About Hard Target Self Defence Systems

My name is Aidan Carroll and I am the founder of Hard Target Self Defence Systems. Hard Target was founded in 2006 with an objective to teach self protection skills that can be taught to all ages, fitness levels, both male & female.

My aim was to seek out what really works under pressure. As I say at the start of any class or seminar I teach " I will not teach any technique that I have not successfully used in a live conflict or completely pressure tested".

I devised the system based on my 30 years of experience cross training in different types of martial arts and combative systems. This knowledge combined with many years dealing with REAL violence , while providing security on night club doors, is the essence of what the system is based on- gross motor, realistic, functional techniques. I now teach the Hard Target system in many schools, colleges and government agencies. I am also actively involved in training security personnel and close protection operatives.

The curriculum covers a wide range of self defence training. Here is a sample of what is covered on a regular basis -

Developing a Self Protection game plan.
Understanding the criminal's mind-set & M/O.
How to recognise the pre-cursors of an attack.
Developing a combative mind-set.
Understanding adrenaline reaction - Pre conflict, in conflict and post conflict.
How to strike with feet, knee's, elbow's, hands and head.
The use of improvised weapons.
Defence against edged weapons.
Defence against baton, bats etc.
Defence against firearms.
Ground fighting & grappling.
Third party protection.
Release from chokes, strangles and grabs.
Fitness training for combatives.
Self Defence & the law and much more.

We also invite some of the most respected names in the world to give seminars & workshops in self defence.

 

Articles & Media

Irish Fighter Article December 2008 by Aidan Carroll

t was a warm humid day in June when I landed in Birmingham airport for the first day of my master class instructor course with Geoff Thompson. Myself and two of my assistant instructors( Paul Byrne & Sharon Hutchinson) in the Hard Target Self Defence systems had traveled from Dublin to be very kindly collected by my old mate Steve Maycock form Krav Maga Birmingham. Steve has been teaching martial arts and self defence for over 25 years-many refer to Steve as the encyclopedia of martial arts, and anyone who met Steve will vouch for this.......Read More of the Irish Fighter Article

 

Christmas - Some Thoughts by Tony Somers

Christmas is nearly upon us once again, where does the time go? I don't know the answer to that question but its enough to know that time is rapidly passing and what are we doing with this precious commodity?......Read More From Tony Somers

 

Make Yourself a Hard Target by Aidan Carroll

It’s a cold January morning at 8am and I have just arrived at gym to set up the equipment for my latest 6 week self defence course. The class starts at 10am, but I like to get in early to get the training area ready to go for the 10 o’clock start. It also gives me some time to have a cup of tea and a chat with some of the new students.......Read More About Becoming a Hard Target

 

My Journey Into Fear by Jonny Figgis - Hard Target Self Defence Instructor

Fear gets to all of us at different stages and for different reasons. Sometimes it immobilizes us in the workplace, in the home, on the street and can raise its ugly head in situations ranging from making speeches to vicious encounters........Read More About My Journey Into Fear

 

The OODA Loop

The OODA loop is probably best described as an information processing system. The term itself is an acronym for OBSERVE ORIENT DECIDE ACT........Read More About the OODA Loop