Personal Defense Industries LLC

Kore Self-Defense is the Personal Defense Industries’ physical training center located in Loudoun County, Virginia providing self-defense training built from a Krav Maga Curriculum originally developed by Eyal Yanilov. Building from this foundation, our curriculum is fueled by continuous research in the evolution of conflict and violence in the post-modern world. Unlike other Krav Maga based programs, our goals are not based on a systemic martial arts paradigm. We focus instead on what is relevant to our students now – today.

Krav Maga & Chiron Training

Krav Maga is our “hardware” and reality based self-defense is our “software”. Our Program Developer & Owner works collaboratively with Chiron Training & the International Violence Dynamics Team to keep our principle based self-defense training program relevant, effective, and current. Once certified, our instructors are required to continue their training; keeping their physical and instructional skills current. Like Karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and other martial arts, students can train and test for ranks designated by patches as a nod to our military history.

Before you step on the mat,
we encourage you to meet our team.

KORE SELF DEFENSE LEADERSHIP

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Tammy Yard-McCracken
Meet Owner & Program Director, Tammy Yard-McCracken
Andrea Boyer
Andrea BoyerDirector, General Operations & Senior Instructor, Adult Program
Andrea (Andi) Boyer earned her first instructor certification through Krav Maga Global. She is certified through Kore Self-Defense’s instructor college, is a health coach and a pilates instructor with over 15 years experience. As Kore’s Operations Director, she assists in research/development for the training center, manages daily operations alongside the owner, and as a senior instructor teaches both fitness and self-defense classes in our adult program.

Andi’s Krav Maga training resume includes time with Eyal Yanilov, Ilya Dunsky, Jan Tavini and Alan Predolin. She has also clocked multiple hours training with Rory Miller, Terry Trahan, Randy King, & Kasey Keckeisen – all members of the Violence Dynamics cadre.

Andi is the primary instructor in Kore’s unique, principle-based onboarding course [required for all prospective members] contributing to it’s evolution with her depth of knowledge in biomechanics. She participated in Kore’s first instructor college becoming certified as a Krav Maga Global instructor inside of 18 months.

Outside the Gym:

Andi is a hardcore music lover and a staunch supporter of all things Canadian (hint, that’s where she’s from). She spends as much time outdoors as she can hiking her way around Northern Virginia. Andi spends some of her free time researching and reading about self-defense and is a fan of the New England Patriots, hockey and UFC. She and her husband Jesse, have lived in the DMV area for several years.

Mike Devine
Mike DevineDirector, Kore Warriors Program & Certified Instructor, Adult Program
Mike has been a practicing Martial Artist for 16 years. He trained in Tae Kwon Do to earn his 2nd Degree Black Belt and Head Instructor rank. While training and teaching in TKD, he provided instruction in both Adult and Kids’ classes. His Tae Kwon Do experience expanded into Hapkido and Judo.

Mike has been training at Kore since 2013, eventually earning his instructor certification. He is the acting program for Kore’s Warrior (youth) program and brings his expertise to the adult program as well. Mike shares that his
training has helped in all aspects of his life, particularly in his work as an armed security officer.

He credits Kore with his ability to apply appropriate logic, timing, and responses in handling difficult situations: “The basics we practice with de-escalation, timeline, and situational awareness are my go-to tools for each interaction with the public. Learning to “other” myself and take the emotional responses out of how I interact with clients and potential problematic people are the foundation of how I operate thanks to Kore’s training and our affiliation with the people from Violence Dynamics. I love being a part of this tribe with all the people and families that help make us who we are.”

INSTRUCTOR CADRE

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Dan McCracken
Dan McCrackenCertified Instructor
Dan earned a Krav Maga instructor certification originally with Krav Maga Global, Eyal Yanilov & Emmanuel Ayache. He lends his support to the development team as an acting law enforcement consultant & regular instructor. He is currently certified through Kore’s Instructor College program and carries extensive certifications as an instructor in a vast arena of personal security related skill sets. He brings over 23 years in law enforcement at the local and federal levels to our team.

Amy Maxwell
Amy MaxwellCertified Instructor
Amy Maxwell’s original certification as a Krav Maga instructor was granted by Krav Maga Global. She has continued her education as an instructor with extensive training in other fighting systems and is currently certified by Kore Self-Defense’s Instructor College.

Amy began training at Kore Krav Maga in our first 6 months of operation and has been an integral element in our efforts to increase the number of female instructors here in the area & in the U.S. She utilizes her understanding of goal development and what it takes to accomplish difficult tasks in her work with students on the mat.
Jesse Boyer
Jesse BoyerCertified Instructor
Jesse Boyer’s original instructor certification was granted by Krav Maga Global. He is a valuable member of our instructor cadre and is currently certified through the Kore Instructor College. He has continued his training with industry experts Rory Miller, Alan Predolin, Terry Trahan and Randy King.

He is a powerful example of someone who understands good tactical thinking never relies on sheer power & size. From a career perspective, Jesse has worked in the financial industry, including a stint at the world bank. What this means on the mat? He possesses a depth in understanding human behavior when confronting something with multi-layered levels of importance and personal meaning. If you are training in self-defense, this knowledge is a valuable element.
Roy French
Roy FrenchLead Coach, Kore Warriors
Bio coming soon!
Jacob Shepard
Jacob ShepardCertified Instructor
Jacob joined the instructor team the Fall of 2020 earning his full instructor certification after nearly 24 months of work to the achievement. His dedication and commitment to excellence reflects his ability to provide insightful direction to students working on the mat. He brings with him 10 years of training experience in Krav Maga & Self-Defense.

He currently works as an analyst for the Federal Government, and previously functioned as a background investigator for persons seeking security clearances. His background in psychology includes studies in both forensic and legal psychology with experience working with individuals charged with domestic and/or sexual violence.
Rory Miller
Rory MillerConsigliere
As Consigliere, Rory supports the training programs as Subject Matter Expert in Violence Dynamics and advisor to curriculum development/programming in the self-defense program. Kore’s foundations of self-defense course, The Kore Training Course, is a product of the Rory’s collaboration with our Chief Instructor, Tammy McCracken. For more information on Rory Miller, his training series and published works we encourage you to visit his website: Chiron Training.

Personal Defense Industries Instructor College

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Our Instructor College is open to qualified, enrolled Kore Self-Defense Students. Becoming a certified instructor requires commitment, technical proficiency in the physical skills, and academic competency in self-defense instruction. Instructor certification is an apprentice/internship process with periodic assessment toward final credentialing.

HIGH PERFORMANCE SELF DEFENSE TRAINING

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Kore Self Defense Women Training
Kore Self Defense and Krav Maga
Kore Self Defense and Krav Maga
Kore Self Defense and Krav Maga
Kore Self Defense and Krav Maga
Kore Self Defense and Krav Maga
Kore Self Defense Krav Maga Training
Kore Self Defense Krav Maga Training
Kore Self Defense Krav Maga Women Training

Achieve Your Goals

Flexible membership packages to suit all levels of training to help achieve your self defense goals

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