The Team
Who We Are
Kian Amirkhizi
Lead Instructor KAPAP KRAV MAGA
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KAPAP Krav Maga — Level C, 5th Dan
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Arjukenpo HOC — 6th Dan
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Street Smart Survival System — 5th Dan
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Cecil Peoples Kenpo Karate — 3rd Dan
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Mastro Defense System — Level 1
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Certified NRA Pistol Instructor
I’m a God-fearing family man and business owner who has trained consistently for decades.
I’m not military or law enforcement, and there’s nothing hidden or theatrical about my background. I paid attention, stayed disciplined, and committed to long-term preparation as a matter of personal responsibility.
Over decades of training, I learned from world-class instructors and mentors and earned rank across multiple systems. Those credentials reflect years of correction, pressure, and accountability—not status.
What I teach is practical, tested, and shaped by experience. It reflects respect for the work and the understanding that preparation is a way of life, not a phase.
818.601.5451
Christopher Hicks
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Founder Armor Up Self Protection
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KAPAP Level B Instructor
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Mastro Defense System-Level 1
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Street Smart Survival System 3rd DAN
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Shotokan Karate BB
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House of Champions BB
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Lead Instructor Bukido Institute
(founded by former US SEAL Richard "Mack" Machowicz) -
20 years Ring Coach & Personal Trainer
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Certified NRA Pistol Instructor
Christopher Hicks, a native of Michigan, developed a deep, lifelong passion for martial arts from a young age. He drew major inspiration from icons like Bruce Lee and kickboxing legend Benny "The Jet" Urquidez.
As a young adult, Hicks relocated to Los Angeles to train seriously at the renowned Jet Center, founded by Benny Urquidez himself. There, he honed elite-level ring skills and trained alongside top-tier competitors, receiving direct mentorship from the acclaimed fighter and instructor 8 Time World Champion Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham. This immersive experience at one of kickboxing's most prestigious gyms helped shape him into a high-caliber martial artist.
He later expanded his focus beyond sport, training under former Navy SEAL Mack Machowicz, concentrating on real-world application and street-level violence rather than competition alone, eventually becoming Machowicz lead instructor. Over decades of continued study with world-class instructors across multiple disciplines, Hicks integrated these influences into a comprehensive approach to self-protection, ultimately developing his own system, Armor Up, grounded in practicality, pressure testing, and long-term application.
Steve Rhinos
H2K KAPAP KRAV MAGA 1st DAN
Jamil Caudang
H2K KAPAP KRAV MAGA 1st DAN