Randy's Bio - Harris Combative Strategies

Randy Harris founded Harris Combative Strategies after spending 15 years as Suarez International's longest-serving staff instructor, where he taught over 200 classes across the eastern United States. He's been teaching Handgun Carry Permit classes in Tennessee since 1999 and holds certifications from Rangemaster (Master Firearms Instructor), the NRA (Pistol Instructor), and Glock (Factory Armorer).

Randy doesn't just teach marksmanship—he teaches fighting. He spent years working security in nightclubs, giving him practical experience in de-escalation, situational awareness, and understanding when to fight versus when to talk your way out. That real-world foundation shapes everything he teaches.

"I use competitive shooting as just a part of my overall regimen training for interpersonal conflict, not as the main reason for my training."

• •Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit certification
• •Combative Pistol (fundamentals through advanced)
• •Defensive Shotgun
• •Knife and edged weapons combatives
• •Extreme close-quarters gunfighting
• •Force-on-force (FOF) interactive training
• •Vehicle gunfighting
• •Tactical medicine for armed citizens

Randy competes at a high level and uses that to test his teaching. He's won multiple IDPA State Championships (Tennessee and Georgia Back Up Gun divisions, 2022), finished 5th at the 2023 IDPA World Championship in Master Back Up Gun, and has over 100 competition wins since 1999. He's also presented at the Rangemaster Tactical Conference and attended the 2023 Professional Trainers' Symposium.

His curriculum is built on training from the best in the business:

• •Suarez International – Ultimate Combat Skills, FOF, shotgun, rifle, knife fighting, tactical medicine
• •Rangemaster / Tom Givens – Combative Pistol, Advanced Instructor Development, Defensive Shotgun
• •ShivWorks / Craig Douglas – Extreme close quarters, knife tactics, armed movement
• •Rogers Shooting School – Advanced pistol (top shooter in class)
• •Gabe White Training – Pistol Shooting Solutions
• •Massad Ayoob Group – Armed Citizens Rules of Engagement