Professor Leonard C. Holifield, C.P.S., Ph.D./MS. is the president and founder of the International Academy of Executive Protection Agents, LLC. He is an honor graduate of the famed ESI – Executive Security International, also known as The Harvard of Bodyguard Schools. He is the former Chief of Security and personal bodyguard to the former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Judge Roy Moore, aka “The Ten Commandments Judge”.

Prof. Leonard Holifield has over 35 years of martial arts experience and is president and founder of I.A.E.P.A. [The International Academy of Executive Protection Agents], I.A.P.M.S.D.T [The International Academy of Police & Military Self Defense Tactics], and H.C.S.I [Holifield's Combat Systems International], organizations that offer specialized training in unarmed self defense for executive security, law enforcement, special operations and military personnel.

Considered one of the country's leading experts in hand-to-hand combat, he is a published author and frequent lecturer on unarmed self-defense, executive protection and military combatives. During his military career he served as Chief Combatives Instructor to the United States Army from 1987 to 1997 and was instrumental in rewriting the Army's manual on Combatives (FM 21-150).

While stationed in Seoul, Korea, he and his team spear-headed a hand-to-hand combat training program that was taught throughout 2nd Infantry Division and 8th Army Command. His positions included Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Specialist, Combat Lifesaver, Master Fitness Instructor, Instructor Certified "H" Identifier, Inmate Labor Supervisor, Tac-Fire Operations Specialist, Military Police Officer and CQC/USD trainer to, Airborne, Air Assault, Air Calvary, Infantry, Field Artillery, (SRT) Special Reaction Teams and Special Operations.

His work in the field of hand-to-hand combat has been featured on AFKN (Armed Forced Korean Network) and in numerous military publications, to include Stars & Stripes, Soldiers, Army Trainer, Korus, and Military Police magazines and has been recognized by top military leaders to include former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell, former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gordan R. Sullivan and former Sergeant Major of the Army - SMA Richard A. Kidd.

In March of 2000, he was voted Most Outstanding Self Defense Instructor by The World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and has received the coveted Executive Protection Award of Valor. A highly decorated veteran of the Gulf War, he was credited with capturing one of the first Iraqi POW's during Operation Desert Storm. He is a defensive tactics instructor and graduate of ESI's (Executive Security International) Advanced Executive Protection Program (AEP) and Certified Protection Specialist (CPS).

In addition to his extensive military background, he has trained in several martial art disciplines, including Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Hapkido, Combat Karate, Shotokan Karate, Ninjitsu, Hwarang do, Knife Fighting, Boxing and Grappling. He holds 10th degree, 6th degree, 3rd degree and 2nd degree black belts in Sikaron Karate, Hapkido, Judo and Karate, respectively.

He is the founder of "Fight-Flight or Freeze," a national reality-based women's self defense program and CETA (Close-Engagement Target Acquisition), a fighting system developed specifically for military, law enforcement and security personnel. He is the author of Close Quarter Combat, A Soldiers Guide To Hand-to-Hand Combat, [Paladin Press] and video artist for Panther Productions' best selling Hand-to-Hand Combat series Close Quarter Combat. He has provided close protection for numerous celebrities and is currently serving as Executive Security Officer for the Alabama State Supreme Court and personnel bodyguard to the Chief Justice Roy Moore, aka The Ten Commandments Judge.

MILITARY EXPERIENCE (UNITED STATES ARMY April 9, 1987 To July 25, 1997) Honorable Discharge

Decorated Combat Veteran Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), Saudi Arabia, 1990-1991; credited with capturing first Iraqi POW - Associated Press, CNN World News
U.S. Army Field Artillery Training Center (FATC) Fort Sill, OK. 1995
U.S. Army Military Police School, Fort McClellan, AL. 1995
XVIII Airborne Corp, Military Police (SRT), Fort Bragg, NC. 1992
5/3rd Field Artillery Regiment., Giessen Germany 1997
5/8th Field Artillery Regt., Fort Bragg, NC. 1990
2nd Bn. 505th PIR, Fort Bragg, NC. 1992
1st Bn. 82nd Avn Brigade, Fort Bragg, NC. 1992
782D MSB, Fort Bragg, NC. 1993
17th Calvary, Air Recon, Simmons AFB, Fort Bragg, NC. 1993
E-Company, 702D MSB, Unit 15412, Fort Bragg, NC. 1993
A-Company, 2nd Engineer Bn, Unit 15043, Fort Bragg, NC. 1993
2nd Infantry Division Military Police Company, Camp Casey, Korea 1994
3rd Republic of Korea Liaison, U.S. Air Force Command, Korea 1993
142nd Military Police Company, 18th MP Brigade, Korea 1994
18th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Bragg, NC. 1999
Additional units trained – available upon request.

AUTHORSHIP & PUBLICATIONS

Close Quarter Combat A Soldiers Guide To Hand-To-Hand Combat, Paladin Press, 1997
Sometimes The Enemy Is Close Enough To Touch, Army Trainer Magazine, 1992
Hand-to-Hand Combat In Today's Army, Army Trainer Magazine, 1994
USD - Are You Really Ready? Military Police Magazine, 1996
Fist of Steel, KORUS, Korean Magazine, 1993
Fight, Flight or Freeze (Women's Self Defense), HCSI, 1990
CETA, Close-Engagement-Target-Acquisition, by Leonard Holifield, 2002
Video Artist for Panther Productions, Close Quarter Combat Series, 1995
Military Combative Masters of The 20th Century, Lulu, 2006
SOLO – The Art of Single Agent Protection, Outskirts Press, 2006

SPECIAL TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS

U.S. Army Military Police Academy Graduate
U.S. Army Instructor Certified "H" Identifier
U.S. Army Combat Lifesaver, CLS Certified
U.S. Army Master Fitness Trainer, MFT Certified
U.S. Army, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Specialist
U.S. Army MP Dignitary Protection Team
U.S. Army Firearms (Expert Level)
Firearms Course, Montgomery Police Department
M26 / X26 Taser Certification Course
American Red Cross - First Responder Certified
Judicial Security Protocol & Improvised Explosive Devices

EXECUTIVE SECURITY / PROTECTION TRAINING

ESI - Executive Security International, Aspen, Colorado
Principles of Protection
Protective Detail Operations
Stalking & Dangerous Human Behavior
Chemical/Biological Terrorism
Bomb Search & Identification
First Responder-Emergency Medicine
Estate/Residential Security
Defensive Tactics / USD
Defensive Driving
Profiles of Terrorism
Electronic Countermeasures & Security
Special Event Risk Management
Defensive Shooting (Level I Certified)
Social Relations, Etiquette and Manners
Improvised Explosive Devices & Judicial Security
Hate Groups, Extremist Symbols, Logos & Tattoos

EXECUTIVE POSITIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF AFFILIATION

Chief Security Officer, Foundation for Moral Law, Inc. Montgomery, AL.
Executive Security Officer, Alabama Supreme Court 2001-2003
President/Founder, International Academy of Executive Protection Agents
President/Founder, Sikaron Karate Federation
President, Armed Forces Martial Arts Association 1990-1993
Executive Vice President, World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, 1991-2003
ESI-Executive Security International, Alumni Asso., Board of Directors, Aspen, CO.
United States Protective Services Association, Washington DC.
American College of Martial Science, Dean of Homeland Security Dept.
United Martial Arts University, IN
International Society of Headfounders / Headfamilies
Kokon Ryu Bujutsu Renmei International
American Police Association
Isle of Mann, Karate-Kobudo Federation
North American Combat Academy
Universal Martial Arts Federation
International Union of Martial Arts
International Jidokwan Federation
Homeland Security Institute
European Society of Soke (UK)
Seibukan Bujutsu Kai Isle of Mann (UK)
Society of Black Belts, Isle of Mann (UK)
United Fighting Systems (Board of Directors)
Nippon Ketsugo Ryu Jitsu Association
World Combat Martial Arts Association
United Hapkido Council, (Greece)
World Jug Tai Association (Greece)
Tae Han Hapkido Association (Korea)
World Organizer of Martial Arts (Saudi Arabia)
World Soke Head Council of Japan, International Council of Masters & Grandmasters
Unarmed Commando Combat Academy, (India)
International Tactical Authority Committee, (India)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

Who's Who in America - Marquis Publications, 58th Edition 2004
Who's Who in the World - Marquis Publications, 22nd Edition 2005
Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals – Madison Publications, 2006
World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Instructor of the Year, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2001
Award of Excellence - Sergeant Major of the Army, Richard A. Kidd (Ret) 1995
Leadership Award - U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Gordon Sullivan (Ret) 1993
Army Commendation Medal - Hand-to-Hand Combat Training, 1993
Army Commendation Medal w/Valor - POW Capture, Operation Desert Storm, 1991
Army Commendation Medal - Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Operations, 1993, 1994
Army Commendation Medal - Equal Opportunity Excellence (Best in Army), 1992
Army Commendation Medal - Hand-to-Hand Combat Training, Korea, 1992
Army Commendation Medal - Tactical-Fire Operations Specialist, Korea, 1992
Army Achievement Medal - Army Achievement Medal - Hand-to-Hand Combat Training
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal - (3 knots), 1996
Presidential Sports Award (Karate) President George Bush Sr., 1989
Presidential Sports Award (Physical Fitness) President George Bush Sr., 1989
Executive Award of Valor (Executive Protection), WMAHOF, 1997
Special Recognition Award - Toku-Kai International, 1988, 1989
Humanitarian Award, Nippon Ketsugo Ryu Ju Jitsu Association, 1998
Grand Award of Honor, Wa No Michi Ryu Karate-Kobudo Kai International, 1998
Grandmaster of the Year, Wa No Michi Ryu Karate-Kobudo Kai International, 1998
Authorship Award - U.S. Army (Army Trainer Magazine), 1992 & 1994
Authorship Award - U.S. Army (Soldiers Magazine), 1990
Honorary Degree Awarded By, Universal Martial Arts Federation, 1996
Recognition Award, California State Legislature (Gulf War), 1991
Recognition Award, California State Senate, Senator Frank Hill, 1991
Recognition Award, Congress of the United States, Congressman David Dreier, 1991
Meritorious Service Award, U.S. Army JROTC, 1995
USA vs. The World Commando Knockout Challenge, World Champion, 1998
Over 1000 Letters of Commendation for Hand-to-Hand Combat Training, U.S. Army
Honorary Black Belt Instructor – ACCS – Advanced Cdo Combat System, India
International Tactical Authority Committee, India

FEATURE NEWS ARTICLES AND TELEVISION MEDIA

Soldiers Magazine, U.S. Army (Profile) 1990
Soldiers Magazine, (Hand-to-Hand Combat Training), 1995
Army Trainer Magazine, (Sometimes The Enemy is Close Enough to Touch) 1994
Army Trainer Magazine (Hand-to-Hand Combat in Today's Army), 1994
Korus Korean Magazine (Fist of Steel) 1993
Military Police Magazine (USD, Are You Really Ready?) 1996
Stars & Stripes (Operation Desert Storm - POW Capture) 1991
Tribune Newspaper, Diamond Bar, California (POW Capture) Gulf War, 1991
New York Times, Associated Press (Operation Desert Storm), 1991
CNN World News Report, Operation Desert Storm, POW Capture, 1991
Paraglide Newspaper (Hand-to-Hand Combat), Fort Bragg, NC. 1993
Paraglide Newspaper (Hand-to-Hand Combat), Fort Bragg, NC. 1991
Paraglide Newspaper (Sikaron Karate), Fort Bragg, NC. 1990
Indian Head Newspaper (Hand-to-Hand Combat), Korea, 1993
Indian Head Newspaper (Hand-to-Hand Combat Training), Camp Casey, Korea, 1993
Indian Head Newspaper (Military Police Unarmed Self Defense Training), Korea, 1993
Cannoneer Newspaper (Hand-to-Hand Combat), Fort Sill, OK., 1994
Cannoneer Newspaper (Hand-to-Hand Combat-FATC), Fort Sill, OK. 1995
Fort McClellan Newspaper (Military Police USD Training), Ft, McClellan, AL. 1996
Fort McClellan Newspaper (Women's Self Defense), Fort McClellan, AL. 1996
Giessen Courier Newspaper (Hand-to-Hand Combat), Giessen, Germany, 1990
AFKN (Armed Forces Korean Network), Korea, 1994
Talk Radio Show (Hotline), Fort Bragg, NC. 1990
NBC 13 News Special (Women's Self Defense), Gadsden YMCA, 1998
NBC 13 News Special (Sikaron Karate), Gadsden, AL. 1999
Gadsden Times Newspaper (Sikaron Karate Federation), Gadsden, AL. 1999
Gadsden Eagle Newspaper (Sikaron Karate Federation), Gadsden, AL. 1999
Gadsden Messenger Newspaper (SKF Grand Opening), Gadsden, AL. 1999
WSFA News Report (Women's Self Defense), Montgomery, AL. 2001
WSFA News Educational Report (Sikaron Karate School), Montgomery, AL. 2002
WSFA News War In Iraq Special Report (Military Training), Montgomery, AL. 2003

MARTIAL ART RANKS

Years of Experience: Over 38 years experience and training in the martial arts 10th Degree Red Belt (Judan), Sikaron Karate, Instr. - Prof. M.I. Tianero, 10th Dan 6th Degree Black Belt (Rokudan), Hapkido, Instr. - Grandmaster Bill Chang, 9th Dan 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan), Judo/Jujitsu, Instr. - Ed Rivera, 5th Dan

FIGHTING SYSTEMS FOUNDED

Sikaron Karate - Integrated fighting system, incorporating Cikaron Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Hapkido, Aikido, Combat Karate, Shotokan Karate, Ninjitsu, Hwarang-do, Advanced Knife Fighting, Boxing, Grappling, Dim Mak. and Tameshiwari.

C.E.T.A. (Close-Engagement-Target-Acquisition) is a combat oriented fighting system which focuses on the immediate destruction of the CNS (Central Nervous System) and motor functions of the human body. Developed by Prof. Leonard C. Holifield for specific use by Law Enforcement, Military, Security, Corrections, and Special Operations.

INTERNATIONAL SIKARON KARATE FEDERATION SCHOOLS

SKF Black Belt Academy, Montgomery, AL, Grandmaster L.C. Holifield, Soke
Sikaron Karate Federation – Tribe of Judah, Anniston, AL, Hanshi Kevin Horton
Sikaron Karate Academy, Akron, OH, Shihan Michael Murkins
Sikaron Karate Institute, Peoria, Italy, Sensei Alessio Cortani
Sikaron Karate Federation, Taiwan, Sensei Mike Ferraro
Sikaron Karate Federation, Lawndale, CA, Ron Cameron


PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
In The Fields of: Security - Judicial - Military - Martial Arts - Academic

Bob Duggan – President/Founder, Executive Security International
Hon. Roy S. Moore - Former Chief Justice, Alabama Supreme Court
Col. Dennis R. Lewis - Former Brigade Commander, Ft. Bragg, NC.
Dr. John Rubiano - President, International Society of Grandmasters
Dr. Jason Hunt - President, American College of Martial Science

Current Permits

Alabama CCW Permit – Current
ESI Executive Protection Certification – Current
Taser Certified for X26 and M26 Tasers – Current
First Responder / Emergency First Aid Certified - Current

Grandmaster Prof. Leonard C. Holifield is the founder of Sikaron Karate, president and founder of the International Academy of Executive Protection Agents, LLC . He can be reached at E-mail: holifieldcps@aol.com / IAEPA@aol.com or Website: http://www.holifield-security.com / http://silkaron.com.

COMBAT WARRIOR E-MAGAZINE August 2007 / CombatWarriorMag.com