Phil is co-founder of Protect Self Defence alongside his wife Athena, and instructs classes, seminars and private instruction in Auckland and throughout NZ.

With a self defence background spanning over 22 years, Phil's focus is solely on helping people understand and train to protect themselves against real life violence, of which he has experienced his fair share. Having been involved in several serious attack situations, including an edged weapon attack, an attack involving a tire iron and several multiple attacker situations, one of which was racially motivated, he teaches from a perspective of realistic experience. He is a big advocate of looking at violence holistically, not just the physical aspect, but the emotional, ethical, moral and legal aspects and understanding the pre-violence stages, the physical stages and the aftermath of violence and how to deal with each.

Phil was officially approved by Richard Dimitri as NZ's only male Senshido instructor in December 2006.

Phil is also well versed in the traditional martial arts, holding black belt levels (or higher) in several different martial art styles.

He has taught self defence to thousands of people through regular trainings and seminars (as well as in garages and backyards) and has had the privilege and pleasure of seeing the results, as many people have reported how the training has literally saved their lives or saved them or their loved ones from harm.

He has successfully taught people involved in dangerous professions, not new to violence, including Police (at national and local levels), Ambulance officers, Police Special Tactics Units, Security personnel, Armed forces personnel, Customs Officers, Fisheries officers, Correctional officers, and many others involved in risky professions. He also regularly teaches corporates, large and small organisations, schools, special needs organisations and everyday men and women concerned about their safety and the safety of their loved ones.
 
Phil can be contacted at

Athena is co-founder of Protect Self defence and an instructor in group classes, seminars and private instruction sessions in Auckland and throughout NZ.

She has been individually certified as a Senshido instructor by Richard Dimitri himself in Montreal, Canada in December 2006 and is the only female instructor in Australasia.

Athena has a background in traditional martial arts and has been an instructor in several different sports/physical activities including dance and gym (as a qualified personal trainer) prior to committing to her passion of helping people by teaching Protect's self defence system.

Having been in several real life violent situations, including a serious multiple attacker situation (which resulted in hospitalisation of some involved) and sexual and domestic assault, her understanding of the dynamics and impact of true violence is first hand, and she conveys these learning's and teaches in a very easy to understand style.

Athena has taught men and women from all walks of life including police officers, security officers, corporates, women whom have been raped and assaulted, teenagers, and many others concerned with their safety and the safety of their family and loved ones.

Athena can be contacted at