• Learn How to BE Secure
• Teach your kids how to BE Secure
Today's threats are real and dangerous. Our solutions will significantly enhance your security and your ability to be able to teach your kids how to BE secure.
The things that we have been led to believe keep us secure — don't.
Your security is your responsibility.
Your kids security is your GREATER responsibility.
"We are for "regular" people who recognize that threats exist and want the strongest personal, family, and home security possible without a desire or time to commit to mastering skills and techniques."
— Terry L. Choate, Jr.
President/Founder
What is The Personal Defense Project
Our Mission
The Personal Defense Project effectiveness is the result of the best and most experienced security minds in the world coming to the critical understanding that what we have come to believe keeps us secure...does not keep us secure.
The Personal Defense Project eliminates the false hope in other people, technology, and failed systems keeping you secure and teaches you how to BE secure - in a single training session and while sitting in a chair.
One of the deterrents to personal defense training is a discomfort with learning in intimidating environments. We resolve this by coming to you and training you where you are most comfortable and with whom you are most comfortable - in your home and with your family and friends.
"We need to stop trying to keep people secure and start teaching them how to BE secure."
Terry L. Choate, Jr. — Founder, The Personal Defense Project
“We are for people who want the best personal, family, and home security possible without a commitment to mastering skills or technique.”
Terry L. Choate, Jr.
President / Founder, The Personal Defense Project
Most people think that real self defense requires the things that we have all been led to believe we need — like martial arts or "mixed martial arts," defensive weapons like firearms, blades, sprays, tasers, etc. While all of these can aid in our effort to be secure, none of them keep us secure, and... they all require a significant commitment of time to master the skills to make them effective.
Unfortunately, most people don't have the time or real desire to devote to mastering them. This doesn't mean that you can't be truly secure. In fact, most of these things create a false sense of security and... they create more danger than doing nothing at all.
The Personal Defense Project is for those who know there are threats, want to be truly secure, and want their kids, families, and home to be secure — without the time and effort it takes to master the skills and weapons that we have been led to believe we must have to truly be secure.
True Security
No Endless Training
No False Confidence
For the Whole Family
Our Mission
We Set Out to Resolve a Serious Problem
Today's threats are real, dangerous, constantly developing, and they are everywhere. The problem: We don't adequately train ourselves, or our kids and family, to avoid victimization — and there are several reasons for this:
- 1.
We don't know how to train
- 2.
What we believe is training is NOT
- 3.
We don't have time to train
- 4.
We don't think it's necessary
The Personal Defense Project is the answer to all of the challenges of what it takes to truly secure ourselves and our loved ones. 1 training session = true security — for a lifetime.
The Hard Truth
Not Another Self-Defense Class
We don't teach martial arts. We don't require months of practice. Here's why traditional programs fail real people — and what we do differently.
Traditional Self-Defense Programs
- Requires months or years of commitment to see results
- Technique-based moves that fail under real adrenaline and stress
- Controlled dojo environments — nothing like a real attack
- Creates a false sense of security — you think you're ready, but you're not
- Little focus on awareness, de-escalation, or threat recognition
- Not practical or immediately effective for children or untrained adults
The Personal Defense Project
- Fully trained in a single day — no ongoing commitment required
- Instinctive responses that work under real stress, every time
- Real-world scenarios: streets, parking lots, homes, schools
- Genuine, tested confidence grounded in actual skill
- Awareness + de-escalation + physical defense — the complete picture
- Designed specifically for children (8+), women, and families
Know What You're Up Against
What Are Today's Threats?
The threats facing you and your family are real, evolving, and closer than you think.
Active Shooter
Mass-casualty attacks in public spaces, workplaces, schools, and places of worship.
Home Invasions
Forced entries that turn the one place you should feel safest into a danger zone.
Drugs
Substance-fueled violence, addiction-driven crime, and the unpredictable behavior that comes with them.
Human Trafficking
Predators targeting the vulnerable — in person and online — across every community.
Assault
Random and targeted physical attacks that can happen anywhere, at any time.
Sexual Assault
Threats that demand awareness, boundaries, and the ability to act decisively.
Bullying
Physical and psychological — for kids and adults, in person and across social media.
New threats are developing daily — and the solutions must be dynamic to keep you secure.
That's why our training builds well-rounded skills that work regardless of the threat — so you're prepared for what's happening today and ready for whatever comes tomorrow.
The Pillars of Preparedness
Nine Skills That Hold Up Your Security
True security is not one skill or one tool. It is a set of pillars that support each other — and each one can be learned by regular people, at any age.
Preparedness is built on pillars — not products.
Physical Defense
Instinctive, pressure-tested movements anyone can learn.
Situational Awareness
Reading your environment before a threat develops.
Recognizing Signs of Violence
The cues that come before an attack.
Master De-Escalation
Defusing confrontation before it turns physical.
Knowing the Threats
A clear-eyed view of what you actually face.
Active Shooter & Acts-of-Violence
What truly raises your chances of survival.
Mindset
The decision to be responsible for your security.
Tactics
What to do, in what order, in the first seconds.
Survival Skills
The habits that carry you through and after.
60 Second Security Tip
Security products and services focus on keeping people secure. The focus should be on teaching people how to BE secure.
Quick, regular tips designed to enhance your security. Subscribe today.
6 Skills · Lifetime Mastery
The Real Skills. Lifetime Security. Curriculum
The foundation of what you need to master real life-security against today's real and dangerous threats and build on them for a lifetime.
Physical Defense
Practical, pressure-tested defensive techniques for adults and children. No martial arts experience required — these are instinctive movements designed for real-world scenarios. These skills can be learned and mastered in a day and all while sitting in a chair. Includes practical use of simple tools and "weapons of opportunity".
"Everything you need to defend yourself physically you should be able to learn, and master, while sitting in a chair."
Terry L. Choate, Jr. — Founder, The Personal Defense Project
"Situational awareness is a critical security skill that must be taught from the youngest of ages and developed over the course of a lifetime."
Terry L. Choate, Jr. — Founder, The Personal Defense Project
Situational Awareness
Learn to read your environment, identify threats before they develop, and position yourself and your family for safety in any setting — from parking lots to public venues.
Recognizing Signs of Violence
Understand the behavioral cues and pre-attack indicators that precede violence. Learn to spot danger early so you and your family can avoid confrontation entirely.
"Recognizing signs of violence, knowing when a situation is about to turn violent, is a rarely taught skill that is a pillar of personal security."
Terry L. Choate, Jr. — Founder, The Personal Defense Project
"De-escalation, if mastered, can save lives. Fortunately, mastering them is simple if you understand them."
Terry L. Choate, Jr. — Founder, The Personal Defense Project
Master De-Escalation
Master verbal and non-verbal techniques to defuse confrontation before it becomes physical. Learn how to stay calm, project confidence, and talk your way out of dangerous situations.
Knowing the Threats
Gain a clear-eyed understanding of the real threats families face today — from drugs and human trafficking to targeted violence. Knowledge of your threat landscape is the foundation of every security decision.
"You can't possibly defend yourself against threats that you are not aware of."
Terry L. Choate, Jr. — Founder, The Personal Defense Project
"What your kids are taught about active shooter response in schools is all wrong. You, as a parent, need to understand what is right and teach them yourself."
Terry L. Choate, Jr. — Founder, The Personal Defense Project
Active Shooter & Acts-of-Violence
School security has completely failed. Run, Hide, Fight and ineffective access control and lockdown procedures do not work. We will teach you and your kids what will truly create the best chances of survival if the unthinkable happens at school, or anywhere else.
Who This Is For
Built for Real People.
Facing Real Threats.
You don't need to be an athlete, a martial artist, or a veteran. This program was designed from the ground up for children, women, and families — people who need real protection, not a hobby.
Women & Mothers
Real Protection. No Gym. No Belt. No Years of Training.
Women are disproportionately targeted. Most self-defense programs teach techniques that fail under real stress. We teach awareness, de-escalation, and physical responses that work in the real world — in one day, regardless of size or fitness level.
- Practical skills that work without size, strength, or fitness
- How to avoid, escape, and survive — in that order
- Understand the threats most likely to target you
- De-escalation mastery — talk your way out before it gets physical
- Leave empowered, not just informed
Training On Your Terms
Live, In-Person Training
We Can Come to You...Or You Can Come to Us.
Training in personal defense can be intimidating. That's why we understand that training in a private, comfortable, secure environment with those we are most comfortable with is critical to long-term success. The result? We will come to you and train you in your home, at your workplace, in your church, or wherever you feel suits you best — anywhere in the country.
"Private, custom training is the most effective training possible. Gather your family, friends, employees, and congregation to experience life-changing and potentially life-saving skills."
Training with, or without, firearms/weapons...
In your home or location... Or at one of ours.
To schedule a private training session anywhere in the United States email info@personaldefenseproject.com.
Beyond the One Day
Continuous Learning &
Skill-Building Resources
Your investment in the One Day Curriculum is just the beginning. Without ongoing reinforcement, skills deteriorate. Our ecosystem of resources ensures your investment doesn't just hold its value — it compounds over time, making you and your family more prepared every single day.
60 Second Security Tip-a-Day App
A daily security tip delivered straight to your phone — reinforcing your training every single day so your skills stay sharp and instinctive.
The Personal Defense Project Community
Connect with a growing network of like-minded individuals and families committed to real-world security. Share experiences, ask questions, and grow together.
The Personal Defense Project Monthly Newsletter
Stay current with the latest threat intelligence, security tips, and program updates delivered directly to your inbox each month.
Online Training Certificate Courses
Go deeper with structured online courses that build on your one-day foundation — earn certificates and expand your competency on your own schedule.
Why It Matters
Research shows that skills not regularly reinforced begin to deteriorate within weeks. Security awareness is no different. Our ongoing resources exist for one reason: to make sure your training investment gets stronger over time — not weaker.
60 seconds a day · 365 days a year · A lifetime of preparedness
About Our Founder
Terry L. Choate, Jr.
Terry L. Choate, Jr. is a former high-level corporate leader, law enforcement officer and department leader, and SWAT Team Commander. He is the Founder of Blue-U Defense — the national leader in real security solutions for businesses, schools, and churches. Terry is the thought leader in developing real, practical, and effective security solutions that work for real people under real circumstances.
FREE RESOURCE
Limited Free Access
Why You & Your Kids Are Not Secure
In today's world of unique and dangerous threats, most families are completely unprepared. Get this free eye-opening recording and learn what it actually takes to ensure your loved ones are truly safe.
FREE RESOURCE
Free Monthly Journal
The Personal Defense Project Journal
Expert insights, training tips, and family safety strategies — delivered free every month.