them (the best victory is for the battle not fought) or prepare the solution that affords the least liability to ones self and loved ones. We should have a variety of solutions that allow us the flexibility to solve a problem without using force if possible. But we need to be ready, willing, and able to use force to defend ourselves and our loved ones when all else fails. We will go home with those we love at the end of the day.
Perhaps the values that I taught my children says it best.
I taught my son to be kind, treat others with respect and avoid confrontation when possible, but not to wronged or injured by others. Also, when necessary, defend himself, the weak, and the less fortunate, but to remember that any confrontation has consequences for all parties involved. And often even the winner loses something.
I taught my daughter to a strong, independent, alert, and wise young lady. Not to let society set how she should act or be treated. Not to live in fear, but be prepared, confident, observant and a predator’s worst nightmare if they picked her. When I sent her away to college I was confident that her personality would make many a bad guy pass on bothering her and she was prepared to see and deal with those who didn’t.