About Defensive Innovations
Who We Are
At Defensive Innovations LLC, firearms training is more than a skill — it’s a discipline rooted in awareness, humility, and purpose.
We believe that every protector, whether a civilian or professional, must balance technical skill with the mindset required to act responsibly under pressure.
Our approach blends proven tactical instruction with mindset development, helping each student strengthen their awareness, decision-making, and personal accountability.
Our Mission
To develop capable, confident, and disciplined protectors prepared for real-world situations.
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We train to be ready — not reckless.
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To be aware — not afraid.
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To respond with purpose — not reaction.
Our programs are designed to sharpen your ability to assess, decide, and act with clarity and control, whether in a concealed carry situation or a tactical environment.
Meet Our Instructors
Karl
Karl launched his firearms career later in life, shaped by his roots in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada. Growing up, hunting was central to his Indigenous community, with shooting rifles tied to sustenance and culture. At eighteen, he followed family tradition, becoming a Union Ironworker. In New York City, he worked on iconic projects like the AOL Time Warner Building, Con-Ed Building, Woolworth Building, and Whitehall Ferry Rehab. Retiring in 2020, he dove into gunsmithing, earning his pistol smithing certification through the American Gunsmithing Institute. Driven to improve, he caught the eye of a local instructor who saw his raw talent as a quick learner and skilled shooter. That mentor nudged him toward becoming an NRA Pistol Instructor, and Karl soon added USCCA Instructor Certification to his resume. At a local range, he connected with Michael Dzienis, opening doors to the military Special Operations world. He completed multiple courses with active and retired MARSOC, JSOC, and Navy SEAL teams on the East Coast, earning numerous certifications. Still investing in cutting-edge training, Karl, along with his co-instructors at DI, has delivered real-world, relevant skills to students since starting DI in 2023 and expanding to Northeast Pennsylvania in 2024.
Mike
Mike Dzienis ignited his lifelong passion for firearms and tactical training at the Ocean County Police Academy in 2009. After honing his skills as a patrol officer at a local agency, he was handpicked to safeguard a nuclear power plant under the U.S. Department of Energy. Driven by an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Mike never settles for “good enough”—he is a perpetual student, chasing advanced training to sharpen his edge.
In 2022, spotting a kindred spirit in fellow enthusiast Karl, both fueled by insatiable curiosity and a humble grasp of their limits, Mike co-founded Defensive Innovations. Their shared quest for mastery soon drew in Alex and Steve, battle-tested professionals whose deep operational expertise and unwavering dedication elevated the team to new heights.
At his core, Mike thrives on mentoring like-minded warriors, passing on hard-won insights while pushing his own boundaries further than he ever imagined possible.
Alex
Alex grew up outside of Washing DC where his father retired from the US Navy. Alex followed the family tradition of military service and commissioned as an Officer in the US Army in 2015. He served as an infantry Platoon Leader with deployments to Africa and Afghanistan. He then attended, and passed, Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). He served in 5th Special Forces Group as a Company Operations Officer and Commander of an Operational Detachment – Alpha (ODA) with two tours in Syria.
Steve
Steve is/has been a CEO of private sector security firms where he engaged in, armed executive protection details, religious facility security teams, urban surveillance/counter surveillance, as well as electronic surveillance/counter surveillance. These details took him all along the Northeast and Mid Atlantic Coast
Steve has learned from some of the top tier civilian and military firearms instructors, from across the nation, to perfect his abilities using pistol, shotgun, carbine and long range precision rifles.
Steve is an ACT 235 Certified Lethal Weapons Agent in the State of Pennsylvania, ACT 67 Certified PA School Security Personnel and has been a certified firearms instructor for over 15 yrs.
NRA Certified Instructor:
Basic Pistol
Basic Rifle
Personal Protection Inside the Home
Personal Protection Outside the Home
Home Firearm Safety
Suarez International Combat Arms Instructor School
Our Core Training Focus
Firearms Training for Every Level
Our programs are structured to meet you where you are and challenge you to grow.
Concealed Carry Training
Build the knowledge, safety, and confidence to carry responsibly and effectively.
Tactical Pistol & Rifle Training
Learn advanced techniques for movement, accuracy, and decision-making under pressure.
Combat Fundamentals
Sharpen your baseline skills with practical drills for real-world defensive scenarios.
Private & Custom Training
Train one-on-one or with your team in a focused, personalized environment.
The Tale of Two Wolves
Every student at Defensive Innovations is introduced to a simple but powerful story:
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about the battle that goes on inside people. He said," “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, doubt, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, forgiveness, truth, compassion and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
This story defines our philosophy. Firearms training is not about aggression — it’s about balance, composure, and responsibility. Every repetition, every drill, and every scenario builds not just skill, but character.
Our training helps you feed the right wolf.