I don't write many 2-star reviews, but I think this experience warrants it. I took the firearm safety class with Brian, and unfortunately I can't recommend it. Brian was unprofessional, rude, and had a habit of belittling students. He made the learning environment uncomfortable by embarrassing people rather than constructively correcting them. While I understand that it's not an instructor's job to be friendly or to "hold our hands," there's a difference between being direct and being outright disrespectful--and Brian crossed that line. In terms of content, the class was heavily skewed toward theoretical discussions, such as legal frameworks for self-defense and broad topics on conflict and society. While some of this information was interesting and well-explained, it dominated the day, leaving little time for actual hands-on firearm training. The balance between theory and practical instruction was way off. Additionally, while Brian welcomed questions, he often responded by making students feel stupid instead of providing clear, direct answers. This approach, combined with his condescending attitude, discouraged people from asking questions at all. A firearms class should foster confidence and competence--not intimidation. I gave it 1 extra star because instructor Spencer was amazing. Overall, I did not gain much practical, in-depth knowledge about firearms or safety. If you're looking for a class that prioritizes hands-on training and a professional learning environment, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. read more

While I do think Brian had knowledge to share, the way he goes about sharing it was fairly off putting. He prides himself in using a "Socratic method" of teaching by responding to students' questions with another question. Even if he considers himself some sort of philosopher I would personally appreciated it if a simple question from a student such as "how does this work?" could be addressed more directly instead of being answered with "how do YOU think it works?" Simply said, it would have been a more efficient and pleasant experience for everyone if he could just put his narcissism and fragile ego aside. All in all, I have some gratitude towards Monarch because I did learn something over the course of my time there. However, since then I've moved away and sought training elsewhere I've realized that there are many training centers and instructors out there that are much much better, both in teaching methodologies and credentials, especially you're willing to leave California. read more

I took Fighting Rifle 1 + 2 over the weekend and had a great time and learned a ton. I went from not knowing how to rack the rifle, to knowing how to zero a rifle, confident with manipulations, and knowing what my limits are in terms of shooting, stress, and movement. It was also a lot of fun Brian really donates all of his energy into this, and goes above and beyond. He's not here to give you a simple low effort easy experience that you can feel good about later. He wants to challenge you. He really wants you to grow as a shooter and share with you his passion for this activity and skill. I saw a few people here post about the drive up so I want to help inform others with this aspect-- I will say that its a very doable drive if you can drive twisties. I have performance driving experience and it took 50 minutes from the base of San Jose. I will say if you are less experienced, budget 1.5 hours. And if you lack confidence driving, budget 2 hours. Its not a difficult drive as in there is no risk, as long as you drive within your limits in terms of speed. Feeling not confident? Just slow down. Some people were driving 15-20mph which is totally fine for these roads. But if you are the type of person that cannot confidently put their car where they want it to go, I would skip this trainer and find a closer place to town. His range itself is off road. I would say its in the beginner off road level of driving. Meaning treat it like driving on road. There isn't really anything that can damage your car. But you will be driving on dirt, and if you are not used to that it might concern you. But don't worry off road is only tricky with hills, ruts, or rocks, which there are none. With a standard sedan, drive up to the bathrooms. Any further and you will get bigger hills. With fwd, if you are a confident driver you can make it down to the classroom building. However I would not suggest driving down to the range unless you have AWD as you may not have enough traction to go back up. I will say that if you do not consider yourself a skilled driver, do not drive back at night. Plan to pack up at 5 and leave at 6 minimum (assuming 7 is sunset). I drove back at night, and had to manage deer (saw two packs), fog, rocks on the road. It was raining that day so maybe my drive back was trickier than normal. These things are not an issue during the day, however at night you do need to be attentive. read more

Monarch Defense - Firearm Training Near Me

Brian is very knowledgeable and skilled in gun use and ownership. We learned a lot from the basic training course. He's a good guy and is understanding but very serious about safe handling, including judgment of when to use a gun, outside of class. He genuinely wants to educate people on gun use and even let us all stay past the scheduled time to end. I recommend this course, and him as an instructor, if you're interested in actually learning theory and use of guns. He isn't the type of instructor to just let adults pull triggers and call it "training." He's the real deal. A few extra takeaways: -The class is formatted as a discussion followed with hands-on use; - Follow his recommendations to bring a chair, food, liquids (frozen/chilled for hot days), etc for your comfort because it's easier to be present and retain the discussion info if other variables are controlled; - It's dusty up there, bring eye drops if you're prone to dry or red eyes; - Cell reception is spotty, send your location to a loved one beforehand; - Plan to stay beyond the scheduled time, it's worth it. We are appreciative to Brian and this experience! read more

Monarch Defense - Brian and Peter are your safety "shadows" while shooting. - Firearm Training Near Me

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As a professional Actor and Technical Instructor, both for the film/television industry and in Silicon Valley, I wanted to find something all-encompassing, with practical hands-on experience. This class does not disappoint, especially at this price. He could easily charge double and it would still be a value. Brian takes the time to go through the psychology of firearm self-defense use, safety principals, being a responsible gun user, including cleaning and taking apart a firearm, then putting it back together. I did not expect the really thought-provoking and deep discussions on various related topics. Be prepared for a thorough day and a lot of information. I took this course to get firearms training for an upcoming role and do not intend to purchase a firearm in the near future. Whichever side you are on the gun control issue, this is a necessary skill and the knowledge gained will give you not only the confidence to handle a firearm should the need arise, but to speak intelligently from a point of actual experience rather than hearsay. I took my family to this class and they went in fearful and hesitant of the experience, due to their views on gun control. A few of my acting students were also in attendance. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, they all came out grateful and appreciative of the empowering knowledge Brian and the entire team shared with us. It was very gratifying to be able to have a few hours of time to shoot targets with the dozens of available types of firearms at close range to sniping targets 300 yards away. They really took the time to make sure my grip, form, and posture were correct. It was fun and enlightening. Note: Brian is a no-nonsense guy with a strong personality. At the beginning of class I can see how it can turn some people off. But you soon realize his heart is in the right place and this is his area of expertise which he is passionate about sharing and making sure people do not pervert. I highly recommend this course. I'm glad I found Monarch, you will be too. read more

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Complete safety hazard and liability to all his students. I attended a course not too long ago and the tactics and maneuvers Brian was teaching to all the students were a complete liability with 0 training value. In addition to this, it's been witnessed in his class that students would suffer from heat exhaustion and he would call them "weak". Lastly, his recent trip to Ukraine violated ITAR. Any credible instructor would not be committing felonies. Stay away and avoid at all cost. read more

Monarch Defense - Brian Wang utilizing another students personal firearm to "destroy" a lock. - Firearm Training Near Me

Without a DBA or credentials I would say he more then likely has no insurance, very risky. I would not even recommend a fellow instructor to lend credentials to help out. Brian has quite a history of dangerous situations from one student almost blowing his hand off, to students running in front of the line of fire. In his next class... he is requiring students to be range officers??? Ummm hard no! Be safe check credentials, check DBA don't fool around with your life. read more

Monarch Defense - Firearm Training Near Me

I took the Firearm Safety Class and Beginner's Live Fire Range Day and I'm not sure it's worth the money and definitely sure it's not worth the time. Bart was great. Chang was great. Peter was fine, just less beginner friendly. My understanding is that they're only volunteers and they taught all the relevant parts of actually handling guns. That consisted of 2-3 hours total. However, this was an 11 hour experience. After an hour-plus twisty mountain drive that made some students nauseous, you're immediately hands-on disassembling and cleaning the guns. Bart and Peter were great in explaining the process and teaching skills applicable to a variety of guns. Safe, enjoyable way to get familiar with new guns for about an hour. You will not touch a gun again for over 6 hours. Let me repeat, you will NOT touch a gun again for over 6 hours. One might assume the majority of the day would be spent covering safety aspects for handling guns, range etiquette, maybe clarify the gun laws specific to California. If that was the intention, it wasn't the majority of the time spent being lectured. Brian, the owner and lecturer, wears the name tag A**hole as a warning for the long hours to come. He goes at length talking about his teaching method, make references of what he remembers from college sociology, and personal antedotes including: how he got arrested, how his car got set on fire, how often gangsters and criminals are frequent customers. 6+ hours. Just Brian lecturing his life philosophy. Anyways if you can get through that, shooting all the different guns is pretty fun. The oversight and safety was pretty loose, but no one got shot, so I guess it's fine? You'll have about an hour to shoot as much as you'd like. Shoutout again to the volunteers, they're knowledgeable and totally beginner friendly, especially Bart and Chang. Pretty unlikely I'll ever see them again at Monarch tho, I'm never going back read more

I'm not even sure to begin. My fellow Yelpers did not fail me in the reviews for Monarch Defense. My experience with Brian was nothing short of excellent. I signed up for his Armed Self Defense class and was not really sure what to expect. The classes are held on his ranch on Mt. Hamilton in San Jose. Pay close attention to the road because my "would have been 1 hour and 20 minute drive" took me 2 hours since I inadvertently made a left on Kincaid Road (130 splits into two at that point so steer to the right). There is barely any cell reception once you're about 30 minutes in so I would not rely on your navigation apps. Review the directions before you hit the road. Once you arrive, it looks like a rundown ranch but don't be discouraged and cut him some slack - he just acquired the property so they're building or rebuilding the dwelling space. Aside from that, the property is huge and could accommodate the needs of an outdoor shooting range. Quite appropriate, if you ask me. Brian spent a lot of time on educating the class around gun safety, gun terms, mechanics and much more. He delivered the training in a clear and concise manner which made it easy for any level experienced gun owner or user to understand. It's very clear that he is passionate about teaching others how to use a weapon safely and effectively. We spent time shooting various guns including pistols, a rifle, shotgun and a revolver. Prior to firing the weapons, he did spend a lot of time reviewing the specs of each gun so that students became comfortable before live ammunition was even put in. All in all, Brian is legit. He's knowledgeable, personable, and fun to learn from. Sign up for one of his sessions -- you will not be disappointed. One final note: bring your own lunch, lots of water, sunscreen, protective eyewear (sunglasses are okay), baby wipes, and hand sanitizer. You'll be training up in the mountains on his ranch so weather is unpredictable -- bring a jacket. read more

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Great people, very professional. Brian is one great instructor. He's patient with his students, he recognizes his students skills pretty fast, he helps them with the things he see that needs correcting. Again very professional. If I wasn't moving to San Diego I would be here every weekend if I could. His place is every fun for NEW BEGINNER'S THAT DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA to people that know how to rescue people from a Alien Invasion. I recommend this place to everyone that want to learn the correct way to handle fire arms. Thanks dude. read more

Monarch Defense - This what I came across after training day. - Firearm Training Near Me

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BLUF: Not bad, but I'd look elsewhere now that I know better. I took two classes with Brian back in 2019 (intro to fighting rifle and a defensive pistol course) and was generally impressed back then when I was very new to shooting. For a $60 course I'm not upset I took them. However, having since been in the Marines and taken up competing in USPSA being around many competent high-class shooters, I'd be conservative in what you'll glean from Monarch Defense. Obviously it's been several years so Brian's curriculum may have changed, but I distinctly recall doing some one handed shooting while at a full sprint, disregarding sights in favor of "metal on meat" at close distances, and being taught a front-sight focus instead of target focus when shooting with irons. I realize that the practical shooting world is a bit different from Brian's wheelhouse, and so I think his lessons and takes on philosophy are a bit more valuable than the actual fundamentals being taught, as the "range theatrics" i don't believe have much carryover. I have no insight on his precision rifle curriculum. If you are trying to become competent with a handgun, I would seek out an instructor with some sort of actual competitive shooting accolade/classification. read more

I had paid the range fees for a group of 4 yesterday June 28, 2025 and had a reservation for 12:30pm. We were unable to find the address to the range on the website or anywhere on the internet so we called Brian to ask for the address. He was very rude over the phone when we asked him if we could have the address for the range because we couldn't find it online and it was never shared with us after we paid the range fees. He asked us if we were in his class right now and when we responded no, he said he didn't have time for this and said to ask our instructor for the address. Our instructor also attempted to have Brian provide the address and was unsuccessful. It was very unprofessional to be a paying customer and have the business owner refuse to provide the address to us over the phone. If you are too busy to confirm the address to customers over the phone, and want to keep the address private instead of including publicly on website, it would have been courteous to at least provide the address to customers upon payment, which did not happen. Very poor communication and I would not attempt to return to give any business to this place. It was a huge inconvenience to drive out to San Jose after paying and still have the business owner refuse to share the address with me or with the instructor who reserved time at the range for our group. read more

Be warned that the location of this range is not local, although it is in San Jose. It is located in the mountains of San Jose past the Lick Observatory. The road to get to the range is two lanes, one lane-each in the opposite direction. The lanes narrow out at any given point along the drive becoming only wide enough for one vehicle to pass where the other must stop and pull as close as possible to the mountain side so the other vehicle can pass. This is NOT a joke and is VERY dangerous. The instructor is witty and can make you feel belittled when asking a question. He also believes you should take a chance by staying until night time to shoot gun(s). However, I caution against that due to the narrowing road (which takes at least an hour to get through) and no sunlight. The instructor welcomes questions and provides deceit information by way of asking you questions instead of providing you with the information for knowledge. I did not feel relaxed enough to ask questions because I was still reeling from the scary ride up to the range and uncomfortable to ask because his wittiness after such a ride could cause hostility. I'm cool, though, and laughed it off. He does not seem patient while showing you how to break down and reconstruct a gun. He also did not ensure that each attendee had the opportunity to do so. I rate it two stars because I like a smart mouth instructor who has somewhat of a personality, and the weather was great. read more

I saw this place and thought I always wanted to come here for months. Recently I told my boyfriend let's hone in our skills. Both of us go target shooting and hunting frequently enough to be comfortable and grew up around firearms. We have our CCW for Utah. My boyfriend calls this guy at Monarch inquiring about setting up a class for us and what I heard was what you call "small d!ck energy". This man tells my boyfriend "Just by hearing you talk, I can tell this class isn't for you." Like what? My boyfriend asks... um okay. What class is for us then. He asks another question about needing 6 magazines for class and this guys response was "So you read the part where you need 6 magazines but not the prerequisite?" Damn yeah he didn't even read the webpage because I only briefly told him about it, that's why he's calling you. My BF asked well how much is it to get ammo through you for the class? And his response was "I won't know till the day of." lol like WAT. You're price gouging what do you mean you're gonna name a price the day of training? I'm not going to go into all the rest of the attitude this guy has. But just from him telling us "I cAn aLrEaDy TeLl tHiS cLaSs iSN't fOr YOuu" tells me this guy is on a high horse. A very high horse for someone who never even served in the military. I can bet you $20 bucks this man is going to respond to my review in great length about how he is right, everyone else is just wussies. Because that's just the ego of this man. read more

My son and I attended Monarch Defense Fighting Rifle Mastery & Action 2- Gun Club Match over Labor Day weekend 2023. The facility, course material and instruction was kick ass! We have found our tribe for everything tactical! read more

Monarch Defense - Firearm Training Near Me

Best money spent for training on how to operate a gun safely and understating the fundamentals of how to shoot well. Highly recommend. Training at monarch defense was really a must for bay area firearm enthusiasts. Brian is articulate, concise and effective at teaching students difficult to grasp tasks. My situation was unique in that I was the only one for the class that day. It was raining and I made the time in my schedule to be out there. Brain enthusiastically trained me for the whole day and his passion is really to teach. He spent eight hours in the rain with just me to teach me how to shoot better. Most instructors would cancel or reschedule to maximize the cost while monarch defense actually cared about me! There was a great in-class component to start followed by live fire, dry fire, and continuous instruction throughout the day. The location of the class is fantastic as you can shoot fast and on steel targets which isn't available at most ranges or classes. Again I highly recommend monarch defense. read more

Best friend and I have taken 2 additional classes from Brian in two months (Defensive handgun skill builder and the Defensive handgun study group). We're looking forward to a 3rd class in March called Intro to Fighting Rifle. Why Brian? - Safety first. Brian is all about safety. He's clear and concise with his teaching method and will demo + re-demo a movement if there are questions - socratic method. Brian really gets you to think about the Why... Why did you show up? Why do you want to learn these skills? The first part of class is a discussion where Brian gets you to dig deep into the essence of human behavior and psychology. This discussion on human behavior takes place prior to touching any equipment Why Monarch Self Defense? - they let you use their equipment if you don't have any. Though, it's highly recommended to train with your own equipment and really learn how to use it - it beats going to the range and it's more realistic to real life scenarios - it's beautiful out there at the facility and makes for a great day trip - the skills checklist really helps us track progress Thank you Brian. We're hooked! read more

The best class of its kind. Informative, safe, fun and hands-on. Brian has a passion for teaching not to mention a wealth of knowledge. I wasn't sure how the day would go but it flew by and I learned so much. Thank you. read more

Thank you, for a safe, informative, and fun class. This was not my first safety class but by far the most educational, with lots of hands on. Thank you, Brian. I hope to see you in the near future. read more

I did the "Interim Introduction to Armed Self Defense" About 60% discussion and 40% hands-on. Super informative and learned a lot during the first half(discussion) of the course. This is more than just going to learn about firearm, but safety and using case studies as examples, since self defense is almost always last resort. Brian does a good job explaining so come with open mind. This is a class about self defense, not defense against your feelings getting hurt, so go with open mind, discuss and ask questions. Only negative is the distance driving. I saw the business was in San Jose so figure it was going to be a breeze. Ended up late, my fault, make sure to give yourself plenty of time driving there. If it wasn't so far i would jump in for a second course, but my car needs a break. Keep in mind, instructor is teaching many people that may have no experience with firearms, it is like teaching first time driver, I would be stressed if i was teaching this course. Listen carefully and pay attention. read more

WARNING! I have taken a class from Brian about 4 years ago in Morgan Hill and did enjoy it and decided to take another safety class since I have not been to the range due to Covid and lock downs over the past couple years. The location of this new training was an 1 1/2 hour drive through steep winding sometime one lane road past Lick Observatory in Mount Hamilton which is very dangerous in some spots. When I arrived to the 9am start time there were many people waiting at a red color locked gated. I called and texted Brian several times as instructed on his voice mail trying to let him know there were around 20 of us waiting at the gate. Finally when I did receive a text from Brain telling me to be patience. I don't mind waiting but would appreciate some type of communication on what is going on and is someone going to unlock the gate. Finally someone showed up to open the gate and we proceeded to drive up a rutted steep dirt road, nice cars with wheels or low profile would not be recommended. There is no running water or electricity on the property. We were told to pee anywhere outside and only go number 2 in the toilet. Well I had to go number two and the water tank ran out and the toilet would not flush. Lucky I brought hand sanitizer and paper towels with me. The person that was in charge pulled out a bunch of different type of guns and dissembled them on a table and told everyone at one time to come up and try to assemble the guns. Most of the people never held or fired a gun in there life. Parts were falling all over the ground, people were pointing the guns in direction of other people and I just was not feeling safe. There was no demonstration or teaching about fire arm safety and just seamed chaotic! The instructor told us Brain was not coming in and more help was on the way. After two hour passed by another person showed up and talked for 1 hour about different shootings where people were charged but not all found guilty. This person was not a lawyer but kept giving us advice on gun laws and when to use and not use a gun. After wasting 4 1/2 hours just there not including the drive time I decided to leave the class before they starting shooting the guns due to fear of my own safety. I felt the site was unsafe and chaotic. I would not recommend this place and would check out the certified instructors listed at the local gun ranges. read more

The safety class is nonprofessional and unrelated. They don't even want to discuss the state regulation and laws...

I took the "Firearm Safety and Self Defense + Live Fire" course Apr 2021. The staff seems knowledgable and friendly. But by the time i left around 6:35pm (we started 9am), not a single shot was fired. I can honestly say that after sitting in class for almost 10 hours, i did not gain much *practical* in-depth knowledge about guns nor safety. Most of the day was spent on explaining purely theoretical, high level topics like the legal framework behind self defense (e.g what is the difference between first and second degree murder) and about conflict, society, and the history of human kind. This is all Interesting stuff, and very nicely explained by Brain the instructor, but IMO needs to be properly timeboxed and balanced with the practical matters. like actual shooting?? like more in depth how to operate a firearm, how a gun really works inside. What are all the buttons and controls on a pistol. What is the process of buying a gun, some tips? how to hold, aim, and shoot a pistol, rifle, and shotgun, shooting range etiquette and live fire experience. Even the safety aspects of the course were not well presented, and were mostly explained by asking students to do things and indicating what they did wrong, rather than outlining clear rules and guidelines, and explaining how safety should be handled correctly (e.g how to store a gun, always treat a gun as loaded etc). Another thing is the location. from San Jose, It is a 1.5 hrs drive mostly on beautiful but winding mountain roads, which are not well paved, and mostly with no guard rails. I do not recommend driving this road after dark. This is why i left right before 7pm (before the course ended). Brian did offer me to complete the shooting at another day - which i appreciate very much. Thanks! read more

As someone who was against firearms, I truly believe this class helps you delve into the reason why firearms are useful and the philosophy that goes behind self-defense, in general, utilizing a firearm. He is a knowledgeable teacher and understands that firearms are used as a last resort under high-stress situations. I really enjoyed his class as it's far away from nearby neighborhoods; really a safe place to learn about firearms. Read the email carefully on how to prepare for his class and TAKE THE SAFETY CLASS FIRST. It's crucial, even if you have prior experience with firearms, to take his safety class because he teaches you fundamentals that lead to his other classes. read more

Short version: Good class, good speed, and had a good time! If you're new to firearms and want to get better? Spend money on ammo and take them here! Long version: I took hand gun skill builder with Brian and Mike, here is my straight to the point review of their class. Brian Wang and Mike are civilians who wishes to learn and teach. they don't have LEO, MIL backgrounds but not being a EX/current MIL or LEO should not disqualify anyone from being an instructor. My only advice is to leave your egos in the parking lot. I had to because I've taken classes from LEO background and USPSA Master class shooters. I loved that Brian forced us to use our brains to think and understand the questions he posed and asked. They really do love questions and believe in no question is too smart or too dumb to ask. When another student did something VERY unsafe, Brian's watchful eyes caught the mistake, corrected the student, THEN, instead of shaming the student and sending them home like (most classes would), he actually punished the entire class (himself and Mike included!) by doing having us all do 10 push ups. I felt that proves that he takes Safety seriously with a capital S. After we did our push ups, not one mistake happened ever for the rest of the class. Brian and Mike, keep doing what you're doing! You guys are super brave to do this type of business. I look forward in attending other classes with you guys to support the cause. read more

Fantastic firearm safety class. Brian is a great instructor and will give you not just knowledge on how to safely operate firearms, but also the historical context on conflict, weapons, how some gun laws came to be, and more. I expected to learn about weapon safety and left with that AND a degree in philosophy haha. I got a lot out of this class, especially by asking Brian questions throughout and really engaging with the material, and I encourage future students to do the same. Fair warning that the classroom location/range is a bit of a drive - but it is very worth it. Hope to take more classes from Brian in the future! read more

Very pleased by the training I got today. Professional, clear, purposeful. I'm a fan. The address given for the event did not take me to the event. It took me to a spot 27 miles shy. I entered the title of the spot instead and that got me there...albeit 40 minutes late. The range did show me how to find Monarch, but it took 10 minutes of me searching on my own in the range site. When I found the group, I joined up and assimilated quickly. The safety standards are high. That was great. We had 3 minute breaks from 9-3:30...if you come, plan small snacks! Longer break around 2pm. The finale of the day was an "apex" drill that challenged us mentally, physically and skillset wise. Great stuff. Monarch Defense is top notch training. I will for sure be signing up for another class. read more

Knowledgeable and patient instructor. Great resource for practical self-defense classes!

Exceptional training. My father in law, wife, and I took a full day private lesson from Brian at the Monarch range. We requested a comprehensive introduction to firearm safety and use, as well as a deep dive into the use of firearms for personal protection at home. Brian far exceeded our expectations. His knowledge, skill, and experience are impressive, and are well matched by his challenging yet effective Socratic teaching style. He will 'push' you to formulate and share your thoughts related to the topics being discussed rather than "spoon-feed" you answers or info. He is humble and respectful, traits that I've found to be rare (though appreciated) amongst experienced instructors in this space. Safety was a top priority but we never felt like we were being "babysat" nor restrained in our training, even while shooting. The facilities are fantastic. Clean bathrooms, filtered fresh drinking water, plenty of places to find shade, yet remote and desolate, ideal for live fire training. The ranges were basic but complete with obstacles, steel and paper targets, close quarters and long range, etc. I'm not a firearms expert, but it was clear the facility is able to accommodate a wide range (no pun intended) of skill levels. The facility is well equipped with a broad assortment of firearms and ammunition to choose from. ARs, Mini14, various pistols, shotguns, etc. Various optics, stocks, setups, it was very nice to be able to train on various systems to better understand their operation and determine what best meets our needs. Well deserved 5 star review. read more

All around amazing experience taking a private group session with Brian. His passion, talent for teaching and experience shine. The group learned a TON and ready to come back for further training. read more

Yesterday I did the Dynamic Drill Day event with Brian Wang, Andy and Mike. First off the Chief Instructor Brian and his Assistant Instructors Andy and Mike were great. Very welcoming and made me feel part of the group. Great group of similar minded men who were there for a specific purpose, to become better and more adequate in the modern day martial art of firearms training. I appreciated how he went over intermediate fundamentals with real life events & statistics of situations that dealt with an armed threat. And how he made a point on if you are not good with the handgun you better know how to fight and if you're not good with long rifle you better be good at running. I'm an instructor for hand to hand self defense and martial arts, which I appreciated Brian wasn't the guy that just goes and says, "I would just shoot the guy", since he brought context to it which definitely matters in a self defense situation. He really does have an understanding of self defense fighting, shooting and moving. And I was very pleased with his teaching and knowledge he shared to us yesterday. He is clear cut and straight to the point, and safety is definitely a focus (it's just in your own hands to take that responsibility). I will definitely be returning to another class or program event he holds. Since it was nice to be a student again, in a different realm but very overlapping one of hand to hand combat. Yesterday's DDD was definitely not the ideal class for someone who is NEW to shooting. If you just recently purchased a pistol or rifle this month or last and never shot it once and think you could go this type of event, I wouldn't recommend it. It definitely helped that I had previous experience from my Krav Maga HQ that my team trains with in Jacksonville. Take an Introductory Class and than go from there. Since safety is a huge focus (but it's on the individual to take charge of it) some very new beginners attempting this type of training would struggle "ride the struggle bus" in his words. Which I found very funny! Since it's like a fight camp and newer fighters tend to ride the struggle bus when sparing or grappling the more seasoned guys who have the experience. Overall very happy and I'm sure my future next experience in his next class or training event is going to be just as great. And workout before hand to condition yourself physically, since he likes to sprinkle in some fitness drills for mistakes or missed shots. Definitely don't be the couch potato and come being shocked that push-ups, sit-ups and burpees maybe added to a drill. If you want to be proficient at fighting in any style you have to be in decent shape to perform and succeed. Thank you Brian and your team for conducting this training and bringing professionalism, knowledge, skillsets and fun to teach yesterday. I will see you soon. read more

Brian is a talented, intuitive instructor. I took a private class in the evening to practice night shooting skills and was not disappointed. After establishing my proficiency level, Brian constructed a dynamic curriculum that had me sweating and tested my mental acuity. His focus on training fundamentals and safety are exceptional. I learned a lot-- not just about shooting in general but the martial art of defensive shooting. Well worth the time, effort and money. I can't wait to take another class from Brian. read more

I've trained with a few different instructors and Brian is one of the best teachers I've had. He takes the time to carefully explain the details of each drill and seems to really care about his students, even staying after class to help a few of us with drills. I learned a lot during his class and had a great time doing it. I'll definitely be taking more classes with him. If you're looking for a fun, safe, and competent instructor, give him a try. read more

TLDR: Brian is an excellent ambassador for developing proficiency in firearms and the financial and time investment he's made in creating a conducive learning environment for even dynamic firearm drills which is something that the Bay Area has sorely needed. I took the Introduction to Defensive Handgun. My background includes being a former sergeant and a martial arts instructor in the Marines. Given the large influx of new gun owners, Brian did an excellent job safely training people with varying degrees of prior experience. By conducting classes in a Socratic/guided discussion format, it shows the thoughtfulness he has put in the material. One thing I want to highlight is how Brian went the extra mile to ensure that everyone had the equipment they needed to shoot the course. It really shows that he isn't just interested in passing on knowledge, but also making sure that people get the most out of their day. As a note, I allocated myself 1.5 hours to make movement to the range from Milpitas which was about enough to make it on time. read more

I recently took the Tactical First Responder class 4/7/18. The combination of hands on drills and classroom video/text learning was excellent for material retention. The class was offered for $125 which was, in my estimation, a real value. We were there for 7+ hours and the way the instructors mixed things up kept it "fresh" and interesting. The exercises (tourniquet application, wound packing, casualty carries) are elements that are not usually found in classes of this variety. The difference between "reading" about wound packing and actually "doing" the wound packing is the difference between being able to effectively do it in the real world or not. I liked the emphasis on the state of the real world and it's threats vs some watered down snowflake version of reality. Honestly, I don't have real delicate sensibilities and some of the training video was difficult to watch. That said, it was real and incredibly instrumental in making the point of what to expect when applying this type of casualty care. This course is not for the squeamish or people that don't like to get "dirty" so sac up and learn how to help yourself and others! Even with starting the course with some technical difficulties the instructors just improvised and moved to exercises we could do while we were waiting for the computer issues to be solved. I have and would recommend this class to anyone. read more

Had the privilege of attending Monarch Defense's Fighting Rifle course this past weekend. Was not sure what I was getting into, as I have trained with other schools but never immersed while camping at the site. It was different than the other schools, not better or worse, but definitely is framed from (the owner) Brian's perspective. And why wouldn't it be? Brian's background is rooted in sniping, both teaching and utilizing the art. He is meticulous, because it is a prerequisite of the craft. As a student, it is a requirement to stay attentive in order to excel and progress through the course syllabus. The why aspect of learning is definitely stressed, as they are systematically proven for safety and effectiveness. Speaking of safety, Brian has his eyes on the class at all times. Calls you out for safety violations or congratulates you if preemptively acted in a safe fashion. I was lucky enough to have a small class, we got to know and respect one another after acknowledging each other's safe handling. We were definitely practicing some advanced drills where muzzle safety was consequential. Brian had us run the drills dry several times until confident in our ability to execute safely. Over the course of two days, there was a heavy mix of classroom lecture with drills, both dry and live. I did not expect the classroom portion to be as heavy as it was, but more than thankful for it. Not only did we learn how to zero our sights, but we learned the factors that can effect our zero and how to account for such. The theory of trajectory also had a key role, as we delved into the concept of near/far zeroes. Not only did we learn about the math, but on the range you best believe each of us had to measure our groupings to correct our zero. Best way to learn, doing it! Day two was less classroom and more in the field. INCREDIBLE TRAINING COMPOUND I might add. Plenty of room to hike around and get some 200m plus target shooting in. There is also a pistol range and a 100 yard range in the belly of the valley. Because I was the only one who brought a 9mm carbine, he tailored a portion of the course my way on the pistol range with some run & gun from 5-25 yards. Good times for sure. Especially when he busted out some school guns with some fun features! Due to my weapon's limitations, he allowed me to borrow his rifle for some longer range drills. It definitely illustrated the strengths & weaknesses between the varying types of rifles. A majority of the shooting was done from 200m out, which I had never trained on before so a great experience. This demonstrates where this class differed from other school's rifle courses. Whereas the other school excelled in the CQB, within 25 yard range, this school takes it to the next level. It emphasized the sniper's role and duties, the importance of each shot. The course concluded with some team drills, multi directional drills that required thought to execute safely and effectively. These examples were just the foundation of it all, but he designed the course well to incorporate a thorough understanding of fighting with a rifle. Brian is a standup dude in my book. He gave many examples of his training around the USA or with his troops in Ukraine. Very interesting dude. No nonsense, straight up real. Brian is there to teach us, he did not seem like he wanted to babysit us. He cares that we learn because of his belief in what he has to share may save our lives one day. Or our loved ones more importantly! If anyone is reading this, you must be interested in educating yourself further. Do not hesitate, if you want to learn safely in a unique environment, reserve the class. I look forward to returning. This time I had the pleasure of sleeping on a cot under the stars by the classroom, it was toasty outside and it was perfect. Next time I may be in a tent, weather depending, but you must be sure to plan to camp there. Adds to the experience, enriches your soul, and you get to chat with Brian about his endeavors some on the off hours. Thank you again Brian, I look forward to the next time! read more

Place is good, but a little bit far from San Jose and the instructor is great. He has grasp knowledge of the topic and also provides additional information like history and other stuff that is related to the topic. He is also updated with the firearm laws of California, including ammunitions and is also updated with issues involving firearms. I like it also that he is strict with his teaching style coz it gives us the impression that each lesson is important, especially on firearm safety. Overall, it is a great experience to learn from the instructors. read more

Great class to get you passed the fundamentals. I have an extensive background in "marksmanship" having spent a lot of time on the range with pistols, shooting rifles at CMP competitions, long range with scoped rifles and sporting clays for shotgun. What I did not have was the defensive or dynamic aspect of shooting. I found Brian's Defensive Handgun class very useful and enlightening. I learned a lot. I would happily take the same class again maybe with a more concealable pistol or even the same one again - you can't master these skills in only one session. Next up though I'm going to take the rifle skill builder. As I mentioned I've been shooting rifles for years and load my own ammo but learning how to move and handle the rifle under pressure adds skills at a whole different level. MM read more

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend another firearms training class with Brian, instructor and owner of Monarch Defense. This was my 4th class and the training curriculum included defensive handgun positions, low-light movement and firing, concealed carry, and more. The class was approximately 7 hours long and allowed for plenty of live shooting, breaks, conversations, and practice. Brian does a great job on explaining things as the class moves along. Expect to leave with a greater ability to shoot quickly and accurately. You'll also gain a greater proficiency on the safe handling of pistols while moving around obstacles with your firearm. I recommend this school if you're looking to sharpen your skills and understanding of all things firearms.... yes, the drive is up a large mountain but so what! If you want to become skillful at something as serious as using a firearm--it's worth the drive. I started going to this firearms school in 2021 and since then I've gained significant ability and understanding of how and why to use a firearm, which is a tool...but I digress...give the school a try and see the value for yourself. read more

Instructor Brian Wang is very professional and have the most important character :cares to teach in right way so his student understands and leaves his class with knowledge and experience very useful for gun self defense. Anyone who wants to own a weapon should have to go through at least one basic classes of Monarch Defense for safe and secure weapon handling. I have more the best words for Monarch Defense but let's not write to much will finish with just simple THE BEST read more