Must take this CCW class! I am a beginner with handling firearms. After this class I walked away…read moreknowing my gun and it's capability. Most importantly I learned the law and liability surrounding carrying and or using my firearm. Mike and Jesse were thorough, patient and extremely professional. I had so much fun and highly recommend this class. I not only give it a 5 star but a 2 thumbs up. Thanks guys !!

Excellent training and instruction! Mike breaks everything down clearly and sets a strong…read morefoundation as you move through the course. He is never demeaning about it. I highly recommend this place for any type of firearm training. Mike's assistant instructor - Steve - was also excellent. It was nice having a left handed instructor coach me through my training (being left handed myself). This place will have my business for life!

My dad, brother, and I just completed the Basic Handgun class. Ryan did an outstanding job…read morefacilitating the class. His vast knowledge of firearms safety and course management was very apparent. Ryan did a great job explaining concepts and coaching us though the drills. I would recommend this course to people who want to take their firearms skills to the next level; total game changer! The thank you Ryan for helping to increase my confidence on the range and for instilling a strong sense of firearms responsibly.

I'm a fairly new shooter. I've had my gun about six months and had fired about 700 rounds through…read moreit at the indoor range. I had done dry fire exercises and tried to do some drills I had read about, but there's only so much you can do at the indoor range. So I signed up for the Basic Defensive Handgun Class with Crisis Response Group. I went to my first class and WOW! It's a LOT of fun and they pack a lot of skills into one class. Ryan started us off with the basics of gun safety and operation. We practiced stance and grip and trigger control and did some basic shooting so that everybody had a foundation no matter what level of skills they came in with (CRG's approach to this class is crawl, walk, run, so they start with the basics and then build skills on top of skills as the day goes on). Once we were done crawling, we got going with shooting controlled pairs, reloading drills and malfunction drills. Compared to indoor shooting where everything is on a table in front of you, it's fun to present from the holster, shoot your gun dry, drop the mag, let it fall on the ground, pop in another one and keep shooting. Next we started doing the move-and-shoot exercises and target discrimination exercises and it was straight up fun! I left the class really pumped and feeling way more confident about my shooting. Ryan and his crew run an organized but relaxed class where you are encouraged to shoot at your own pace. As Ryan says, "Speed is fine but accuracy is final." I signed up for the next month's class and got my dad and sister to join in. We had a smaller class so Ryan put us through even more drills, shooting while walking a slalom course and shooting around and through barriers. If you shoot but all you've done is shoot at the indoor range or done some random plinking out in the desert I strongly recommend this class. Even if you've never shot before (and a few members of the class seemed to be absolutely new to shooting), Ryan and crew will teach you the basics and then some in a safe, fun, and un-intimidating environment. I want to get some friends together to go again and I'm looking forward to taking more advanced classes in the future. I recommend investing in a holster and a two-magazine holder so you can get the most out of the course. I debated buying them because it didn't seem like a practical thing and if all I ever did was use it once for this class it would have been a waste of money, but after the class I went out and bought a better holster and a dedicated duty belt Once you get the feel of having an extra magazine or two on your belt you WANT to have an extra magazine or two on your belt. I now keep my belt in my closet where I can grab it and put it on if something goes bump in the night and I feel like I can afford to take a few extra seconds to snap on my belt. I also want to do a bit of full disclosure. I know Ryan "distantly". He's my sister's husband's sister's husband. So I know him but it's not like we hang out regularly. I hadn't seen him for a couple years at least before I took the class. When I was looking for a class to take, it helped to go with somebody I knew at least a little bit but Ryan and I aren't so close that I'd feel obligated to write a flowery review if I hadn't had a GREAT time shooting at his course. Ryan's an ex-Army Ranger, EMT, competitive shooter, and a very cool guy. He is NOT a cigar-chomping drill sergeant wannabe using his gun to compensate. If you feel intimidated taking a class like this (I did) you don't have to worry. Ryan is very comfortable (and GOOD) with his shooting and he has an easygoing confidence with zero abrasive macho swagger. He's very good about treating the beginners like beginners and the more advanced people like more advanced people and the whole thing feels pretty informal and if I haven't said it already a few times it is a whole lot of fun. Also, if you're coming from the Orange County area, the drive out to the Rainbow Range and back are not bad. The class starts and ends early enough that you're traveling each way before the 91/15 traffic gets ugly. It took me less than an hour to get there from Fullerton, and about an hour to get back.

I've participated in several courses with Richard. He is professional, focused on safety, and…read morealways takes time to explain things to people. He's very knowledgeable and is a great trainer. I wholeheartedly recommend his shooting courses.

Been in the firearms training space for a little over a decade now, and Richard at A-zone defense…read moreis one of l, if not the, best instructors ive ever had the privilege to learn from. His dynamic classes offer things that you simply cannot grt or learn from traditional indoor static shooting. His teaching style is patient and welcoming for new shooters, but challenging and flexible enough to keep those with years of experience on their toes and engaged. Its always a pleasure to learn from him, and I cannot recommend taking any of Richard's classes enough.

Just finished this course and I cannot express how great and eye opening it was. All gun owners, or…read moreanyone who has a family to protect needs to have this training. I feel much wiser, safer, and more defensively capable after leaving this experience. Invest in yourself and sign up.

I went to the experience and it was impactful. The combination of gaining skills for self…read moreprotection and protecting others and grounding it in a commitment to follow a Christ centered life was so powerful. I highly recommend this.

I'm glad I found PPA because they have tons of classes from first aid to concealed carry. Their…read morewebsite is very easy to navigate, the classes are affordable, and the instructors are very patient. I've taken classes with Erin and a class with Mike. The class I took with Mike was the red dot 101 and I was thinking it would be a whole lot of shooting. It was more lecture than shooting in my opinion but the lecture is definitely what you need. Mike was on it, he was patient, a little funny but professional at the same time. He made sure everyone was understanding the process. I can't wait to take another class with PPA because I had a great time and a I learned a lot. Mike you're a genius!

Loved working with Erin, Mike, and Zack!…read more Erin's Basic Firearms Class was exceptional! She's very thorough, realistic, and straightforward with her training. I noticed she is repetitive to allow us to build muscle memory when she observes a bit of a struggle when there is a lot to remember! And she is great at it and for our own good. She is very knowledgeable about her firearms and she allowed us to get familiar with each of them. Mike, Zack, and Erin's Initial CCW course was 2-days on the range and in the class. We had a mix of renewals, initials, and edits (adding or amending firearms) and a large class amongst the three instructors was impressive! They worked in sync moving large groups in waves and in order of their respective courses. Safety was always first and foremost, range logistics and emergency action plan was discussed and designated/shared roles amongst the class. Mandatory ears and eye protection are a must when the range opens at 0900 sharp! No exceptions. Mike and Zack covered a lot of classroom instruction and are very knowledgeable about gun laws and state policies. They talked a lot about de-escalating situations and disengaging with bad company ALWAYS! The goal is always to get home safe to your family. Zack said it best, something to the sort of "I hope that I die past 80 years of age and never having to defend myself in a gun fight" I highly recommend Personal Protection Academy for all your self defense training and firearms training needs! I would definitely enroll in other classes !

I took the CCW initial class two years ago and renewed through them last weekend. Great teachers…read moreand great people. Classroom course is informative and teaches you quite a bit. They have a great online course and quiz as well. They have police officers that can teach you about laws, etc, with real information. Highly recommended.

I have taken the CCW and the Level II classes from Martinelli & Associates. I have to say I am…read moreimpressed with their level of expertise and commitment to keeping things safe AND fun. The integration of marksmanship and real life situations creates a comprehensive learning experience. As a woman who is in the beginning of the training process but is not a "spring chicken", I can say that I didn't feel like I was looked down upon as a second class citizen. I have experienced that feeling in other trainings from a different company. Doc is definitely encouraging and attentive to everyone's needs in the class. His knowledge of how the human mind works not only helps the student think through scenarios they may encounter but also helps make the learning process easier in his one on one interactions with the student. All in all it was a great experience! I have already registered for the next available class.

I just did a class here and he was awesome! So professional and he makes you feel comfortable. As a…read morefemale taking a firearms class I never felt uncomfortable or like I was asking a stupid question. I learned a lot and feel way more comfortable after taking his class. I would 100% recommend him to anyone!

This was my third CCW class overall and, without a doubt, the best one I've taken!…read more My first class was to obtain my CCW in Orange County, my second was after I moved to Riverside County, and this most recent class was for my renewal. Since I was renewing, I only attended the required 8-hour course, so I can't speak to the full 16 hour class. What I can say is that the 8 hours I attended were outstanding. The first half of the class was classroom setting. Everett did an excellent job keeping the class engaged. Instead of just reading from a PowerPoint and rushing through the material, he used real world videos, encouraged discussion, and walked us through different scenarios. That interactive approach made the information much easier to understand and remember. You could tell he genuinely wanted everyone to learn, not just sit through a requirement. The second half was held at a private members only range, and that's where this class really separated itself from the others I've taken. In previous CCW courses, the range portion felt like, "Here's the target, qualify, and you're done." Everett took a completely different approach. He spent time making sure everyone understood proper firearm handling, safe draw techniques, shooting fundamentals, and accuracy before moving into qualification. We worked through drills, warmups, and practical exercises that helped build confidence and reinforce good habits. It felt more like professional firearms training than a simple CCW qualification course. What impressed me most was that Everett genuinely cared about developing responsible and capable firearm owners, not just helping people pass a test. That level of dedication and instruction is something I haven't experienced in my previous CCW classes. If you're considering a CCW course, renewal, or additional firearms training, I highly recommend Carver Training Solutions. This was by far the most valuable CCW class I've attended, and I'll definitely be signing up for more of his courses in the future :)