Our Team
Together, our team blends real-world tactical experience, education, operational support, and a hospitality-centered approach to create an environment that is disciplined, welcoming, and ultimately empowering. Though each of us comes from a different background and brings a distinct perspective to the table, we are united by a shared commitment to purposeful training, authentic connection, and meaningful personal growth.
At the core of what we do is the belief that training should develop more than technical skill alone… it should cultivate confidence, awareness, resilience, and community.
Joseph Malizia
Founder and Madrikh
Joseph has trained under several of the country’s most respected masters of Krav Maga, including direct descendants of its founder, Imi Lichtenfeld. As a Black Belt, holding certifications from both KMF-AC and IKM Academy, as well as having a belted background in Shaolin Kempo Kung Fu, and years of cross-training in several other disciplines and curriculums, Joseph’s approach to teaching is marked by the culmination of a wealth of knowledge, expert precision, and an attention to detail that is required to equip students with the skills and confidence to protect themselves and their loved ones in real-world situations.
Joseph’s training emphasizes practical application and intelligent movement, cultivated through his own life experiences, not just practice and theory alone, setting him apart from the vast field of instructors lacking operational experience in the wild. Joseph brings intensity, encouragement, and an unwavering enthusiasm to the mat, fostering an environment where students are pushed, supported, and steadily refined.
Keith Sinnott
Firearms Training
Keith Sinnott is the kind of instructor whose presence speaks before he does… disciplined, commanding, broadly experienced, and impossible to forget.As an active law enforcement officer, ICS trained and certified under IDF instructors, Keith carries the knowledge, experience, and a steadying presence to a field that might otherwise feel daunting to those who are looking to gain confidence in firearm performance Students learn carrying techniques, drawing, shooting stance, trigger control, ammunition selection, situational awareness, and handgun maintenance in an environment that is both highly professional and approachable. Keith’s teaching style is direct, engaging, and empowering… giving students not only technical skills, but the confidence and mindset to handle firearms responsibly and effectively.
Samantha Sanders
Administrative Director Women’s Empowerment Coordinator
Samantha brings a grounded, intuitive, and growth-centered presence to the team, blending academic expertise and operational support with a strong passion for personal development, empowerment, and whole-person wellness. In addition to assisting with back-office operations, client communication, and website support, she is also available for women’s groups, educational support, and helping foster an environment where students feel both welcomed and genuinely seen.Currently enrolled in Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Work, Samantha brings an additional layer of insight into communication, human behavior, resilience, and community-centered support within the training environment. Her perspective is rooted not only in skill-building, but in the belief that confidence, self-trust, discipline, and personal transformation are powerfully interconnected.Her presence emphasizes that strength can be cultivated with both intensity and compassion, and that empowerment is often as much internal as it is physical.