Transforming Lives through Self Protection,

Coaching, and Mentorship

Upcoming Classes Listed Here

Up Now!

Be part of this exceptional training day designed to enhance your personal awareness,

negotiation skills, emotional intelligence, and safety for a more fulfilling life.

Make an investment in your personal development and the well-being of yourself and your loved ones.

The 'Who'

Our mission is simple...we believe every good person has the right
to protect themselves, and give themselves the permission to do so.

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Jonathan Pidhirney

"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be... be one."

Jonathan has devoted almost 35 years of his life to instructing, coaching, and mentoring...on a mission to equip people with the strength, skills, and mindset to protect themselves and thrive. With 19 years as a first responder, 30+ years as a strength & conditioning coach, and a lifelong dedication to mentorship, he has trained countless individuals to become stronger, more confident, and more resilient - both physically and mentally. He has trained personally with the world's top self defence coaches for 20 years, and in numerous martial arts since his youth. His Mentorship programs and workbooks provide actionable strategies to build character, overcome adversity, and step into leadership. Jonathan is driven by the belief that true strength is forged in service to others.

Lee Martin

"It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war."

Lee is a seasoned protector, coach, and strategist with a lifetime dedicated to strength, security, and situational mastery. A former corrections officer and veteran nightclub bouncer, he brings hard-earned expertise in de-escalation, threat assessment, and real-world violence prevention. Decades of honing conflict resolution under pressure and training in numerous combat disciplines merges tactical discipline with unshakeable mental resilience. His approach to safety and self defence isn't just about techniques, it's about cultivating awareness, confidence, and the ability to dominate chaos. A lifelong athlete and holder of a Bachelor's in Criminal justice, Lee bridges the gap between theory and street-smart application.

Shar de Guzman

"How we think affects how we feel, how we feel affects how we think, and both affect how we move."

Shar is a strength and conditioning coach with a rare gift for unlocking both physical power and human potential. Experience as both a fitness trainer and corporate peer coach, she bridges the gap between body transformation and life transformation - helping clients build strength that extends far beyond the gym. What sets Shar apart is her engineer's mind for problem-solving and empath's heart for connection. Her superpower? Seeing the human blueprint. She specializes in decoding obstacles - whether it's a stubborn lift, a career plateau, or emotional blocks holding people back. Her training philosophy centres on emotional intelligence as the foundation of real strength, blending functional movement with mental resilience. Shar brings a unique understanding of what drives people - their hidden motivations, unspoken fears, and beliefs that steer behaviour.

The 'What'

Safer In A Day

Safer In A Day is a transformational, trauma-informed workshop that teaches you how to recognize danger early, set clear boundaries, manage fear, and protect yourself with instinctive strategies - no prior training required. This isn’t martial arts - it’s practical, empowering personal safety built on awareness, intuition, and inner strength. Come with friends, leave with lifelong skills and unshakable confidence.

Corporate Team Building

This is a high-impact personal safety workshop that blends practical self-protection skills with powerful team-building. Through dynamic, interactive training, your team will learn to recognize and avoid risk, communicate confidently, and respond decisively under pressure. More than just a safety course, it strengthens workplace culture, enhances collaboration, and supports HR and wellness initiatives - equipping your people to feel more capable, connected, and confident.

1:1 Personal Safety

1:1 Coaching is a trauma-aware, empowerment-based personal safety session for those who want to move through life with greater clarity, confidence, and control. In a private, supportive session, for individuals or pairs, you’ll learn to recognize danger early, trust your intuition, communicate boundaries, manage fear, and respond with simple, effective strategies - no martial arts or prior experience needed. This offering bridges the gap between inner awareness and outer safety - making it a powerful addition to any holistic wellness program.

Mentoring

In an increasingly complex world, young people are often overwhelmed by uncertainty and self-doubt. My mentoring services offer a grounded, supportive space where teens and young adults can explore who they are, clarify what they value, and build the confidence to pursue a meaningful path forward. With years of experience coaching youth, I help guide them toward greater self-awareness, purpose, and personal drive - so they can show up in life with intention, resilience, and a stronger sense of identity.

The 'Why'

"Self Defence is not about fighting, it's about survival. If you have not studied criminals, if you don't know how people attack, how can you possibly train to defend yourself?"

Choose Safety is dedicated to providing a holistic approach to self protection coaching,

personal growth, and mentorship.

Our greatest passion, and strongest drive, is helping good people stay safe and

unencumbered to live their best lives!

Immersed in understanding the differences between traditional martial arts / combat sports training, and preparing for real-world violence, attacks, and ambushes, we at Choose Safety have committed to pushing our knowledge and comfort levels to truly have meaningful impact on peoples' lives.

We aim to empower individuals to enhance their safety skills and personal development.

In Their Own Words

We thought we were just learning safety tactics - but we ended up building stronger teams and lasting confidence.

- Corporate Wellness Manager

One of the most valuable trainings I have ever taken was the Personal Defence Readiness Intro course taught by Jonathan Pidhirney. I learned not only how to defend myself in violent encounters, but also how to detect and defuse the situation before it even happens. Never having taken a self-defence course before, I was surprised by my ability to effectively defend myself using such easy and practical techniques! The whole experience was incredibly empowering! I left the training feeling so much more confident in my ability to protect myself in the case of a threatening encounter. I wish for all my friends and family to learn such important information and skills.

- Linda Bao, Social Worker, Healer

Instruction was VERY GOOD!

Very glad we came!

You go out the door much different than how you came in!

I came in open-minded but won't stop talking about it for weeks to come!

It shines a light on the 'scary' things that we avoid. It's not something we like to think about so we are a naive, unprepared society. But within only a few hours with Jon I am a more confident, more aware woman! Within a few hours the scary is a little less scary because I have a plan!

Loved the hands-on, especially with the instructor to feel a more realistic approach!

I didn't know I could do any of this stuff, but now I can and I feel a whole lot more confident! I would highly recommend this course!

Super fun course and helpful! I'm grateful to have been to it! I'd love a part 2!