Self defense trainer Meredith Gold
Meredith Gold has been teaching Adrenal Stress Scenario Training (ASST) programs since 1992, having worked with the Impact Personal Safety in Los Angeles, Rocky Mountain Combat Applications Training (RMCAT) in Colorado and she is the lead instructor trainer for Esteem in Los Angeles. Since 2000 Meredith and her husband Michael Belzer have been teaching their R-A-W Power program.
Meredith’s primary focus has always been teaching self defense and empowerment skills to previously untrained women, teens and kids, but she has also been instrumental in bringing awareness of this training method to the martial arts community. A contributing editor for Black Belt Magazine for 5 years, Meredith was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2003, naming her their “Woman of the Year”.
Meredith also became a certified holistic health and nutrition coach in 2008, receiving her training at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. The more she learned about eating for health and longevity, the more Meredith recognized the similarities between nutrition and self defense skills. She was determined to find a way to combine these two areas she was so passionate about into one idea that would approach nutrition from a proactive and, at times, even defensive point of view. In 2012 Meredith expanded her services to include her self defense-based nutrition program called “The Kung Food Way”.
Michael Belzer
Michael Belzer is a lifelong martial artist who began his training at the age of nine. Focusing predominantly on Danzan Ryu jujutsu (currently 9th degree black belt), kali/escrima and Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu, he’s trained in Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines and had the good fortune to study with the “best of the best”, including Sensei Donn F. Draeger, Prof. Wally Jay and Guro Dan Inosanto.
When Mike was introduced to the ASST method in 1989, he the felt that the realistic scenarios and full force striking provided the “missing link” in traditional martial arts training. He’s been wearing the armored assailant gear ever since, having worked with Impact Personal Safety, RMCAT, Project Blind Ambition and Esteem. Mike has also served as a consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Arrest and Control Unit as part of their Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Panel (CMAAP).
The R-A-W Power teaching staff also includes:
Ron Vizansky – senior “Mugger” instructor, Matthew Harris – “Mugger” instructor, Dan Van Hook – “Mugger” instructor, Rodolfo Valdes – “Mugger” instructor (Argentina chapter)