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Built for the
Real World.

WOFT — Where Our Families Train — was founded on a single belief: the people who need self-defense training most are everyday people, not operators. We exist to close the gap between knowing and doing when it matters most.

5,000+
People Trained
30+
Expert Instructors
15+
Years of Experience
501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Status
The Founder

Why WOFT
Exists.

WOFT was born from a frustration. After years in law enforcement, our founder Mike Johnson watched the same pattern repeat: everyday people — teachers, parents, healthcare workers — faced real threats with zero preparation. Not because they didn't care about their safety, but because the training available to them was either too theoretical, too expensive, or designed for a different audience.

He built WOFT to change that. Every program is designed around one question: "What does a real person actually need to survive a real threat?" The answer is scenario-based, live-fire training that puts you under controlled stress before the real thing does.

Today, WOFT has trained over 5,000 students — from first-time gun owners to corporate security teams, from veterans to mothers of three. The mission hasn't changed: real training, for real people, for real threats.

Scenario-BasedLive-FireTrauma-Informed501(c)(3) NonprofitCentral Florida
WOFT real-world carjacking defense scenario training
Real Training. Real Results.
The Team

Meet Your
Instructors.

Every WOFT instructor brings real-world experience — law enforcement, military, or specialized tactical backgrounds. These aren't range officers. They're practitioners.

Leadership
3
PT

Philip Toppino

Founder

CW

Courtney Woliver

WOFT's Swiss Army Knife

BB

Brent 'Rooster' Buss

Director of Training

Core Instructors
28
AM

Al 'Gator' Matos

Firearms, Combatives & Scenario Instructor

BZ

Ben Zaharias

Combatives & Scenario Instructor

BL

Buck Lawler

Firearms Instructor

CR

Craig Reuter

Firearms & Scenario Instructor

DJ

Dani Jobin

Scenario Instructor

DR

Danny Roman

Combatives & Scenario Instructor

DE

Dave Ellis

Scenario Instructor

EG

Erik Gianini

Combatives & Scenario Instructor

HM

Heather Madden

Scenario Instructor

JM

Jacob Metroke

Scenario Instructor

JS

Jason Santos

Scenario Instructor

JF

Joe Farewell

Scenario Instructor

JB

Josh Baker

Medical & Scenario Instructor

KO

Kat Oramas

Firearms, Combatives & Scenario Instructor

KD

Keith Davis

Scenario Instructor

KB

Kyle Barr

Scenario Instructor

LO

Lanny Oakley

Scenario Instructor

LK

Les Kismartoni

Scenario Instructor

MF

Mary Forgues

Scenario Instructor

MV

Melanie Villeneuve

Scenario Instructor

ML

Michael Lazarus

Scenario Instructor

PM

Pat Madden

Scenario Instructor

PM

Peyton Madden

Scenario Instructor

RS

Rebecca Santos

Scenario Instructor

RD

Robert Dell'Aquila

Scenario Instructor

SL

Santiago Lopez

Firearms Instructor

SH

Scott 'Gazelle' Humbert

Firearms, Combatives & Scenario Instructor

TE

Tony 'Ebin' Espera

Firearms, Combatives & Scenario Instructor

Guest Instructors
11
BN

Brett Nettleton

Guest Firearms Instructor

DE

David Ezell

Guest Instructor

DM

Dianna Muller

Guest Instructor

JL

Jeremy Lightner

Guest Firearms Instructor

KD

Krystal Dunn

Guest Firearms Instructor

MP

Marcin (Martin) Podsiad

Guest Instructor

MM

Max Mortellaro

Guest Instructor

RB

Robert Brantley

Guest Firearms Instructor

RM

Ryan Muller

Guest Firearms Instructor

TM

Trey McCasland

Guest Instructor

YC

Yates Crawford

Guest Instructor

Support Staff
2
KT

Kim Treat

Administrative, Logistics & FFL Support

MG

Mike Gould

Maintenance & Facilities

Ready to train with the best?

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Common Questions

Everything You
Need to Know.

Still have questions?

Our team responds to all inquiries within 24 hours.

Contact Us

Real-World Training

Central Florida

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