Welcome To
First Step Safety and Defense Training, LLC
Teaching firearm safety, concealed carry and defensive shooting skills to help you protect yourself and your family.
About Us
Our Motto / Vision
Every journey starts with the "first step."
Your "first step" may be different from everyone else's. We help you start your journey by finding the right firearm, then help you continue your journey to live the everyday concealed carry lifestyle through personalized coaching based on your needs, whether you're a beginner or experienced shooter.
Our classes are taught from the “everyday civilian” perspective to protect yourself and your loved ones. We coach you to avoid potential situations, and when you can’t avoid them, we provide insights to make good decisions and follow-through with confidence, in a safe, non-threatening learning environment that is perfect for new shooters, women and adaptive shooters.
Whether you are just learning about firearms or are an experienced shooter that is interested in defensive shooting techniques, our classes are for you!
Certified Instructors
Our instructors are certified by multiple nationally recognized firearms training organizations (USCCA, NRA, DTI, TWAW, The Complete Combatant) so that you can rest assured that you will receive the highest quality instruction on the following areas:
- defensive shooting techniques, including Off-Body Concealed Carry, and Defensive Handgun Skills for men and women.
- non-firearm related training to increase your general awareness and improve decision making skills to make good first decisions (Image Based Decisional Drills).
Personalized Coaching & Group Classes
Our group class sizes are smaller than other area firearm training classes, typically 2-3 students per instructor, which provides you with personal, hands-on instruction so that you leave feeling confident with your skills and knowledge.
An overview of our popular classes is listed below! Plus, we offer private coaching sessions (two hours minimum for beginners). We can also tailor a group lesson for your group.
popular classes!
FlexCCarry (Off Body) Concealed Carry
FlexCCarry (Off Body) Concealed Carry
FlexCCarry (Off Body) Concealed Carry
Do you have physical limitations that prevent you from easily drawing from a traditional waistband holster?
Do you love wearing dresses and hate wearing pants?
Has anyone told you that you can't carry in a "purse" because it will be stolen, or you will leave it somewhere?
Learn how to overcome all of these "myths" and safely, securely and
Do you have physical limitations that prevent you from easily drawing from a traditional waistband holster?
Do you love wearing dresses and hate wearing pants?
Has anyone told you that you can't carry in a "purse" because it will be stolen, or you will leave it somewhere?
Learn how to overcome all of these "myths" and safely, securely and comfortably carry your defensive "tools" in a purse or bag!
Purchasing an off body concealed carry bag is an investment, so you can bring your own or try one of ours to help you find the right style to fit your body, lifestyle and gun! We have a variety of bags from Gun Tote'n Mamas, Travelon, UUB and 5.11 that you can use to understand the mechanics of drawing from an off body concealed carry bag.
This class includes discussion and live fire training on the range to help you build confidence with your off body carry bag of choice.
Concealed Carry Permit (USCCA)
FlexCCarry (Off Body) Concealed Carry
FlexCCarry (Off Body) Concealed Carry
Whether you are looking to obtain your concealed carry permit, or simply want to better understand the basics of concealed carry, you will want to take this class!
The class is based on the Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals class, which is the foundational concealed carry skills class established by the US Concealed Carry Ass
Whether you are looking to obtain your concealed carry permit, or simply want to better understand the basics of concealed carry, you will want to take this class!
The class is based on the Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals class, which is the foundational concealed carry skills class established by the US Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), the leader in concealed carry training!
The class addresses fundamentals that every concealed carry permit holder should know, including basic firearm safety, creating a personal and home defense plan, increasing awareness of your surroundings, understanding legal use of force and what to expect in the aftermath of a violent encounter.
Students that successfully complete the classroom and live fire portion of this class will receive the certificate needed to apply for their Virginia Concealed Carry Permit.
Defensive Pistol Shooting
FlexCCarry (Off Body) Concealed Carry
Defensive Pistol Shooting
Now that you have your concealed carry permit, you're ready to carry your firearm every day, right? Wrong! If you haven't trained to draw from the holster and practiced your defensive shooting skills, you are not ready!
Beginners will learn about options for concealed carry, different holsters that may work best for you, and practice
Now that you have your concealed carry permit, you're ready to carry your firearm every day, right? Wrong! If you haven't trained to draw from the holster and practiced your defensive shooting skills, you are not ready!
Beginners will learn about options for concealed carry, different holsters that may work best for you, and practice basic holster draw techniques.
Intermediate classes will review the basics for holster draw, then learn basic movement to "get off the X" and how to clear stoppages while staying in the fight.
Advanced classes will review holster draw, clearing stoppages then use different scenarios to build on movement and shooting from cover.
All classes include a discussion regarding the legal use of force and what to do in the aftermath of a shooting.
Dry Practice Drills
Private Lessons / Women Only Classes
Defensive Pistol Shooting
COMING SOON.....
Can't make it to the range or the price of ammo isn't in your budget?
Want to learn more about how you can practice without going to the range? Everyone talks about it and very few actually do it! You can "dry practice" at home using your unloaded, cleared firearm to build your skills. This method of practice, combined
COMING SOON.....
Can't make it to the range or the price of ammo isn't in your budget?
Want to learn more about how you can practice without going to the range? Everyone talks about it and very few actually do it! You can "dry practice" at home using your unloaded, cleared firearm to build your skills. This method of practice, combined with visualization, is proven build the neural pathways used during live fire. During this class you will use various tools to practice simulated live fire using SIRT pistols and the Laser Ammo Smokeless Range. The drills you learn can easily be repeated at home with or without the use of the tools!
Image Based Decisional Drills
Private Lessons / Women Only Classes
Private Lessons / Women Only Classes
Ever wondered what you would "really" do in the event you are placed in a stressful situation? You may find that what you actually do is very different from what you thought you would do! We will coach you to make a good first decision, followed by an action plan. Then we use the Image Based Decisional Drills tool kit to practice what
Ever wondered what you would "really" do in the event you are placed in a stressful situation? You may find that what you actually do is very different from what you thought you would do! We will coach you to make a good first decision, followed by an action plan. Then we use the Image Based Decisional Drills tool kit to practice what you learned! Science has shown that our brain will not work as efficiently to solve a problem unless it has seen or experienced a similar scenario. This class, designed by Shelly Hill of The Complete Combatant, is meant to help you identify key areas to practice so that you don't "freeze" when placed in a stressful situation.
Private Lessons / Women Only Classes
Private Lessons / Women Only Classes
Private Lessons / Women Only Classes
Our private lessons are two hour minimum for beginners and one hour minimum for intermediate or advanced shooters. We are happy to meet with you to develop a training plan that will help you achieve your goals.
Additionally, any of our classes can be scheduled for "women only" to reduce the stress of learning in a mostly male environmen
Our private lessons are two hour minimum for beginners and one hour minimum for intermediate or advanced shooters. We are happy to meet with you to develop a training plan that will help you achieve your goals.
Additionally, any of our classes can be scheduled for "women only" to reduce the stress of learning in a mostly male environment. Our female (and male) instructors are trained to explain technical terms in plain English to help beginners understand concepts for quicker learning.
USCCA Coverage for Concealed Carriers
For our personal concealed carry coverage, we are members of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association so we can be responsibly educated, trained, and insured firearm owners. We want the same for you.
Use the link below to find out more so that you can be better protectors too.