Todd Fossey – Founder, Chief Instructor & Creator of the IDS APEX Training System
Todd Fossey is the Founder and Chief Instructor of Integrative Defense Strategies (IDS), based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the creator of the IDS APEX Training System, he is an internationally recognized innovator in personal defense and firearms training. With a professional background in human performance and motor learning, Todd has become known for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in armed self-protection—bridging the gap between evidence-based training and real-world application.
A former bouncer and head of security at high-profile Hollywood nightclubs, Todd has firsthand experience managing violent, life-threatening encounters. This early exposure to real-world violence continues to shape his grounded and principle-based approach to training.
Todd is a black belt in Krav Maga and is currently undergoing an ongoing apprenticeship under Greg Nelson—a world-renowned martial artist, coach, and Special Forces instructor. He is a PFC PSOC-Certified Executive Protection Agent and a Force Science Institute–Certified Force Science Analyst, contributing to active shooter response programs, force-on-force scenario development, and SWAT training initiatives for law enforcement agencies.
In addition to his extensive experience in combatives and firearms instruction, Todd brings a 15-year background in psychophysiology, including his tenure as a lecturer at medical schools. His deep understanding of the psychological, physiological, and perceptual impacts of high-stress incidents allows him to teach from a truly integrated perspective.
As a committed Second Amendment advocate and fierce champion of the Citizen Defender, Todd has become a trusted voice in the training community. His work has been featured across major social media platforms, and he is a highly sought-after instructor for seminars, training camps, and consulting engagements worldwide.
Todd is best known for his evidence-based, holistic, and integrative approach to weapons-based combatives at extreme close quarters—empowering responsible, armed citizens with the skills and mindset required to prevail in critical situations.
Roland Larson – Senior Instructor, IDS Headquarters
Roland Larson is a seasoned martial artist and Senior Instructor at IDS Headquarters, bringing two decades of high-level experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and MMA. A 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with 14 years of Muay Thai training, Roland began his martial arts journey in 2005 under Chris McCune at McCune’s Martial Arts, a Rigan Machado affiliate, where he developed a foundation rooted in discipline, pressure-tested technique, and combat realism.
Between 2009 and 2015, Roland served as both a Jiu-Jitsu and MMA coach at McCune’s, bringing a performance-based approach to combative development. Over the course of his MMA career, he competed in 12 fights, further solidifying his ability to teach from experience under live pressure.
As a Certified Instructor in the IDS APEX System and an accomplished Strength and Conditioning Coach, Roland plays an integral role in delivering principle-driven, integrated defensive training that bridges striking, grappling, and weapons-based problem-solving. His approach is grounded, deliberate, and relentlessly focused on preparing students to prevail in real-world violence.
Pjeter Berishaj – Senior Instructor, IDS Headquarters
Owner and Lead Instructor Black Mountain Defense, Detroit, MI
Pjeter Berishaj brings a deep, integrative approach to personal protection, combining his expertise in Krav Maga, boxing, grappling, firearms, and jiu-jitsu to prepare students for the full spectrum of real-world violence. A boxing coach with a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Krav Maga and a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, his instruction emphasizes functional application across striking, clinch, and ground-fighting contexts.
A Certified IDS Instructor, Pjeter is also credentialed through the NRA and Rangemaster, ensuring his students receive well-rounded, principle-based training that includes legal education, close-quarters combatives, and defensive firearms implementation. His specialties include weapons-based grappling, in-fight weapons access, and the integration of striking and jiu-jitsu in weapons contexts.
Committed to lifelong learning and professional evolution, Pjeter continues to refine his craft through ongoing training in firearms, boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His mission is clear: to empower others with the skills, mindset, and adaptability necessary to prevail under pressure.
Kyle Rogers – Senior Instructor, IDS Headquarters
Founder & Chief Instructor, First Shield Defense (FSD)
IDS Apex Level 7 Graduate | Bracer Recipient
Kyle Rogers is the Founder and Chief Instructor of First Shield Defense (FSD) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A U.S. Army veteran with two combat deployments to Iraq, Kyle brings a disciplined, experience-driven approach to self-defense instruction rooted in real-world application and service.
An IDS Apex Level 7 Graduate and Bracer Recipient—the highest distinction in the IDS Apex system, equivalent to a Black Belt— Kyle embodies the values of mastery, leadership, and personal accountability.
With nearly 20 years of experience in boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, wrestling, kickboxing, and firearms, he integrates diverse disciplines into a cohesive, principle-based training methodology.
Kyle holds a broad array of certifications, including: IDS-Certified Force-on-Force and Live-Fire Instructor Level 2 Nomad Krav Maga Instructor Knife Control Concepts Level 1 Instructor Graduate of the Knife Control Concepts Instructor Elevation Course U.S. Army Combatives Level 1 Graduate Through immersive, stress-inoculated training that combines empty-hand combatives, close-quarters firearm integration, and scenario-based problem-solving, Kyle forges capable, confident Citizen Defenders who are responsibly violent in the service of others.
His mission is clear: to build protectors—individuals equipped not just to survive, but to act with clarity and purpose in moments of crisis.
Lance Hauge – Senior Instructor, IDS Headquarters
With over 30 years of clinical experience, Lance Hauge plays a key role in Integrative Defense Strategies’ holistic approach to human performance and coaching. Drawing on a unique fusion of structural alignment, somatic awareness, and psychological insight, Lance helps IDS APEX Instructor Candidates develop the physical, mental, and emotional resilience required to perform under pressure.
He holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and a Master’s in Psychology. Through his clinical practice and performance coaching, Lance has worked extensively with high-level athletes to unlock untapped potential.
In addition to his role in IDS APEX Training, Lance brings a strong background in Combatives, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, further enriching his multidimensional approach to training.
His work is essential to the IDS mission—cultivating protectors who operate with clarity, adaptability, and presence in the moments that matter most.
Michael Pilhofer – Senior Instructor, IDS Headquarters
A lifelong teacher and coach, Michael brings over 30 years of experience in decoding and delivering complex motor skills with precision and impact—including more than two decades as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Michael is not only a highly skilled handgun expert, but also a deeply experienced martial artist, with a strong foundation in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His ability to bridge the gap between technical proficiency, physical performance, and combative application makes him a valuable asset to the IDS mission and a respected leader in the development of APEX Instructors.
Michael’s unique background, combining elite-level coaching, martial arts, and firearms training, reflects the integrative and multidisciplinary approach that defines the IDS methodology.
Christopher Foecke – Senior Instructor, IDS Headquarters
IDS Apex Level 7 Graduate | Bracer Recipient
Christopher Foecke is a Senior Instructor at IDS Headquarters and a trusted leader within the APEX training cadre. As an IDS Apex Level 7 Graduate and Bracer Recipient—the highest distinction in the IDS Apex system, equivalent to a Black Belt—Chris represents the standard of precision, pressure-tested competence, and commitment to the craft.
With nearly 15 years of experience across disciplines including boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, wrestling, kickboxing, and firearms, Chris brings a detail-oriented and principle-driven approach to every aspect of training. His methodology is rooted in consistency, toughness, and a relentless pursuit of functional performance under pressure.
Chris is also an IDS-Certified Force-on-Force and Live-Fire Instructor, equipping him to deliver advanced, immersive training experiences that challenge students to make fast, intelligent decisions in dynamic, high-stakes environments.
Through scenario-based problem-solving, close-quarters firearm integration, and empty-hand combatives, Chris helps forge confident Citizen Defenders who understand how—and when—to employ measured force in defense of life. His mission: build protectors who perform when it matters most.