Defense Training International

Defense Training International exists to teach you what happens after you decide to own a firearm for personal protection. They don't sell feel-good platitudes—they teach physical, legal, and psychological realities.

John S. Farnam, president of DTI, is one of the world's top handgun instructors. He's personally trained thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, plus civilians. His credentials include:

• •Tactical Advocate of the Year (1996, National Tactical Association)
• •Black Belt Magazine's Living Legends (2009)
• •Author of four books: The Farnam Method of Defensive Handgunning, The Farnam Method of Defensive Shotgun and Rifle Shooting, The Street Smart Gun Book, and Guns & Warriors – DTI Quips Volume 1

Vicki L. Farnam teaches alongside John and has developed a powerful program for teaching female students. Her expertise in women's firearms instruction has brought her into contact with federal, state, and local enforcement agencies worldwide. She's authored:

• •Teaching Women to Shoot: A Law Enforcement Instructor's Guide
• •Women Learning to Shoot: A Guide for Law Enforcement Officers

Both instructors travel the world annually teaching defensive marksmanship and tactics.

DTI wants to ensure that students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.

Their approach: Make up your mind in advance what you'll do when faced with an imminent and unlawful lethal threat. Understand the unpleasant realities of the world. Then make informed decisions about your personal security—because that responsibility is always yours alone.

Defensive Handgun (2-Day) - Classroom: Situation awareness, threat evaluation, force continuum, courtroom savvy, physio/psychological aspects of lethal encounters - Range: Threat evaluation, risk identification, lethal threat management, precision shooting, discretionary shooting, low-light shooting (with/without flashlight), cover and movement, performing under stress - Ammunition required: 400 rounds - Typical format: Weekend with low-light session on day one

Advanced Defensive Handgun (2-Day) - For DTI Defensive Handgun course alumni - Covers retention, disarms, close-range shooting, unfamiliar systems, team tactics, advanced low-light drills - Prerequisite: Basic handgun training from DTI or comparable program - Ammunition required: 400 rounds

Advanced Defensive Handgun (1-Day) - For DTI graduates only - Focus: Retention, disarms, close-range shooting, topics not covered in other DTI courses - Ammunition required: 400 rounds - Equipment needed: Sturdy belt, high-quality concealable belt holster, magazine carriers, safety glasses, hearing protection, baseball cap, rain gear - Calibers accepted: .38Spl, .357Mag, .380Auto, 9mm, 9X23, .357Sig, .40S&W, .45GAP, .45ACP - Calibers NOT accepted: .22 rimfire, .25Auto, .32Auto, 5.7X28

Dynamic Handgun (1-Day) - Live-fire course with defensive scenarios - For experienced operators - Ammunition required: 400 rounds - Back-up pistol recommended

Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting for Women (1-Day) - Women-only class taught by Vicki Farnam - Safe handling, storage, concealed carrying, drawing from holster/purse/fanny-pack, practical marksmanship - Ammunition required: 250 rounds - Tuition: $400

Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting for Women (2-Day) - Extended version for women with more comprehensive training - Same instructor, expanded curriculum

Defensive Urban Rifle (2-Day) - Short to medium ranges, rapid target acquisition, improvised shooting positions, snap-shooting, deliberate fire - Single and multiple targets with decision-making drills - Recommended: Military autoloaders (AR-15 pattern, AK pattern) - Acceptable: Some lever-action rifles - NOT accepted: Bolt guns, rimfire rifles, slug-shooting shotguns - Mandatory: Slings for hot range operations - Sights: Military peep, iron sights, or low-power forward-mounted scopes preferred (high-mag, high-profile scopes not recommended) - Bring: Knee pads, binoculars - Ammunition required: 400 rounds - Warning: Rifles may get scratched during strenuous use

Defensive Shotgun (1 or 2-Day) - Safe loading, unloading, storage for home defense - Quick target acquisition, appropriate response, stoppage reduction - Recommended: Remington 870 pump, Remington 1187 autoloader, Beretta 1201 autoloader, Benelli Super 90 autoloader, Mossberg 590 pump (all in law enforcement versions) - Gauge: 12 or 20 acceptable - Barrel length: Not exceeding 20 inches - Stock: Fixed or folding required - Mandatory: Slings for hot range - Ammunition: 100 rounds of 00 buckshot (standard 9-pellet loading from Federal, Remington, Winchester preferred) - Avoid: Winchester pump/autoloader, Ithaca pump/autoloader, magnum loadings, birdshot, reduced-recoil loads

FlexCCarry™ Solutions Instructor Course (3-Day) - Taught by Vicki Farnam - Gun-handling safety for Flex concealed carry with carry bags - Holster pockets, draw steps, reholstering, on-demand accuracy - Teaching skills for women, handgun operating systems, personal protection application

Tactical Treatment of Gunshot Wounds (1-Day) - NON-shooting course - For firearm instructors, home owners/defenders, police officers - Curriculum by Dr. Anthony M. Barrera (Doc Gunn) - Instruction by John Farnam - Topics: Effects of bullets on human tissue, surgical bullet placement, identifying life-threatening injuries, hemorrhage control, emergency medical services access, GSW response kit maintenance - Designed for non-medical personnel as primary responders

Armed Response to Terrorist Attack (2-Day) - For operators with previous pistol and rifle training - Live-fire scenarios in movie theaters, restaurants, shopping malls, active-shooter situations - Mixed rifle/pistol emphasis (heavy on pistol) - Scenarios: Start with pistol, retrieve rifle, finish drill - Threats mixed with non-threats, long-distance pistol shooting - Requirements: At least one pistol and one rifle, spare magazines, safety equipment, concealment gear, slings - Ammunition: 300 rounds pistol, 400 rounds rifle

DTI offers courses nationwide at rotating locations. Schedule includes:

• •December 2025: El Paso, TX (Urban Rifle, Defensive Handgun, Combo)

2026 Locations: - Okeechobee, FL (Vehicle Defense) - Hollister, MO (Teaching Women to Shoot) - Sorrento, LA (FlexCCarry Instructor) - Shawnee, OK (FlexCCarry Instructor) - Nunn, CO (Urban Rifle) - Sussex, NJ (Advanced Defensive Handgun) - Yadkinville, NC (FlexCCarry Instructor) - White House, TN (Urban Rifle, Defensive Shotgun, Combo) - Coraopolis, PA (Armed Response to Terrorist Attack) - Waynesburg, PA (Instructor Development) - Fairplay, CO (Three-Gun) - North Canton, OH (Defensive Handgun) - Kankakee, IL (Comprehensive Instructor Development for Women) - Cisco, GA (FlexCCarry Instructor) - Slidell, LA (Women's Defensive Handgun, Defensive Shotgun, Combo) - Naples, FL (Defensive Handgun, Defensive Shotgun, Combo) - Ludlow Falls, OH (Tactical Treatment of Gunshot Wounds, FlexCCarry, Defensive Revolver, Combo packages)

• •Real-world instruction: Tactics based on actual defensive situations, not theory
• •Qualified instructors: John and Vicki Farnam are recognized worldwide; John trained thousands of law enforcement professionals
• •Women-specific training: Vicki's program changes how the entire training industry approaches teaching female shooters
• •Comprehensive scope: From basic handgun to tactical medicine to terrorist attack response
• •Customization: Beyond the listed courses, DTI tailors programs to individual needs—contact them about specialized training
• •No nonsense: Focus on hard decisions, legal consequences, and practical skills—not marketing hype

Book orders: [email protected]

For specialized programs or questions about prerequisites: Contact DTI directly through their website

Free "Quips" (witty remarks on firearms, training, and tactics): Subscribe via their website