Brian C. Keith - Founder - American Combat Institute

Personal Bio:

BRIAN C. KEITH
Founder American Combat Institute

     I started my Martial arts career when I was 6 years old. Training in Hard style Karate, with basic stances and Kata. That was at the West Coast Black belt academy in Torrance, CA. I continued my training in my teenage years after moving to Central California. But it was Kung fu and Judo. Training with Chacon’s Karate. I studied Judo with Mitch Cantwell at College of Sequoias, where I would later graduate the Police academy.
I continued with training with various schools around the world. Including achieving the rank of Black Belt in All American Combat Karate through the Armed Forces Karate Association while stationed in Germany. I taught while serving there to civilian as well as Military.

     College years lead to a career in Security where my Judo instructor got me a job as an armed security Officer. I bought my first gun, a 1911 Colt Government Model in .45 cal ACP. I carried that weapon through out my early years and loved shooting it with a passion.

     Attending Paralegal courses at the College I made acquaintance with the Director of the Police academy, he told me I was a good candidate for the Academy because I was bigger than most and so I attended the Academy. Graduating at the top of my class as best Driver and 2nd best shooter. The Driving course put on by the California Highway Patrol at their Academy in Sacramento was by far one of the best I have ever attended. I applied to a few jobs but my real desire was to be a Special Forces solider. My girlfriend at the time had been raised around the Military and didn’t want me to be in the Military, so I hesitated. But eventually the Military won out and I joined in January of 1983. Recruiter said I was color blind so I couldn’t get into the Special forces (Green Beret), but said I did qualify for something called the Rangers (Black Beret) he said it was real close in the type of job they do and It would be great for me. Little did I know, what was in store for me?

     I went to Basic then Jump school and onto the Ranger Battalion at Ft. Lewis In Washington. Where I survived RIP and basic Ranger training. For those familiar with Army training this was no picnic and what had been my ace in the hole, (my large size) now became my handicap. These guys like to run….. And run……..and run. So I suffered at the hands of those who were much lighter and faster. After a year there I transferred to an Airborne unit in Italy, then onto a mechanized infantry unit in Germany. I loved the travel to foreign counties. Having traveled the world with my parents since I was a teen. I felt right at home and explored the European countryside every chance I had. I left the army from here and returned to civilian life with thoughts of returning to school. I returned and fell in love again with my old high school sweet heart. Children came into the picture and I was a father to a daughter and two boys.

     I finished my first A/A degree in liberal arts and worked in Security in Hollywood as well as armed security in Ventura California.
I moved to San Diego and continued with more schooling at the community college for Emergency Medical Tech. And along the way picked up another degree in Fire Science. I joined the San Diego Mountain Rescue team and was a Search and Rescue member for several years. This was great fun and I utilized all my military skills in the field. Navigation and Rope work as well as first aid and camping. This led to me teaching Climbing and I graduated more than 100 people from my classes.

     I found work in Law enforcement working for the City of San Diego as Ranger on the reservoirs where water sports are allowed. This was also a diving job as we worked for the water department maintaining basins for drinking water and performed repairs on any in water structures. Rescue and boat patrol was the primary function on the water and days on a Jet Ski became the routine.

     Already certified in Scuba Diving I found a job as a commercial diver maintaining Yachts. From there I started working in a dive store and diving with friends and customers so I advanced my level of training to Dive master and as of this writing have almost 2000 dives.
In February of 2005 I moved back to the Central Valley to be closer to my mother who is getting on in years.

     My Daughter now 18 is in the Air force and proudly serving our country and I am a single father raising two young men. Upon my return to the Central valley I noticed a great resurgence in the hunting and gun sales here in the valley and I became a Hunter Education instructor for the Department of Fish and Game. Teaching firearms safety to new hunters was the reason I started the American Combat Institute. The course list reflects all my training to date and my passion to share with people the safe and responsible ownership of Firearms.

     I currently Train three or four times a year at some of the best firearms schools in America and try to stay up on the latest techniques so I can bring the best skills to the courses here at ACI.
I want to thank each and every student for allowing me honor of sharing my passion for weapons and the Warrior spirit.

- Brian Craig Keith