Rachel - “Sparta Strategic Defense” on-site concierge home defense training is the new Gold Standard for personal / home defense preparation.  My husband and I have taken self-defense and pistol training courses at facilities before, but never felt confident in how to apply the principles in our own home.  Dan evaluated our specific neighborhood / home security strengths and weaknesses and gave helpful suggestions to make improvements where needed. His team clearly addressed our concerns and provided us practical, useful training on things we hadn't even considered. 

The training was comprehensive, clearly communicated with a relaxed professionalism, and we had fun in the process! The intruder scenarios we ran through in our OWN HOME, individually as well as together were an invaluable experience.  

While personal defense training is not an event, but a process, SSD on-site training with Dan & his team gave us the advantage we couldn't have received any other way. "

I thought the time together was far more thorough than I knew it could be!  

Martin - A year ago, my wife and I had little to no experience handling guns, and our firearms stayed unused, locked in our safe. This changed dramatically after training with Dan and Sparta Strategic Defense. Now, my wife carries her gun wherever she goes, and I do the same, except at my workplace where it's not allowed. More crucially, we've developed a solid confidence in using our firearms for self-defense under real-life conditions. Our training escalated when Dan and his team provided personalized home defense coaching right in our residence. They assessed our home's security measures and instructed us on handling potential intruder scenarios effectively. They taught us the optimal places in our home for setting up a defensive position and how to methodically clear each room, either alone or together. This wasn't just theoretical; we physically practiced these techniques at home, which immensely boosted our confidence and peace of mind.

Dan is not only highly experienced, with 22 years in the military and 19 of those in Special Operations, but he's also an exceptionally skilled instructor. He's adept at guiding everyday people like us, pushing us beyond our perceived limits and helping us achieve what we didn't think was possible. Every session with him has left us exhilarated and astonished at how much we've learned and grown. Training with Dan is a transformative experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their defensive skills.

A few weeks ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to participate in home security training with Dan and his team from Sparta Strategic Defense. We scheduled a 4-hour session on a Sunday afternoon, expecting it to be both interesting and challenging, given our limited experience in this area. While we had some basic knowledge from our careers—like keeping the vegetation around our home trimmed to avoid providing cover for intruders—our understanding didn’t extend much beyond that.

From the very beginning, Dan set the stage by presenting FBI statistics specific to our neighborhood, giving us a clear picture of the potential threats we might face. They then conducted a thorough assessment of our current home security measures, followed by a detailed walk-through of both the interior and exterior of our property. During this process, they provided insightful recommendations on how to enhance our home's security, focusing on practical, non-lethal defense strategies. They even reviewed household items that could be repurposed for self-defense, emphasizing the importance of avoiding lethal actions if possible. Their suggestion to establish a personal "Alamo" within our home was particularly eye-opening.

Throughout the training, Dan and his team maintained an open dialogue, patiently answering all our questions—no matter how basic they might have seemed. This made us feel comfortable and empowered to fully engage in the learning process.

The training then progressed to actionable strategies for what to do if we ever found an intruder inside our home. This part of the session was intense and involved role-playing scenarios where we practiced securing our home room by room. The Sparta team didn’t just tell us what to do—they demonstrated each technique and then coached us through doing it ourselves, both individually and as a team. We learned how to communicate effectively under stress, using both verbal commands and hand signals.

The four hours flew by, and the training proved to be invaluable. We left with a solid foundation and a clear plan to build on with future sessions. Just days after our training, Dan followed up with a detailed email summarizing all their recommendations, ensuring we had everything we needed to implement their advice.

Looking back, this training was crucial—especially in today’s world, where being prepared is increasingly essential. We highly recommend Sparta Strategic Defense to anyone serious about protecting their home and loved ones.

If you value and prioritize your personal security and the security of your family, the utilization of Sparta Strategic Defense services is important. Our family had a session with Dan and his team, and it far exceeded our expectations. The session started with presentation of pre-work that assessed macro threats and then we zeroed in throughout the day to assess external and internal threats, approaches for mitigation and defense strategies. We incorporated the entire family into the scenarios and the kids loved having the opportunity to learn and demonstrate their readiness skills.

We feel appreciative of the opportunity to learn from highly qualified and experienced security experts. 

We were so impressed with the Sparta team’s professionalism, patience, and knowledge. They took decades of experience with security and firearms and made an extremely interesting and fun course and one that we could understand and implement.  This is not a program to instill fear ~it is a program to prepare and empower.  

This was not a cookie cutter solution to security. This was a comprehensive and tailor-made security for our home.  This team took the time to evaluate and recommend personal firearms, discuss local self-defense laws and make recommendations on protecting our home with various tools such as alarms, lighting, cameras, etc. 

In addition, the follow up has been exceptional.  I have had to text and email Dan with a few questions and suggestions, and he responded quickly and thoroughly.  I highly recommend Sparta Strategic Defense.  

Two kinds of people exist in the modern workforce: those who work to make a living, and those who use their God-given gifts to change lives. Dan Hughes at Sparta Strategic Defense is the epitome of the latter.

Two years into my residency in Nashville, I received an unexpected visit at my workplace from a childhood neighbor who had been stalking me for the previous 6 years in California. Shocked and overwhelmed with fear, I felt my life was in danger, my peace disrupted, and that I would need to start learning how to protect myself whether I was ready or not. I didn't know where to start, but by the grace of God, quickly got in touch with Dan. Within 24 hours of the incident, I was on track for my self-defense education journey with a clear roadmap for growth. 

From personal safety vocabulary and fundamentals to tactical training with firearms and improvised weapons, my perception of home and self-defense has expanded exponentially. Dan customized the training track for my situation and equipped me with the appropriate tools and resources to gain competence in my ability to defend myself in any situation. Though training with Dan is sharpening my physical and mental abilities of defense, I've also experienced a sharpening of spiritual resilience due to the values, layers, and stories embedded within the foundation of Sparta Strategic Defense. As I tangibly see my confidence resurfacing and my fear subsiding, I give my unparalleled recommendation of Sparta Strategic Defense to anyone seeking education or proactive training in the self or home-defense space.

This was our first time having someone do a security audit and training and it far surpassed our expectations. As newbies, but people who are serious about securing our property, we found Daniel to be patient, thorough, and professional. He took the time to answer all our questions, never making us feel like our questions were too basic or unimportant. The training portion was insightful and hands-on. Working with our children for certain portions, he balanced helping them and us be prepared without being too alarmist. Overall, we highly recommend Daniel and Sparta Strategic Defense! 

“As an experienced shooter, I’ve done firearms training with Dan before, but this time I wanted to strengthen my home defense readiness. Working with Sparta Strategic Defense was exactly what I needed. Dan and I discussed the optimal setup for my body armor and the best placement for my firearms to ensure they’re accessible and effective if ever needed. The session was both practical and insightful, with everything tailored to my needs. Dan’s approach was professional and down-to-earth—no egos, just clear guidance. I walked away with a real sense of confidence, knowing I have a solid plan in place for my home and family’s security.”