HEAD coach nick "santos" renfro

Nick has worked as a Police Officer since 2011, holding a B.S. in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from Western Illinois University, and presently operates Paladin Combatives. In addition to coaching officers in defensive tactics, he has worked as a Field Training Officer, SWAT Operator, Firearms Instructor, and Gang Unit Officer.

Nick is a Gracie Survival Tactics Instructor, under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Evandro Nunes, of the world-famous Gracie University, a S.P.E.A.R. (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response) Instructor through Tony Blauer trainer, James Pierson, MMA Association Conditioning Coach,  Sport Psychology Coach through the Spencer Institute, a Force Science Analyst and a former professional Mixed Martial Artist, under Coach Marc Fiore (coach of 9-time UFC world champion Matt Hughes). 

Nick has extensively trained with MMA veterans including:  

-Corey Anderson (UFC/Bellator)   

-Dustin Jacoby (UFC/Glory)   

-Brian Foster (UFC/PFL)   

-Quartus Stitt (XFO/BYB Bare Knuckle Fighting/Titan FC)   

-Bobby Brents (Bellator/Titan/Bare Knuckle Boxing)   

-Matt Veach (UFC/BAMMA/MFC/Cage Warriors)   

-Benny Alloway (UFC)    

-Chris Tickle (The Ultimate Fighter)    

and more. 

Currently,  Nick spends his "off-duty" time coaching police officers, professional & amateur combat sports competitors, and instructs multiple self-defense courses for all people. He continually shares his experience with officers via social media @LEOCombatives and appears in several interviews and podcasts nationwide. 

Coach Evan has been in law enforcement for over a decade. Currently, he serves as a Lieutenant with the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

A lifelong athlete, Evan has excelled at both football and rugby on the collegiate level, winning a conference title in the latter. After surpassing 500lbs in the Bench Press, Deadlift, and Squat,  he turned his sights to the world of MMA. Evan's workout programs give Paladin Combatives' fighters & clients the advantage of enhancing their performance without the disadvantage of overdeveloping. 

Come experience Coach's specialty of adjusting workouts to help you become more explosive and immensely powerful!

Instructor Kim specializes in footwork development, generating power from the hips, and balance to keep a fighter stable during their attack and defensive moves.

He has trained full-time with fighters for well over a decade making his ability to transfer his traditional knowledge over to other disciplines unparalleled. 

Instructor Kim has extensively trained with MMA veterans to include:   

 -Corey Anderson (UFC/Bellator)    

-Dustin Jacoby (UFC/Glory)    

-Brian Foster (UFC/PFL)   

 -Quartus Stitt (XFO/BYB Bare Knuckle Fighting/Titan FC)   

 -Bobby Brents (Bellator/Titan/Bare Knuckle Boxing)   

 -Matt Veach (UFC/BAMMA/MFC/Cage Warriors)   

 -Benny Alloway (UFC)    

 -Chris Tickle (The Ultimate Fighter)    

 and more.

King of the Cage veteran,  Brandon Wood, brings a vast amount of experience to Paladin Combatives. For more than a decade, Brandon has competed professionally in mixed martial arts. Outside of fighting, he has always kept himself a well-rounded athlete, even regularly playing matches on the rugby pitch. Not just working with fighters, Coach B has instructed cardio kickboxing, spin courses, and served as a personal fitness trainer. 

Throughout the years, Brandon has been a member of elite MMA teams such as Matt Hughes' H.I.T. Squad, Fiore MMA, and The Kennel Fight Club.  He is the only coach on staff to have been a trainer at a UFC Gym (Littleton, Colorado).

Currently, Brandon uses his in-depth experience to coach, mentor, and prepare young mixed martial artists at Paladin Combatives.

He also served in the  United States Marine Corps, deploying (3) times to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, and served an additional overseas tour while privately contracted. 

Brandon has extensively trained with MMA veterans to include:    

 -Corey Anderson (UFC/Bellator)    

 -Dustin Jacoby (UFC/Glory)    

 -Brian Foster (UFC/PFL)     

-Quartus Stitt (XFO/BYB Bare Knuckle Fighting/Titan FC)     

-Bobby Brents (Bellator/Titan/Bare Knuckle Boxing)     

-Matt Veach (UFC/BAMMA/MFC/Cage Warriors)    

 -Benny Alloway (UFC)     

 -Chris Tickle (The Ultimate Fighter)     

 and more.