South Florida · Est. training for civilian defenders
Train with purpose.Prepare with confidence.
Martial Arms Defensive Strategies teaches responsible, progressive firearms and personal-safety skills — from your first time handling a pistol to scenario-based decision-making under pressure.
- Structured courses
- 13Structured courses
- Class sizes
- SmallClass sizes
- Experience levels
- AllExperience levels
Safety is the curriculum
Every class opens with a safety brief and stays under direct instructor supervision. Rules are explained, not just enforced, so good habits hold up under stress.
Skills that build in order
Courses are sequenced deliberately: handling, marksmanship, defensive mechanics, then judgment. You always know what comes next and why it matters.
Coaching, not spectating
Class sizes stay small so you get individual correction, honest feedback, and enough repetitions for the skill to actually stick.
The training path
A clear route from first shot to sound judgment
You do not need to guess what to take next. Each step assumes the one before it, and nothing is skipped for convenience.
- STEP 1
Basic Pistol Skills & Drills
Safe handling and the fundamentals that everything else is built on.
- STEP 2
Defensive Pistol Skills & Drills
Draw, reload, remediate, and shoot accurately under structured pressure.
- STEP 3
Force on Target
Marking-cartridge scenarios that test movement, cover, and decisions.
- STEP 4
Force on Force
Judgment against a thinking opponent, where not shooting is often correct.
- STEP 5
Advanced Defensive Pistol Strategies & Tactics
Movement, positional shooting, and measured performance standards.
Next on the calendar
Upcoming classes
New dates are being finalized. Call 954-477-1576 and we will tell you what is coming next.
Course catalog
Find the right starting point
Scenario-based training
The hardest skill is deciding, not shooting
Force on Target and Force on Force use marking cartridges and full protective equipment to put you in realistic, evolving situations. You practice movement, use of cover, communication, and — just as often — recognizing when the correct answer is not to fire.
Live ammunition is strictly prohibited in these courses. Every participant is inspected before entering the training area, without exception.
Your instructors
Taught by people who teach for a living
Dr. Victor "Ed" Cambas
Senior Instructor
Founder and senior instructor at Martial Arms Defensive Strategies, leading the progressive curriculum from fundamentals through scenario-based training.
Haylee Cambas
Instructor
Instructor focused on helping new and returning students build safe, confident firearm handling from the ground up.
Coller Cambas
Instructor
Instructor supporting drills, scenario work, and range safety across the M.A.D.S. curriculum.
Student feedback
What students say after training
The course is complete in all aspects of firearms training. My gun safety, handling, and shooting skills have improved tremendously. I recommend everyone take these courses from the beginning all the way through to the last one.
Today's class was an awesome experience. The techniques and skills learned apply to real-life situations. Dr. Ed, Haylee, and Coller teach safety and defensive techniques that are paramount. I would recommend this course, and all of their classes, to anyone who carries a firearm.
The Force on Target course was fantastic. Their focus on proper gun handling and safety is impressive, and those fundamentals are always built into the drills. The realistic scenario drills reinforce techniques that can be life-saving. I thoroughly enjoyed the course.
Not sure where to start? Neither were most of our students.
Tell us your experience level and what you want to be ready for. We will recommend an honest starting point — even if that means waiting for the right class.
12191 Taft Street, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026