Firearms Instructor Bio, Steve Materkowski

About DFT

Professional Profile

Mr. Steve Materkowski is the founder and principal owner of Defensive Response Training, Inc (DRT).  DRT was formed because of a need for quality, reality based training, which was flexible enough for use by civilians, law enforcement and military personnel.

Mr. Materkowski began his study of Martial Arts while in 1975 in Northern Michigan.  This study began with Judo and then progressed to European Style Fencing.  He began studying Tae Kwon Do and weapons while enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1981.  After leaving the Navy in 1984, he continued his study of Korean Martial Arts with Master K.Y. Park in Fremont, CA.  Master Park emphasized a broad approach to martial arts, with Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido forming the core.  Weapons training was also an important element and included Korean, Japanese and Chinese weapons.  After relocating to Colorado in 1988, he continued his martial studies and added Philipino Martial Arts and Tai Chi to his training.  He opened the American Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido Academy in 1991.  In 1992, he became a student of Grandmaster Vthor Braun.  Under Dr. Braun instruction, he continued his training in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, and weapons.

In 1993, Mr. Materkowski became a student of Grandmaster John Pellegrini, Founder of the International Combat Hapkido Federation.  He has been a personal student of Grandmaster Pellegrini since that time and is currently the Rocky Mountain Regional Director for the ICHF.  In 1993, Mr. Materkowski was also introduced to Guru Tuan Willem de Thouars, Founder of the Kun Tao Silat de Thouars system.  He continues to study Kun Tao Silat with Guru de Thouars and his senior students.   Mr. Materkowski continues to study with an eclectic assortment of Grandmaster and Master Instructors, including Mark Shuey, W. Hock Hochheim, Michael Janich, Julius Melegrito, and others.

Mr. Materkowski currently heads the Colorado Combat Hapkido Association and is the Master Instructor in charge of Personal Protection Training for Self Defense America, in Lakewood, Colorado.  He also travels the Rocky Mountain Region, teaching Defensive Firearms, Combat Hapkido, Personal Protection, and Police Defensive Tactics.

With respect to firearms training, Mr. Materkowski began shooting and hunting, with his father, at the age of 5.  He has been an active shooter and outdoorsman since that time.  Formal firearms training began with his enlistment in the U.S. Navy and continued with various classes and instructors.  He has been involved in various firearms competitions, including IPSC 3 gun matches.  In 1996, Mr. Materkowski began studying with Master Firearms Instructor Andy Stanford, Founder of Options for Personal Security (OPS).  He has completed courses in Defensive Tactics, Surgical Speed Shooting, Tactical Carbine, Tactical Shotgun, and others offered by OPS and the Martial Marksmanship Institute.  He has also trained with internationally acclaimed instructor Louis Awerbuck and been involved in the making of several firearms instructional videos, produced by Paladin Press.  Steve has also trained with various firearms organizations and instructors, such as Craig Douglas (Shiv Works), Steve Krystek and Brian Hartman (Progressive Force Concepts) and others.  Steve is also a graduate of the Highlands Ranch Public Safety Training Institutes, Law Enforcement Academy (HRPSTI), where he graduated with both Top Skills and Academic Honors.  He also qualified as the “Top Gun” in both Firearms and Arrest and Control Tactics.  He currently serves as a Patrol Deputy (Reserve) for the Park County Sheriff’s Office. 

Current Certifications and Courses Completed

Martial Arts

• Master Instructor-International Combat Hapkido Federation (6^th Degree Black Belt)
• Master Instructor-World Ki Do Federation
• Master Instructor-Independent Tae Kwon Do Association (5^th Degree Black Belt)
• Vice President-International Combat Hapkido Federation
• Member-ITA Masters Council
• Instructor-World Chung Do Kwan
• 4^th Dan-World Weapons Federation
• Master Instructor-Cane Masters International
• Advanced Cane Instructor-International Combat Hapkido Federation

Firearms

• Instructor-Options for Personal Security
• Certified Instructor – Pistol -- National Rifle Association
• Certified Instructor – Personal Protection -- National Rifle Association
• Certified Low Light Tactics Instructor– Surefire Institute

Law Enforcement

• Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor – International Police Defensive Tactics Institute (IPDTI)
• Certified Low Light Officer Survival Instructor – Surefire Institute
• Firearms Instructor – Options for Personal Security (OPS)
• Certified Instructor – Pistol -- National Rifle Association
• Certified Instructor – Personal Protection -- National Rifle Association
• Colorado POST Exam, May 2007 (passed with 96%)
• Deputy Sheriff (Reserve), Park County Colorado
• Member-American Association for Law Enforcement Training
• Concealed Weapons Permit – Jefferson County, Colorado
• Member – National Rifle Association

Firearms Classes and Training

Options for Personal Security

• Level One Defensive Handgun (2003)
• Tactical Pistol (2003)
• Dynamic Tactics, Pistol (2004, 2007)
• Surgical Speed Shooting (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)
• Two Man Tactics (2006)
• Point Blank Pistol Craft (2005)
• Tactical Carbine (2004, 2005)
• Tactical Shotgun  (2004, 2005)

 Close Quarters Combatives  (Lt. Craig Douglas, Shiv Works)

• Extreme Close Quarters Pistol, Level I (2005, 2006, 2007)
• Extreme Close Quarters Pistol, Level II (2005, 2006, 2007)
• In Extremis Knive (2005, 2006)
• Practical Unarmed Combatives (2007)

Progressive Force Concepts (Fighting with Firearms)

• Tactical Pistol (2006)
• Tactical Carbine (2006)

Martial Marksmanship Institute

• Defensive Shotgun
• Tactical Handgun

Close Quarters Combatives, W. Hock Hochheim

• Force on Force Training
• Shooting on the Move
• Multiple Attackers, Firearms

Active Shooter Training, Park County Sheriff’s Office (2006)