EXPERT INSTRUCTOR

Sean Elders is the Founder and Head Instructor of Pinnacle Combat Arts Strategies inc. He has over 37 years of Martial Arts training, 26 years of firearms training, and 15 years of training Military, Law Enforcement, and 3 letter agencies. Sean Elders is unique to most Combative Instructors, because he has experience in an array of different types of Extreme Violent Altercations. His High pressure battle test mindset sets him apart from his peers. He has trained under the top instructor in the world in their field. His focus has been to strive for the best strategy and protocol in the industry of Reality Based Combative’s.  

“Firstly my objective to give our Soldiers the most effective & efficient tools necessary for the extreme conditions they will have to endure and adapt to. Secondly getting them back to their families safe, and focused on their personal Mind, Body, and Spirit balance.” 

-Sean Elders

INSTRUCTOR LINEAGE

PRIDE IN OUR LINEGE 

“I would say Lineage is so important, because the right mindset, the right behavior, the right spirit must be carried forward. All of the delusion, dogma, dysfunction, deceit, decadence, disappointment, and distortions must dissipate and be left behind. We must constantly be striving for greatness & progress, and we can only do this through change.”

– Sean Elders

GURO DAN INOSANTO

Sean Elders is a Certified Instructor under the Martial Arts Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dan Inosanto in:

  • JUN FAN GUNG FU
  • JEET KUNE DO
  • FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS

Dan Inosanto needs no real introduction, but for those new to the world of Martial Arts. He was best friends and training partner to the late Bruce Lee. Left with the torch of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, and the only one certified in Jeet Kune Do to further help others find their true way of adaptation through live motion. Dan was left with the heavy burden of responsibility to carry on the Jeet Kune Do philosophy and training progression.

Dan Inosanto is a legend in his own right advancing the progression of Martial Arts from MMA to Self defense by continuing to research. Opening his school to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu when no one would give the Gracies a chance and now a 5th degree Black Belt under Jean Jacques Machado. He also opened his school to the First Muay Thai Instructor Ajarn Surachai Sirisute of Thai Boxing Association. Japanese  Shooto world Champion Yori Nakamuri was invited in 1989. The list goes on. Guro Dan is the greatest contributor to the Martial Arts world, because of his JKD mentality of leaving behind old dogmatic ways of thinking and progress forward. 

Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr. 

Sean Elders is a Certified Instructor under the Martial Arts Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr. in:

  • Tactical Firearms
  • Edge Weapons
  • Impact Weapons
  • Empty hand
  • Tactical Team Engagement

Tuhon Leo is the sole heir of Pekiti Tirsia Kali which was founded in 1897, but a lineage dating back thousands of years. The Sole purpose of PTK is to provide Military, Law Enforcement, and Civilians the clear and direct approach to any and all combat situations. 

PTK is respected World Wide for it’s Tactical Deployment strategies. Tuhon Leo has been on Discovery Channel, History Channel, and National Geographic’s Demonstrating the effectiveness of PTK. 

PAUL VUNAK

Sean Elders is a Full Instructor under the World Renown Legend Paul Vunak in: 

  • Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do
  • Filipino Kali
  • Ground Fighting -BJJ
  • Rapid Assault Tactics
  • Advanced Law Enforcement Instructor 1 & 2
  • Advanced Edged Weapons 1 & 2
  • Trapping Out of the MMA Matrix
  • Women/Children Self Defense E.T.G.S.

Paul Vunak is one of the most well known and famous Martial Art Instructors in the World. His work with developing the Navy Seal Team Combative’s program well known in Military Circles. Paul Vunak has gone on to develop programs for the FBI, DEA, and many Law Enforcement Program across the nation. 

Paul Vunak was the one to introduce Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Dan Inosanto, and the Jeet Kune Do family. Paul Vunak went on to be the visionary and inspiration to the Gracie family to create the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Paul Vunak is a visionary in the fighting world and the development of instructional Videos. 

John “Jack” Bryan

Sean Elders was trained by John his Step Dad for 7 years from 1993 to 2001 in: 

  • Hand to Hand Combat – Operative Engagement
  • Edge Weapons
  • Impact Weapons
  • Tactical Firearms
  • Special Operations Training
  • In-fighting clinch Termination
  • World War 2 Combatives

John passed in 2002 from cancer, but left behind a legacy with his Step Son Sean of his training and experience in a 3 letter agency as a operative. Sean learned the meat and potatos of JKD and Kali Silat.

Sean learned the same intense training program as John learned, and went through a rigorous 3 day series of training Modules for 7 years. High Pressure intense combat exercises to develop the reflexes, adaptation, body mechanics, and agility. 

Sifu/Guro Lopez J. 

Sean Elders is a Full Instructor and trained from 2003 to 2008 with Sifu Lopez in:

  • Boxing / Kickboxing
  • Jiu-Jitsu / Wrestling
  • Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do
  • Filipino Kali
  • Silat
  • Offensive Fighting Tactics
  • Instructors Training
  • JKD Matrix
  • JKD live motion coach

Sifu Lopez was a teachers teacher, and was known for intense battling testing. Making sure his student knew how to adapt in the most intense environments. He had a vast understanding of Filipino Kali and Silat. He trained under several of Bruce Lee’s Original Students, and was a hardcore JKD fighter. 

He was old school and put Sean through high level of rigorous battle games. He use to say; “Don’t think you can, know you can, and only way you know you can is to be tested to the limit!”, and his training reflected that.

TACTICAL FIREARMS
  • 1992 – 1996 Rifle training – Boy Scouts of America
  • 1994 – 2001 Tactical Firearms Training – John Bryan
  • 2002 – 2003 S2 Institute – Advance Firearms and G License
  • 2002 – 2010 Executive Protection and Security Detail
  • 2014 – Present Advanced Tactical Firearms Training – Pekiti Tirsia Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr. 

MARTIAL ARTS CREDENTIALS 

1983 – 1992 Shaolin Kung Fu – Black Sash

1987 – 1997 Budo Ju-Jitsu – Black Belt

1987 – Present Tai Chi & Qigong – Lifetime Practitioner & Instructor

1994 – 2001 John “Jack” Bryan – Combative Training

2000 – Present Inosanto Academy Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do – Instructor Rank

2000 – Present Inosanto Academy in Filipino Kali Silat – Instructor Rank

2000 – Present Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu No Gi – No Rank 

2002 – 2007 American Kenpo Karate – Black Belt 3rd Dan

2003 – 2008 JKD, Kali, Silat, OFT Survival Solutions John Lopez – Full Instructor

2004-2007 Kyokushinkai Karate

2006 – 2008 Sand Shou or Sanda Kickboxing & Boxing training under Ali Tareh

2006 – 2013 Training with Paul Vunak – Full Instructor

2005 – Present Wing Chun – Under several Instructors – No Rank

2012 – Present Pekiti Tirsia Kali under Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr. – Instructor Level

2000 – Present Francis Fong Wing Chun – Seminars

2000 – Present Muay Thai Ajarn Surachai Sirisute – Seminars

2000 – Present Jean Jacques Machado – Seminars

2017 & 2018 Garimot Arnis – under Chieftain Abon “Garimot” Baet – Seminars