Advanced Defensive Strategies

Advanced Defensive Strategies teaches what actually matters when your life depends on it. Based in the Madison area and serving South and Central Wisconsin, they cut through the noise of YouTube "experts" and fitness influencers to focus on defensive fundamentals rooted in physics, law, and stress response.

They offer multiple focused tracks:

• •Concealed Carry - Core curriculum covering legal carry, threat recognition, draw mechanics from concealment, stress shooting
• •Introduction to Handguns - For new shooters: grip, stance, sight picture, fundamentals specific to defensive pistols
• •Defensive Shooting Skills - Movement while shooting, multiple threat engagement, shot placement under pressure
• •Home Defense - Securing your space, family safety protocols, room clearing, tactical positioning
• •Institutional Defense - Armed security and workplace defense concepts
• •Women's Self Defense - Tailored instruction addressing specific threat profiles and physical considerations
• •Concealed Carry Curriculum - Comprehensive pathway from fundamentals through advanced decision-making

"Practicing quick drawing and firing is essential, but cannot replicate a real attack for two reasons. First, the stress factor. Bad things happen under stress. You fall back to your lowest level of training."

Instructor John Westra doesn't sell fantasy. His teaching covers:

The Physics of Defense - Why "stopping power" is Hollywood fiction. Why momentum favors an attacker even after being shot. What actually happens to accuracy under stress (trained officers miss at 6 feet with 50% of their rounds).

Legal Reality - Brandishing definitions vary by jurisdiction and prosecutor. Drawing your gun—even without firing—can get you prosecuted. Self-defense insurance isn't optional; it's survival planning.

Practical Gear Decisions - Whether you need a $3,000 Wilson Combat or a reliable $400 option. How to choose handguns based on fit, not marketing. Why carry ammunition needs replacement twice yearly (vibration, temperature, humidity degradation).

Pre-Attack Indicators - Situational awareness training to avoid the fight entirely. Recognizing when someone's about to commit violence. Distance management. De-escalation when possible.

Phone: 608-274-4333 Email: [email protected] Service Area: South and Central Wisconsin

They point students toward vetted information sources: - Armed Attorneys - Legal analysis from experienced Second Amendment attorneys Emily Taylor and Richard Hayes - Stop the Threat - Tactical and threat analysis content - Wilson Combat - Reference for defensive firearms standards