be the best | join the team

Thank you for your interest in becoming an instructor with GroundGrappler.com.

To become part of our elite instructional staff, candidates must first undergo a rigorous application process and then be accepted to our parent company First Strike's Instructor Development Program.

The application process starts with us learning more about you as a candidate; where you're from, what you currently do professionally, what kind of experience you have, and where you're at with your current abilities. We also perform a criminal background check to weed out undesirables; only the best are invited to our four day practical, which is designed to evaluate your skills sets in person.

This initial testing phase has been designed to our exacting and professional standards, and will absolutely push you to the limits of your ability. Passing this interview isn't an easy task to achieve. The criteria for matriculation into the Instructor Development Course is so far above the industry standard, that fewer than one out of ten participants make the grade in their first attempt. Even seasoned martial artists, professional athletes, law enforcement, and military instructors are humbled-yet always grateful for the experience to learn what it takes to be a part of one of the fastest growing and greatest instructional staffs ever assembled.

Those candidates who are cut on the first attempt but demonstrate teaching abilities commiserate with our requirements, along with a customer service attitude and a willingness to study and hone their skills as a practitioner and instructor to the levels required to become a First Strike Instructor are invited to return again until they are selected to wear the First Strike Instructor uniform-and that's when the real training begins!

After being selected, successfully candidates must run what we call the gauntlet or the pipeline-an educational process designed to test their commitment, stamina, mental prowess, and much more. Every First Strike instructor, rather here at GroundGrappler.com or any of our sister companies undergo this rigorous training regimen both onsite and through distance learning. Through a series of camps, seminars, academic classes, and proctored exams, candidates prove themselves competent and only then are fully certified. But their growth certainly doesn't stop there.

First Strike instructors continues learning and honing their skills through regular blocks of instruction that fine tunes and polishes their ability to share what they know with others. These intensive blocks of instruction and evaluation guarantee that each and every instructor who wears our uniform maintain the highest degrees of consistency, efficiency, and ability.

What does all this mean for our students? It means that when you arrive at any First Strike certified facility or work with any First Strike instructor that you'll be treated with the utmost respect and will learn in a safe, friendly, supportive, and carrying environment fostered by the best trained, most consistent, and most effective instructional staff in the industry.

So with that in mind we'd like to share our guidelines with you.

the highest standards | bring your a-game

The application process is open to anyone 18 years and older who is free from mental defect, without a criminal record, and from any country. The first thing you must do is submit this form and a webcam video expressing your interest, as well as, informing us why you want to become an instructor. Without the video, your application will not be conisidered.

Note: If you do not have space to upload a video clip to, for example, and FTP server, you can use websites like www.yousendit.com or www.sendspace.com.

send us your details | complete the form

Please take a moment to read the information on the left. Then, complete this form and one of our recruiters will take a look at it. Unfortunately, we can't respond to everyone. But rest assured, if you've got something worth looking at, we'll be in touch!

First Name:   Last Name:

Please tell us a bit about yourself:

What do you hope to gain by becoming one of our instructors?

Email:          Phone:

What is your age:   

How many years have you been a martial artist?   

If you are a member of the military or law enforcement, please
outline your experience here:

Video Link: (youtube, myspace, etc...)

Thank you. Please hit the submit button now.