The following schedule details all the training events that Michael Janich will personally teach in 2025. This schedule may be updated as additional courses are added.
Please note that some of these events are geared toward intermediate and advanced skill development for accomplished practitioners of MBC and its related systems. If you are new to MBC training, I encourage you to review the MBC Instructor Locator page of this website to look for a recommended MBC trainer in your area. MBC has a very selective instructor selection process, so, unlike mainstream martial arts, we do not have instructor representation everywhere. If you cannot find a recommended trainer in your area (or even if you can), I also encourage you to consider enrolling in the MBC Distance Learning Program.
March 15-16, 2025: Pacific Blades X Advanced Skills Seminar, Anaheim, California
Hosted by Gebhard Solutions, this course will present instruction in the critical skills and training methods of MBC and Counter-Blade Concepts (CBC—unarmed defenses against contact-distance weapon attacks) using his accelerated teaching methodology. This highly refined approach focuses on the critical “common-ground” elements of MBC and select skills of CBC expressed with the knife in hand. It will also explore advanced aspects of the MBC and CBC systems, including high-intensity combative applications, advanced reflex training methods, MBC’s “Chess Game,” in-fight weapon deployment, earning your draw, use of MBC and CBC in disadvantaged situations/confined quarters, and comprehensive skills integration.
This course will be conducted in Redondo Beach, CA. For more details or to register visit: https://gebhardsolutions.com/?product=pacific-blades-2025.
March 29-30, 2025: Black Hills MBC Annual Training Seminar, Rapid City, South Dakota
In this two-day seminar, MBC Founder and Lead Instructor Michael Janich will present instruction in the critical skills and training methods of MBC and Counter-Blade Concepts (CBC—unarmed defenses against contact-distance weapon attacks) using his accelerated teaching methodology. This highly refined approach focuses on the critical “common-ground” elements of MBC and select skills of CBC expressed with the knife in hand. This year’s event will also include specialized instruction in the tactics and strategies of defending against multiple attackers and high-speed in-fight weapon deployment, or “earning your draw,” as it applies to all personal-carry weapons. If time and resources allow, we will also explore Janich’s Counter-Gun Concepts curriculum of firearms disarms.
Many MBC Certified and Associate Instructors will be assisting Michael Janich at this event, so all students will receive plenty of individualized attention. This will allow beginning students to quickly develop a thorough understanding of MBC/CBC fundamentals. Advanced MBC practitioners will not only enjoy an extremely progressive training environment, those preparing to test to become instructors will have the opportunity to hone their skills, knowledge, and teaching ability under Michael Janich’s close supervision.
For more information or to register, contact Al Rieman at 605-431-2636 or Aloysius.Rieman@blackhillshd.com.
April 11, 2025: Evolution of Point Shooting Seminar, Okeechobee, Florida
This course is hosted and conducted by Florida Firearms Training. I will present historical and technical insight on my approach to handgun point shooting as a guest instructor. Visit the FFT website for more information and registration details.
April 12-13, 2025: Practical Self-Defense: A Counter-Blade Concepts and Practical Unarmed Combatives Skills Course, Palm City, Florida
While firearms—and the skills to use them effectively—play a critically important role in modern self-defense, alone they are not enough. Despite your best efforts to remain aware and avoidant, attacks can still occur at close range and before you have the opportunity to draw. You may also find yourself in an environment where firearms are illegal to carry or faced with a non-lethal assault that does not justify a gun-based response. The answer to all these situations is a logical, easy-to-learn system of contact-distance self-defense that works both unarmed and with both improvised and purpose-designed weapons.
In this special two-day seminar, Michael Janich provides that answer. Developed specifically for Florida Firearms Training, the customized curriculum he will present is designed to provide a simple, integrated skill set that enables you to defend yourself effectively without weapons, with improvised weapons like flashlights and tactical pens, and with environmental weapons of opportunity. It will also teach you how to combine these skills with your shooting tactics to “earn your draw” and seamlessly transition from contact-distance striking to use of a firearm. Finally, Janich will present selected elements of his Counter-Gun Concepts system of disarming attackers armed with firearms.
Drawing from his proven systems of Counter-Blade Concepts (CBC) and Practical Unarmed Combatives, Janich’s instruction will include:
Unarmed defenses against common unarmed attacks
Dispelling the myths of the “21-foot rule”
Realistic unarmed defenses against common knife and impact-weapon attacks
Recognizing, assessing, and using environmental weapons of opportunity
Dispelling the myths of commonly carried improvised weapons
Carry, draw, and application of everyday carry (ECD) improvised weapons like tactical pens and flashlights
Proactive and preemptive defensive use of tactical flashlights
Fundamentals of in-fight weapons access and “earning your draw”
Transitioning from unarmed skills to the handgun
Transitioning from improvised weapon skills to the handgun
Principles of Counter-Gun Concepts
Basic first-person handgun disarms
Basic third-person (active shooter) handgun disarms
Developed specifically to meet the expressed interests of Florida Firearms Training and its students, this course is designed to empower people of all sizes and fitness levels. Please note that this is a physical class and will involve striking padded targets.
This course will be held in Palm City, FL. For more information or to register, please visit Florida Firearms Training’s website.
July 12-13, 2025: Practical Self-Defense with Knives, Palm City, Florida
Designed for students of all skill levels, this course will feature Michael Janich’s accelerated Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) teaching methodology. This highly refined approach focuses on the critical “common-ground” elements of MBC and select skills from his Counter-Blade Concepts (CBC—unarmed defenses against contact-distance weapon attacks).
This curriculum combines fundamental elements of the MBC system of knife-based self-defense with comprehensive instruction in unarmed defenses against common edged and contact-distance-weapon attacks. It then integrates these skills into a streamlined, easy-to-learn subsystem of MBC that includes high-speed knife deployment skills and the concepts of “earning your draw” during a violent encounter. Appropriate for all skill levels, the instruction will include:
The characteristics of typical knife and impact-weapon attacks
Dispelling the myths of the “21-foot rule”
Realistic unarmed defenses (CBC) against common knife and impact-weapon attacks
Using CBC skills as a foundation of knife tactics (CBC as MBC)
Efficient cutting dynamics
Quantifying the destructive capacity of the knife
Vulnerabilities of human anatomy
The myths and realities of knife stopping power
The “common ground” skills of MBC and how to use them to accelerate your skill development
Defensive knife selection
Knife carry options
Fundamentals of in-fight weapons access and “earning your draw”
High-speed knife deployment
Additional MBC tactics and critical skills
Total skill integration and contextual application
This course is designed to empower people of all sizes and fitness levels, but please note that it is a physical class and will involve contact interaction with training partners.
For more information or to register, please visit Florida Firearms Training’s web site.
TBD: MBC Intermediate and Advanced Skills Workshop, Buckeye Combatives Company, Canal Winchester, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio has one of the strongest concentrations of high-level MBC practitioners in the country. Taking full advantage of that resource, this special 2-1/2-day event will focus on advanced skill development in all aspects of MBC, CBC, and their related systems.
The Friday night session of this seminar will feature a specialized topic-specific training theme outside the scope of the standard MBC and CBC curricula. The exact topic is TBD based on the interests of the group.
Saturday’s training will focus on MBC and the tactics of using a knife as an effective, fight-stopping weapon. It will include the latest evolutions of MBC tactics, techniques, and training methods, MBC drill integration, the strategies of the “Chess Game,” and MBC’s teaching and coaching methodologies. Although the goals of this seminar are optimized for advanced skill development, it is open to participants of all skill levels. Students new to MBC will work in skill-appropriate study groups with designated MBC instructors as part of their instructor development process.
Sunday will focus on Counter-Blade Concepts (CBC)—realistic unarmed defenses against edged-weapon and contact-distance-weapon attacks—and the latest refinements to the system. That afternoon, we will also reserve time for other topics of interest and skill assessment and enhancement for advanced MBCers planning to test for instructor certification.
For more information, contact Eric Kaltenborn at eric@buckeyecombatives.com or 614-595-8837.
TBD: Martial Blade Camp 2025
Martial Blade Camp is the largest annual MBC training event. The 2025 event will be the 23rd Martial Blade Camp and will present approximately 36 hours of instruction in all aspects of the MBC, CBC, and their related systems.
Due to unexpected price increases and policy changes by the hosting venue, planning for the 2025 event has been delayed. Details will be posted here as soon as they become available.
TBD: Martial Blade Concepts/Counter-Blade Concepts Critical Skills Course, Kittery, Maine
Hosted by Defend ME, this course will present comprehensive instruction in the critical skills of using a folding knife as a personal-defense tool and practical unarmed defenses against edged-weapon attacks. For intermediate and advanced MBC students, it will also focus on progressive, high-level skill development.
In day one of this course, Michael Janich will present detailed instruction in the logic of the Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) system and progressive instruction in its core skills and defensive applications. Novice participants will focus on developing a sound, usable foundation in these skills. Veteran participants will build on their existing individual skill sets to explore advanced applications and higher intensity training methods. The topics that will be covered on day one will include:
Recognizing common street attacks and programming effective defensive responses
Defensive knife selection
Knife carry options
High-speed knife deployment
Efficient cutting dynamics
Quantifying the destructive capacity of the knife
Vulnerabilities of human anatomy
The myths and realities of knife stopping power
MBC’s core tactics and critical skills
Reflex training drills for rapid, scalable skill development
Day one will also include a bonus evening session focusing on Michael Janich’s Counter-Gun Concepts (CGC) system of handgun disarming and the principles of handgun retention for civilian CCW permit holders. All training during this session will be conducted with inert training firearms (“blue guns” or similar tools).
Day two will focus on Janich’s Counter-Blade Concepts (CBC) system of empty-hand defenses against attacks with knives and other common street weapons. Once again, it will include fundamental skill training for novice participants and, as appropriate, progressive, advanced-level training for experienced participants. Day two’s training will include detailed, hands-on instruction in the following topics:
The characteristics of typical knife attacks
Dispelling the myths of the “21-foot rule”
Realistic unarmed defenses against common knife and impact-weapon attacks
Fundamentals of in-fight weapons access and “earning your draw”
Transitioning from unarmed skills to other weapons
Integration of CBC skills with the application of knives, firearms, and other weapons
This information-packed two-day course will be held at the Lion’s Club in Kittery, Maine. To register, contact Defend ME at DefendME@comcast.net.
